Clinton
A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage.
Every Clinton since 1880 — 98,005 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Clinton
Clinton is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,732 in 2025 with 94 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 98,005 American babies have been named Clinton. Its peak came in 1981, when 2,222 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
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 Clinton stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Clinton 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 | — | — | 94 | #1,732 |
| 2024 | — | — | 82 | #1,924 |
| 2023 | — | — | 104 | #1,651 |
| 2022 | — | — | 133 | #1,398 |
| 2021 | — | — | 122 | #1,470 |
| 2020 | — | — | 129 | #1,370 |
| 2019 | — | — | 125 | #1,408 |
| 2018 | — | — | 158 | #1,195 |
| 2017 | — | — | 140 | #1,295 |
| 2016 | — | — | 187 | #1,057 |
| 2015 | — | — | 201 | #1,012 |
| 2014 | — | — | 234 | #915 |
| 2013 | — | — | 220 | #927 |
| 2012 | — | — | 227 | #912 |
| 2011 | — | — | 221 | #912 |
| 2010 | — | — | 199 | #990 |
| 2009 | — | — | 226 | #913 |
| 2008 | — | — | 248 | #855 |
| 2007 | — | — | 291 | #756 |
| 2006 | — | — | 240 | #843 |
| 2005 | — | — | 279 | #726 |
| 2004 | — | — | 258 | #731 |
| 2003 | — | — | 252 | #728 |
| 2002 | — | — | 245 | #724 |
| 2001 | — | — | 257 | #698 |
| 2000 | — | — | 289 | #633 |
| 1995 | — | — | 476 | #466 |
| 1990 | — | — | 1,501 | #203 |
| 1985 | 6 | #9,540 | 1,693 | #162 |
| 1980 | 16 | #4,554 | 2,165 | #131 |
| 1975 | 13 | #4,636 | 1,578 | #154 |
| 1970 | 8 | #5,911 | 1,595 | #175 |
| 1965 | — | — | 919 | #245 |
| 1960 | 5 | #6,522 | 1,095 | #243 |
| 1955 | — | — | 833 | #243 |
| 1950 | 5 | #5,435 | 832 | #220 |
| 1945 | — | — | 681 | #209 |
| 1940 | 6 | #3,942 | 632 | #204 |
| 1935 | — | — | 718 | #185 |
| 1930 | 10 | #2,883 | 694 | #201 |
| 1925 | 7 | #4,101 | 862 | #172 |
| 1920 | 5 | #5,119 | 908 | #158 |
| 1915 | — | — | 681 | #167 |
| 1910 | — | — | 162 | #175 |
| 1905 | — | — | 98 | #186 |
| 1900 | — | — | 91 | #205 |
| 1895 | — | — | 91 | #171 |
| 1890 | — | — | 90 | #156 |
| 1885 | — | — | 82 | #162 |
| 1880 | — | — | 79 | #165 |
Famous people named Clinton
- Clinton Davisson Physicist · 1881–1958
- Clinton Hart Merriam Biologist · 1855–1942
- Clinton Morrison Soccer player · b. 1979
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Clinton mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname, of 19th century and later usage.
How popular is the name Clinton in 2025?
Clinton ranked #1,732 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 94 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Clinton?
98,005 babies have been named Clinton in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Clinton most popular?
Clinton peaked in 1981, when 2,222 newborns received the name.
Is Clinton a boy or girl name?
Clinton is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Clinton rising or falling?
Clinton is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Clinton?
Well-known people named Clinton include Clinton Davisson (physicist), Clinton Hart Merriam (biologist), Clinton Morrison (soccer player).