Cletus Boy

Popularity: #929 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KLEE-tus //ˈkliːtəs//

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: 'famous'; Latin: 'glorious'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Cletus has its roots in the Greek name "Kletos," which means "called" or "invoked." This term is derived from the Greek verb "kaleo," meaning "to call." The name was adopted into Latin as "Cletus," which was then assimilated into various languages, including English. The transition into English occurred through the influence of the Latin-speaking Church and the subsequent adoption of Christian names during the early medieval period.

Historically, Cletus is associated with Saint Cletus, who is recognized as one of the early popes of the Roman Catholic Church, serving in the first century AD. His papacy is traditionally dated to around 80-90 AD, although exact dates are uncertain.

Saint Cletus is often venerated as a martyr, and his name appears in the Roman Martyrology, which records the lives of saints. The name gained prominence in Christian contexts, particularly during the Middle Ages, as the veneration of saints became a significant aspect of religious life.

Cletus has also been linked to various cultural and religious traditions, symbolizing the idea of being called to a higher purpose or mission. The name's association with early Christian leadership and martyrdom contributed to its enduring presence in Christian communities.

In some contexts, the diminutive form "Clete" has been used, although it is less common. Overall, Cletus reflects a rich historical and linguistic heritage that underscores its significance in both religious and cultural narratives.

Famous people named Cletus

In this section, you will find notable people named Cletus. 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 Cletus who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Cletus 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.

Cletus Kasady is a fictional character best known as the host of the Carnage symbiote in Marvel Comics.

Cletus Spuckler is a fictional character best known for his role in The Simpsons as a recurring character.

Fictional characters named Cletus

The following list of fictional characters named Cletus 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.

Cletus Kasady is a fictional character from the Marvel Comics universe. He is known as the villain Carnage, a psychopathic serial killer bonded with an alien symbiote.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Cletus, 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 Cletus. 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 Cletus was first seen in the United States in 1886.

Cletus has ranked as high as #801 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Cletus has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Cletus 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 Cletus 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 Cletus.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 9 9 0
2024 6 6 0
2022 9 9 0
2021 10 10 0
2020 8 8 0
2019 6 6 0
2018 7 7 0
2017 6 6 0
2016 6 6 0
2015 8 8 0
2014 7 7 0
2013 8 8 0
2012 5 5 0
2011 8 8 0
2009 5 5 0
2008 6 6 0
2007 5 5 0
2006 5 5 0
2004 10 10 0
2003 8 8 0
2002 8 8 0
2001 11 11 0
2000 6 6 0
1999 12 12 0
1998 5 5 0
1997 11 11 0
1996 10 10 0
1994 9 9 0
1993 11 11 0
1991 17 17 0
1990 10 10 0
1989 16 16 0
1988 12 12 0
1987 13 13 0
1986 18 18 0
1985 19 19 0
1984 17 17 0
1983 21 21 0
1982 20 20 0
1981 28 28 0
1980 25 25 0
1979 24 24 0
1978 18 18 0
1977 21 21 0
1976 29 29 0
1975 18 18 0
1974 20 20 0
1973 22 22 0
1972 28 28 0
1971 31 31 0
1970 40 40 0
1969 38 38 0
1968 34 34 0
1967 52 52 0
1966 62 62 0
1965 54 54 0
1964 66 66 0
1963 62 62 0
1962 49 49 0
1961 63 63 0
1960 56 56 0
1959 51 51 0
1958 55 55 0
1957 64 64 0
1956 57 57 0
1955 67 67 0
1954 63 63 0
1953 62 62 0
1952 75 75 0
1951 86 86 0
1950 81 81 0
1949 82 82 0
1948 83 78 5
1947 79 79 0
1946 87 87 0
1945 88 88 0
1944 79 74 5
1943 106 101 5
1942 93 88 5
1941 110 105 5
1940 103 96 7
1939 99 99 0
1938 103 97 6
1937 125 119 6
1936 127 127 0
1935 142 137 5
1934 134 134 0
1933 131 125 6
1932 156 156 0
1931 143 132 11
1930 177 177 0
1929 173 159 14
1928 169 160 9
1927 206 193 13
1926 213 200 13
1925 197 184 13
1924 242 226 16
1923 200 200 0
1922 243 233 10
1921 187 174 13
1920 182 173 9
1919 181 168 13
1918 216 200 16
1917 201 189 12
1916 182 171 11
1915 163 154 9
1914 103 97 6
1913 90 83 7
1912 73 66 7
1911 39 34 5
1910 28 28 0
1909 31 31 0
1908 30 30 0
1907 24 24 0
1906 14 14 0
1905 19 19 0
1904 15 15 0
1903 15 15 0
1902 10 10 0
1901 12 12 0
1900 15 15 0
1899 15 10 5
1898 13 8 5
1897 9 9 0
1896 11 11 0
1895 10 10 0
1894 10 10 0
1893 12 12 0
1892 5 5 0
1891 5 5 0
1888 5 5 0
1886 5 5 0

Top States for Cletus (2002)

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
IN 6
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