Clyfe as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Clyfe

What is the meaning of the name Clyfe ?

The baby name Clyfe is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /klaɪf/.

Clyfe is English in Origin.

Clyfe is a modern respelling of the English name Clive/Cliffe, ultimately rooted in Old English clif, meaning “cliff,” “steep slope,” or “riverbank.” It began as a toponymic surname for someone who lived near a cliff, then transitioned into a given name in Britain. The rise of Robert Clive (1725–1774), known as Clive of India, helped propel Clive into wider use, and it saw steady popularity through the 19th and mid-20th centuries; author C. S. Lewis (born Clive Staples Lewis) further kept the name in public view.

Variants and related forms include Clive, Cliffe, Clyve, Clyffe, and the diminutive Cliff (also independently linked to Clifford and Clifton). Clyfe retains the same meaning - “from the cliff; dweller by the steep bank” - while offering a distinctive, contemporary spelling. It remains rare across English-speaking countries, appealing to parents who want a familiar sound with a singular look.

⚙ Clyfe is an extremely rare name. Across our dataset of national birth registries and international name records, Clyfe appears only 2 times in total — found in 1 country. If you're considering it, you'd be giving your child a name almost nobody else has.