Cleveland
Primarily a boy's name of Old English origin with 21,934 recorded births. Also given to 87 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A geographic area of hills and dales in North Yorkshire, England.
Cleveland is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, from the English place name meaning 'cliff land' or 'land of the cliffs,' from Old English clif (cliff) and land (land) — the geographic region of Yorkshire, England, that gave its name to the American president and city.
With nearly 22,000 recorded births, Cleveland has deep American historical associations — Grover Cleveland (1837–1908) was the only U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms (22nd and 24th president), and Cleveland, Ohio is one of America's great industrial cities on Lake Erie. In African American communities, Cleveland became popular as a given name honoring the president. Comedian and actor Cleveland Brown (a fictional character in Family Guy and The Cleveland Show) represents the name in contemporary pop culture.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Cleveland is a boy's name with over a century of recorded use (1880–2024). Its Old English roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Cleveland is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #6506), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Cleveland was #2752 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6506, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 77 | #6032 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 280 | #3879 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 474 | #2463 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 743 | #1412 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 1,107 | #881 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 1,498 | #684 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 2,055 | #544 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 3,069 | #418 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 2,970 | #362 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 2,480 | #350 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 3,183 | #323 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 2,219 | #295 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 553 | #273 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 524 | #248 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 702 | #260 | — |
The Story of Cleveland
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1947, Cleveland is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Cleveland are most likely born between 1937 and 1957.
How rare is Cleveland?
Only about 1 in every 276,923 babies born in 2024 was named Cleveland — 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 3,183 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Cleveland by the numbers
- More Clevelands than the population of a small U.S. town
- Would fill 457 school buses
- Meeting one Cleveland per day would take 60.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 | #6506 |
| 2023 | 11 | #7369 |
| 2022 | 12 | #6900 |
| 2021 | 21 | #4657 |
| 2020 | 20 | #4730 |
| 2019 | 21 | #4667 |
| 2018 | 23 | #4385 |
| 2017 | 28 | #3791 |
| 2016 | 23 | #4350 |
| 2015 | 25 | #4100 |
| 2014 | 26 | #3919 |
| 2013 | 22 | #4352 |
| 2012 | 32 | #3384 |
| 2011 | 43 | #2760 |
| 2010 | 37 | #3084 |
| 2009 | 39 | #3000 |
| 2008 | 37 | #3116 |
| 2007 | 42 | #2822 |
| 2006 | 41 | #2793 |
| 2005 | 47 | #2436 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Cleveland as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Cleveland has also been given to 87 girls in the U.S. since 1922.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland a boy's or girl's name?
When was Cleveland most popular?
How popular is the name Cleveland?
Can Cleveland be used for both boys and girls?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024