Clifford

The first name Clifford has its roots in English and originally derives from a surname that refers to the village of Clifford. Symbolically, the name is interpreted as "the ford by a cliff" or "the cliff by the ford."

What does the name Clifford mean?

The name Clifford is masculine and has English origins, referring to a surname named after the village of Clifford. The meaning of the name can be described as "the ford by a cliff" or "the cliff by the ford." It is composed of the Old English elements clif, meaning "the cliff," "a group of rocks," or "steep slope," and ford, meaning "the ford." In England, Clifford has been more commonly given since the late 19th century, while in Germany it has only occasionally been used as a first name since the early 20th century. Diminutive forms of the name include Cliff and Cliffy.

Where does the name Clifford come from?

The name Clifford has Old English roots and means "the ford by a cliff." It is composed of the Old English words clif for "the cliff," "a group of rocks," or "steep slope" and ford for "the ford." The language is English.

How do you pronounce Clifford?

The pronunciation of Clifford is two syllables as "Clif-ford" [ˈklɪ.fɔːʁd]. The first syllable is short and emphatic, while the open "o" in the second syllable offers more resonance. The final "d" gives the name a definitive touch. Clifford conveys an international and traditionally elegant impression – powerful at the beginning and gentle in the ending.

Popularity

Clifford is considered a rare first name in Germany. In 2023, it ranked 5,488th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2012 at 1,568th. In the last ten years, the name has been given less than 10 times, placing it 7,203rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 4,537th.

Nicknames & pet names

Cliff / Cliffi

Famous people

• Alexander Clifford Beauglehole (Australian botanist)
• Bryant Clifford Meyer (musician from the USA)
• Clifford Bañagale (actor)
• Clifford Barney (American writer)
• Clifford Bell (baseball player from America)
• Clifford Brown (American jazz musician)
• Clifford Celaire (football manager from Dominica)
• Clifford Chapin (voice actor)
• Clifford Cocks (English mathematician)
• Clifford D. Simak (American journalist)
• Clifford David (American actor)
• Clifford Earl (English actor)
• Clifford Essex (British musician)
• Clifford Evans (actor)
• Clifford H. Stockwell (Canadian geologist)
• Clifford Heatherley (actor)
• Clifford Hugh Dowker (Canadian mathematician)
• Clifford J. Tabin (American geneticist)
• Clifford Jarvis (American drummer)
• Clifford Last (Australian sculptor)