The baby name Kleef is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /kliːf/ (KLEEF; rhymes with "leaf").
The baby name Kleef is a Unisex name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /kliːf/ (KLEEF; rhymes with "leaf").
Kleef is Dutch, German in Origin.
Kleef is a Dutch and Low German toponymic name tied to the Rhine-town known in German as Kleve and in Latin as Clivia. The place-name stems from Middle Dutch/Low German klif/klef, meaning “cliff” or “steep bank,” evoking a settlement by a rocky slope; the same Germanic root appears in English Clive. As a given name, Kleef reads crisp and modern while carrying the rugged sense of landscape and steadfastness.
Use as a first name is rare and contemporary, arising from the long-standing surname and locational byname (van Kleef). Historical visibility comes through the Duchy of Cleves - familiar in English via Anne of Cleves - which spread Anglicized forms. Variants and related forms include German Kleve, English Cleve/Cleves, Dutch Cleef (surname), and the compound van Kleef; cognates include Clive. Gender-neutral in feel, Kleef suits those seeking a distinctive, place-rooted heritage.
Kleef is exceptionally rare. Across 10 countries, we found just 15 recorded uses of it.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MY | 0 | #354 | 1 | 12,352 | |
| GH | Boys | 0 | #361 | 1 | 8,138 |
| JO | Boys | 0 | #389 | 1 | 7,057 |
| SD | Boys | 0 | #466 | 1 | 10,523 |
| LB | 0 | #690 | 1 | 13,263 | |
| SY | 0 | #766 | 2 | 11,684 | |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #806 | 1 | 18,755 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,143 | 1 | 22,615 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,272 | 1 | 25,619 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,687 | 5 | 28,008 |
Kleef is popular in 10 countries — most recent births per country:
Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!