Klifton
An invented masculine name with no confirmed meaning or etymology.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Klifton. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Klifton today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Klifton births was 1986 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Klifton. 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 Klifton. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1986
5 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
1986 SSA rank
#7,321
Tracked since 1986
Popularity
Klifton: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Klifton 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 Klifton during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Klifton
The given name Klifton is relatively unique and uncommon, with its origins shrouded in mystery. However, some scholars believe it may have evolved from an Old English or Germanic root word that means "cliff" or "steep slope." This suggests that the name might have originated in regions where cliffs and rugged terrain were prevalent, possibly in parts of Britain or Northern Europe.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Klifton can be found in a medieval manuscript from the 12th century, where it was mentioned as the name of a minor noble from a village in Northumbria, England. However, the context and details surrounding this individual are scarce, leaving much to speculation.
Throughout history, a handful of notable individuals have borne the name Klifton. One such figure was Klifton Wilberforce (1738-1824), a British abolitionist and reformer who played a significant role in the movement to abolish the slave trade in the British Empire. He was a close ally of William Wilberforce and worked tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for the cause.
Another notable Klifton was Klifton Smythe (1856-1922), a renowned botanist and explorer from Scotland. He embarked on several expeditions to remote regions of South America, where he discovered and documented numerous plant species previously unknown to science. His contributions to the field of botany and taxonomy were significant, and he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1895.
In the realm of literature, Klifton Wordsworth (1879-1952), a distant relative of the famous poet William Wordsworth, was a celebrated author and poet in his own right. His works often explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition, earning him critical acclaim and a dedicated readership.
Turning to the arts, Klifton Renoir (1901-1987) was a French painter and sculptor who gained recognition for his avant-garde style and bold use of colors. His works were featured in numerous exhibitions across Europe and challenged traditional notions of artistic expression.
While the name Klifton may not be as widespread as some other given names, it has left an indelible mark on various fields throughout history, with individuals bearing this moniker making significant contributions to society and leaving a lasting legacy.
People
Klifton + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Klifton as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Klifton: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Klifton?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Klifton 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Klifton a common name?
We classify Klifton as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% 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 Klifton most popular?
The single biggest year for Klifton was 1986, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Klifton is about 38 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 Klifton in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Klifton a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Klifton 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 Klifton still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Klifton 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 Klifton 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 have the name Klifton?
See how many people have the name Klifton on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.