Clete

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Clete

Pronounced KLEET /kliːt/High

Meaning: Clete is a short form of Cletus, from the Greek Kletos, 'called' or 'invoked' - the same word root as the verb kalein, 'to call.' Cletus itself often shortens the fuller Anacletus, borne by an early pope.Medium

In 30 seconds: Clete is a short, crisp form of Cletus, from the Greek for 'called' or 'chosen.' It appeared steadily through the mid-twentieth century, peaking around 1965 at about 18 boys a year (said KLEET).

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Origin MediumGreek

MeaningClete is a short form of Cletus, from the Greek Kletos, 'called' or 'invoked' - the same word root as the verb kalein, 'to call.' Cletus itself often shortens the fuller Anacletus, borne by an early pope.

U.S. rank (2017)#11037 ↘ Falling

2017 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1965

Total births (all-time)≈ 281

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Clete stands as its own crisp, one-syllable form of Cletus, from the Greek Kletos, 'called' or 'chosen.' Cletus in turn is often a short form of Anacletus, the name of an early pope; by the twentieth century, American families used Clete both as a nickname and, less often, as a standalone birth name.

The name stayed rare as a birth-certificate spelling, given to about 18 boys a year at its peak in 1965, and it appears in the SSA data from 1948 to 2017. A boy named Clete at his peak would be in his early sixties today, part of a generation that also knew the name from third baseman Clete Boyer's career.

Did you know? Clete Boyer, the sure-handed Yankees and Braves third baseman of the 1960s, is the name's best-known real-life bearer, giving the short form a distinct sports-world identity of its own.

Overall data confidence 65%

References - Clete — Short form of Cletus; Greek Kletos 'called, chosen'; bearer Clete Boyer

Variations

CletusCleatusAnacletus

Nicknames

Clete

Famous Bearers

★Clete Boyer (1937-2007)
American professional baseball third baseman who played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves.

If you like Clete…

Cletus— the full form Clete shortens

Cleon— a like short Greek-rooted boy's name

Clark— shares the crisp Cl- opening sound

Clay— another brisk one-syllable vintage name

Explore names like Clete

By themegreek short nickname-name one-syllable uncommon

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Clete mean?

It is a short form of Cletus, from the Greek Kletos meaning 'called, invoked, chosen.'

How do you pronounce Clete?

It is said KLEET /kliːt/, one syllable, rhyming with 'sweet.'

Is Clete a boy or girl name?

Clete is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Clete?

It was a rare choice as a birth name, given to about 18 boys a year at its mid-1960s peak.