Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1917

Clem

Meaning A unisex given name Gender Boy · 1% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Clement.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Clem
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1917
109 babies
All-time total
4,329
#1,984 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Clem popularity over time

4,329 babies have been named Clem since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s 5 298 303 30 – #260
1890s 16 267 283 28 -7% #293
1900s 5 221 226 23 -20% #404
1910s 17 719 736 74 +226% #485
1920s 11 845 856 86 +16% #629
1930s – 551 551 55 -36% #754
1940s – 499 499 50 -9% #829
1950s – 355 355 36 -29% #1,077
1960s – 244 244 24 -31% #1,194
1970s – 111 111 11 -55% #2,414
1980s – 87 87 9 -22% #3,249
1990s – 32 32 3 -63% #5,588
2000s – 26 26 3 -19% #7,658
2010s – 20 20 2 -23% #8,286
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Clem

Clem is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 4,329 American babies have been named Clem. Its peak came in 1917, when 109 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Clem stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Clem?

The median living Clem is about 68 years old; half are between 56 and 78. An estimated 1,100 people named Clem are alive in the United States today.

median 68 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Clem year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – 9 #8,286
2016 – – – –
2015 – – 5 #12,428
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – 6 #11,052
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – 7 #10,063
2007 – – – –
2006 – – 6 #10,918
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – 8 #7,658
2000 – – 5 #10,655
1995 – – – –
1990 – – 6 #7,338
1985 – – 12 #3,631
1980 – – 8 #4,569
1975 – – 12 #3,104
1970 – – 15 #2,414
1965 – – 21 #1,729
1960 – – 43 #1,194
1955 – – 30 #1,401
1950 – – 37 #1,187
1945 – – 44 #966
1940 – – 45 #953
1935 – – 49 #906
1930 – – 70 #766
1925 – – 88 #683
1920 – – 100 #629
1915 5 #4,406 92 #595
1910 – – 23 #603
1905 5 #1,993 27 #415
1900 – – 28 #424
1895 5 #1,640 28 #347
1890 6 #1,238 25 #351
1885 – – 34 #284
1880 – – 22 #363

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Clem, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Clem?

The median living Clem is about 68 years old. Half of all living Clems are between 56 and 78 years old.

How many people named Clem are alive today?

An estimated 1,100 people named Clem are alive in the United States, based on 4,329 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Clem mean?

A unisex given name. A diminutive of the male given name Clement.

How popular is the name Clem in 2025?

Clem did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Clem?

4,329 babies have been named Clem in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Clem most popular?

Clem peaked in 1917, when 109 newborns received the name.

Is Clem a boy or girl name?

Clem is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Clem rising or falling?

Clem is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Clem

Names that sound and feel close to Clem: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Clem with similar names → More names starting with C →