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.
- #3,784 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,603
- born since 1904
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #3,784 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,603 born since 1904
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Cletis ranks #3,784 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,603 born since 1904, peaking in the 1920s.
- #3,784 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,603
- born since 1904
- 1920s
- peak decade
Cletis's 1,603 recorded births place it above 91.68% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
9 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Missouri.
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 popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1904–1996
- Peak year (1924)
- 44
- Annual births at peak, across 93 years of records
Cletis popularity over time - girls
159 total births recorded since 1911 (Cletis as girls' name)
Cletis by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (356 births, 22% of the file).
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
- 1900s 6
1900s
6 births
- 1910s
1910s
193 births
- 1920s
1920s
356 births
- 1930s
1930s
286 births
- 1940s
1940s
192 births
- 1950s 130
1950s
130 births
- 1960s
1960s
277 births
- 1970s 96
1970s
96 births
- 1980s 52
1980s
52 births
- 1990s 15
1990s
15 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 356 births (22% of all-time use).
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 by state
Where Cletis concentrates geographically, total births since 1904
| 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% |
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
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When was Cletis most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Cletis side by side: Cletis vs Cleveland Cletis vs Clement Cletis vs Cleo
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Cletis: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1924)
Similar record span (~92 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.