Declining since 1985, #1,906 for boys today.
Popularity of Clifton since 1880
Babies named Clifton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1975, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Clifton's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 456 |
| 1890s | 815 |
| 1900s | 1,197 |
| 1910s | 6,103 |
| 1920s | 8,732 |
| 1930s | 6,857 |
| 1940s | 8,148 |
| 1950s | 9,881 |
| 1960s | 7,617 |
| 1970s | 7,805 |
| 1980s | 6,391 |
| 1990s | 2,941 |
| 2000s | 1,647 |
| 2010s | 1,096 |
| 2020s | 563 |
Meaning & origin
Clifton reached its peak popularity in 1913, a time when surname-style names were widely favored. Since 1985, its usage has been declining, reflecting a broader shift away from older, more formal-sounding names. The name has a strong presence in the southern United States, with Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina being its top states. While never exceedingly common, Clifton has maintained a consistent, if modest, presence in American naming records since 1880, the first year of Social Security data.
Clifton is derived from an English surname, itself from a place name meaning 'settlement near a cliff' (Old English clif 'cliff, bank, steep slope' + tūn 'enclosure, settlement'). As a given name, it came into use in the 19th century, following the practice of using surnames as first names.
Where Clifton 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Clif, Cliff, Cliffy
Variants: Cliffton, Clyfton
Sibling names for Clifton
Names that share Clifton's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Clifton
Names whose popularity has moved with Clifton's over the last 50 years.
