Cleveland Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Cleveland is an Old English name meaning 'cliff land'. It evolved from the Old English 'cleof' and 'land', reflecting geographical features. The name gained prominence with the founding of Cleveland, Ohio, and is associated with notable figures and a rich industrial history.
The name Cleveland is most popular in Mississippi, 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, Cleveland 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, 'Cleveland' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 312th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 357th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 437th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 650th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1043rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2384th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4766th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6694th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6257th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8234th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 16521st out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Cleveland' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cleveland"
Pronunciation
/ˈkliːv.lənd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Cleveland is derived from the Old English words 'cleof' meaning 'cliff' and 'land' meaning 'land' or 'ground'. It originally referred to land near a cliff.
Meaning
cliff land
Language Evolution
Cleofland, Clevelande, Cleveland
Historical Usage
Cleveland gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly with the establishment of the city of Cleveland, Ohio in 1836.
Variants & Derivatives
Cleeve, Cleeveland, Clevland
Modern Popularity & Image
Cleveland is often associated with its rich industrial history, sports teams, and cultural contributions, though it has faced economic challenges in recent decades.
Famous People
Cleveland Abbe, Grover Cleveland, Cleveland Williams
Explore More Cleveland Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cleveland"
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 "Cleveland"
"Cleveland" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 312th of 7545 | 5,363 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 357th of 6773 | 4,654 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 437th of 7552 | 5,498 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 650th of 10718 | 2,579 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1043rd of 16616 | 1,530 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2384th of 24088 | 767 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4766th of 23106 | 245 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6694th of 9107 | 20 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6257th of 9204 | 27 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8234th of 12526 | 30 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 16521st of 19264 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Cleveland" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
60.95% 863rd/1416 |
59.17% 816th/1379 |
7.78% 184th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
48.64% 752nd/1546 |
53.66% 835th/1556 |
9.94% 234th/2353 |
68.97% 1067th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
26.94% 600th/2227 |
22.88% 556th/2430 |
11.29% 322nd/2853 |
27.17% 754th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
27.03% 794th/2937 |
20.04% 698th/3483 |
13.64% 480th/3518 |
26.26% 1062nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
30.34% 1118th/3685 |
29.09% 1302nd/4475 |
15.00% 779th/5194 |
35.62% 2250th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
50.13% 2297th/4582 |
- |
25.34% 1853rd/7313 |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
66.11% 4510th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Cleveland" 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 "Cleveland"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cleveland" 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.