Clarence
Clarence: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈklæɹəns/
Meaning and origin of Clarence
Root meaning: “from the town of Clare”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
Originally a ducal title of the English and British royal family, from Clārensis (“from the town of Clare”), (the town of Clare, Suffolk), although it has also been associated with Italian Chiarenza, Clarentza, &c., a former fortress and settlement in the medieval Frankish Principality of Achaea in Greece.
How popular is Clarence?
Since 1880, 1,859 girls and 303,564 boys in the U.S. have been named Clarence (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #687 in 1880. Its highest rank for boys was #17 in 1885. In 2025, 117 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Clarence
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Clarence
Sister and brother names that share Clarence's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Clarence FAQ
What does the name Clarence mean?
Clarence traces back to a root meaning "from the town of Clare". A male given name transferred from the surname. Originally a ducal title of the English and British royal family, from Clārensis (“from the town of Clare”), (the town of Clare, Suffolk), although it has also been associated with Italian Chiarenza, Clarentza, &c., a former fortress and settlement in the medieval Frankish Principality of Achaea in Greece.
What is the origin of the name Clarence?
Clarence is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Clarence?
Since 1880, 1,859 girls and 303,564 boys in the U.S. have been named Clarence (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #687 in 1880. Its highest rank for boys was #17 in 1885. In 2025, 117 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Clarence a boy or girl name?
Clarence is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 1,859 girls and 303,564 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.