BabyNameScore

Clark

KLARK · 1 syllable

Clark is distinctive.

Meaning: Cleric, scribe, learned one

91/100

Strong Practical Fit

Balanced across pronunciation, everyday use, lifetime fit and international use.

Name Profile

  1. Pronunciation & Spelling

    Effortless

    A documented English pronunciation is on file: KLARK.

    91/100

  2. Everyday Use

    Low risk

    95/100

  3. Growing Up

    Strong lifetime fit

    Works comfortably across child and adult settings.

    82/100

  4. International Use

    Broad international fit

    Works cleanly across the assessed languages and writing systems.

    85/100

ORIGIN & HISTORY

About the name

Cleric, scribe, learned one (English occupational surname, from Old English "clerec," originally meaning "priest").

  1. As an occupational surname, Clark derives from Old English "clerec," originally meaning "priest" before broadening to "cleric" or "scribe" (a learned, literate person, since clergy were historically among the few literate members of medieval society). Notable historical bearers of the surname/given name include explorer William Clark (1770-1838), co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and actor Clark Gable (1901-1960).
POPULARITY

Clark over time

United States
#377RANK

Rank #377 gives national context, not a classroom forecast.

Uncommon in current U.S. usage. Ranked #377 in the U.S., 2025.

SourceU.S. Social Security Administration · 2025 release

Pronunciation & Forms

SAY IT

KLARK

OTHER-LANGUAGE FORMS
  • Clarkealternate spelling
PRACTICAL LIFE

How This Name Lives

AT SCHOOL & DAY TO DAY

Short, simple to say and spell, with a solid, unremarkable sound well suited to childhood.

INTO ADULTHOOD

Reads as steady, competent, and professional in adulthood, reinforced by association with real historical figures (explorer William Clark, actor Clark Gable) as well as the fictional Clark Kent/Superman.

Cultural Footprint

Clark belongs to the broad category of English occupational surnames now used as given names; in popular culture it carries a distinct additional layer of meaning as the birth/civilian name of the superhero Superman (Clark Kent), giving the name a wide secondary association independent of its historical occupational sense.

TRACEABLE ORIGIN
  1. William Clark (1770-1838)American explorer, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
  2. Clark Gable (1901-1960)American film actor
  3. Clark Kentcivilian identity of the superhero Superman, introduced 1938

More about Clark

FORMALITY

Functions the same in formal and informal registers, as it is a short, complete word name without a separate short form.

Names around it

Clarke
EDITORIAL SYNTHESIS

The Decision

Clark is spelled without unusual letter patterns, and it holds up in everyday use. Surname-dependent compatibility remains unassessed until a surname is added.

STRENGTH

A documented English pronunciation is on file. Uses standard characters that systems widely handle cleanly.

BEST FIT

Everyday Use is the strongest-scoring part of this name — no obvious nickname traps, rhymes, or initial issues detected.

FULL-NAME CHECK

See how it works with a surname.

Clark