A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Clement since 1880
Babies named Clement per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Clement's real moment was 1912.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 242 |
| 1890s | 317 |
| 1900s | 442 |
| 1910s | 2,332 |
| 1920s | 2,842 |
| 1930s | 1,845 |
| 1940s | 1,562 |
| 1950s | 1,283 |
| 1960s | 792 |
| 1970s | 498 |
| 1980s | 440 |
| 1990s | 392 |
| 2000s | 390 |
| 2010s | 442 |
| 2020s | 348 |
Meaning & origin
Clement is a name of Latin origin meaning 'merciful' or 'gentle', a virtue name that was adopted by early Christians and has been borne by 14 popes and numerous saints. It entered the English-speaking world after the Norman Conquest and saw strong use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, peaking in 1912 at rank 225. After a long decline, the name has been rising again since 1999, reaching a rank of 2,258 in 2025 with an incidence of 1 in 27,550. Its top states in recent years are Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. The name's gentle meaning and classic sound, along with nicknames like Clem, make it a quiet revival candidate for modern parents.
From the Latin 'Clemens' (genitive 'Clementis'), meaning 'merciful, gentle'. A common name among early Christians, borne by several popes and saints, it entered common English usage after the Norman Conquest. It has seen periodic revival in the English-speaking world, including a modest resurgence since the late 1990s.
Where Clement is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Clement” around the world
Where Clement lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
595
babies in 2024
Quebec
#49
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Clem
Sibling names for Clement
Names that share Clement's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Grace, Faith, Beatrice, Evelyn, Clara, Agatha, Candida, Faustina, Temperance, Albina, Amity, Bernardine, Hortensia, Clemence, Electa, Eufemia, Euphemia, Leocadia, Mercie, Pleasant, Teretha, Apolonia, Apphia, Climmie, Eusebia, Glorie, Arcenia, Arsenia, Gratia, Temprance
Brothers: Theodore, Arthur, Walter, Felix, Oscar, Justus, Noble, Isidore, Silvester, Barnabas, Clearance, Constant, Eustace, Marvelle, Octave, Paschal, Philemon, Toussaint, Cyprian, Erastus, Gentle, Theophil, Ascension
