Clevester
A unique name potentially derived from combining "clever" and "jester".
Name Census estimates that about 49 living Americans carry the first name Clevester. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Clevester today is around 69 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Clevester births was 1948 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Clevester. 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 Clevester is about 69 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Clevesters were born before 1967.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Clevester. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
49
~ 1 in 6,994,986 Americans
Peak year
1948
8 babies that year
Average age
69
years old
1975 SSA rank
#5,613
Tracked since 1923
Popularity
Clevester: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Clevester from the 1920s through to the 1970s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 34 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Clevester 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 Clevester during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Clevester
The given name Clevester has its origins in the Old English language, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period of the 5th to 11th centuries. It is derived from the combination of two words, "clæf" meaning "cliff" or "steep slope," and "ster" meaning "place" or "location." The name Clevester, therefore, originally referred to someone who lived near a steep cliff or elevated area.
In the early medieval period, the name was primarily found in regions of present-day England, particularly in areas where Anglo-Saxon settlements were prevalent. The first recorded instances of the name date back to the 9th century, appearing in various historical documents and records of that era.
One of the earliest known individuals to bear the name Clevester was a Saxon nobleman who lived in the kingdom of Wessex during the reign of King Alfred the Great (849-899). This nobleman played a role in the defense of Wessex against Viking invasions, though his specific exploits have been lost to history.
Another notable figure with the name Clevester was a monk and scholar who lived in the 11th century. He was part of the monastic community at the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England, and was known for his extensive knowledge of Latin and Greek literature.
In the 13th century, a Clevester was recorded as a member of the Knights Templar, a powerful Catholic military order during the Crusades. This Clevester participated in the Seventh Crusade led by King Louis IX of France and is mentioned in chronicles documenting the events of that campaign.
During the Wars of the Roses, a Clevester is mentioned as a loyal supporter of the House of Lancaster in the 15th century. He fought alongside the Lancastrian forces in several battles against the House of York, though his ultimate fate is unknown.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure named Clevester was a member of the court of King Henry VIII of England. This Clevester served as a diplomat and was involved in negotiations with other European powers during a turbulent period of English history.
While the name Clevester has diminished in usage over the centuries, it remains a unique and intriguing name with deep historical roots in the English language and culture.
People
Clevester + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Clevester 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
Clevester: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Clevester?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 49 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Clevester 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 6,994,986 US residents.
Is Clevester a common name?
We classify Clevester as "Very Rare". It ranks above 54% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 74 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Clevester most popular?
The single biggest year for Clevester was 1948, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Clevester is about 69 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 Clevester in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Clevester a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Clevester 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 Clevester still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Clevester 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 Clevester 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 are named Clevester?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Clevester on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.