Clifford Alter

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Clifford Alter — ford by a cliff
185K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Clifford Alter is a name that combines English origins. The first name Clifford is a masculine given name of English origin. Clifford is both a toponymic surname of English origin and a given name deriving from it. It originated in several English placenames meaning "ford by a cliff". Given name Surname Clifford, the title name character in children book series Clifford the Big Red Dog Clifford Blossom, a character in Archie Comics and Riverdale Clifford DeVoe, also known as the Thinker, in DC Comics The surname Alter: Alter is both a surname and a given name. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): distinguishing epithet for the older of two bearers of the same personal name. For the Ashkenazim: from the Yiddish personal name Alter, an inflected form of alt (‘old’). This was in part an omen name, expressing the parents’ hope that the child would live a long life; in part an apotropaic name, given to a child born after the death of a sibling, but also said to have sometimes been assumed by someone who was seriously ill. Clifford is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 185K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Clifford reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Clifford

Meaning: ford by a cliff

English

Clifford is both a toponymic surname of English origin and a given name deriving from it. It originated in several English placenames meaning "ford by a cliff". Given name Surname Clifford, the title name character in children book series Clifford the Big Red Dog Clifford Blossom, a character in Archie Comics and Riverdale Clifford DeVoe, also known as the Thinker, in DC Comics

Surname: Alter

Hebrew

Alter is both a surname and a given name. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): distinguishing epithet for the older of two bearers of the same personal name. For the Ashkenazim: from the Yiddish personal name Alter, an inflected form of alt (‘old’). This was in part an omen name, expressing the parents’ hope that the child would live a long life; in part an apotropaic name, given to a child born after the death of a sibling, but also said to have sometimes been assumed by someone who was seriously ill.

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Geographic Distribution

The first name Clifford is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Clifford by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
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Notable People Named Clifford Alter

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Clifford Alter:

3
Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

3
Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

9
Personality Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Clifford?
The first name Clifford originates from English. Clifford is both a toponymic surname of English origin and a given name deriving from it. It originated in several English placenames meaning "ford by a cliff". Given name Surname Clifford, the title name character in children book series Clifford the Big Red Dog Clifford Blossom, a character in Archie Comics and Riverdale Clifford DeVoe, also known as the Thinker, in DC Comics
When was Clifford most popular?
The name Clifford reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Alter?
The surname Alter originates from Hebrew. Alter is both a surname and a given name. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): distinguishing epithet for the older of two bearers of the same personal name. For the Ashkenazim: from the Yiddish personal name Alter, an inflected form of alt (‘old’). This was in part an omen name, expressing the parents’ hope that the child would live a long life; in part an apotropaic name, given to a child born after the death of a sibling, but also said to have sometimes been assumed by someone who was seriously ill.
What are the origins of the name Clifford Alter?
The name Clifford Alter combines two different traditions: the first name Clifford has English roots, while the surname Alter originates from Hebrew.
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