Claude Boy

Popularity: #898 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: klawd /klɔːd/

Origin: Latin; French

Meaning: Latin: 'lame' or 'enclosure'; French: 'lame'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Claude originates from the Latin name Claudius, which is derived from the Latin verb 'claudere,' meaning 'to close' or 'to shut.' The name Claudius was borne by several notable figures in ancient Rome, including the Roman Emperor Claudius I, who ruled from 41 to 54 CE. The name was later adopted into Old French as 'Claude' during the medieval period, reflecting the influence of Latin on the developing Romance languages.

This transition into French occurred around the 9th century, as the vernacular began to diverge from Latin, leading to the establishment of distinct national identities and languages in Europe. Historically, the name Claude has been associated with various saints, most notably Saint Claude de la Colombière, a 17th-century French priest known for his role in the spread of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

His canonization in the 20th century further solidified the name's religious significance. Additionally, Claude has been borne by several French monarchs and nobles, contributing to its prominence in French history.

The name appears in various literary works, including those of the Renaissance, which helped to popularize it in the cultural milieu of Europe. Culturally, the name Claude has been linked to artistic and intellectual pursuits, with notable bearers such as Claude Monet, a leading figure in the Impressionist movement, and Claude Debussy, a pivotal composer in the transition to modern music.

The name carries connotations of creativity and sophistication, reflecting the contributions of its historical figures to art and culture. Diminutive forms such as Claudeau have also been used, though less commonly, showcasing the name's adaptability within different linguistic contexts.

Famous people named Claude

In this section, you will find notable people named Claude. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Claude who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Claude who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Claude Monet is a painter best known for Impression, Sunrise, Water Lilies, and Woman with a Parasol.

Claude Debussy is a composer best known for Clair de Lune, La Mer, and Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.

Claude Lévi-Strauss is an anthropologist best known for Tristes Tropiques, The Savage Mind, and Structural Anthropology.

Claude Rains is an actor best known for The Invisible Man, Casablanca, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Claude Shannon is an engineer and mathematician best known for founding information theory and his work on digital circuits.

Claude Chabrol is a film director best known for Les Biches, La Cérémonie, and Le Boucher.

Claude Simon is a novelist best known for The Grass, The Flanders Road, and The Georgics.

Claude Jutra is a filmmaker best known for Mon Oncle Antoine, The Dog Who Stopped the War, and À tout prendre.

Claude Sautet is a film director best known for César and Rosalie, Vincent, François, Paul... and Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud.

Claude McKay is a writer best known for Home to Harlem, Banjo, and The Harlem Renaissance.

Fictional characters named Claude

The following list of fictional characters named Claude is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Claude Frollo is a fictional character from the novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. He is the archdeacon of Notre Dame who becomes obsessed with the gypsy Esmeralda, leading to tragic consequences.

Claude is a fictional character from the video game series Grand Theft Auto. He is the silent protagonist of Grand Theft Auto III, navigating the criminal underworld of Liberty City.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Claude, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

ClaraClementCelineCyrusCoraCecil

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Claude. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

ClaudiaClaudioClaudetteClydeCleoClementCyrus

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Claude was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Claude has ranked as high as #224 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Claude has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Claude is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Claude was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Claude.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 40 40 0
2024 35 35 0
2023 39 39 0
2022 34 34 0
2021 38 38 0
2020 44 44 0
2019 42 42 0
2018 51 51 0
2017 40 40 0
2016 55 55 0
2015 52 52 0
2014 42 42 0
2013 43 43 0
2012 45 45 0
2011 47 47 0
2010 55 55 0
2009 58 58 0
2008 66 66 0
2007 58 58 0
2006 62 62 0
2005 70 70 0
2004 65 65 0
2003 82 82 0
2002 70 70 0
2001 69 69 0
2000 99 99 0
1999 91 91 0
1998 93 93 0
1997 89 89 0
1996 108 108 0
1995 113 113 0
1994 119 119 0
1993 148 143 5
1992 142 142 0
1991 146 146 0
1990 151 151 0
1989 170 170 0
1988 181 181 0
1987 209 209 0
1986 177 177 0
1985 189 189 0
1984 188 188 0
1983 184 184 0
1982 235 235 0
1981 240 233 7
1980 273 268 5
1979 277 269 8
1978 262 262 0
1977 255 255 0
1976 275 268 7
1975 322 316 6
1974 327 319 8
1973 329 324 5
1972 371 362 9
1971 430 422 8
1970 453 447 6
1969 456 448 8
1968 535 530 5
1967 513 506 7
1966 554 547 7
1965 603 603 0
1964 726 717 9
1963 749 743 6
1962 707 701 6
1961 814 804 10
1960 850 837 13
1959 866 852 14
1958 958 951 7
1957 1,030 1,024 6
1956 1,013 1,003 10
1955 1,092 1,084 8
1954 1,148 1,142 6
1953 1,150 1,139 11
1952 1,150 1,144 6
1951 1,248 1,239 9
1950 1,262 1,253 9
1949 1,227 1,219 8
1948 1,355 1,346 9
1947 1,440 1,433 7
1946 1,315 1,306 9
1945 1,166 1,166 0
1944 1,300 1,289 11
1943 1,372 1,364 8
1942 1,320 1,314 6
1941 1,189 1,189 0
1940 1,202 1,194 8
1939 1,170 1,157 13
1938 1,319 1,311 8
1937 1,145 1,138 7
1936 1,240 1,225 15
1935 1,276 1,264 12
1934 1,272 1,264 8
1933 1,264 1,253 11
1932 1,373 1,352 21
1931 1,310 1,296 14
1930 1,496 1,481 15
1929 1,475 1,449 26
1928 1,556 1,533 23
1927 1,635 1,621 14
1926 1,736 1,714 22
1925 1,712 1,696 16
1924 1,721 1,706 15
1923 1,712 1,694 18
1922 1,826 1,806 20
1921 1,907 1,887 20
1920 1,910 1,893 17
1919 1,785 1,772 13
1918 1,897 1,878 19
1917 1,638 1,625 13
1916 1,742 1,733 9
1915 1,618 1,605 13
1914 1,297 1,284 13
1913 1,089 1,076 13
1912 898 890 8
1911 472 466 6
1910 472 463 9
1909 427 419 8
1908 433 428 5
1907 369 364 5
1906 352 346 6
1905 399 399 0
1904 346 337 9
1903 309 301 8
1902 342 336 6
1901 341 341 0
1900 445 433 12
1899 300 293 7
1898 382 371 11
1897 361 345 16
1896 407 398 9
1895 402 389 13
1894 419 419 0
1893 403 394 9
1892 363 353 10
1891 334 327 7
1890 359 347 12
1889 391 386 5
1888 382 374 8
1887 383 375 8
1886 401 391 10
1885 350 343 7
1884 353 353 0
1883 321 315 6
1882 364 356 8
1881 311 302 9
1880 319 309 10

Top States for Claude (2021)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 5
100%