NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Clive

A masculine name of English origin meaning "cliff, slope, or river bank".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Clive is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Clive popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2443, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 20 births.

This profile covers 225 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.

The latest count is about 45% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 260 living people in the UK are called Clive. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Clive ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 9 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 20 boys were registered as Clive.
  • Clive ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.
  • About 260 living people in the UK are estimated to have Clive as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2443

2024

Births in 2024

9

Latest year

Peak year

1997

20 births

Estimated living

260

2026

Meaning

What does Clive mean?

The name Clive is of Old English origin, derived from the word "clif," meaning a cliff or a slope. This name gained popularity during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

The name Clive has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon era, and it was a common name among the people living in the regions of Worcestershire and Shropshire in England. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Cliue."

In ancient times, the name Clive was associated with strength and resilience, as it was often given to children born in or near cliffs or slopes. It was believed that these children would grow up to be strong and steadfast, just like the natural formations they were named after.

One of the earliest historical references to the name Clive can be found in the writings of the 12th-century historian, William of Malmesbury. He mentioned a nobleman named Clive de Bec, who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Clive. One of the most famous was Robert Clive (1725-1774), an English military officer and statesman who is often referred to as the "Conqueror of India." He played a significant role in securing British control over the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century.

Another well-known Clive was Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963), the renowned British author and scholar, best known for his works of fiction, including the Chronicles of Narnia series. His works have had a profound impact on literature and continue to be widely read and studied.

Clive Cussler (1931-2020) was an American author and marine archaeologist, best known for his adventure novels featuring the character Dirk Pitt. His books have sold over 100 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over 40 languages.

Clive Davis (born 1932) is an American record executive and producer, who has played a pivotal role in the music industry for over six decades. He has worked with numerous legendary artists, including Janis Joplin, Bruce Springsteen, and Whitney Houston.

Clive Owen (born 1964) is an English actor, known for his roles in films such as "Closer," "Children of Men," and "Sin City." He has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe and a BAFTA award, for his impressive acting performances.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Clive over time

The chart below shows babies named Clive registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Clive, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2024, compared with 20 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Clive
05101520199620102024

Decades

Clive by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Clive 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
2020s #3295 32 5
2010s #3710 49 10
2000s #1955 93 10
1990s #1260 51 4

Geography

Where Clive is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Clive. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Clive ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Clive in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#687 in 2013

7 years of NRS records, 38 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Clive

  • Clive Wilson

    association football player

    English footballer (born 1961)

    1961-

  • Clive Woodward

    rugby union player

    English rugby union coach and former player

    1956-

  • Clive Wood

    stage actor; television actor; film actor; video game actor

    English actor

    1954-

  • Clive Young

    Anglican priest

    Bishop of Dunwich

    1948-2015

  • Clive Williams

    rugby union player

    Welsh rugby union footballer

    1947-

  • Clive Woods

    association football player

    footballer (born 1947)

    1947-

  • Clive Williams

    academic

    Australian academic

    1945-

  • Clive Wilmer

    poet; translator; journalist; literary critic

    British poet

    1945-2025

Related

Names similar to Clive

FAQ

Clive: questions and answers

How popular is the name Clive in the UK right now?

In 2024, Clive was ranked #2443 for boys in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.

When was Clive most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 20 babies registered as Clive in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Clive?

A masculine name of English origin meaning "cliff, slope, or river bank".

How many people are called Clive in the UK?

A total of 225 babies have been registered as Clive across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 38 more in Scotland.

Where is Clive most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Clive ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #687 in 2013. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.