Clark Boy

Popularity: #356 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: klark //klɑrk//

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: English: clerk; Latin: bright, clear

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Clark originates from the Old English term "clerc," which means "clerk" or "scholar." This term itself is derived from the Latin "clericus," referring to a clergyman or someone associated with the church, which evolved from the Greek "klerikos," meaning "of the clergy." The transition into English occurred during the early medieval period, as Latin was the dominant language of the church and education, influencing the vernacular languages of Europe. The name Clark thus embodies a historical connection to literacy and religious service, reflecting the importance of clerical roles in society.

Historically, the name Clark has been borne by various notable figures, particularly in medieval England, where it was often used as a surname before becoming a given name. The name appears in records as early as the 12th century, with individuals such as William Clark, a prominent figure in the 13th century.

The name gained further recognition through its association with clerical roles in the church and education, particularly during the Renaissance when scholarship flourished. Additionally, the name appears in historical texts, including the King James Bible, which was published in the early 17th century, further embedding it in the cultural and religious fabric of English-speaking societies.

Culturally, the name Clark has resonated through its associations with wisdom, learning, and service. It has been a common name among various professions, particularly in academia and the clergy, reinforcing its connotations of intellect and moral authority.

The name has also been linked to various diminutive forms, such as Clarke, which have appeared in historical records. Overall, Clark carries a legacy that reflects the value placed on education and religious service throughout history.

Famous people named Clark

In this section, you will find notable people named Clark. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Clark who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Clark who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Clark Gable is an actor best known for Gone with the Wind, It Happened One Night, and Mutiny on the Bounty.

Clark Kent is a fictional character best known as the alter ego of Superman in DC Comics.

Clark Gregg is an actor best known for The Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Clark Terry is a jazz trumpeter and composer best known for his work with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie, and his collaborations with other jazz musicians.

Fictional characters named Clark

The following list of fictional characters named Clark is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Clark Kent is a fictional character from the DC Comics universe. He is the alter ego of Superman, a superhero known for his incredible strength and ability to fly.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Clark, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Clark. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Clark was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Clark has ranked as high as #743 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Clark has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Clark is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Clark was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Clark.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 855 837 18
2024 746 726 20
2023 726 709 17
2022 745 729 16
2021 820 794 26
2020 816 793 23
2019 827 805 22
2018 876 855 21
2017 881 861 20
2016 883 867 16
2015 883 868 15
2014 821 814 7
2013 629 617 12
2012 473 473 0
2011 392 385 7
2010 340 335 5
2009 336 336 0
2008 341 341 0
2007 392 385 7
2006 323 323 0
2005 251 245 6
2004 262 262 0
2003 220 220 0
2002 211 211 0
2001 201 201 0
2000 218 218 0
1999 226 226 0
1998 222 222 0
1997 250 245 5
1996 261 261 0
1995 285 285 0
1994 268 268 0
1993 270 264 6
1992 284 276 8
1991 303 303 0
1990 342 342 0
1989 346 341 5
1988 319 319 0
1987 301 301 0
1986 323 318 5
1985 284 284 0
1984 302 302 0
1983 328 323 5
1982 305 305 0
1981 260 260 0
1980 261 261 0
1979 243 243 0
1978 213 213 0
1977 256 256 0
1976 197 197 0
1975 224 224 0
1974 197 197 0
1973 227 227 0
1972 272 272 0
1971 324 324 0
1970 381 381 0
1969 411 411 0
1968 431 426 5
1967 478 469 9
1966 528 528 0
1965 624 624 0
1964 668 668 0
1963 729 729 0
1962 803 798 5
1961 879 879 0
1960 608 608 0
1959 632 632 0
1958 670 670 0
1957 643 638 5
1956 709 709 0
1955 724 724 0
1954 717 717 0
1953 646 646 0
1952 637 637 0
1951 634 634 0
1950 624 624 0
1949 600 595 5
1948 551 551 0
1947 596 596 0
1946 523 523 0
1945 429 424 5
1944 437 437 0
1943 509 503 6
1942 538 538 0
1941 456 456 0
1940 427 427 0
1939 396 396 0
1938 488 488 0
1937 433 433 0
1936 437 437 0
1935 376 376 0
1934 429 429 0
1933 370 370 0
1932 336 336 0
1931 243 243 0
1930 260 255 5
1929 243 243 0
1928 240 240 0
1927 293 293 0
1926 264 264 0
1925 272 272 0
1924 283 283 0
1923 333 328 5
1922 326 326 0
1921 357 357 0
1920 313 308 5
1919 327 327 0
1918 334 327 7
1917 345 345 0
1916 336 336 0
1915 289 289 0
1914 242 242 0
1913 191 191 0
1912 187 187 0
1911 68 68 0
1910 71 71 0
1909 51 51 0
1908 54 54 0
1907 43 43 0
1906 53 53 0
1905 48 48 0
1904 46 46 0
1903 49 49 0
1902 31 31 0
1901 52 52 0
1900 75 75 0
1899 46 46 0
1898 42 42 0
1897 58 58 0
1896 58 58 0
1895 53 53 0
1894 50 50 0
1893 50 50 0
1892 61 61 0
1891 36 36 0
1890 51 51 0
1889 51 51 0
1888 45 45 0
1887 54 54 0
1886 49 49 0
1885 45 45 0
1884 55 55 0
1883 45 45 0
1882 54 54 0
1881 66 66 0
1880 49 49 0

Top States for Clark (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 68
10%
TX 55
8%
OH 39
6%
NY 38
5%
FL 37
5%
IL 34
5%
NC 24
3%
UT 23
3%
IN 22
3%
TN 22
3%
MI 21
3%
CO 20
3%
GA 20
3%
VA 19
3%
PA 19
3%
ID 16
2%
MN 16
2%
MO 16
2%
WI 16
2%
IA 15
2%
OR 15
2%
WA 13
2%
AL 12
2%
KY 11
2%
MA 11
2%
MD 10
1%
NJ 10
1%
AZ 9
1%
OK 8
1%
KS 8
1%
MT 8
1%
LA 7
1%
SC 7
1%
AR 6
1%
MS 6
1%
ND 5
1%
ME 5
1%