Boy name · Old English
Clark
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: cleric, scribeClark is a boy's name that comes from Old English and means "cleric, scribe". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Cleric, scribe
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #377 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Clark
As a boy's name, Clark comes from Old English and means "cleric, scribe". It is used in English.
Clark is also a surname: the 28th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 539,661 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Clark on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Clark on 4 lists.
“Clerk, scribe; English. Classic surname feel”
From Boy middle names, one-syllable boy middle names
“Cleric, scribe; Old English. Superman's everyday name”
From Classic boy names, short one-syllable classic boy names
“Cleric, scribe; Old English. Shared with actor Gable”
From Old man names, short and sturdy old guy names
“A clerk or scribe, someone who could read and write”
From Scottish last names, most common Scottish surnames
How popular is Clark?
- US rank in 2025
- #377
- 837 babies, 490 per million boys
- Best rank
- #176 in 1881
- Most babies: 879 in 1961
- Babies since 1880
- At least 50,851
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 468 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 443 per million |
| 1900s | 370 per million |
| 1910s | 357 per million |
| 1920s | 264 per million |
| 1930s | 356 per million |
| 1940s | 339 per million |
| 1950s | 328 per million |
| 1960s | 319 per million |
| 1970s | 153 per million |
| 1980s | 163 per million |
| 1990s | 138 per million |
| 2000s | 137 per million |
| 2010s | 366 per million |
| 2020s | 443 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #378 | #381 | #376 | #389 | #387 | #396 | #427 | #439 | #437 | #377 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Clark
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- ClaroClear, bright (Latin, boy)
- CarlFree man (Germanic, boy)
- CiarBlack, dark (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- ClairClear, bright (Latin, unisex)
Middle names for Clark
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
- KnoxRound hill (Old English, boy)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
Clark: common questions
What does the name Clark mean?
Clark comes from Old English and means "cleric, scribe".
Is Clark a boy or girl name?
Clark is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 18 girls and 837 boys in the US were named Clark, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Clark come from?
Clark comes from Old English and means "cleric, scribe". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Clark?
Clark ranked #377 in the US in 2025, with 837 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Clark?
Names spelled like Clark include Claro, Carl, Ciar and Clair.
What middle names go with Clark?
Middle names that flow well with Clark include Anderson, Atticus, Augustus, Bartholomew and Bernard. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.