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Clifford Name Meaning, Origins & History

Clifford

Pronunciation: KLIF-erd

Meaning From the ford near the cliff Origin surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,352
TREND
12
Peak Years
1925, 1952, 1918
Lowest Years
1881, 2014, 2023
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Clifford in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Clifford

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Clifford appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 4 separate runs, totaling 65 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1952 through 1952.
  • More than 190 thousand babies named Clifford: U.S. records list 190,267 babies given the name Clifford from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,019 girls received the name Clifford - about 1 girl for every 93 boys.

What Does the Name Clifford Mean?

Clifford is an English name meaning "ford by a cliff" or "ford at the cliff." It comes from an Old English place name formed from clif, "cliff" or "steep slope," and ford, "ford" - a shallow place where a river can be crossed. The compound would have described a crossing near a cliff or steep bank. The surname Clifford derives from one or more English places with that name, especially Clifford in Herefordshire. The given name is a transferred use of the surname.

Clifford Name History & Origins

The place name Clifford is formed from Old English clif and ford. The Herefordshire place called Clifford is recorded in medieval sources, including Domesday Book (1086), in a form such as Cliford. In the medieval period, an Anglo-Norman noble family took the name de Clifford from this place; its members became prominent in medieval England and the Welsh Marches. The surname passed down through generations and later appeared throughout England and in other English-speaking countries.

As a given name, Clifford is a transferred use of the surname. It has been used for boys in the English-speaking world and is sometimes shortened to Cliff. Literary works have used the name, including D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928), whose Sir Clifford Chatterley is a central character, and Norman Bridwell's children's books about Clifford the Big Red Dog (beginning in 1963). These are literary uses, not the name's origin.

How Popular is the Name Clifford?

Clifford has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 65 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1952 to 1952.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Clifford

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Past Favorite Boy Names

Past Favorite Boy Names: Once-Popular Names

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How the Name Clifford Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.

✦ Clifford's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Clifford's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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