Declining since 2022, #5,099 for girls today.
Popularity of Clio since 1894
Babies named Clio per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2015, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Clio's real moment was 1906.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 28 |
| 1910s | 80 |
| 1920s | 58 |
| 1930s | 11 |
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 80 |
| 2000s | 156 |
| 2010s | 256 |
| 2020s | 160 |
Meaning & origin
Clio, the name of the Greek Muse of history, has a long but quiet presence in American naming. First recorded in U.S. data in 1894, the name reached its peak popularity in 1906, ranking highest in that early period. Since 2022, however, its usage has been declining slightly. In 2025, it ranked 5099, with a frequency of roughly 1 in 64,291 births, indicating a rare but enduring choice. New York has been its top state historically. Clio remains a distinctive option for parents drawn to classical names with a scholarly pedigree.
From the Greek κλέος (kleos) meaning 'renown, fame'. In Greek mythology, Clio was the Muse of history, one of the nine Muses. The name has been in occasional use in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Where Clio is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Clio” around the world
Where Clio lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Kleio
Sibling names for Clio
Names that share Clio's style, for a brother or sister.
