Clifford

Meaning of Clifford

The name Clifford means 'riverbank' or 'ford'. It refers to a place where a river can be crossed.

Clifford has Old English roots — browse every Old English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Clifford

After ranking as high as #731 in 2001, Clifford has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Clifford

• Clifford the Big Red Dog
  Beloved children's book character
• Clifford Brown
  Influential jazz trumpeter
• Clifford Geertz
  Pioneering cultural anthropologist
• Clifford Odets
  Acclaimed American playwright
• Clifford Irving
  Author and infamous hoaxer

More Old English names

Questions about the name Clifford

What does the name Clifford mean?

Clifford means the name clifford means 'riverbank' or 'ford'. it refers to a place where a river can be crossed, and it comes from Old English origins.

Is Clifford a boy's or a girl's name?

Clifford is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Clifford?

Clifford did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Clifford most popular?

Clifford peaked at #731 in 2001.