The first name Cletus
A boy’s name from Greek meaning “invoked”.
Pronounced /ˈkliːt.əs/ 2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Cletus means “invoked” in Greek.
Borrowed from Latin Clētus, short form of the papal name Anaclētus, from Ancient Greek ἀνάκλητος (anáklētos, “invoked”, from ἀνακαλέω (anakaléō) + -τός (-tós)).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Cletus at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 9 boys born in the United States were named Cletus, the 8,382nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1922, when 233 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Cletus in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Famous people named Cletus
1 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Bobby DriscollAmerican actor (1937–1968)
More Greek boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Cletus mean?
- Cletus means “invoked” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Cletus?
- Borrowed from Latin Clētus, short form of the papal name Anaclētus, from Ancient Greek ἀνάκλητος (anáklētos, “invoked”, from ἀνακαλέω (anakaléō) + -τός (-tós)).
- Is Cletus a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 96% of the 7,709 US babies named Cletus since 1880 were boys.
- When was Cletus most popular?
- 1922 in the United States, when 233 babies were named Cletus, its highest rank at 391st.
- How do you pronounce Cletus?
- Cletus is /ˈkliːt.əs/, 2 syllables.