girl's name
Clova
KLOH-vuh (English)
- Origin English, Scottish
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Births on record 125
Clova is a rare girl's name with two likely sources: it's a respelling of Clover, the meadow plant, and it's also a place name in Scotland, as in Glen Clova in Angus. In the United States it was used for a few decades in the early twentieth century.
- Clova is a name of English, Scottish origin.
- Peaked in 1915, when 10 babies were given the name.
- It has largely dropped out of use.
- First appears in US birth records in 1905.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Clova Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1900s to 1930s.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 52 |
| 1920s | 40 |
| 1930s | 25 |
What Clova Means
Clova is most often read as a form of Clover, the small plant linked with luck. The name can also point to the Scottish glen, so its sense depends on what a family has in mind.
Where Clova Comes From
Clover goes back to Old English clāfre, a word related to similar plant names in other Germanic languages. Baby-name references such as Mother & Baby list Clova as a spelling of it, and the -a ending would have matched the style of American girls' names around 1900, when Clover itself was in use. Scotland supplies a second source in Clova, a village and glen in Angus. No record shows which of these early American parents had in mind, and a later handful of births in Scotland may well reflect the place.
Clova in Use
Clova belongs to a group of vintage American flower names that faded by the mid-twentieth century. Its near twin Clover has returned to favor, which makes Clova a rarer way to reach the same sound.
How Popular Is Clova?
In 1938, Clova was given to 6 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
Where Clova Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Clova
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Clova Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Clova over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Clova
- English KLOH-vuh
Clova in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Other forms
- Forms we hold no single language for — some are used across several, some are simply spelled differently.
- Clover
Sibling Names for Clova
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Clova — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Clova
What does the name Clova mean?
It's usually read as a form of Clover, and it's also a Scottish place name.
Is Clova the same as Clover?
Name references treat it as a variant spelling, though a link to Glen Clova in Scotland is possible too.
How do you pronounce Clova?
KLOH-vuh, with the first syllable stressed.
How popular is the name Clova?
In 1938, Clova was given to 6 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
Is Clova a girl's or a boy's name?
Clova is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Clova?
Clova has 2 syllables.
When was Clova most popular?
Clova peaked in 1915, when 10 babies were given the name. It has largely dropped out of use.