Cliff

Cliff is a boy's name of English origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 41 boys in the United States.

Cliff at a glance

Gender
Boy name
Origin
English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/Kentucky|c/

About the name Cliff

Cliff belongs to the English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, Cliff first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #358 in 1886, and in 2024 41 babies received the name — 9,265 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Cliff in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#358 in 1886
Peak year
1959
Babies named Cliff in 2024
41
Total since 1880
9,265

Cliff in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1999
Best rank
#2943 in 1999
Babies named Cliff in 2013
4
Total since 1996
10

Similar names

More names from the English & American shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Cliff mean?

The meaning of Cliff is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its English origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Cliff a boy or girl name?

Cliff is a boy name. In 2024, 41 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Cliff?

Cliff comes from the English & American tradition.

How popular is the name Cliff?

Cliff first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #358 in 1886, and 41 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Cliff?

Cliff is pronounced /Kentucky|c/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.