Clyde Unisex

Popularity: #592 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KLYD //klaɪd//

Origin: Scottish; English

Meaning: Scottish: from the river Clyde; English: a name of uncertain origin

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Clyde has its roots in the Scottish Gaelic word "cluaidh," which means "river" or "riverbank." This etymology is linked to the River Clyde, a significant waterway in Scotland that flows through the city of Glasgow. The name Clyde entered the English language through the influence of Scottish culture and geography, particularly during the Middle Ages when the river was an important trade route and a focal point for settlement and industry in the region.

Historically, the name Clyde has been associated with various notable figures and events. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was used to denote the river itself.

The River Clyde was mentioned in various historical texts, including those documenting the life and reign of Scottish monarchs. In the 19th century, the river became central to the Industrial Revolution in Scotland, further embedding the name Clyde in the cultural and historical narrative of the region.

Culturally, the name Clyde carries connotations of strength and resilience, reflective of the river's significance in Scottish history. It has been embraced in various forms of literature and art, often symbolizing the natural beauty and industrial heritage of Scotland.

The name has also been used in various contexts, such as Clydebank, a town named after the river, which became a hub for shipbuilding and industry. Additionally, the diminutive form "Clydie" has been used informally, though it is less common in historical texts.

Overall, the name Clyde encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance.

Famous people named Clyde

In this section, you will find notable people named Clyde. 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 Clyde who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Clyde 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.

Clyde Drexler is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, and the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team.

Clyde Barrow was a criminal best known for being part of the infamous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde during the Great Depression.

Fictional characters named Clyde

The following list of fictional characters named Clyde 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.

Clyde is a fictional character from the animated television series The Amazing World of Gumball. He is a close friend of the main character, Gumball Watterson, and is known for his goofy personality and loyalty to his friends.

Clyde McBride is a fictional character from the animated television series The Loud House. He is a supportive friend of Lincoln Loud and often participates in various adventures with him and his family.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Clyde, 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 Clyde. 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 Clyde was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Clyde has ranked as high as #159 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.

In the past 5 years the name Clyde has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Clyde 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 Clyde was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Clyde (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 34
11%
TX 34
11%
NY 19
6%
NC 17
6%
PA 14
5%
TN 14
5%
UT 14
5%
MO 13
4%
WA 12
4%
MI 12
4%
OK 10
3%
WI 10
3%
GA 10
3%
IN 9
3%
OH 9
3%

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 Clyde.

YearBirths
2024359
2023367
2022393
2021352
2020347
2019299
2018328
2017349
2016298
2015288
2014285
2013196
2012158
2011153
2010137
2009140
2008143
2007141
2006129
2005125
2004137
2003116
2002112
2001117
2000144
1999123
1998154
1997136
1996133
1995168
1994152
1993184
1992199
1991187
1990250
1989235
1988223
1987215
1986241
1985277
1984291
1983289
1982309
1981346
1980386
1979340
1978353
1977367
1976386
1975399
1974416
1973492
1972487
1971520
1970621
1969607
1968626
1967640
1966666
1965769
1964891
19631,007
19621,138
19611,354
19601,372
19591,467
19581,554
19571,744
19561,715
19551,742
19541,777
19531,855
19522,014
19512,054
19501,985
19492,084
19482,073
19472,263
19462,065
19451,858
19442,081
19432,195
19422,205
19411,872
19402,014
19391,959
19382,130
19372,105
19362,153
19352,355
19342,323
19332,141
19322,319
19312,336
19302,631
19292,628
19282,714
19272,879
19262,873
19252,906
19243,006
19232,853
19223,007
19213,022
19203,069
19192,884
19182,917
19172,719
19162,707
19152,518
19141,954
19131,537
19121,314
1911697
1910617
1909516
1908511
1907507
1906457
1905474
1904457
1903413
1902382
1901356
1900451
1899330
1898383
1897359
1896372
1895370
1894386
1893391
1892390
1891327
1890317
1889318
1888344
1887320
1886307
1885318
1884345
1883336
1882293
1881232
1880221