Holding steady.
Popularity of Claus since 1880
Babies named Claus per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Claus's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 17 |
| 1890s | 27 |
| 1900s | 11 |
| 1910s | 63 |
| 1920s | 70 |
| 1930s | 38 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 55 |
| 1960s | 69 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Claus is a traditional Germanic short form of Nicholas that has seen sporadic use as an independent name, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its earliest U.S. recording dates to 1880, and it reached its peak popularity in 1891, reflecting a period when shorter, straightforward names were common in German and Scandinavian immigrant communities. Since then, usage has declined significantly, and the name is now extremely rare. While it is not currently ranked in the top 1000, Claus maintains a stable presence in families honoring heritage or the classic Saint Nicholas tradition. The spelling variant Klaus is more common in modern times, especially in German-speaking countries.
Claus originated as a German and Dutch short form of Nicholas, which derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, composed of nike 'victory' and laos 'people'. The name became common among Germanic and Scandinavian cultures through the veneration of Saint Nicholas. It has been used as an independent given name for centuries, particularly in Northern Europe.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Klaus, Claes
Sibling names for Claus
Names that share Claus's style, for a brother or sister.
