Clifton
Clifton is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Settlement near a cliff or slope.
Origin and history
Clifton is an English given name derived from a surname and placename meaning 'settlement near a cliff'. It was historically popular in the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it is used less frequently but remains a recognizable classic masculine name.
Popularity in the United States
70,249 babies in the United States have been named Clifton since 1880. It ranks #404 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1379.
States where it is most popular
- TX (11.2 %)
- NC (9.2 %)
- LA (6.2 %)
- MS (6.2 %)
- VA (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 456 |
| 1890-1900 | 815 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,197 |
| 1910-1920 | 6,103 |
| 1920-1930 | 8,732 |
| 1930-1940 | 6,857 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,148 |
| 1950-1960 | 9,881 |
| 1960-1970 | 7,617 |
| 1970-1980 | 7,805 |
| 1980-1990 | 6,391 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,941 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,647 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,096 |
| 2020-2029 | 563 |
Famous people named Clifton
- Clifton Webb: Actor, Dancer
- Clifton Davis: Actor, Singer
- Clifton Collins Jr.: Actor
Nicknames
Cliff
Fun facts
- The name originally denoted someone who lived near a cliff or steep hill in Old English.
- Clifton ranked consistently within the top 200 U.S. male names for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.