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Name Lineage

    The first name Klaus

    A boy’s name from Greek.

    1 syllable Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Greek origin

    A male given name from Ancient Greek, an alternative spelling of Claus.

    A form of Claus.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Klaus last appeared in the official list in 2024, given to 6 boys. It peaked in 2020, with 8 births (#2,404).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    50
    babies named Klaus, 1996–2025
    #3,254
    rank in 2024
    2020
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Klaus with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Klaus at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 63 boys born in the United States were named Klaus, the 2,245th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2022, when 84 were.

    04590 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    1,471
    babies named Klaus since 1880
    #2,245
    rank in 2025
    2022
    peak year

    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.

    Famous people named Klaus

    126 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Klaus Ebner
      Austrian writer, born 1964
    • Klaus Kinski
      German actor (1926–1991)
    • Klaus Schwab
      German economist, founder of World Economic Forum, born 1938
    • Klaus Kinkel
      Chairman of the FDP (1936-2019)
    • Klaus Augenthaler
      German football player and manager, born 1957
    • Klaus Fuchs
      German-born British theoretical physicist and atomic spy (1911-1988)
    • Klaus Maria Brandauer
      Austrian actor and director, born 1943
    • Klaus Allofs
      German football player and executive, born 1956
    • Klaus Roth
      British mathematician (1925–2015)
    • Klaus Schulze
      German composer and musician (1947–2022)
    • Klaus Fischer
      German footballer, born 1949
    • Klaus Wolfermann
      German athlete (1946–2024)

    More Greek boys’ names

    All 347 names of Greek origin

    Questions

    What is the origin of the name Klaus?
    Klaus comes from Greek.
    How popular is the name Klaus?
    In 2024, 6 boys born in England and Wales were named Klaus, ranking 3,254th. Its peak was 2020, with 8 births.
    Is Klaus a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 1,471 US babies named Klaus since 1880 were boys.
    When was Klaus most popular?
    2022 in the United States, when 84 babies were named Klaus, its highest rank at 1,880th.
    What name is Klaus a form of?
    Klaus is a form of Claus.
    Is Klaus also a surname?
    Yes. Klaus is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.