Clancy
Clancy is an Irish name coming from the Gaelic Mac Fhlannchaidh/Mac Fhlannchadha, meaning "Son of the red/ruddy warrior", or as a hypocorism for Clarence. The surname originated from two different families, one in Thomond and one in the present day County Leitrim.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Clancy
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Clancy is an Irish name coming from the Gaelic Mac Fhlannchaidh/Mac Fhlannchadha, meaning "Son of the red/ruddy warrior", or as a hypocorism for Clarence. The surname originated from two different families, one in Thomond and one in the present day County Leitrim.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Clancy
As a girl name
Clancy first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1921, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1993: 24 births, good for #4,257 nationwide. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 26% of all recorded Clancys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #7,385 among girl names with 14 births, rising sharply (+24% over the past five years). In total, more than 600 Clancys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Clancy as a boy name dates back to 1914, when 6 babies received it. 2026 was its biggest year on record, with 39 newborns named Clancy — #3,112 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,112 among boy names with 39 births, rising sharply (+34% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Clancys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Clancy
Phonetically similar names — useful when Clancy is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clancy
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About the name Clancy
Clancy is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Clancy's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,725. Use the chart and map above to compare Clancy's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.