Cliff

♂ Boy

Pronounced KLIF /klɪf/High

Meaning: Ford by the cliff; cliff slopeHigh

In 30 seconds: Cliff is a crisp one-syllable name rooted in Old English, used independently or as a short form of Clifford, evoking dramatic natural landscapes.

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Origin HighOld English

MeaningFord by the cliff; cliff slope

U.S. rank (2025)#2895 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births43 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1959

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,308

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Cliff derives from Old English clif, meaning a steep rock face or escarpment. As a standalone name it was used in the 19th and early 20th centuries, frequently as a diminutive of Clifford.

By the 1950s and 1960s, Cliff stood confidently on its own. Cliff Richard in the UK and Cliff Robertson in the US gave the name a rugged, cool image that sustained it through several decades.

Did you know? The name Cliff surged in mid-20th-century pop culture partly through British rock icon Cliff Richard, born Harry Webb, who took the stage name in 1958.

Overall data confidence 92%

Oxford English Dictionary — clif Old English etymologyBehind the Name — Cliff as independent given name and short form of Clifford

Variations

CliffordCliffe

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Cliff Richard (1940–present)
British pop singer and one of the United Kingdom's best-selling recording artists of all time.
★Cliff Robertson (1923–2011)
American actor who won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the 1968 film 'Charly'.

If you like Cliff…

Clive— similar one-syllable Old English feel

Cole— short punchy name with comparable sound pattern

Chad— another Old English name

Caine— another Old English name

Rayne— another Old English name

Explore names like Cliff

By themeshort classic nature one-syllable old-english nickname

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cliff mean?

Cliff means 'ford by a cliff' or simply 'cliff,' from Old English clif. It is often used as a short form of Clifford.

How do you pronounce Cliff?

Cliff is pronounced KLIF — a single crisp syllable.

Is Cliff a boy or girl name?

Cliff is virtually exclusively a boy's name.

How popular is Cliff?

Cliff was most popular in the mid-20th century in the US and UK and remains in occasional use today as a retro classic.