Clementine is the French feminine form of Clement, from the Latin clemens, and means "merciful" or "gentle". Americans know it from the folk song Oh My Darling, Clementine and from Clementine Churchill, Winston's wife; the small sweet orange is named after a French priest, Father Clément. Long considered quaint, the name entered the US top 1000 in 2014 and has risen almost every year since, reaching number 456 in 2025, its best rank so far.