Cleve Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Cleve is an Old English name meaning 'cliff' or 'slope'. Its linguistic roots trace back to Old English, evolving through Middle English. The name is associated with strength and stability, reflecting its geographical meaning, and does not hold biblical significance. It gained popularity during the medieval period and continues to be used today, although it is less common. Variants include Cleave and Cleves.
The name Cleve is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cleve has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled 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 male in West. Across generations, 'Cleve' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 816th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 920th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 945th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1561st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3514th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11654th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 23106th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7503rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7783rd out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Cleve' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cleve"
Pronunciation
/kliv/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Cleve is derived from the Old English word 'cleof', which means 'cliff' or 'slope'. It may also be related to the Old English 'cleofan', meaning 'to cleave' or 'to adhere'.
Meaning
cliff, slope
Language Evolution
Cleof (Old English), Cleave (Middle English), Cleve (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Cleve gained popularity in England during the medieval period and has remained in use as a surname and given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Cleave, Cleves, Clev, Cleva
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Cleve is considered a unique and somewhat vintage name, often perceived as strong and grounded due to its geographical connotations.
Famous People
Cleve Jones, American LGBTQ rights activist, Cleve McMahon, American politician
Explore More Cleve Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cleve"
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 "Cleve"
"Cleve" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 816th of 7545 | 1,091 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 920th of 6773 | 893 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 945th of 7552 | 1,186 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1561st of 10718 | 497 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3514th of 16616 | 243 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 11654th of 24088 | 61 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 23106th of 23106 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7503rd of 9107 | 12 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7783rd of 9204 | 11 |
Regional Popularity of "Cleve" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
79.45% 1125th/1416 |
- |
29.46% 697th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
- |
40.93% 963rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
51.50% 1147th/2227 |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
34.03% 971st/2853 |
37.87% 1051st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- |
48.44% 1704th/3518 |
50.91% 2059th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Cleve" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cleve"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cleve" 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.