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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Clarence

138 replies

Gracefullywalking · 20/05/2026 14:54

I need to know if I've gone mad. This name is not a name that I would have even considered before I fell pregnant, but it continues to grow on me the more that I've thought about it. I just think Clarence sounds like a cute name for a little boy and would also sound mature in adulthood. Thoughts?

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tougholdbirdy · 20/05/2026 17:35

ForeverTheOptomist · 20/05/2026 17:23

... also ...

Clarence Cliff was a rather famous Art Deco designer
Clarence House is a rather famous place
and finally ... The Clarence TV series came to an untimely end due to the creator being up to no good. Hmm.

It was Clarice cliff , a woman , who was the art deco ceramic designer

Thedogscollar · 20/05/2026 17:31

SabrinaThwaite · 20/05/2026 15:31

Clarence was the cross eyed lion in Daktari.

Omg that's it..I knew it was a lion.
Showing our age now with Daktari 😂
It's an unusual name OP and kids can be cruel😬

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 20/05/2026 17:28

Nope. You’re mad. Your kid won’t thank you if you do this to them.

minipie · 20/05/2026 17:28

Tonissister · 20/05/2026 17:25

I quite like it. Could be Clem for short. I don't like Clarry much as a nn - reminds me of the woman on the Archers.

Surely Clem is short for Clement ? Or Clemence?

Alouest · 20/05/2026 17:27

I do like Clarence but Clarry kind of sounds like a girl to me.

The designer was Clarice. She was a woman.

Tonissister · 20/05/2026 17:25

I quite like it. Could be Clem for short. I don't like Clarry much as a nn - reminds me of the woman on the Archers.

ForeverTheOptomist · 20/05/2026 17:23

... also ...

Clarence Cliff was a rather famous Art Deco designer
Clarence House is a rather famous place
and finally ... The Clarence TV series came to an untimely end due to the creator being up to no good. Hmm.

Jugglingeggs · 20/05/2026 17:21

Had a horse called Clarence

ItWasntMyFault · 20/05/2026 17:19

If he turns out to be a solicitor or an accountant he probably won’t mind but I’m not sure if that will the case if he grows up to be a scaffolder etc

Teresa7 · 20/05/2026 17:16

I’m pregnant, and Clarence is currently top of my list if I have a boy! Love it!

Georgiapeach21 · 20/05/2026 16:24

Absolutely not.

my hormones made me want to call my middle child “Ashanti”. Thank god my husband talked me out of it 🤣

DramaAlpaca · 20/05/2026 16:22

Quite mad!

Pistachiocake · 20/05/2026 16:21

This is one of those names which shows name judging (Karen, Jessica, Debbie, Kevin etc) isn't new-it was used to signify a type (see William books, Oor Wullie etc). Certain "old" names span different classes (William, James, Luke, George, Elizabeth, Mary etc), but Clarence is usually seem as only upper class.
But will that change? Names like Tobias, Jemima, Tabitha etc used to be only upper-class. And does it even bother you?
Whatever you pick, someone will moan. Even picking one of the "safe" names will be judged as boring by some people!

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 20/05/2026 16:15

Interesting isn't it, it's the 'r' versus the 'z'.
Barry, Gary, Clarence all sound a bit wet.
Bazzer, Gazza, Claz - dudes.

Hotandpointy · 20/05/2026 16:12

I know a Clarence, he’s 12 and other kids haven’t batted an eyelid about his name so far. He gets called Claz as a nickname sometimes and is popular at school, he’s a great kid.

jackstini · 20/05/2026 16:11

It was my DH’s Grandad’s name although everyone called him Cal

He wanted to honour him but we used Cal as Ds middle name as it sounded better

I don’t mind it in full, but would use Cal as a nn especially when young; baby Clarence sounds too much

Bristolandlazy · 20/05/2026 15:59

First thing that pops into my mind is "clearance Clarence" quote from Airplane.

Personally I think it's a strange baby name.

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JustGiveMeReason · 20/05/2026 15:59

Makes me immediately say "the cross eyed lion" although I'm guessing younger folk wouldn't.

Setting that aside, I really don't like it.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 20/05/2026 15:54

You've gone mad. Wait for the hormones to die down before making any decisions!

greglet · 20/05/2026 15:53

Oh I love it!

MsGreying · 20/05/2026 15:47

House.

Nah. Not for me.

bumphope2020 · 20/05/2026 15:47

Older generation will hate it, as they do so many of the older names. I wouldn’t personally use it, but would think it’s cute if introduced to one.

ithinkilikethislittlelife · 20/05/2026 15:39

I like it. It’s cute ☺️

SnowFrogJelly · 20/05/2026 15:36

Awful

SabrinaThwaite · 20/05/2026 15:31

Clarence was the cross eyed lion in Daktari.