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Clarence as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Clarence

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The baby name Clarence is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced US: KLAR-əns (IPA: /ˈklærəns/); UK: KLEER-əns (IPA: /ˈklɛərəns/ or /ˈklɪərəns/).

Clarence is English in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: US: KLAR-əns (IPA: /ˈklærəns/); UK: KLEER-əns (IPA: /ˈklɛərəns/ or /ˈklɪərəns/)

What is the meaning of the name Clarence ?

The baby name Clarence is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced US: KLAR-əns (IPA: /ˈklærəns/); UK: KLEER-əns (IPA: /ˈklɛərəns/ or /ˈklɪərəns/).

Clarence is English in Origin.

Clarence is an English given name that grew out of the aristocratic title Duke of Clarence in the English peerage, itself referring to the de Clare family and their seat at Clare in Suffolk. As a forename it therefore means “of Clare/Clarence,” though in modern name lore it is commonly linked to Latin clarus, “bright, clear, famous,” the root behind Clara and the name’s polished, luminous associations.

It entered wider use in the 18th–19th centuries and was especially popular in Britain and the United States from about 1880 to 1920. Notable bearers include defense attorney Clarence Darrow, frozen‑food pioneer Clarence Birdseye, saxophonist Clarence Clemons, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Variant spellings and forms include Clarance and the rare Spanish/Portuguese Clarencio/Clarêncio; in French it is used unchanged. Nicknames include Clarry/Clarrie and Ren/Rence. Feminine counterparts are Clara, Clare, and Clarissa.

Clarence has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Clarence

Clarence Darrow Politician · Born 1857 · United States Clarence Darrow was a prominent American lawyer and civil libertarian, best known for defending John T. Scopes in the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, which debated the teaching of evolution in schools. He also defended Leopold and Loeb in their infamous murder trial. Darrow's work often highlighted his commitment to civil rights and social justice. Clarence Thomas Politician · Born 1948 · United States Clarence Thomas is a prominent figure in the United States as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a position he has held since 1991. He is most famous for his conservative views and his role in significant court decisions like Bush v. Gore. Appointed by President George H. W. Bush, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Supreme Court. Clarence Clemons Actor|musician · Born 1942 · United States Clarence Clemons was a famous musician and actor from the United States, best known as the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. His powerful sax solos in songs like 'Born to Run' and 'Jungleland' made him a key figure in the band's sound. Clemons also appeared in films and TV shows, adding to his diverse career in entertainment.
Clarence Gilyard Actor · Born 1955 · United States Clarence Gilyard was an American actor best known for his roles in the TV series 'Walker, Texas Ranger' and 'Matlock'. He also appeared in the film 'Die Hard' as Theo, the tech-savvy criminal. Gilyard's work in these popular shows and movies made him a familiar face to audiences in the 1980s and 1990s. Clarence Nash Actor · Born 1904 · United States Clarence Nash was an American voice actor best known for bringing Donald Duck to life. He provided the voice for the beloved Disney character in numerous films and shorts, including 'The Wise Little Hen' and 'The Three Caballeros'. His unique vocal talents made Donald Duck one of the most recognizable characters in animation history. Clarence Williams III Actor · Born 1939 · United States Clarence Williams III was an American actor best known for his role as Linc Hayes on the television series 'The Mod Squad'. He also appeared in films like 'Purple Rain' and 'Tales from the Hood'. His work in these projects made him a recognizable figure in the entertainment industry.

