Clifford
Clifford is a boys' name of English origin meaning “ford near a cliff.” An English place-name transferred to a surname and then to a given name.
how do you pronounce Clifford?
KLIF-erd
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Clifford mean?
The name Clifford means “ford near a cliff.” It comes from the English language tradition.
An English place-name transferred to a surname and then to a given name. Clifford was popular in the early-to-mid 20th century and is now considered a vintage revival candidate.
where does the name Clifford come from?
Wiktionary and Wikipedia agree Clifford combines cliff and ford, describing a dweller at a ford near a steep bank or cliff, and that it began as a toponymic English surname before being adopted as a given name.
the history of Clifford
The sources describe Clifford's transfer from surname to given name but give no specific dates or popularity data, so nothing further can be said about its history here.
what are the nicknames and variants of Clifford?
Nicknames
who are famous people named Clifford?
- Clifford Brown
- Clifford Odets
- Clifford the Big Red Dog (fictional)
what names go well with Clifford?
Sibling names that share Clifford's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
love Clifford? get 10 more names curated for your family.
Popularity rankings and meanings are just the starting point. Our AI consultant finds names that match your heritage, style, and what matters most to you.
Completely free. No credit card required.
start free consultation