Clement
Primarily a boy's name of Latin origin with 14,103 recorded births. Also given to 6 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Latin, borne by an early pope and by several saints.
Clement is a boy's and girl's baby name of Latin origin, from clemens meaning 'merciful,' 'gentle,' or 'mild.' Fourteen popes have borne the name Clement, and Saint Clement of Rome was one of the earliest popes. It was also a beloved name in European royal families for centuries.
Clement has a warm, intellectual charm — think Clement Attlee, the transformative British Prime Minister. The nickname Clem adds an approachable earthiness to this classic.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Clement's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Clement follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Clement's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Clement climbed 591 spots in the last 20 years — from #2851 to #2260.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 284 | #2409 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 442 | #2759 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 390 | #2798 | — |
| 1990s | 392 | #2134 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 440 | #1533 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 498 | #1232 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 792 | #853 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 1,283 | #646 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 1,562 | #507 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 1,845 | #417 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 2,842 | #347 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 2,332 | #296 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 442 | #309 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 317 | #321 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 242 | #376 | — |
The Story of Clement
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1918, Clement is a name steeped in history. Boys named Clement are most likely born between 1908 and 1928.
How rare is Clement?
Only about 1 in every 57,143 babies born in 2024 was named Clement — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 2,842 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Clement by the numbers
- Would fill 294 school buses
- Meeting one Clement per day would take 38.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 63 | #2260 |
| 2023 | 57 | #2394 |
| 2022 | 55 | #2495 |
| 2021 | 60 | #2304 |
| 2020 | 49 | #2591 |
| 2019 | 49 | #2630 |
| 2018 | 43 | #2807 |
| 2017 | 56 | #2324 |
| 2016 | 52 | #2441 |
| 2015 | 44 | #2728 |
| 2014 | 43 | #2760 |
| 2013 | 42 | #2773 |
| 2012 | 40 | #2910 |
| 2011 | 34 | #3252 |
| 2010 | 39 | #2968 |
| 2009 | 28 | #3736 |
| 2008 | 44 | #2757 |
| 2007 | 45 | #2691 |
| 2006 | 35 | #3099 |
| 2005 | 53 | #2245 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Clement as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Clement has also been given to 6 girls in the U.S. since 1936.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clement a boy's or girl's name?
When was Clement most popular?
How popular is the name Clement?
Can Clement be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024