Boy Name · Surname Origin
Clive
Clive is a boy's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is a boy's name of Surname origin, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.
Clive — a boy name from the Surname tradition — is an uncommon, standout choice. If Cleve is on your shortlist, Clive belongs in the same conversation.
Clive meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Clive has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Surname naming roots help connect Clive to related Surname baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Clive as C·L·I·V·E, with 5 letters and a boy usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Clive is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Clive variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Clivea, Clivee, Clivey, Cliv.
- Nicknames: Cli and C.
- Middle names: Pair Clive with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Clive middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Cleve, Cleave, Cliff, Colby, Caleb — full picks on the sibling names for Clive guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Clive? Browse our names like Clive guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Clive
What does the name Clive mean?
Clive has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a boy name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Clive?
Clive originates in Surname naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Clive?
Clive has 5 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Clive a boy's or girl's name?
Clive is primarily used as a boy's name in US records.
How popular is Clive in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Clive sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Clive?
Names that share Clive's sound and style include Cleve, Cleave, Cliff, Colby, Caleb.
What middle names pair well with Clive?
Good middle-name fits for Clive pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Clive is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Clive is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Clive?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Clive share its rhythm without rhyming — Cleve, Cleave, Cliff all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.