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At a Glance: Name: Clementine – Meaning: merciful, mild – Origin: French (from Latin Clemens) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: KLEM-en-teen
Clementine (pronounced KLEM-en-teen) is a French name rooted in the Latin Clemens, meaning merciful, mild. It's easy to assume it's named after the citrus fruit or the old folk song, but that's just a cultural association — the fruit was actually named after a missionary, not the other way around. With a worldly, romantic, storybook, timeless, classic style, it sits in the classic era for parents drawn to that mix.
Meaning & Origin of Clementine
Meaning: Merciful, mild.
Origin: French (from Latin Clemens).
A common claim: Many people assume Clementine is simply named after the citrus fruit or the folk song 'Oh My Darling, Clementine.' Actually: That's a cultural association, not the etymology — the name actually derives from Latin Clemens ('merciful, mild'); the fruit itself was named after missionary Clément Rodier, not the other way around.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Clementine
Phonetic: KLEM-en-teen IPA: /ˈklɛmənˌtiːn/
Popularity of Clementine
Clementine hit its peak popularity in 1882 at #363, when only 24 babies were given the name; by 2024 it ranked #477, given to 645 babies.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Clementine Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Clementine, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Clementine mean?
Merciful, mild. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Clementine)
How do you pronounce Clementine?
Clementine is pronounced KLEM-en-teen (IPA: /ˈklɛmənˌtiːn/).
Is Clementine a popular name right now?
Clementine peaked at #363 in 1882 and is ranked #477 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
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