Cleve is an unusual yet intriguing given name of American origin, derived from Old French 'Clive', which was brought to England by the Normans and eventually evolved into Cleave, before becoming Cleve in some regions. It shares its roots with other names like Clifford and Clive. The name Cleve is believed to have been more commonly used during the Middle Ages and has since become quite rare, adding to its uniqueness.
The name Cleve appeared consistently with six births each year from 1918 to 1925 and again in 1928, before dropping to five births in 1930. This indicates a steady popularity for the name Cleve during that period, with a slight decrease towards the end of it.