Cleve

Meaning of Cleve

Cleve traces back to the Old English word clif, meaning “cliff” or “riverbank,” and began life as a locational surname before emerging as a given name in Anglo-American usage. Pronounced kleev (/kliːv/), it first registered modest popularity in the late 19th century—peaking with several dozen births per year in the 1880s—then gradually declined to fewer than ten annual U.S. occurrences in the early 21st century. Today, Cleve is recognized as a unisex name whose concise, one-syllable form and natural-world etymology confer a quietly solid character. Though it seldom breaks modern top-500 charts, its restrained sound and historical depth may appeal to parents seeking an understated yet distinctive choice.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as kleev (/kliːv/)

• Cleveland
• Clever
• Clive
• Cleven
• Clevis
• Clevon
• Clevee