Clelia Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KLEH-lee-uh //ˈklɛ.li.ə//
Origin: Latin; Italian
Meaning: Latin: 'famous'; Italian: 'glory'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Clelia has its roots in ancient Roman culture, derived from the Latin name "Cloelia," which is believed to be derived from the Latin word "cloelus," meaning "heavenly" or "of the sky." The name Cloelia is historically significant as it is associated with a legendary figure from Roman history, Cloelia, a young woman who was celebrated for her bravery during the early days of the Roman Republic. According to legend, she was one of the hostages taken by the Etruscans and managed to escape, leading to her being honored with a statue in the Roman Forum around the 6th century BCE.
This tale of courage contributed to the name's enduring legacy in Roman culture. The name Clelia was later adopted into various languages and cultures, including Italian, where it became popularized during the Renaissance.
The name appears in classical literature and has been borne by several notable figures throughout history, including Clelia Barbieri, an Italian saint from the 19th century who was canonized in 1897. Her life and virtues contributed to the name's association with purity and virtue within Christian contexts.
In terms of cultural resonance, Clelia has been linked to themes of bravery, resilience, and nobility, reflecting the qualities of its historical namesake. The name has also been used in various literary works, further embedding it within cultural narratives.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as Cleo have emerged, though Clelia itself remains a significant name in its own right, embodying a rich historical and cultural heritage.
Famous people named Clelia
In this section, you will find notable people named Clelia. 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 Clelia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Clelia 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.
Clelia Duel Mosher is a physician and women's rights advocate best known for her pioneering work in women's health and sexuality.
Fictional characters named Clelia
The following list of fictional characters named Clelia 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.
Clelia is a fictional character from the novel Clelia. She is the protagonist who navigates the complexities of love and societal expectations in her quest for happiness.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Clelia, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Clelia. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Clelia was first seen in the United States in 1903.
Clelia has ranked as high as #869 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in New York, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Clelia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Clelia 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 Clelia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Clelia (1950)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 7 |
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 Clelia.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 1995 | 7 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1989 | 5 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1983 | 7 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1965 | 8 |
| 1962 | 5 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1960 | 6 |
| 1959 | 7 |
| 1958 | 8 |
| 1957 | 7 |
| 1955 | 7 |
| 1954 | 5 |
| 1953 | 10 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1951 | 9 |
| 1950 | 14 |
| 1947 | 9 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1939 | 5 |
| 1938 | 6 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1935 | 10 |
| 1934 | 7 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1932 | 5 |
| 1931 | 7 |
| 1930 | 7 |
| 1929 | 7 |
| 1928 | 10 |
| 1926 | 16 |
| 1925 | 9 |
| 1924 | 20 |
| 1923 | 14 |
| 1922 | 14 |
| 1921 | 19 |
| 1920 | 21 |
| 1919 | 11 |
| 1918 | 17 |
| 1917 | 7 |
| 1916 | 18 |
| 1915 | 13 |
| 1914 | 13 |
| 1913 | 9 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1903 | 7 |