Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1918

Clemens

Meaning merciful Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

From Late Latin Clēmēns (genitive Clēmentis), name of early saints and popes, from clēmēns (“merciful”).

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Clemens
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1918
66 babies
All-time total
1,641
#3,733 all-time among boys
First recorded
1885
in Social Security records

Clemens popularity over time

1,641 babies have been named Clemens since 1885, 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
0.030.050.080.118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1905Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 19 2 – #777
1890s 32 3 +68% #636
1900s 48 5 +50% #707
1910s 446 45 +829% #697
1920s 471 47 +6% #847
1930s 227 23 -52% #1,081
1940s 163 16 -28% #1,290
1950s 77 8 -53% #2,158
1960s 31 3 -60% #3,087
1970s 5 1 -84% #5,030
1980s 8 1 +60% #5,050
1990s 25 3 +213% #6,638
2000s 45 5 +80% #7,023
2010s 23 2 -49% #10,935
2020s (to 2025) 21 4 +52% #8,447

The story of Clemens

Clemens 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 1885, 1,641 American babies have been named Clemens. Its peak came in 1918, when 66 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 Clemens stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Clemens?

The median living Clemens is about 68 years old; half are between 24 and 81. An estimated 300 people named Clemens 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.

Clemens year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 9 #8,447
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 5 #12,489
2020 7 #9,771
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 6 #10,935
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 6 #11,053
2011 5 #12,636
2010 6 #11,000
2009 – –
2008 7 #10,064
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 9 #7,752
2004 – –
2003 9 #7,341
2002 5 #10,966
2001 9 #7,023
2000 6 #9,290
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 14 #2,158
1950 10 #2,461
1945 13 #1,943
1940 27 #1,290
1935 18 #1,667
1930 41 #1,081
1925 48 #984
1920 64 #847
1915 62 #761
1910 14 #827
1905 12 #707
1900 5 #1,353
1895 7 #893
1890 10 #636
1885 7 #777
1880 – –

Famous people named Clemens

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Clemens August Graf von Galen Clemens August Graf von Galen German Catholic bishop and cardinal (1878–1946) 19th century
  2. 2 Clemens Brentano Clemens Brentano German poet and novelist (1778–1842) 18th century
  3. 3 Clemens August of Bavaria Clemens August of Bavaria Bavarian archbishop 1700–1761 · 17th century
  4. 4 Clemens Fritz Clemens Fritz German footballer (born 1980) Contemporary
  5. 5 Clemens Krauss Clemens Krauss Austrian conductor and opera impresario (1893 - 1954) 19th century
  6. 6 Clemens Winkler Clemens Winkler German chemist who discovered germanium (1838–1904) 19th century
  7. 7 Clemens von Pirquet Clemens von Pirquet Austrian physician (1874–1929) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Clemens?

The median living Clemens is about 68 years old. Half of all living Clemenss are between 24 and 81 years old.

How many people named Clemens are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Clemens are alive in the United States, based on 1,641 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Clemens mean?

From Late Latin Clēmēns (genitive Clēmentis), name of early saints and popes, from clēmēns (“merciful”).

How popular is the name Clemens in 2025?

Clemens 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 Clemens?

1,641 babies have been named Clemens in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Clemens most popular?

Clemens peaked in 1918, when 66 newborns received the name.

Is Clemens a boy or girl name?

Clemens is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Clemens rising or falling?

Clemens is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Clemens?

Well-known people named Clemens include Clemens August Graf von Galen (religious figure), Clemens Brentano (writer), Clemens August of Bavaria (religious figure).

Names like Clemens

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

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