Given name & surname
Clovis
“a renowned warrior”
Clovis is used as a given name and a surname. One French interpretation is “a renowned warrior.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One French interpretation is “a renowned warrior.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is French.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Clovis through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,719
- 3,092 boys · 627 girls
- Most popular year
- 1923
- 101 babies
- 2025
- 21
- #4,735 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +35%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 100% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 21 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,735 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 35.2% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 84 in 1917. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,665 as a first name in 2020; 559 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Clovis’s family of names
In English usage, Clovis shares an earlier linguistic root with Louis. In French usage, Clovis has a conventional equivalent in the Latin form Chlodovechus. In French usage, Clovis shares a linguistic root with the German form Ludwig.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Clovis has relatives in 15 languages. Lines run from its French roots to each of them.
13 related names in 15 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 26
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Luisequivalent
- Louisdoublet · English
- Lewisequivalent
- Luigiequivalent
- Ludwigcognate · German, English
- Ludovicoequivalent
- Ludvikequivalent
- Ludvigequivalent
Show 18 moreShow fewer
- Ludwikequivalent
- Ludovicequivalent
- Lluísequivalent
- Loïckequivalent
- Lewysequivalent
- Lajosequivalent
- Loïcequivalent
- ChlodwigPolish, German
- Хлодвигborrowing · Russian, Bulgarian
- Lodewijkcognate · Dutch
- Loeizequivalent
- ხლოდვიგიGeorgian
- ChlodvíkCzech
- LuísPortuguese
- ClodovèuOccitan
- ChlodovechusLatin
- KlovisoEsperanto
- ХлодвігBelarusian
People named Clovis
- Clovis Ifirst king of the Franks (c. 466-511)
- Clovis IIKing of Neustria and Burgundy635–657
- Clovis IVKing of the Franks677–695
- Clovis IIIKing of Austrasia670–676
- Clovis CornillacFrench actor and film directorborn 1968
- Joseph PholienBelgian politician (1884-1968)
- Clóvis FernandesBrazilian athlete1955–2015
- Clovis TrouilleFrench painter (1889-1975)
- Clovis HuguesFrench writer1851–1907
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Clovis, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“one who is ready for battle”
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Merle
“resembling a blackbird”
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Laurent
“a graceful woman”
90% boys · 10% girls
Lowell
“resembling a young wolf”
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Armand
“of the army; a soldier”
>99% boys