Cliff
Cliff was the 2895th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 43 babies. Its best year was 1886, when it ranked 358th; the most babies were born in 1959 (310). Over the last ten years it has moved up 2,443 places. More babies were named Cliff in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #2,895 boys, down 228 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 43boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1959310 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,307babies recorded
Cliff popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,895 | 43 |
| 2020 | #2,667 | 47 |
| 2010 | #4,873 | 19 |
| 2000 | #3,088 | 28 |
| 1990 | #1,570 | 53 |
| 1980 | #734 | 143 |
| 1970 | #653 | 157 |
| 1960 | #497 | 251 |
| 1950 | #706 | 94 |
| 1940 | #718 | 72 |
| 1930 | #1,023 | 45 |
| 1920 | #1,077 | 43 |
| 1910 | #659 | 20 |
| 1900 | #605 | 17 |
| 1890 | #493 | 15 |
| 1880 | #760 | 7 |
How popular is Cliff, counting every spelling?
Cliff has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Cliff?
43 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Cliff (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Cliff born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 195 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Cliff.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Cliff?
About 6,000 people born in the US named Cliff are alive today, with a median age of 58; half are between 43 and 67. That makes Cliff a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Cliff by state
How common Cliff was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 48 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Cliff: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Cliff, they share its era and feel.
Cliff is also a nickname for Clifford and Clifton.
Questions about the name Cliff
How popular is the name Cliff?
Cliff was the 2895th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 43 babies. Its best year was 1886, when it ranked 358th; the most babies were born in 1959 (310). Over the last ten years it has moved up 2,443 places. More babies were named Cliff in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Cliff a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Cliff in the US.
Where is Cliff most popular?
In 2021–2025, Cliff was most common in North Carolina (0.02 per 1,000 boys), followed by Florida and California.