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Clancy

♂ Boy

Pronounced KLAN-see /ˈklæn.si/High

Meaning: From Irish Mac Fhlannchaidh, 'son of Flannchadh', a name built on flann, 'red, ruddy', usually glossed 'red warrior'Medium

In 30 seconds: An Irish surname with a grin and a ginger streak: Clancy descends from 'red warrior'. It walked the beat in old American song and writes techno-thrillers on airport shelves.
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Origin HighIrish
MeaningFrom Irish Mac Fhlannchaidh, 'son of Flannchadh', a name built on flann, 'red, ruddy', usually glossed 'red warrior'
U.S. rank (2024)#3220 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births37 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,395

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419142024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Clancy anglicizes Mac Fhlannchaidh, 'son of Flannchadh' — an Irish personal name on flann, 'red, ruddy', commonly glossed 'red warrior'. The clan hailed from Clare and Leitrim, and the surname marched into American culture with Irish immigration, becoming shorthand for affable toughness.

Novelist Tom Clancy gave the surname bestseller fame, and folk fans revere the Clancy Brothers. As a first name it is rare and twinkling — an Irish-eyed pick in the Sullivan-and-Murphy lane of surname charm.

Did you know? 'Clancy Lowered the Boom' — a hit for Dennis Day in the 1940s — made Clancy the archetypal scrappy Irishman of American popular song.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Clancy — surname etymology

Variations

ClanceyClanci

Nicknames

Clance

Famous Bearers

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If you like Clancy…

Murphy— a fellow jovial Irish surname-name
Sullivan— the polished Irish surname companion
Finnegan— another storyteller's Irish pick with a built-in nickname
Flynn— shares the 'ruddy' Irish root family

Browse the whole category: All Irish names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Clancy mean?

Clancy comes from Irish Mac Fhlannchaidh, 'son of Flannchadh', built on flann, 'red' — usually glossed 'red warrior'.

How do you pronounce Clancy?

It's said KLAN-see /ˈklæn.si/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Clancy a boy or girl name?

Clancy is mostly a boy's name, with occasional use for girls.

How popular is Clancy?

Clancy is a rare first name in the U.S.