Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1922

Cletus

Meaning invoked Gender Boy · 4% girls Rank 2025 #8,382

Borrowed from Latin Clētus, short form of the papal name Anaclētus, from Ancient Greek ἀνάκλητος (anáklētos, “invoked”, from ἀνακαλέω (anakaléō) +‎ -τός (-tós)).

Rank 2025
#8,382
among boys · ↑2,817 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
9
named Cletus
How common
1 in 189,786
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1922
243 babies
All-time total
7,709
#1,424 all-time among boys
First recorded
1886
in Social Security records

Cletus popularity over time

7,709 babies have been named Cletus since 1886, 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
0.060.130.190.2518801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 10 10 1 – #994
1890s 10 80 90 9 +800% #577
1900s – 185 185 19 +106% #438
1910s 86 1,190 1,276 128 +590% #411
1920s 110 1,902 2,012 201 +58% #391
1930s 34 1,303 1,337 134 -34% #442
1940s 32 878 910 91 -32% #578
1950s – 661 661 66 -27% #751
1960s – 536 536 54 -19% #926
1970s – 251 251 25 -53% #1,316
1980s – 189 189 19 -25% #1,954
1990s – 85 85 9 -55% #3,486
2000s – 64 64 6 -25% #6,089
2010s – 61 61 6 -5% #8,903
2020s (to 2025) – 42 42 7 +15% #7,717

The story of Cletus

Cletus is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,382 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1886, 7,709 American babies have been named Cletus. Its peak came in 1922, when 243 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Cletus stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Cletus?

The median living Cletus is about 66 years old; half are between 53 and 78. An estimated 2,300 people named Cletus are alive in the United States today.

median 66 020406080100

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

Cletus year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – 9 #8,382
2024 – – 6 #11,199
2023 – – – –
2022 – – 9 #8,440
2021 – – 10 #7,717
2020 – – 8 #8,893
2019 – – 6 #11,043
2018 – – 7 #9,874
2017 – – 6 #11,039
2016 – – 6 #10,987
2015 – – 8 #8,903
2014 – – 7 #9,836
2013 – – 8 #8,948
2012 – – 5 #12,624
2011 – – 8 #8,908
2010 – – – –
2009 – – 5 #12,835
2008 – – 6 #11,316
2007 – – 5 #12,703
2006 – – 5 #12,378
2005 – – – –
2004 – – 10 #7,067
2003 – – 8 #7,980
2002 – – 8 #7,772
2001 – – 11 #6,089
2000 – – 6 #9,292
1995 – – – –
1990 – – 10 #5,050
1985 – – 19 #2,615
1980 – – 25 #2,121
1975 – – 18 #2,383
1970 – – 40 #1,316
1965 – – 54 #1,002
1960 – – 56 #1,022
1955 – – 67 #908
1950 – – 81 #762
1945 – – 88 #645
1940 7 #3,567 96 #604
1935 5 #4,325 137 #483
1930 – – 177 #442
1925 13 #2,640 184 #442
1920 9 #3,386 173 #463
1915 9 #2,943 154 #438
1910 – – 28 #541
1905 – – 19 #532
1900 – – 15 #652
1895 – – 10 #700
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Cletus?

The median living Cletus is about 66 years old. Half of all living Cletuss are between 53 and 78 years old.

How many people named Cletus are alive today?

An estimated 2,300 people named Cletus are alive in the United States, based on 7,709 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Cletus mean?

Borrowed from Latin Clētus, short form of the papal name Anaclētus, from Ancient Greek ἀνάκλητος (anáklētos, “invoked”, from ἀνακαλέω (anakaléō) +‎ -τός (-tós)).

How popular is the name Cletus in 2025?

Cletus ranked #8,382 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Cletus?

7,709 babies have been named Cletus in the United States since 1886, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Cletus most popular?

Cletus peaked in 1922, when 243 newborns received the name.

Is Cletus a boy or girl name?

Cletus is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 96% of babies with the name.

Is the name Cletus rising or falling?

Cletus is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Cletus

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

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