Clarence

The first name Clarence has English roots and was previously used as an honorific title 'Clarensis,' particularly by members of the British royal family. However, the exact origin and meaning of the name are not definitively clarified.

What does the name Clarence mean?

Clarence is an English name that was historically known as an honorific title 'Clarensis' and is associated with members of the British royal family. The origins and exact meaning of the name are uncertain. It may derive from a region in Ireland. Translated, it means 'the one who comes from the plain,' which could be traced back to the Old Irish word clár for 'the plain.' A connection to the Latin Clarentius is also considered, meaning 'the shining one' or 'the famous one,' derived from clarus, which means 'bright,' 'clear,' 'shining,' and 'famous.' Variants of the name include Clarent and Clarentin.

Where does the name Clarence come from?

The name Clarence has Old Irish roots and can be used for both males and females, meaning 'the one who comes from the plain.' The etymological composition includes the Old Irish word clár, meaning 'the plain,' as well as the Latin clarus, meaning 'bright,' 'clear,' 'shining,' 'famous,' or 'illustrious.' The languages in which the name is used are Old English, English, and French.

How do you pronounce Clarence?

The pronunciation of Clarence is phonetically balanced and two syllables. The name is pronounced as 'Cla-rence' [ˈklɛɹəns] or in a Germanized form as [ˈklaʁɛns]. The open beginning provides a clear and stable sound base, while the soft ending syllable with a hissing finish offers a factual yet gentle rounding. Thus, Clarence conveys an impression of tradition and stability - clearly structured, with a calm and dignified aura.

Popularity

In Germany, Clarence is a rather rare first name. Currently, it ranks 5,840th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2010, when it ranked 2,204th. In the last ten years, Clarence has been given as a first name about 20 times, placing it 5,627th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 4,704th.

Nicknames & pet names

Claire / Clari / Clary

Famous people

• Clarence (the squinting lion from the series 'Daktari')
• Clarence Abiathar Waldo (American mathematician)
• Clarence Acuna (footballer from Chile)
• Clarence Boucher (ice hockey player from Canada)
• Clarence Clark (American golfer)
• Clarence Cooper (writer from the USA)
• Clarence Cross (baseball player from the USA)
• Clarence the squinting lion (character from the series 'Daktari')
• Clarence Eddy (American composer)
• Clarence Ellis (American footballer)
• Clarence Fisher (American baseball player)
• Clarence Franklin Robison (long-distance runner from America)
• Clarence Gatemouth Brown (blues musician from America)
• Clarence Glacken (Japanese historian)
• Clarence Goodson (footballer from the Vatican)
• Clarence Grier (American basketball player)
• Clarence H. Haring (historian from the USA)
• Clarence Hatzfeld (architect from Germany)
• Clarence Hemingway (American physician)
• Clarence Herschberger (American footballer)