Clarke
Every Clarke since 1880 — 5,598 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Clarke
Clarke is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,193 in 2025 with 37 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 5,598 American babies have been named Clarke — about 70% boys and 30% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 192 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Clarke stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Clarke year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 140 | #1,519 | 37 | #3,193 |
| 2024 | 108 | #1,855 | 35 | #3,344 |
| 2023 | 133 | #1,583 | 25 | #4,245 |
| 2022 | 139 | #1,542 | 38 | #3,167 |
| 2021 | 152 | #1,420 | 40 | #3,030 |
| 2020 | 142 | #1,504 | 45 | #2,736 |
| 2019 | 115 | #1,774 | 53 | #2,493 |
| 2018 | 92 | #2,090 | 41 | #2,900 |
| 2017 | 95 | #2,059 | 39 | #3,018 |
| 2016 | 76 | #2,429 | 61 | #2,213 |
| 2015 | 49 | #3,306 | 36 | #3,164 |
| 2014 | 32 | #4,483 | 39 | #2,941 |
| 2013 | 19 | #6,525 | 32 | #3,348 |
| 2012 | 25 | #5,433 | 31 | #3,460 |
| 2011 | 23 | #5,780 | 23 | #4,250 |
| 2010 | 24 | #5,651 | 20 | #4,703 |
| 2009 | 23 | #5,934 | 22 | #4,456 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7,488 | 14 | #6,123 |
| 2007 | 15 | #8,191 | 23 | #4,257 |
| 2006 | 14 | #8,344 | 26 | #3,803 |
| 2005 | 12 | #9,018 | 19 | #4,501 |
| 2004 | 19 | #6,285 | 18 | #4,631 |
| 2003 | 9 | #10,627 | 28 | #3,299 |
| 2002 | 16 | #6,775 | 23 | #3,687 |
| 2001 | 17 | #6,385 | 22 | #3,734 |
| 2000 | 21 | #5,349 | 17 | #4,430 |
| 1995 | 16 | #5,728 | 46 | #1,867 |
| 1990 | — | — | 35 | #2,093 |
| 1985 | — | — | 27 | #2,081 |
| 1980 | — | — | 24 | #2,167 |
| 1975 | — | — | 18 | #2,382 |
| 1970 | — | — | 35 | #1,421 |
| 1965 | — | — | 30 | #1,412 |
| 1960 | — | — | 44 | #1,179 |
| 1955 | — | — | 60 | #973 |
| 1950 | — | — | 49 | #989 |
| 1945 | — | — | 41 | #998 |
| 1940 | — | — | 35 | #1,109 |
| 1935 | — | — | 34 | #1,129 |
| 1930 | — | — | 28 | #1,370 |
| 1925 | — | — | 33 | #1,255 |
| 1920 | — | — | 33 | #1,256 |
| 1915 | — | — | 39 | #1,020 |
| 1910 | — | — | 6 | #1,451 |
| 1905 | — | — | 6 | #1,122 |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | 5 | #1,033 |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | 6 | #831 |
Famous people named Clarke
- Clarke Abel Physician · 1780–1826
- Clarke Scholes Swimmer · 1930–2010
- Clarke Peters Actor · b. 1952
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Clarke in 2025?
Clarke ranked #3,193 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 37 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Clarke?
5,598 babies have been named Clarke in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Clarke most popular?
Clarke peaked in 2021, when 192 newborns received the name.
Is Clarke a boy or girl name?
Clarke is used for both: about 30% of babies named Clarke have been girls and 70% boys.
Is the name Clarke rising or falling?
Clarke has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Clarke?
Well-known people named Clarke include Clarke Abel (physician), Clarke Scholes (swimmer), Clarke Peters (actor).