 Their original intention was to name it after Sir Hugh Clifford, but it was eventually named as Clementi Road.It is generally suggested that the road was named after Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, who was the first British High Commissioner in the Straits Settlements.However, it is also possible that the road was named after Sir Cecil Clementi, another former Governor of the Straits Settlements (1930-33) who initiated the construction of the Kallang Airport.