Clifford

/ˈklɪfəɹd/

//ˈklɪfəɹd// name

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"clifford" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“Clifford” has 11 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #10,011. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#10,011
frequency rank, English
43,570
“C” headwords
11
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A habitational surname from Old English.

Key facts for Clifford
PropertyValue
HeadwordClifford
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechProper noun
IPA/ˈklɪfəɹd/
Letters8
Frequency rank#10,011
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “Clifford” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). Clifford lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 11 spelling variants around Clifford (IPA /ˈklɪfəɹd/), aproper noun. Corpus frequency is #10,011 among 43,570 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 14 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for Clifford, with forms such as "cclifford", "cilfford", and "clfiford". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Old English clif (“cliff”) + ford (“ford”), a dweller at the ford by the steep bank. The correct English form is Clifford, spelled C-L-I-F-F-O-R-D.

Definition

  1. 1
    A habitational surname from Old English.
  2. 2
    A male given name transferred from the surname.
  3. 3
    A village and civil parish in west Herefordshire, England (OS grid ref SO2445).
  4. 4
    A village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England (OS grid ref SE4244).
  5. 5
    A community in the town of Minto, Wellington County, Ontario, Canada.
  6. 6
    A number of places in the United States:
  7. 7
    A number of places in the United States:
  8. 8
    A number of places in the United States:
  9. 9
    A number of places in the United States:
  10. 10
    A number of places in the United States:
  11. 11
    A number of places in the United States:
  12. 12
    A number of places in the United States:
  13. 13
    A number of places in the United States:
  14. 14
    A rural locality in Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia.

Etymology

From Old English clif (“cliff”) + ford (“ford”), a dweller at the ford by the steep bank.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • cclifford
  • cilfford
  • clfiford
  • cliffodr
  • cliffordd
  • clifforrd
  • cliffrod
  • clifofrd
  • cliford
  • cllifford
  • lcifford

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of Clifford - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

cclifford1cilfford2clfiford2cliffodr2cliffordd1clifforrd1cliffrod2clifofrd2
Edit distance from "Clifford"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Clifford"?
"Clifford" is spelled C-L-I-F-F-O-R-D. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈklɪfəɹd/.
What does "Clifford" mean?
As a proper noun, "Clifford" means: A habitational surname from Old English.
What are common misspellings of "Clifford"?
Common misspellings include "cclifford", "cilfford", "clfiford", "cliffodr", "cliffordd". The correct spelling is "Clifford".
How do you pronounce "Clifford"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Clifford" is /ˈklɪfəɹd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "Clifford"?
From Old English clif (“cliff”) + ford (“ford”), a dweller at the ford by the steep bank. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “Clifford”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-L-I-F-F-O-R-D - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈklɪfəɹd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list