Clive Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KLYV //klaɪv//
Origin: Old English; Welsh
Meaning: Old English: cliff; Welsh: hilly place
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Clive is of Old English origin, derived from the word "clif," meaning "slope" or "bank." This etymological root reflects the geographical features of the landscape, suggesting that the name may have originally been used to denote someone who lived near a cliff or a steep bank. The name entered the English language during the early medieval period, evolving from its Old English form into a more recognizable format as the language transitioned through various stages, including Middle English.
Historically, the name Clive gained prominence in the 18th century, particularly through the figure of Robert Clive (1725–1774), a British officer and the first British administrator of Bengal. Clive played a significant role in establishing British control over India, and his actions during the Battle of Plassey in 1757 were pivotal in the expansion of British colonial influence.
His legacy contributed to the name's association with leadership and military prowess, marking a significant milestone in British history. Culturally, the name Clive has been associated with strength and resilience, likely due to its historical connections.
The name has also been used in literature and the arts, further embedding it within the cultural fabric of English-speaking societies. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Clivy" have emerged, reflecting a more affectionate or informal usage, though these variations are less documented.
Overall, Clive's etymological roots, historical significance, and cultural associations contribute to its enduring presence in English nomenclature.
Famous people named Clive
In this section, you will find notable people named Clive. 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 Clive who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Clive 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.
Clive Owen is an actor best known for Closer, Sin City, and The Knick.
Clive Barker is an author and filmmaker best known for Hellraiser, Candyman, and Books of Blood.
Clive James was a writer and television presenter best known for Clive James on Television, Postcard from Paris, and his literary criticism.
Fictional characters named Clive
The following list of fictional characters named Clive 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.
Clive is a fictional character from the video game series Clive Barker's Jericho. He is a member of a special forces team tasked with combating supernatural threats.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Clive, 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 Clive. 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 Clive was first seen in the United States in 1885.
Clive has ranked as high as #1338 nationally, which occurred in 2016, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Washington, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Clive has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Clive 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 Clive was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Clive (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 11 | |
| CA | 8 | |
| PA | 5 |
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 Clive.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 73 |
| 2023 | 54 |
| 2022 | 55 |
| 2021 | 69 |
| 2020 | 55 |
| 2019 | 64 |
| 2018 | 82 |
| 2017 | 67 |
| 2016 | 85 |
| 2015 | 82 |
| 2014 | 77 |
| 2013 | 56 |
| 2012 | 67 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2010 | 57 |
| 2009 | 56 |
| 2008 | 49 |
| 2007 | 45 |
| 2006 | 38 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2003 | 18 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 1999 | 17 |
| 1998 | 12 |
| 1997 | 22 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 1995 | 19 |
| 1994 | 16 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1992 | 23 |
| 1991 | 37 |
| 1990 | 27 |
| 1989 | 11 |
| 1988 | 24 |
| 1987 | 18 |
| 1986 | 18 |
| 1985 | 13 |
| 1984 | 18 |
| 1983 | 18 |
| 1982 | 9 |
| 1981 | 15 |
| 1980 | 11 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 13 |
| 1977 | 14 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1975 | 12 |
| 1974 | 10 |
| 1973 | 9 |
| 1971 | 13 |
| 1970 | 10 |
| 1969 | 6 |
| 1968 | 13 |
| 1967 | 14 |
| 1966 | 11 |
| 1965 | 8 |
| 1964 | 17 |
| 1963 | 28 |
| 1962 | 10 |
| 1961 | 17 |
| 1960 | 19 |
| 1959 | 17 |
| 1958 | 19 |
| 1957 | 18 |
| 1956 | 19 |
| 1955 | 26 |
| 1954 | 23 |
| 1953 | 22 |
| 1952 | 27 |
| 1951 | 30 |
| 1950 | 19 |
| 1949 | 22 |
| 1948 | 24 |
| 1947 | 38 |
| 1946 | 29 |
| 1945 | 23 |
| 1944 | 24 |
| 1943 | 25 |
| 1942 | 41 |
| 1941 | 20 |
| 1940 | 19 |
| 1939 | 25 |
| 1938 | 27 |
| 1937 | 34 |
| 1936 | 28 |
| 1935 | 41 |
| 1934 | 36 |
| 1933 | 40 |
| 1932 | 39 |
| 1931 | 51 |
| 1930 | 50 |
| 1929 | 27 |
| 1928 | 27 |
| 1927 | 23 |
| 1926 | 26 |
| 1925 | 27 |
| 1924 | 31 |
| 1923 | 30 |
| 1922 | 27 |
| 1921 | 26 |
| 1920 | 26 |
| 1919 | 28 |
| 1918 | 31 |
| 1917 | 28 |
| 1916 | 18 |
| 1915 | 34 |
| 1914 | 19 |
| 1913 | 14 |
| 1912 | 10 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1909 | 6 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1906 | 11 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1899 | 8 |
| 1897 | 8 |
| 1896 | 6 |
| 1895 | 7 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1892 | 6 |
| 1885 | 5 |