Klint

Meaning & origin

Klint is an uncommon masculine name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1957. It remains a rare choice, never reaching the top 1000, with its peak usage occurring in 1983. The name is a modern respelling of Clint, itself a short form of the English surname Clinton. The trajectory of the name has been stable, indicating consistent but minimal use over the decades. Klint's brief spike in 1983 may reflect a temporary interest in variant spellings of familiar names. Parents choosing Klint today adopt a distinctive spelling that sets it apart from the more common Clint, while retaining the name's straightforward one-syllable sound.

Klint is a modern spelling variant of Clint, itself a short form of the English surname Clinton. The surname Clinton originated from place names in England, such as Glympton in Oxfordshire, derived from Old English 'clif' (cliff) and 'tun' (settlement), meaning 'settlement by the cliff.' Alternatively, it may come from 'clint,' a Northern English dialect word for a hard stone or a rocky outcrop. The name gained limited use as a given name in the 20th century, partly influenced by the actor Clint Eastwood.