Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1951

Cleve

Meaning A male given name, found predominantly in the United States Gender Boy · 1% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists

A male given name, found predominantly in the United States.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Cleve
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1951
83 babies
All-time total
4,529
#1,910 all-time among boys
First recorded
1882
in Social Security records

Cleve popularity over time

4,529 babies have been named Cleve since 1882, 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
0.190.380.560.7518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
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 – 295 295 30 – #191
1890s – 219 219 22 -26% #313
1900s – 171 171 17 -22% #474
1910s 6 484 490 49 +187% #513
1920s 12 568 580 58 +18% #819
1930s 5 497 502 50 -13% #792
1940s – 553 553 55 +10% #767
1950s – 682 682 68 +23% #767
1960s – 400 400 40 -41% #1,060
1970s – 294 294 29 -26% #1,288
1980s – 185 185 19 -37% #1,700
1990s – 104 104 10 -44% #2,763
2000s – 44 44 4 -58% #8,343
2010s – 10 10 1 -77% #12,492
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Cleve

Cleve 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 1882, 4,529 American babies have been named Cleve. Its peak came in 1951, when 83 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

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 Cleve stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cleve?

The median living Cleve is about 65 years old; half are between 50 and 74. An estimated 1,800 people named Cleve are alive in the United States today.

median 65 020406080100

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

Cleve 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 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – 5 #12,492
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – 5 #12,596
2009 – – 9 #8,422
2008 – – – –
2007 – – 8 #9,059
2006 – – 5 #12,379
2005 – – 5 #11,761
2004 – – 5 #11,679
2003 – – 5 #11,194
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – 7 #8,343
1995 – – 8 #6,491
1990 – – 13 #4,207
1985 – – 16 #2,967
1980 – – 34 #1,700
1975 – – 21 #2,145
1970 – – 34 #1,441
1965 – – 34 #1,319
1960 – – 47 #1,139
1955 – – 67 #909
1950 – – 64 #853
1945 – – 45 #961
1940 – – 39 #1,033
1935 – – 50 #895
1930 5 #4,676 47 #992
1925 6 #4,532 50 #958
1920 – – 65 #837
1915 – – 62 #762
1910 – – 30 #513
1905 – – 16 #597
1900 – – 16 #629
1895 – – 16 #507
1890 – – 18 #426
1885 – – 69 #191
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Cleve

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

  1. 1 Cleve Moler Cleve Moler American mathematician (1939–2026) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Cleve?

The median living Cleve is about 65 years old. Half of all living Cleves are between 50 and 74 years old.

How many people named Cleve are alive today?

An estimated 1,800 people named Cleve are alive in the United States, based on 4,529 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Cleve mean?

A male given name, found predominantly in the United States.

How popular is the name Cleve in 2025?

Cleve 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 Cleve?

4,529 babies have been named Cleve in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cleve most popular?

Cleve peaked in 1951, when 83 newborns received the name.

Is Cleve a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Cleve rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Cleve?

Well-known people named Cleve include Cleve Moler (mathematician).

Names like Cleve

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

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