Clive - name meaning, origin

The boy's name Clive \c-li-

is pronounced kleeve, klyve. It is of Old English origin, and its meaning is "cliff, slope". Surname and place name. Robert Clive was a famous English soldier known for his exploits in India. Thackeray used it as a first name in an 1855 novel. Critic Clive Barnes; author Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis.

Clive has 3 variant forms: Cleavon, Cleve and Clyve.

For more information, see also the related name Cliff.

Baby names that sound like Clive are Cleeve and Cliffe.

Clive is an uncommon first name for men but a somewhat common last name for both men and women (#44242 out of 88799). (1990 U.S. Census)

Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy name Clive. Compare Clive with its variant forms and related boy names.