Clark Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Clark is an Old English name meaning 'clerk' or 'scholar'. It evolved from the Old English 'clerec' through Middle English to its present form. The name reflects traits of education and reliability. It does not have biblical relevance and gained popularity during the Middle Ages. Notable figures with this name include Clark Gable and Clark Kent.
The name Clark is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Clark has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Clark' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 320th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 285th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 287th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 451st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 566th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 705th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 407th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6965th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7165th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 9994th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 14973rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 16870th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 22155th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6651st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Clark' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Clark"
Pronunciation
/klɑːrk/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Clark originates from the Old English word 'clerec', which means 'clerk' or 'scholar'. It was used to denote a person who was educated or had clerical duties.
Meaning
clerk, scholar
Language Evolution
Old English: clerec, Middle English: clerc, Early Modern English: Clarke
Historical Usage
The name Clark gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages when literacy was becoming more valued, and it was often associated with educated individuals.
Variants & Derivatives
Clarke, Clerk, Clarence
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Clark is perceived as a traditional and strong name, often associated with reliability and intelligence.
Famous People
Clark Gable, Clark Kent (fictional character), Clark Gregg
Explore More Clark Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Clark"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Clark"
"Clark" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 320th of 7545 | 5,241 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 285th of 6773 | 7,031 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 287th of 7552 | 12,580 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 451st of 10718 | 5,258 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 566th of 16616 | 4,750 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 705th of 24088 | 4,628 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 407th of 23106 | 9,434 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6965th of 9107 | 17 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7165th of 9204 | 16 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 9994th of 12526 | 15 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 14973rd of 19264 | 14 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 16870th of 27321 | 29 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 22155th of 35406 | 30 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6651st of 30306 | 215 |
Regional Popularity of "Clark" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
16.67% 236th/1416 |
21.61% 298th/1379 |
17.46% 413th/2366 |
23.64% 270th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
15.20% 235th/1546 |
15.17% 236th/1556 |
15.04% 354th/2353 |
15.19% 235th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
10.24% 228th/2227 |
11.44% 278th/2430 |
11.81% 337th/2853 |
9.12% 253rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
13.45% 395th/2937 |
13.52% 471st/3483 |
13.67% 481st/3518 |
10.14% 410th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
13.13% 484th/3685 |
15.11% 676th/4475 |
11.17% 580th/5194 |
8.86% 560th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.60% 623rd/4582 |
16.87% 871st/5164 |
10.06% 736th/7313 |
9.25% 690th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
8.58% 342nd/3984 |
10.01% 449th/4487 |
6.61% 451st/6822 |
6.10% 383rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Clark" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Clark"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Clark" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.