UK boy's name
Cliff
A masculine name derived from the English word meaning a steep rock face.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cliff is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cliff popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3822, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Cliff is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Cliff. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cliff ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 4 boys were registered as Cliff.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cliff as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3822
2013
Births in 2013
4
Latest year
Peak year
2013
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Cliff mean?
The name Cliff originates from the Old English word "clif," which means a steep rock face or precipice. It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "klibaz," meaning to stick or adhere. The name was likely given to someone who lived near a cliff or rocky outcrop.
Cliff is an English name that has been in use since the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Cliff in Gloucestershire, England.
In the 12th century, a Benedictine monk named Cliff was known for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy. He lived and worked at the monastery in Malmesbury, England, in the early 1100s.
During the Renaissance period, a notable figure named Cliff Hampden (1493-1557) was a member of the English Parliament and a supporter of the Protestant Reformation. He played a role in the religious and political struggles of the time.
In the 17th century, Cliff Burghley (1610-1679) was an English architect and designer known for his work on several notable buildings, including the Banqueting House in London.
Another historical figure named Cliff was Cliff Craven (1744-1819), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was known for his bravery and leadership in several naval battles.
Cliff is a relatively uncommon name, but it has been used throughout history by various individuals from different backgrounds and professions. While not as popular as some other names, it has a rich history and a strong connection to its Old English roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cliff over time
The chart below shows babies named Cliff registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cliff, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2013, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cliff by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cliff was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #3822 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3467 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Cliff
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Cliff: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cliff in the UK right now?
In 2013, Cliff was ranked #3822 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Cliff most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 4 babies registered as Cliff in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cliff?
A masculine name derived from the English word meaning a steep rock face.
How many people are called Cliff in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Cliff across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.