Cleave
- US rank
- Unranked
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #836 in 1885
0 babies were named Cleave in the US in 2025.
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US births per million boys, 1885–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Cleave you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- HistoryCleave first shows up in US birth records in 1885, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 140 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1885, when it reached #836.
About the name Cleave
Cleave is a boy name of English origin. It has 6 letters and 1 syllable, starting with C and ending in “-ave”. US birth records list Cleave for boys from 1885 to 1972, in 51 of those 88 years. Its best year was 1885, when it ranked #836 among boy names. It hasn't been given to 5 or more US babies in a year since 1972, so today it's a genuinely rare choice.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 30 | 33,223 boys |
| 1890s | 21 | 46,926 boys |
| 1900s | 11 | 95,147 boys |
| 1910s | 13 | 74,627 boys |
| 1920s | 9.7 | 102,775 boys |
| 1930s | 6.0 | 165,289 boys |
| 1940s | 2.3 | 440,529 boys |
| 1950s | 2.9 | 346,021 boys |
| 1960s | 0.3 | 3,571,429 boys |
| 1970s | 1.0 | 967,742 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Cleave
What is the origin of the name Cleave?
Cleave has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Cleave a boy or girl name?
Cleave is a boy name.
How popular is the name Cleave?
Cleave is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1972. It peaked at #836 in 1885.