Clive - name meaning and origin

The boy's name Clive \c-li-ve\ 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 a very rare male first name and a common surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy's name Clive. Compare Clive with related baby names.