Cletus Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Cletus is a name of Greek origin meaning 'called' or 'invoked'. It evolved from the Ancient Greek 'Kletos' to Latin and then to English. The name is associated with early Christian history and has biblical relevance through its mention in the New Testament. While it is not widely used today, it carries a traditional connotation and is linked to notable historical figures.
The name Cletus is most popular in Iowa, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Cletus has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Cletus' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 440th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 547th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 905th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1528th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3755th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8997th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9635th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2901st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4189th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Cletus' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Cletus"
Pronunciation
/ˈkliːtəs/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Cletus is derived from the Greek name 'Kletos', which means 'called' or 'invoked'. It is associated with the idea of being chosen or called to a purpose.
Meaning
called, invoked
Language Evolution
Kletos (Ancient Greek), Cletus (Latin), Cletus (English)
Biblical Background
Cletus is mentioned in the New Testament as a companion of Saint Paul, highlighting its early Christian significance.
Historical Usage
The name Cletus gained popularity during the early Christian era, particularly in the 1st century, and was used by several early popes.
Variants & Derivatives
Clet, Cletis, Kletus
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Cletus is not a common name but may be perceived as traditional or old-fashioned. It can evoke associations with religious or historical figures.
Famous People
Pope Cletus (Cletus I), an early pope recognized as a saint, Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel, a character from 'The Simpsons'
Explore More Cletus Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Cletus"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Cletus"
"Cletus" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 440th of 7545 | 2,943 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 547th of 6773 | 2,174 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 905th of 7552 | 1,284 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1528th of 10718 | 515 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3755th of 16616 | 221 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8997th of 24088 | 104 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9635th of 23106 | 80 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2901st of 9107 | 173 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4189th of 9204 | 84 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Cletus" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
18.08% 256th/1416 |
35.39% 488th/1379 |
27.01% 639th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
19.79% 306th/1546 |
39.78% 619th/1556 |
33.83% 796th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
27.93% 622nd/2227 |
38.23% 929th/2430 |
45.50% 1298th/2853 |
60.61% 1682nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
43.85% 1288th/2937 |
52.74% 1837th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
64.56% 2379th/3685 |
- | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
68.16% 3123rd/4582 |
- | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Cletus" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
95.13% 1347th/1416 |
- | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Cletus"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Cletus" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.