Holding steady.
Popularity of Clemens since 1885
Babies named Clemens per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Clemens's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 19 |
| 1890s | 32 |
| 1900s | 48 |
| 1910s | 446 |
| 1920s | 471 |
| 1930s | 227 |
| 1940s | 163 |
| 1950s | 77 |
| 1960s | 31 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 25 |
| 2000s | 45 |
| 2010s | 23 |
| 2020s | 21 |
Meaning & origin
Clemens is a name with deep Latin roots, meaning 'merciful', and has been in steady, if modest, use in the United States since the 1880s. It reached its peak in 1905, when it ranked 615th in popularity, but has since remained a rare choice. The name has never been common, often reflecting family or cultural traditions from German, Dutch, or Scandinavian heritage. As a stable name without large swings in usage, it appeals to parents seeking a classic but uncommon option for a boy.
From the Latin 'clemens' meaning 'mild, merciful'. The name was borne by several early saints, most notably Pope Clement I. Long used in Continental Europe, it is the Latin and Germanic form of the English Clement.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Clem
Sibling names for Clemens
Names that share Clemens's style, for a brother or sister.
