Clerence
A masculine name potentially derived from the Latin clarens, meaning "bright" or "shining."
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Clerence. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Clerence today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Clerence births was 1932 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Clerence. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Clerence is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Clerences were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Clerence. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
1932
9 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1945 SSA rank
#2,789
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Clerence: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Clerence from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 32 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Clerence remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Clerence by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Clerence during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Clerence
The name Clerence is believed to have originated from the Latin name Clemens, which means "merciful" or "gentle." It traces its roots back to ancient Rome, where it was a popular name among the upper classes.
During the medieval period, the name was widely used across Europe, particularly in regions influenced by the Roman Catholic Church. In France, it was commonly spelled as Clément, while in England and other parts of the British Isles, it was often rendered as Clemence or Clarence.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Clerence can be found in the writings of the 4th century Christian theologian, St. Clement of Alexandria. He was a prominent figure in the early Church and is known for his works on Christian philosophy and theology.
In the 12th century, Clemence of Hungary (1090-1141) was a prominent figure who served as the Queen of France and the wife of King Louis VI. Her name was a variation of the name Clerence.
Another notable bearer of the name was Clarence, Duke of Clarence (1449-1478), a member of the English royal family during the Wars of the Roses. He was the brother of King Edward IV and was executed for treason.
In the 16th century, Clement VIII (1536-1605) served as Pope from 1592 to 1605. He is remembered for his efforts to resolve the conflict between the Catholic Church and the Venetian Republic, as well as his role in the trial and execution of Giordano Bruno.
In the realm of literature, Clarence Darro (1865-1924) was an American novelist and short story writer who gained popularity in the early 20th century. His works often explored themes of adventure and romance.
Clerence Darrow (1857-1938) was a famous American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union. He is best known for his role in the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, where he defended the teaching of evolution in public schools.
People
Clerence + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Clerence as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Clerence: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Clerence?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Clerence going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Clerence a common name?
We classify Clerence as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 77 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Clerence most popular?
The single biggest year for Clerence was 1932, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Clerence is about 87 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Clerence in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Clerence a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Clerence in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Clerence still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Clerence in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Clerence can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Clerence?
Find out how many Americans are named Clerence on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.