Clifton

Meaning of Clifton

This name comes from an English place name, meaning "settlement on a cliff" or "farm by a cliff." It refers to a town or village located near a steep rock face.

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

Popularity of Clifton

After ranking as high as #739 in 2000, Clifton has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Clifton

• Clifton Webb
  Iconic American film and stage actor
• Clifton Powell
  Prolific American character actor
• Clifton Davis
  Actor, singer, and minister
• Clifton Chenier
  Grammy-winning "King of Zydeco" musician
• Clifton R. Wharton Jr.
  Economist, university president, former diplomat

More English names

Questions about the name Clifton

What does the name Clifton mean?

Clifton means this name comes from an english place name, meaning "settlement on a cliff" or "farm by a cliff." it refers to a town or village located near a steep rock face, and it comes from English origins.

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

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

How popular is the name Clifton?

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

When was Clifton most popular?

Clifton peaked at #739 in 2000.