Holding steady.
Popularity of Clelia since 1903
Babies named Clelia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Clelia's real moment was 1903.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 19 |
| 1910s | 94 |
| 1920s | 130 |
| 1930s | 64 |
| 1940s | 34 |
| 1950s | 73 |
| 1960s | 32 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 32 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 8 |
| 2020s | 16 |
Meaning & origin
Clelia is a rare girl's name with ancient Roman roots, first appearing in U.S. records in 1903. It has never ranked in the top 1000, and its peak year was 1903, with fewer than five births per year in most decades. The name remains stable in usage, hovering at extremely low frequencies. It is most commonly given in states with Italian-American heritage, though no single state has recorded more than a handful of births. Clelia's legend, via the Roman heroine Cloelia, gives it a classical dignity, but the name remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking an uncommon historical name.
The name Clelia is an Italian and English form of the Latin Cloelia, a name from early Roman legend. According to tradition, Cloelia was a Roman maiden who escaped from captivity under the Etruscan king Lars Porsena, swimming across the Tiber River. The name is sometimes linked to the Greek word 'kleos' meaning 'glory', but this connection is uncertain.
“Clelia” around the world
Where Clelia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Clea, Lea
Variants: Cloelia, Clélia
Sibling names for Clelia
Names that share Clelia's style, for a brother or sister.
