The baby name Clover is a traditional symbol of luck, but would it bring good fortune to your child?
Thanks to Corinne for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME CLOVER MEAN?
The word clover comes from clafre in Old English. It has Germanic roots. There’s a theory that the word might’ve originally referenced the sticky sweet honey from clover nectar.
It’s a good crop for grazing. That’s why if you’re “in clover” you’re living a life of plenty.
It’s sometimes a surname, too. Though in that case, it’s less likely to refer to the plant. Clover likely was a twist on Cleaver, one who cleaves – splits logs, or possibly works as a butcher. The surname has several other origins and meanings, too.
But we tend to think of a specific plant, from the genus Trifolium. The scientific name means three leaves in Latin. They’re common in Europe, but also found in South America and Africa, and elsewhere in higher altitudes.
The name suggests that they almost always have three leaves. But not always, and a surprising amount of the baby name Clover’s meaning comes down to counting precisely how many leaves are on each one.
CLOVER: A SYMBOL OF IRELAND
The word shamrock comes from the Irish seamrog – little clover.
It has played a role in religion and folklore for millennia. The Druids believed the shamrock could ward off evil. Long before Christianity came to Ireland, the three leaves were believed to represent traditional gods.
But it’s the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, who gets credit for a more familiar religious association. It’s said that he used a shamrock’s three leaves to explain the concept of the holy trinity in his teachings.
It’s since become a national symbol of Ireland, as well as a familiar image around Saint Patrick’s Day everywhere.
FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS AND GOOD LUCK
A four-leaf clover is quite rare. They’ve been associated with good luck for generations.
It’s thought that Sir John Melton, an English politician and writer, was the first to express the concept. In 1620, he wrote “If a man walking in the fields finds any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing.”
More recently, you might think of the 1927 song “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover.” It’s been recorded plenty of times. A 1948 recording by singer and bandleader Art Mooney is probably the best-known.
The connection between a four-leaf clover and good fortune runs deep. It lends the baby name Clover a different kind of meaning.
CLOVER IN POP CULTURE
One more musical reference: in 1968, Tommy James and the Shondells scored a major hit with “Crimson and Clover.”
Apparently, there’s no real meaning to the title. James just liked the way the words sounded together.
Joan Jett recorded the song in 1982, and sent the song back into the US Top Ten.
There are two fictional uses of the baby name Clover, separated by more than a century:
- On the heels of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women – a literary blockbuster in 1868 – Susan Coolidge wrote What Katy Did. It followed in the same tradition as Alcott’s bestseller. The 1872 novel tells of Katy, an active, adventurous girl transformed to an invalid after an accident. Katy’s little sister is Clover.
- 2006’s The Good Shepherd starred Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie in a work of semi-historical semi-fiction about the establishment of the CIA. Jolie plays Clover, the wife of Damon’s character, but in her case Clover is a nickname. She’s actually named Margaret.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME CLOVER?
The baby name Clover has been used in small numbers over the years. As early as 1897, five girls received the name. (US Social Security Administration data only reports on names beginning in 1880.)
There’s a tiny uptick in the 1960s, tracked to the hit song “Crimson and Clover.”
The name started to rise again following the 2006 movie. But again, it’s only a little lift.
Instead, real climb started only about a decade ago.
As of 2021, the baby name Clover debuted in the US Top 1000 most popular names at #860. It’s up to #675 as of 2023.
Unrelated nature name Clove has seen some use, too, debuting in the SSA national data in 2019 and given to 12 girls in the year 2023.
CLOVER: 21ST CENTURY BOTANICAL
The baby name Clover comes with so many meaning. It’s an Irish heritage choice with ties to faith. It’s a lucky name. And it suggests prosperity, too. Any of those ideas might provide baby name inspiration.
It also fits with so many botanical favorites for baby girls. Ivy and Juniper, Willow and Rose. Chances are that you know a little girl called Harper or Piper, or another two-syllable, ends with R similar name. The first name Clover fits that trend, too.
