Boy · #6,263 in 2026

Clif

Name: Popularity of the name Clif in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Clif, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#6,263

Peak Rank

#1,865 (1959)

Total Babies

199

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1945

First Year

1981

Last Year

1959

Peak Year

#1865

Peak Rank

199

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Clif

The earliest SSA record of Clif as a baby boy name dates back to 1945, when 6 babies received it. 1959 was its biggest year on record, with 19 newborns named Clif — #1,865 in the national rankings. The 1950s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 45% of all recorded Clifs. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1981 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 199 Clifs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Clif

Phonetically similar names — useful when Clif is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Cliff
Cliffe
Klif
Clef
Cluff
Claf
Kloof
Cloff
Kleef
Glyph
Gliff
Cliffs

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Clif

What does the name Clif mean?

Clif is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1945. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Clif in 2026?

In 2026, Clif ranks #6,263 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Clif most popular?

Clif reached its peak popularity in 1959, ranking #1,865 that year with 19 babies given the name.

Is Clif a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Clif is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Clif?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Clif include Germain, Leandrew, Darriel. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Clif

Clif is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1945 and has accumulated 199 births in the dataset. Clif's peak popularity came in 1959 when it ranked #1,865. Use the chart and map above to compare Clif's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.