Cleve
Cleve is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Cliff, hillside, or slope.
Origin and history
Cleve is an Old English name derived from topographical terms for a cliff, slope, or hillside, originally used as a locational surname or short form of Cleveland. It was moderately used in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but has become extremely rare in contemporary usage. Today, it offers a vintage, rugged single-syllable choice with classic geographic roots.
Popularity in the United States
4,506 babies in the United States have been named Cleve since 1880. It ranks #1848 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- GA (17.2 %)
- TX (17.2 %)
- AL (16.4 %)
- CA (7.3 %)
- MS (7.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 295 |
| 1890-1900 | 219 |
| 1900-1910 | 171 |
| 1910-1920 | 484 |
| 1920-1930 | 568 |
| 1930-1940 | 497 |
| 1940-1950 | 553 |
| 1950-1960 | 682 |
| 1960-1970 | 400 |
| 1970-1980 | 294 |
| 1980-1990 | 185 |
| 1990-2000 | 104 |
| 2000-2010 | 44 |
| 2010-2019 | 10 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Cleve
- Cleve Jones: Activist, Author
- Cleve Moler: Mathematician, Computer Scientist
Fun facts
- The name originally described someone who lived near a steep bank, cliff, or slope.
- Most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cleve was often used as a shortened form of Cleveland.