With increasing popularity and a style that fits with baby girl names now, it’s easy to imagine hearing more of the baby name Clover in the future.
What do you think of the baby name Clover?
First published on January 29, 2010, this post was revised on March 17, 2025.
After reading about Clover the other day, the sweetness of this name keeps coming into my mind. It kind of reminds me of Fern from Charlotte’s Web, perhaps b/c they are both green plants with small or no flowers… I also think the nn Clove or name for that matter is short, soft, sweet than spicy ( as in baking with cloves)!
This is on my back up list if the 90% accuracy for boy is wrong : )
I love Clover as a girl’s name. Also, I was born on St. Patrick’s Day, so I have a special affinity for clovers in general. I would definitely consider this for a girl.
Nine hours, nine doors, nine persons.
My daughter, Clover Melody, is about to turn 3. We get mixed reactions to her name…many people insist on calling her Chloe, and I gently correct them. People who don’t speak English as a first language are often the most confused. The average person we hang with, however, (artistic, educated, liberal-types), think its awesome. More often than not I hear “what a beautiful name!” I grew up with a name that was very common, and I was always envious of the little girls with more interesting names growing up. Besides, she wears it well.
My husband and I had a daughter in January and we named her Clover Mariah. My Husband really wanted a nature name and had come up with everything from Luna to Rain, I didn’t like any of them. Then one day I heard Clover and told him about it and he just fell in love with it.
We get two standard reactions with the name it either “I love that name” or “that’s nice” I get the impression that those saying “that’s nice” probably are not big fans. The name really fits her and I’m glad we choose it for her. I can’t imagine her with any other name.
My Daughter is due mid July And we have decided on the name Clover Anne for her.
My husband and I had been looking at the little pink book of baby names and they had a page on flower names. My husband and I laughed at it (thinking it antiquated) and tossed some foliage out for names. Clover happened to be one of them, and it stuck, we just fell in love with it.
And just to make it all the better years and years ago I purchased “The Golden Cloth” by J.B. Aldrich, an original print from 1874, I love both poetry and antique books. I just really got to look at it after we had found out about our daughter and found 3 pressed 4 leaf clovers in the book. I assume they were pressed by the original owner, an L. Evangeline Andrews, as she had put many other things in the book. Anyway that just sealed it for the name.
Lol sorry I didn’t mean to wright a novel, just wanted to share my story with the name Clover.
I think this is a sweet, adorable name! I recently met a girl named Cricket, which I love the sound of, and to me, Clover has a similar, cute ring to it.
As a side note, I also love the name of this website – so clever! =)
I really like Clover. If I’d use it, it’d most likely be as a middle. I do have the pairing CLover Giselle on my list, though. I find it really sweet & refreshing. I was a bit obsessed with it at the beginning of last year
My 10 yr old daughter is named Crimson, so I’ve never been able to convince my husband to go with Clover for another daughter. I keep telling him I’ll call her Cloey but he still won’t go for it.
Just to let you know, the nurse in the delivery room started singing Crimson and Clover when she was born and lots of people do it when they meet her. I’m not a fan of the song so it really annoys me, but my daughter loves it! I’m sure it would happen with a kid named Clover too.
I think I’d have really liked to have a theme song, so I get where Crimson is coming from!
What a daring name, and ten years ago you were really ahead of the curve! Wonder if all of these Scarletts will inspire more parents to consider Crimson? Hmmm …
I really want to like Clover. I feel like I should, it’s right up my ally. But… I just can’t bring myself to it. I think I’d like it on someone else’s child, but never my own. It seems silly and babyish to me. I don’t really like the sound, either. Cute imagine, but it doesn’t have the sound to match.
There is an area around here called Cloverly. I kind of like that more as a name than just Clover, adds a bit of femininity I guess. I also like that it’s not -leigh or anything crazy, just -ly. Cloverly… I’m actually surprised I’ve never heard of anyone using it.