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Home › Baby Names Directory › Clifton

Clifton

♂ Boy

Pronounced KLIHF-tuhn /ˈklɪf.tən/Medium

Meaning: Settlement by a cliffMedium

In 30 seconds: Clifton is an English name meaning 'settlement by a cliff'. It is a sturdy, traditional place-name turned given name.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningSettlement by a cliff
U.S. rank (2025)#1907 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births82 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1975
Total births (all-time)≈ 70,246

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197518802025

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

Clifton comes straight from the English landscape, naming a 'settlement by a cliff'. It moved from place name to surname to first name over time. The meaning keeps it grounded in real geography.

It has been carried by the actor Clifton Webb (1889-1966) and the actor Clifton Powell (born 1956). The name has a solid, dignified sound, formal without feeling fussy.

Did you know? Clifton likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Clifton — 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

  • ★Clifton Webb (1889–1966)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Clifton Powell (1956–present)
    Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Clifton…

Clifford— An English place-name beginning with the same 'cliff' element.
Clinton— Another English place-name surname with the same '-ton' settlement ending.
Ashton— An English place-name turned first name sharing the '-ton' element.
Cashton— a fellow English choice
Camron— echoes that soft -on sound

Explore names like Clifton

By themeenglishsurname-style
By meaningRock / Stone

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Clifton mean?

Clifton is usually explained as meaning 'settlement by a cliff' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Clifton?

It's commonly said KLIHF-tuhn /ˈklɪf.tən/.

Is Clifton a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Clifton?

In 2024, Clifton ranked #1746 in the U.S. for boys, with 94 births recorded.

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