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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Settlement by a cliff
- Origin
- Old English (place name/surname)
- Gender
- Used for both boys and girls
- Pronunciation
- KLIF-tun
Clifton is an Old English name, originally a place name and surname, meaning settlement by a cliff. It carries a literal, grounded sense tied to landscape rather than an invented or decorative sound. SSA records for the name go back to 1880, giving it a long, documented history in the United States.
Meaning & Origin of Clifton
Meaning: Settlement by a cliff.
Origin: Old English (place name/surname).
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Clifton
KLIF-tunIPA /ˈklɪftən/
Popularity of Clifton
Clifton peaked in 1915, when 820 babies were given the name, putting it at #144 that year. By 2024 it had dropped to #1746, with only 94 babies named Clifton, marking a long decline across more than a century of Social Security data.
Names Like Clifton
These names have followed a similar path to Clifton in U.S. popularity over the years.
FAQ
What does the name Clifton mean?
Settlement by a cliff. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Clifton?
Clifton is pronounced KLIF-tun (IPA: /ˈklɪftən/).
Is Clifton a popular name right now?
Clifton peaked at #144 in 1915 and is ranked #1746 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
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