James Beauchamp "Champ" Clark (1850–1921), a failed candidate for the 1912 Democrat presidential nomination, was an influence behind increased use of the name in the United States between 1911 and 1912.

The fame of the actor Clark Gable (1901–1960) inspired additional namesakes in the 1930s.

The name was at the height of its usage for American boys in 1938, coinciding with Gable's popularity.

Clark Kent, the fictional alter ego of Superman, was named after Gable in 1938.

The name increased in usage for American boys after Clark Kent appeared as a character in the television series Smallville, which premiered in 2001.