Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1935

Cleta

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Cleta
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1935
136 babies
All-time total
4,013
#2,988 all-time among girls
First recorded
1885
in Social Security records

Cleta popularity over time

4,013 babies have been named Cleta since 1885, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.040.080.110.1518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1935Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s 15 2 – #847
1890s 67 7 +347% #910
1900s 158 16 +136% #798
1910s 626 63 +296% #693
1920s 890 89 +42% #730
1930s 988 99 +11% #549
1940s 617 62 -38% #811
1950s 436 44 -29% #1,214
1960s 140 14 -68% #2,662
1970s 69 7 -51% #4,864
1980s 7 1 -90% #8,329
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Cleta

Cleta is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1885, 4,013 American babies have been named Cleta. Its peak came in 1935, when 136 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1930s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Cleta stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cleta?

The median living Cleta is about 77 years old; half are between 70 and 86. An estimated 1,300 people named Cleta are alive in the United States today.

median 77 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Cleta year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 7 #8,329
1975 6 #8,181
1970 9 #5,475
1965 – –
1960 21 #2,662
1955 52 #1,383
1950 48 #1,326
1945 57 #1,023
1940 77 #811
1935 136 #549
1930 91 #734
1925 95 #760
1920 86 #781
1915 82 #735
1910 18 #1,034
1905 21 #802
1900 10 #1,242
1895 7 #1,328
1890 – –
1885 5 #1,074
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Cleta, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Cleta?

The median living Cleta is about 77 years old. Half of all living Cletas are between 70 and 86 years old.

How many people named Cleta are alive today?

An estimated 1,300 people named Cleta are alive in the United States, based on 4,013 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Cleta in 2025?

Cleta did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Cleta?

4,013 babies have been named Cleta in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cleta most popular?

Cleta peaked in 1935, when 136 newborns received the name.

Is Cleta a boy or girl name?

Cleta is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cleta rising or falling?

Cleta has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Cleta

Names that sound and feel close to Cleta: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Cleta with similar names → More names starting with C →