Cliston
An English masculine name meaning "town near the cliffs or slopes".
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Cliston. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cliston today is around 75 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cliston births was 1919 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cliston. 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 Cliston is about 75 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Clistons were born before 1961.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cliston. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1919
6 babies that year
Average age
75
years old
1944 SSA rank
#3,515
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Cliston: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cliston from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 6 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cliston 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 Cliston 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 Cliston
The name Cliston has its roots in the ancient Greek language, originating around the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "klistos," which means "renowned" or "famous." This name was commonly used in the Greek city-states and was often given to children born into prominent families or those destined for greatness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cliston can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. He mentions a Spartan soldier named Cliston who fought valiantly in the Battle of Thermopylae against the Persian army in 480 BC. This historical reference suggests that the name was already in use during the Classical period of ancient Greece.
During the Byzantine era, the name Cliston gained popularity among the Greek-speaking population of the Eastern Roman Empire. Several notable figures bore this name, including Cliston of Ephesus (c. 550 AD), a renowned scholar and philosopher who wrote extensively on the teachings of Plato and Aristotle.
As the Byzantine Empire expanded and influenced various regions, the name Cliston spread to other parts of Europe. In the 11th century, Cliston of Normandy (c. 1035 - 1093) was a prominent Norman nobleman who accompanied William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England in 1066. His bravery and loyalty earned him lands and titles in the newly established Norman kingdom.
Another notable figure was Cliston of Venice (c. 1280 - 1342), a wealthy Venetian merchant and diplomat who played a crucial role in establishing trade routes between Venice and the Byzantine Empire. His contributions to the city's economic prosperity earned him a place in the annals of Venetian history.
In the 16th century, Cliston de la Tour (c. 1510 - 1578) was a French Protestant leader and military commander who fought alongside the Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion. Despite facing persecution for his faith, he remained a steadfast defender of religious freedom and is remembered for his courage and unwavering principles.
While the name Cliston is not as common today as it once was, it still carries a sense of historical significance and a connection to its ancient Greek roots, representing renown, fame, and a legacy of notable individuals who have left their mark on the pages of history.
People
Cliston + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cliston 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
Cliston: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cliston?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cliston 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 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Cliston a common name?
We classify Cliston as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cliston most popular?
The single biggest year for Cliston was 1919, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cliston is about 75 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 Cliston in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cliston a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cliston 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 Cliston still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cliston 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 Cliston 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 common is the name Cliston?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.