Clarence – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
TM Boys 0 #36 1 614
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
CM 0 #52 5 2,592
MO 0 #52 1 2,706
JM 0 #76 12 3,714
JP 0 #76 2 4,057
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
TW 0 #101 3 4,523
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
PH 0 #104 7 5,607
QA 0 #105 2 7,011
OM 0 #119 3 6,215
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
MU 0 #136 2 3,613
PA 0 #136 3 3,797
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
BW Boys 0 #150 5 4,685
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
CR 0 #162 4 5,526
Sweden Boys 2020 #176 2 1,548
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
AE 0 #186 2 10,220
SG 0 #192 78 11,010
NA Boys 0 #197 39 6,830
MO Boys 0 #211 13 5,842
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
JM Boys 0 #221 52 6,876
TW Boys 0 #231 11 7,111
NA Girls 0 #236 2 7,146
GH 0 #243 6 5,396
MO Girls 0 #262 2 7,056
NG 0 #272 1 5,926
SG Boys 0 #273 578 17,960
PH Boys 0 #279 105 11,440
Canada Girls 2024 #280 6 2,795
CN Boys 0 #288 32 9,639
Canada Boys 2024 #289 18 2,588
JP Boys 0 #299 5 7,909
MY 0 #299 32 12,352
HK 0 #300 49 8,483
CZ Boys 0 #305 1 6,530
SA 0 #306 7 10,560
HK Boys 0 #312 252 12,905
GH Boys 0 #324 22 8,138
France Boys 2021 #328 60 2,865
DK Boys 0 #331 2 7,401
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
QA Girls 0 #342 2 15,378
MU Boys 0 #362 8 8,477
PH Girls 0 #363 28 13,098
CM Girls 0 #367 179 11,671
PT Boys 0 #381 1 7,951
France Girls 2021 #390 16 3,185
ZA 0 #407 41 14,421
UY Boys 0 #410 4 5,922
OM Girls 0 #424 1 15,987
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
PA Boys 0 #456 26 9,305
CR Boys 0 #459 29 10,188
AR Boys 0 #482 2 7,628
CM Boys 0 #496 55 12,054
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
KW Girls 0 #502 14 19,177
PA Girls 0 #518 1 9,861
RU Girls 0 #522 2 11,913
RU Boys 0 #526 1 12,621
PS Boys 0 #539 10 10,655
BH 0 #540 14 17,937
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
LY 0 #556 4 12,703
IR Boys 0 #565 1 10,162
SG Girls 0 #571 16 18,916
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
AE Girls 0 #589 9 20,968
HK Girls 0 #597 19 16,104
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
ZA Boys 0 #617 698 25,619
BO Boys 0 #618 5 9,244
IL Boys 0 #624 2 10,983
CL Boys 0 #645 21 13,390
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
MY Boys 0 #668 486 25,439
Finland Boys 2026 #675 8 3,552
QA Boys 0 #684 24 18,093
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
IT 0 #705 10 4,183
KW Boys 0 #749 21 18,755
NG Girls 0 #771 16 15,093
United States Boys 2024 #782 111 7,044
BR Boys 0 #782 4 12,213
NL Boys 0 #855 97 5,873
OM Boys 0 #860 22 17,948
TN 0 #862 4 13,765
PE Boys 0 #867 12 14,506
NG Boys 0 #891 61 16,906
CO Boys 0 #905 16 15,656
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
SA Girls 0 #916 20 25,931
Spain Boys 0 #919 12 5,610
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
Germany Boys 0 #940 13 5,697
MX Boys 0 #965 18 16,355
MY Girls 0 #978 17 24,821
IN Boys 0 #1,033 7 16,750
AE Boys 0 #1,045 48 22,615
ZA Girls 0 #1,103 39 25,928
MA 0 #1,118 11 20,986
CO Girls 0 #1,151 2 16,140
DZ 0 #1,226 9 20,130
TR 0 #1,253 2 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,266 2 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,381 91 10,046
IT Girls 0 #1,434 13 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,521 94 28,008

Clarence is popular in 69 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
United States
Sweden
AE

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People also ask about Clarence

Clarence is predominantly a boy's name.
Clarence is a 2 syllable name, pronounced US: KLAR-əns (IPA: /ˈklærəns/); UK: KLEER-əns (IPA: /ˈklɛərəns/ or /ˈklɪərəns/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Clarance, Clarrence, Clary, Clare, Clarry and Ren (nickname).
Across languages, Clarence has these equivalents: Clarus (Latin), Clair (French, masculine), Claire (French/English, feminine), Clarencio (Spanish/Portuguese, rare), Klarence (phonetic spelling).
Yes — Clarence ranked #176 in Sweden in 2020, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Clarence ranks highest in Sweden (#176 in 2020).
Clarence's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #342 in 2011 to #328 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 7 notable people named Clarence are in our database, including Clarence Darrow (Politician), Clarence Thomas (Politician), Clarence Clemons (Actor|musician).