Clifford

English

"lives near the ford by the cliff"

Clifford Origin and Meaning

The name Clifford is a boy's name of English origin meaning "lives near the ford by the cliff".

Clifford is beginning to overcome a slightly stodgy intellectual image and showing signs of possible revival. Kids might or might not like the association with the big red dog. In England, the Clifford family was a powerful family in the Middle Ages. In this country, it was well used for most of the twentieth century, peaking at Number 57 in 1909, but a Top 100 name through 1950. Most prominent American bearers: playwright Clifford Odets and jazz trumpet great Clifford Brown.

Clifford Rank in US Top 1000

# 920 in the US

Clifford Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 994 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Clifford

• 994 Nameberry 2025
• 455 Unique 2023

20 Names Similar to Clifford

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Clifford.

• Arnold
• Stanley
• Herbert
• Norman
• Howard
• Barney
• Seymour
• Sidney
• Ned
• Ralph
• Roger
• Reginald
• Morris
• Walt
• Harold
• Wallace
• Gordon
• Elmer
• Guy
• Floyd

Famous People Named Clifford

• Clifford Joseph Harris aka T.I. American rapper
• Clifford Smith aka Method Man American rapper
• Clifford Ian Simpson aka Kevin Abstract, American rapper
• Clifford Odets American playwright
• Clifford Ball American aviator
• Clifford Parker "Cliff" Robertson III American actor
• Clifford Alan Pickover American science author
• Clifford S. Chapin IV American actor and animator
• Clifford James Geertz American anthropologist
• Clifford Bundy "Cliff" Stearns Sr., U.S. Congressman from Florida
• Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton American former bass guitarist for Metallica
• Clifford Edward Berry American inventor
• Clifford Michael Irving American Author
• Clifford Glenwood Shull American physicist; winner of the Nobel Prize
• Clifford Tobin "Cliff" DeYoung American actor and musician
• (Clifford) Porter Hall American actor
• Clifford Lee "Cliff" Burton American bass guitarist for Metallica
• Clifford Charles "Cliff" Arquette American actor
• Clifford John "Cliff" Bole American TV director
• Clifford Vivian Devon "Cliff" Curtis New Zealand actor
• Arthur Clifford "Cliff" Michelmore English TV presenter
• Clifford Allen "Cliff" Harris American NFL player
• Clifford Olin son of American actors Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig

The name Clifford in Pop Culture

• Clifford the Big Red Dog children's book and TV character
• Clifford Montgomery character on Canadian parody soap "Le coeur a ses raisons"
• Clifford "Cliff" Clavin character on TV's "Cheers'
• Clifford "Cliff" Blossom character in Archie Comics Universe
• Clifford "Cliff" Steele also known as Robotman, character in DC Universe
• Clifford Daniels main character played by Martin Short in the 1994 black comedy film "Clifford"