Clinton

Meaning of Clinton

Clinton stems from Old English place-names that combined “tun,” meaning a fenced settlement, with a reference to a cliff or the River Glyme, so the name quietly conjures a town snug behind stout walls—much like the Persian concept of a char-bagh garden held safely within its brick embrace. First adopted as a surname, it slipped into given-name territory in the 19th century and reached its modern American peak in 1981, when it ranked 123rd. Since then its graph has traced a gentle desert plateau rather than a mountain range, suggesting steady, undramatic appeal. Associations range from U.S. presidents and statesmen to Hollywood’s laconic Clint Eastwood, giving the name a public-service suit with a hint of frontier dust. For families seeking a classic that feels established yet not ubiquitous, Clinton offers a quietly fortified option—solid, serviceable, and unwilling to shout for attention.