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Home › Baby Names Directory › Clarence

Clarence

♂ Boy

Pronounced KLAIR-uhns /ˈklɛr.əns/Medium

Meaning: From the medieval English dukedom of Clarence (named for the town of Clare in Suffolk), ultimately from Latin clarus "clear, bright, illustrious"; in use as a given name since the 19th century.Medium

In 30 seconds: Clarence comes from the medieval English dukedom of Clarence, named for the Suffolk town of Clare, ultimately from Latin clarus, 'clear, bright, illustrious'.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin
MeaningFrom the medieval English dukedom of Clarence (named for the town of Clare in Suffolk), ultimately from Latin clarus "clear, bright, illustrious"; in use as a given name since the 19th century.
U.S. rank (2025)#1500 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births117 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1921
Total births (all-time)≈ 303,562

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192118802025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

The name's path runs from the Latin clarus, meaning clear or illustrious, through the Suffolk town of Clare to the dukedom of Clarence. It only became a regular given name in the 19th century, drawing on that noble, title-based association. Behind the formal sound is a bright, shining meaning.

Its most prominent bearer is Clarence Thomas (born 1948), an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court since 1991 and one of the Court's longest-serving members. That association gives the name a weighty, institutional presence.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Clarence is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Clarence — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Clarence Thomas (born 1948)
    American jurist serving as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court since 1991. He is one of the longest-serving justices on the Court.

If you like Clarence…

Clare— The Suffolk town behind the dukedom that gave Clarence its name.
Clark— Shares the bright Latin clarus root and the same opening sound.
Florence— A place-derived name with the same -ence ending and classic feel.
Cadence— shares Clarence's English roots
Terrence— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Clarence

By themeenglish
By meaningLightGift / BlessingHonor

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Clarence mean?

Clarence is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Clarence?

It's commonly said KLAIR-uhns /ˈklɛr.əns/.

Is Clarence a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Clarence is used as a boy name.

How popular is Clarence?

In 2024, Clarence ranked #1558 in the U.S. for boys, with 111 births recorded.

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