Clell
Clell is a variant spelling of the masculine name Clell, derived from a surname meaning "bell-ringer."
Name Census estimates that about 313 living Americans carry the first name Clell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Clell today is around 74 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Clell births was 1924 (49 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Clell. 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
- • The typical person named Clell is about 74 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Clells were born before 1962.
People living today
313
~ 1 in 1,095,062 Americans
Peak year
1924
49 babies that year
Average age
74
years old
1988 SSA rank
#6,561
Tracked since 1884
Popularity
Clell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Clell from the 1880s through to the 1980s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 327 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Clell 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 Clell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Clells live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa recorded the most babies named Clell, while Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 17 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Clell
The name Clell is a unique and intriguing one with a rich history that spans several cultures and time periods. Its origins can be traced back to ancient Celtic and Germanic roots, where it was likely derived from the word "claidh," meaning "battle" or "warrior."
In the Middle Ages, variations of the name, such as "Clell" and "Clel," were found in various regions of Europe, particularly in areas with strong Celtic and Germanic influences. The name was often associated with individuals who displayed bravery and strength on the battlefield.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clell can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of epic tales dating back to the 13th century. In these stories, a warrior named Clell is mentioned as a fierce fighter who was renowned for his skills in combat.
As time passed, the name Clell gained popularity across various parts of Europe. In the 16th century, a notable figure named Clell the Younger was a prominent merchant and trader in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. His success and influence in the commercial world helped to further popularize the name.
During the 17th century, a Scottish nobleman named Clell MacDonald played a significant role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, fighting alongside the Royalist forces. His bravery on the battlefield and unwavering loyalty to the Crown earned him a place in the historical records of that time.
In the 19th century, an American author and poet named Clell Miller gained recognition for his works, which often explored themes of nature and the human experience. His poems were widely published and admired during his lifetime, further contributing to the name's recognition.
Another notable figure was Clell Pruitt, an American baseball player who played for various teams in the early 20th century, including the St. Louis Browns and the Philadelphia Athletics. His impressive career as a skilled outfielder and his contributions to the sport of baseball have left a lasting legacy.
While the name Clell may not be as common as it once was, its rich history and unique origins continue to captivate those who appreciate the significance of names and their cultural roots. Whether associated with warriors, merchants, authors, or athletes, the name Clell has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of human history.
People
Clell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Clell 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
Clell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Clell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 313 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Clell 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 1,095,062 US residents.
Is Clell a common name?
We classify Clell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,221 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Clell most popular?
The single biggest year for Clell was 1924, when 49 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Clell is about 74 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Clell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Clell 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.
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.