Clyde
Boy name · Celtic · Gaelic · Scottish
Meaningfrom the River Clyde · Scottish
- US rank
- #742
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #50 in 1883
350 babies were named Clyde in the US in 2025. It has dropped 27 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Clyde you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Clyde
Clyde Drexler
American basketball player (born 1962)
Choose Clyde and your child shares a first name with Clyde Drexler, an American basketball player. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Clyde, like who?” Clyde Drexler's Wikipedia article is available in 39 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Clyde Drexler on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: University of Houston, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 4,880 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Clyde, 350 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Clyde would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryClyde has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Clydes, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1883, when it ranked #50. Today it's #742, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowClyde is 2.8× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 13,643 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 4,880.
- TrendClyde has slipped 27 places over the last five years and now sits at #742. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedClyde is most popular in Alaska, where it ranks #165, followed by Montana (#173) and South Dakota (#257). It's in the top 1,000 in 25 states.
- MeaningIn Scottish, Clyde means “from the River Clyde”. Our records link it to Celtic, Gaelic and Scottish roots.
About the name Clyde
Clyde is a boy name of Celtic, Gaelic and Scottish origin meaning “from the River Clyde”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with C and ending in “-yde”. US birth records list Clyde for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1883, when it ranked #50 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #742, with 350 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesGaelic namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,771 | 361 boys |
| 1890s | 3,177 | 315 boys |
| 1900s | 3,341 | 299 boys |
| 1910s | 3,007 | 333 boys |
| 1920s | 2,629 | 380 boys |
| 1930s | 2,128 | 470 boys |
| 1940s | 1,417 | 706 boys |
| 1950s | 893 | 1,120 boys |
| 1960s | 463 | 2,161 boys |
| 1970s | 265 | 3,779 boys |
| 1980s | 153 | 6,527 boys |
| 1990s | 86 | 11,606 boys |
| 2000s | 65 | 15,316 boys |
| 2010s | 133 | 7,511 boys |
| 2020s | 210 | 4,765 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Clyde
What does the name Clyde mean?
Clyde means “from the River Clyde” in Scottish.
What is the origin of the name Clyde?
Clyde has Celtic, Gaelic, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Clyde a boy or girl name?
Clyde is a boy name.
How popular is the name Clyde?
Clyde ranked #742 for US boys in 2025, given to 350 babies. Its best year was 1883 (#50).