Clive used to be stereotyped as a clipped British name in a pith helmet and pencil-thin moustache, as in English military hero Clive of India--but this image has been turned on its ear by hunky Clive Owen.
William Makepeace Thackeray did a lot to launch this as a first name via his novel The Newcomes with Clive Newcombe being the hero--most likely inspired by the exploits of General Robert Clive, essentially the founder of British India.
Two other notable modern day Clives are writers Barker and Cussler.
