Cline is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is believed to have been created by the famous American author and humorist, Dave Barry, for his daughter in the mid-1980s. Although it is not derived from any known source or language, Cline has gained some popularity as a girl's name in recent years.
Despite its lack of traditional etymology, some people have attempted to assign meanings to the name Cline. One popular interpretation suggests that it means "pure" or "clean," possibly referring to the idea of being free from impurities or distractions. However, there is no evidence to support this claim, and it should be considered a folk etymology rather than an authoritative definition.
The history of the name Cline is relatively short compared to many other given names. Prior to its creation by Dave Barry, there is no record of anyone being named Cline in the United States or elsewhere. However, since its introduction, the name has appeared occasionally in birth records and other sources, suggesting that it may have been adopted by some parents who were drawn to its uniqueness.
In popular culture, the name Cline has made a few appearances. Most notably, it was used as the given name of the protagonist in the 2011 novel "The Art of Fielding" by Chad Harbach. This character, named Henry Skrimshander Cline, is a talented baseball player with a troubled past.
Overall, the name Cline is an unusual and distinctive choice for a given name. While it lacks traditional etymology and historical significance, its uniqueness makes it an attractive option for parents looking for something different and memorable for their child. Despite its relatively short history, Cline has begun to establish itself as a recognizable name in American culture.
The name Cline has had varying levels of popularity in the United States over the years, as evidenced by the birth statistics provided.
In the early 1900s, there were sporadic years with more than five births bearing the name Cline. The peak occurred in 1914 and 1916 with 22 births each year. This period of popularity continued until around 1934, with several years having between 18 to 29 births.
However, after the 1930s, the popularity of the name Cline started to decline. There were only a few years in the 1940s and 1950s where more than ten babies were named Cline at birth. The highest number during this period was 15 births in 1942.
From the 1960s onwards, there have been fewer than ten births per year with the name Cline, except for a few years like 1963 and 1970 where there were around eight births each. There has been a slight resurgence in recent years, with seven births in 2007 and eight in 2015.
In total, there have been 857 babies named Cline in the United States from 1894 to 2022. While this name may not be as popular as it once was, it still maintains a steady presence in American naming traditions.