Clark Boy

Popularity: #397 · 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 #549 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and Illinois.

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.

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. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 68
10%
TX 55
8%
OH 39
6%
NY 38
6%
FL 37
6%
IL 34
5%
NC 24
4%
UT 23
3%
IN 22
3%
TN 22
3%
MI 21
3%
GA 20
3%
VA 19
3%
PA 19
3%
ID 16
2%

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.

YearBirths
2024725
2023709
2022729
2021793
2020792
2019804
2018855
2017861
2016867
2015868
2014814
2013617
2012473
2011385
2010335
2009336
2008341
2007385
2006323
2005245
2004262
2003220
2002211
2001201
2000218
1999226
1998222
1997245
1996261
1995285
1994268
1993264
1992276
1991303
1990342
1989341
1988319
1987301
1986316
1985284
1984302
1983323
1982305
1981260
1980262
1979243
1978214
1977256
1976197
1975226
1974197
1973227
1972273
1971324
1970381
1969411
1968426
1967469
1966528
1965624
1964668
1963729
1962798
1961880
1960607
1959633
1958670
1957638
1956709
1955724
1954718
1953646
1952637
1951634
1950624
1949595
1948551
1947596
1946523
1945424
1944437
1943503
1942538
1941456
1940427
1939396
1938488
1937433
1936437
1935376
1934429
1933370
1932336
1931243
1930255
1929243
1928240
1927293
1926264
1925272
1924283
1923328
1922326
1921357
1920308
1919327
1918327
1917345
1916336
1915289
1914242
1913191
1912187
191168
191071
190951
190854
190743
190653
190548
190446
190349
190231
190152
190075
189946
189842
189758
189658
189553
189450
189350
189261
189136
189051
188951
188845
188754
188649
188545
188455
188345
188254
188166
188049