Holding steady.
Popularity of Cleave since 1885
Babies named Cleave per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Cleave's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 17 |
| 1890s | 24 |
| 1900s | 15 |
| 1910s | 77 |
| 1920s | 107 |
| 1930s | 63 |
| 1940s | 33 |
| 1950s | 57 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Cleave is a rare and unusual name with uncertain origins. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1885, and its highest recorded usage was in 1894, when it was given to a small number of boys. Despite a peak in the 1890s, the name never entered common use and remained stable in its rarity. No top states or rankings are available, reflecting its extremely limited adoption. Cleave may appeal to those seeking an obscure, vintage-sounding name with a rugged feel, but its meaning and etymology remain open to interpretation.
The name Cleave likely derives from an Old English surname or place name. It may originate from the word 'clif' meaning 'cliff' or 'slope', or from 'cleofan' meaning 'to split'. As a given name, it saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States, but never achieved widespread popularity.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Cleve
Sibling names for Cleave
Names that share Cleave's style, for a brother or sister.
