Clark

“Clerk, scholar, or cleric” — Latin via Old English origin

Boy's name · #377 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Clark was #176 in 1881, slipped to #818 by 2001, and has climbed back to #377 today. Roughly 51,000 boys have been named Clark since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Around the world: about 1 in 1,100 boys in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 1,600 boys in Canada (2024) · about 1 in 7,200 boys in England & Wales (2025).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 41 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Clarks

Clark Gable — American actor (1901–1960)
Clark Gregg — American actor, screenwriter and director (born 1962)
Clark Ashton Smith — American author (1893-1961)
Clark L. Hull — American psychologist (1884–1952)
Clark Terry — American swing and bebop trumpeter (1920–2015)

In stories & tradition

Clark (Superman) — Action Comics · Superman
Clark Kent — Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman · Man of Steel
Clark (Doc Savage) — Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze

What Clarks become

Among 358 notable people named Clark:

Political leaders appear 1.3× more often than among typical names — e.g. Clark Bissell, American judge and politician (1782-1857).

Similar names: Hugo · Clyde · Augustus · Archie · Clay · Royal

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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