Rising since 1998, #3,089 for boys today.
Popularity of Cloud since 1913
Babies named Cloud per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 25 |
| 1920s | 52 |
| 1930s | 16 |
| 1940s | 7 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 113 |
| 2010s | 269 |
| 2020s | 263 |
Meaning & origin
Cloud is an English word name that has seen a notable rise in use since the late 1990s, particularly from a rank of 3,089 in 2025 with approximately 1 in 43,797 boys receiving the name that year. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1913, but remained extremely rare until the turn of the millennium. Its peak year came in 2020, after which it has slightly declined but remains more popular than at any time before the 1990s. The trajectory has been rising since 1998, reflecting a broader trend toward nature and abstract word names. California, the top state for the name, has been a consistent driver of its recent usage. The name's modern character is underscored by its association with pop culture, though its recorded use predates any such references.
Cloud is a modern English word name derived directly from the noun 'cloud', which comes from Old English 'clūd', originally meaning 'a mass of rock' or 'hill', later evolving to refer to the atmospheric phenomenon. As a given name, it emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as part of the trend for virtue and nature names, though it has never been common. The name gained some attention through the character Cloud Strife from the 1997 video game 'Final Fantasy VII', though the name's recorded use predates that work.
Where Cloud is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Cloude
Sibling names for Cloud
Names that share Cloud's style, for a brother or sister.
