Clive

For many more names, please Return to Edgar's Main Page.

Clive

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Clive comes from an English surname meaning “Lives by the Cliff” or “Lives by the Slope” from “clif” (cliff, slope).

History:
Clive began its life as a first name when parents with Indian connections bestowed on their sons in honor of Robert Clive (1725-1774) a British administrator of India known as “Clive of India.”

Clive was popularized by the character of Clive Newcome from William Thackery’s The Newcomes (1853-1855).

Clive, while common in Britain until the mid-20th century, has never been popular in the United States.

Pronunciation: clive.

Alternates: Cliff, Cleavn, Cleon, Clevon, Cleve, Clyve.

Feminine: Cleva.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
C(live) S. Lewis (1898-1963)
British writer.
Clive James (1939-)
British writer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Clive Bell (1881-1964)
British art critic.

Scientists:
Sir Clive Sinclair (1940-)
British inventor.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
less than 0.004 % named Clive

Popularity of Clive:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-1884: N/A
1885: 937th most popular.
1886-1891: N/A
1892: 956th most popular.
1893-1894: N/A
1895: 872nd most popular.
1896: N/A
1897: 787th most popular.
1898: N/A
1899: 786th most popular.
1900-1905: N/A
1906: 752nd most popular.
1907-1929: N/A
1930: 964th most popular.
1931: 894th most popular.
1932-1934: N/A
1935: 987th most popular.
1936-2004: N/A

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of English Surnames, Reaney and Wilson, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)