Clardy
A name derived from the surname Clark, of English origin.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Clardy. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Clardy today is around 60 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Clardy births was 1932 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Clardy. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Clardy. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1932
5 babies that year
Average age
60
years old
1932 SSA rank
#3,864
Tracked since 1932
Popularity
Clardy: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Clardy by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Clardy during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Clardy
The given name Clardy has its origins in the Old English language, where it is derived from the word "clær," meaning "bright" or "clear." This name likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries.
The name Clardy is believed to have been initially used as a descriptive name, referring to someone with a bright or radiant appearance or personality. Over time, it evolved into a proper given name, gaining popularity among the English-speaking population.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clardy can be found in the Domesday Book, a historical record commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name was in use among the English population during the late 11th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Clardy. One of the earliest examples is Clardy of Exeter, a 12th-century English monk and scholar who wrote extensively on theology and philosophy. Another prominent figure was Clardy de Vere, a 13th-century English nobleman and crusader who participated in the Fifth and Sixth Crusades.
In the 15th century, Clardy Chaucer, a distant relative of the renowned poet Geoffrey Chaucer, gained recognition as a skilled illuminator and calligrapher, contributing to the beautification of manuscripts during the Renaissance period.
During the 17th century, Clardy Cromwell, a member of the influential Cromwell family, played a significant role in the English Civil War, serving as a military commander under Oliver Cromwell's leadership.
More recently, in the 20th century, Clardy Griffith (1890-1968) was an American baseball player who had a successful career in the major leagues, playing for teams such as the Washington Senators and the Boston Red Sox.
While the name Clardy has maintained a presence throughout history, it has remained relatively uncommon compared to other given names. Its unique origins and connection to the Old English language contribute to its distinctive character and enduring appeal.
People
Clardy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Clardy as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Clardy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Clardy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Clardy going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Clardy a common name?
We classify Clardy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Clardy most popular?
The single biggest year for Clardy was 1932, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Clardy is about 60 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Clardy in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Clardy a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Clardy in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Clardy still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Clardy in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Clardy can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Clardy?
Find out how many people have the name Clardy on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.