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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Ford by the cliff
- Origin
- Old English (surname)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- KLIF-erd
Clifford comes from Old English, originally a surname meaning ford by the cliff — a literal, place-rooted name rather than an abstract virtue name. It's been tracked in U.S. baby name data since 1880, giving it over a century of recorded use to look back on. If you like names with a concrete, geographic meaning, it's worth a closer look.
Meaning & Origin of Clifford
Meaning: Ford by the cliff.
Origin: Old English (surname).
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Clifford
KLIF-erdIPA /ˈklɪfərd/
Popularity of Clifford
Clifford peaked at #57 in 1909, when 536 boys were given the name, and has since fallen to #1340 in 2024 with just 142 babies given the name.
Names Like Clifford
These names have followed a similar path to Clifford in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Clifford mean?
Ford by the cliff. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Clifford?
Clifford is pronounced KLIF-erd (IPA: /ˈklɪfərd/).
Is Clifford a popular name right now?
Clifford peaked at #57 in 1909 and is ranked #1340 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Clifford Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Clifford, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Clifford? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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