How Many People Are Named Clark?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Clark

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 8,300 living people in the United States currently have the first name Clark. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 9,824 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #274 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~8,300CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)9,824Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#274U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1973 (160 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~8,300
Historical Births (SSA)
9,824
All-Time Rank
#274
Historical Peak
1973

Key Insights for Clark

Estimated Living Bearers
~8,300 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#274
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1973
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
9.3% Male · 90.7% Female
Largest Estimated Population
California
~1,038 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Clark

Living Population Model
~8,300

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
9,824

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
6,186

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
37.9 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1973

Highest annual total: 160 registrations in 1973.

Recent 10-Year Trend
stable (-4%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Clark has maintained a consistent, stable registration level across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Clark (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1973 (~160 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201011211101
20111101199
20121081197
20131061195
20141051095
20151031093
20161021092
20171011091
20181001090
2019991089
2020981088
2021971087
2022971087
2023961086
2024961086

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
30/100
1950s
60/100
1960s
89/100
1970s
98/100
1980s
81/100
1990s
51/100
2000s
79/100
2010s
65/100
2020s
30/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Clark has been predominantly feminine (90.7% female vs 9.3% male).

Male: 9.3% (~912 births)Female: 90.7% (~8,912 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Clark

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Clark in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Clark appeared 6,186 times, ranking #85 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
6,186 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#85
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Clark Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~1,038 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~1,03812.5%
Texas (TX)~7649.2%
Florida (FL)~5646.8%
New York (NY)~5066.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~3324%
Illinois (IL)~3243.9%
Ohio (OH)~2993.6%
Georgia (GA)~2743.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 8,300 people named Clark are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 37.9 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Clark: 37.9 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

Explore all variants →

Frequently Asked Questions About Clark

How many people in the U.S. are named Clark?

Approximately 8,300 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Clark. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 9,824 birth applications for Clark between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Clark?

Clark ranks #274 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Clark comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Clark most popular in America?

The name Clark reached its peak historical popularity in 1973, when 160 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Clark?

Clark has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Clark?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Clark has been predominantly feminine (90.7% female vs 9.3% male).

Where is the name Clark most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Clark resides in California, with approximately 1,038 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Clark in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Clark appeared 6,186 times in census returns, ranking #85 in official 2020 returns.

✨ Free Demographic Tool

Check Another First Name

Search our database of official Social Security & Census records instantly.

⚡ Instant calculation🛡️ No signup required📊 Official SSA 1880–2024 data