Clyde
Clyde was the 743rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 350 babies. Its best year was 1883, when it ranked 50th; the most babies were born in 1920 (3,069). Over the last ten years it has moved up 60 places. More babies were named Clyde in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning the river Clyde (origin uncertain) · Scottish Gaelic
Say it KLYDE /klaɪd/
- Rank in 2025
- #743 boys, down 28 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 350boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19203,069 babies
- Total since 1880
- 148,926babies recorded
What does the name Clyde mean?
Clyde is the name of the river that flows through Glasgow in Scotland. Wiktionary derives it from Scottish Gaelic Cluaidh, of uncertain origin, perhaps influenced by a word meaning "the cleansing one." Wiktionary notes that in the Philippines Clyde is sometimes used, humorously, as an anglicization of Claudio. As a first name it has been used in the US since 1880, mostly for boys, and was most common around 1920.
Cluaidh (Scottish Gaelic, “the River Clyde”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Wiktionary: river name of uncertain origin.
Related names: Clydie.
See also: Scottish names, names that mean water, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Clyde' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Clyde popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 3,932 since 1880.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #743 | 350 |
| 2020 | #715 | 348 |
| 2010 | #1,268 | 137 |
| 2000 | #1,016 | 144 |
| 1990 | #641 | 250 |
| 1980 | #420 | 386 |
| 1970 | #315 | 621 |
| 1960 | #206 | 1,372 |
| 1950 | #136 | 1,985 |
| 1940 | #102 | 2,014 |
| 1930 | #76 | 2,631 |
| 1920 | #68 | 3,069 |
| 1910 | #57 | 617 |
| 1900 | #56 | 451 |
| 1890 | #64 | 317 |
| 1880 | #72 | 221 |
How popular is Clyde, counting every spelling?
Clyde is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #707 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #743 for Clyde on its own. Together these spellings went to 369 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clyde | 350 | #743 | 1,827 |
| Klyde | 19 | #5,128 | 107 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Clyde?
350 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Clyde (0.10 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Clyde 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 24 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Clyde.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Clyde?
About 44,700 people born in the US named Clyde are alive today, with a median age of 67; half are between 50 and 77. That makes Clyde 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.
Clyde by state
How common Clyde was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Utah (2.5×), Missouri (2.3×), Oregon (2.1×), Minnesota (2.0×), Wisconsin (2.0×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Clyde: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Clyde, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Clyde · Sibling names for Clyde
Questions about the name Clyde
What does Clyde mean?
Clyde is usually explained as “the river Clyde (origin uncertain)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Clyde?
Clyde was the 743rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 350 babies. Its best year was 1883, when it ranked 50th; the most babies were born in 1920 (3,069). Over the last ten years it has moved up 60 places. More babies were named Clyde in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Clyde a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Clyde in the US.
Where is Clyde most popular?
In 2021–2025, Clyde was most common in Montana (0.68 per 1,000 boys), followed by South Dakota and Utah.