Unisex name · since 1904

Cletis

Since 1904, U.S. Social Security records show 1,603 babies named Cletis, peaking in 1924. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

1,603
total births
1904–1996
years on record
1920s
peak decade
22%
born in that decade

Cletis sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 1,603 recorded since 1904.

Social Security Administration records show Cletis recorded 1,603 times among boys since 1904, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1904 to 1996.

  • 1,603 total births
  • 1904–1996 years on record
  • 1920s peak decade
  • 22% born in that decade

Data updated Jun 2026

The verdict

1,603 boys have been named Cletis since 1904, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1996.

1,603
total births
1904–1996
years on record
1920s
peak decade
22%
born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade

22% of everyone ever named Cletis was born in this single decade.

1924
Single peak year

44 babies were named Cletis in 1924 - its busiest year on record.

Cletis's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Cletis's SSA record in two at 1949 and the more recent half accounts for 36% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 64%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1910, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1924 peak of 44, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Cletis at a glance

Last recorded 1996

Total births

1,603

Since 1904

93 years of records

Peak year

1924

44 births that year

Strongest decade: 1920s

Current rank

Unranked

Outside the modern top-1,000

As of 1996

Active since

1904

Recorded for 93 years

Last year on file: 1996

Cletis popularity over time - boys

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1904–1996

Last recorded 1996
Peak year (1924)
44
Annual births at peak, across 93 years of records
01020304050 190419201930194019501960197019801996 5

Cletis popularity over time - girls

159 total births recorded since 1911 (Cletis as girls' name)

Unisex variant - 159 births
46810121416 19111916192019241927193019341942 6

Cletis by decade

Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance

1920s was Cletis's strongest decade.

356 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.

Cletis births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 356 births (22% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of June 2026

How Cletis compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Cletis's total volume

Cletis vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Cletis vs 15 similarly-sized boys names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15%20% 050100150 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year Cletis
Cletis vs 15 similarly-sized boys names

Cletis by state

Where Cletis concentrates geographically, total births since 1904

Geographically diffuse
Top 8 states by recorded births for the name Cletis
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Missouri
84 5.2%
#2 Kentucky
58 3.6%
#3 West Virginia
46 2.9%
#4 Arkansas
41 2.6%
#5 Tennessee
27 1.7%
#6 Texas
11 0.7%
#7 Illinois
8 0.5%
#8 Indiana
6 0.4%
Missouri share of Cletis's total US births 5.2%
Even split

84 of 1,603 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 9 reporting states.

Cletis appears in 9 states. Explore state details →

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Cletis? ▼
1,603 babies have been named Cletis since 1904. It was last recorded in 1996. The peak year was 1924 with 44 births.
When was Cletis most popular? ▼
Cletis was most popular in the 1920s decade with 356 total births. The single peak year was 1924.
Where is Cletis most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Cletis are Missouri (84 births), Kentucky (58 births), West Virginia (46 births).
Is Cletis a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Cletis is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,603 births, and as a girl's name it has 159 births.
How long has the name Cletis been used? ▼
Cletis has been recorded in Social Security data since 1904, spanning 93 years of data through 1996.
What names are similar to Cletis? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Cleveland, Clement, Cleo, Cletus, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.

What to do with Cletis's data

  • Cletis's decade-level peak was the 1920s (356 total births); usage has since declined to 15 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Missouri records the most Cletiss (84 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Missouri names
  • Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Cletis

Nearby Names Like Cletis

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Cletis

Cleveland Boy
#6471 21,945 births
Clement Boy
#2211 14,167 births
Cleo Boy
#4710 11,527 births
Cletus Boy
#10969 7,437 births
Cleve Boy
4,506 births

Compare Cletis side by side: Cletis vs Cleveland Cletis vs Clement Cletis vs Cleo

Or pick any two names to compare →

Related Names

Names with a similar number of total births

Eoin #3418
1,604 births · Peak 2020
Matthews #4580
1,605 births · Peak 1988
Cornelio #9951
1,600 births · Peak 1989
Zac #3358
1,600 births · Peak 2014
Fynn #1933
1,600 births · Peak 2022
Ibraheem #2576
1,599 births · Peak 2015
Stryker #3023
1,599 births · Peak 2015
Hartley #3903
1,608 births · Peak 1918

Data Sources

Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1904–1996 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Cite this page

NameAlmanac Editorial. "Cletis: Baby Name Since 1904 - 1,603 Births, Peak 1924." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/cletis. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Cletis draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.