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Home › Baby Names Directory › Cletis

Cletis

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Cletis

Pronounced KLEE-tis /ˈkliː.tɪs/Medium

Meaning: Cletis is a phonetic spelling of Cletus, from Greek Kletos, meaning 'summoned' or 'called one'; the name was carried by an early pope (St. Cletus, also called Anacletus), giving it a Christian pedigree.Medium

In 30 seconds: Cletis is a rare vintage boy's name, a spelling of Cletus, from Greek for 'called one', said 'KLEE-tis'.
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Origin MediumGreek
MeaningCletis is a phonetic spelling of Cletus, from Greek Kletos, meaning 'summoned' or 'called one'; the name was carried by an early pope (St. Cletus, also called Anacletus), giving it a Christian pedigree.
U.S. rank (1996)#9248 ↘ Falling
1996 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1924
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,603

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196219041996

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

Cletis is an American spelling of Cletus, from Greek Kletos, 'summoned' or 'called'. The name has a long Christian history through the early pope St. Cletus, and it surfaced in early-1900s US records as a plain, rural-sounding choice.

It was scarce, cresting in the mid nineteen-twenties and thinning to rarity by the late twentieth century. It reads as a grandfather-era name today and has not returned with the vintage revival.

Did you know? The parent form Cletus belonged to a first-century bishop of Rome, St. Cletus, so the homespun-sounding Cletis actually reaches back to the early Christian church.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Cletis — variant of Cletus; Greek Kletos 'called'; St. Cletus

Variations

CletusCleatisCleatus

Nicknames

Clete

Famous Bearers

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If you like Cletis…

Cletus— the standard spelling and 'called one' root of Cletis
Otis— a short vintage boy's name with the same -is ending
Cleon— a like classical Greek Cl- boy's name
Curtis— shares the -tis ending and old-fashioned weight

Explore names like Cletis

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Cletis mean?

Cletis is a spelling of Cletus, from Greek Kletos meaning 'summoned' or 'called one'.

How do you pronounce Cletis?

It's said KLEE-tis /ˈkliː.tɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cletis a boy or girl name?

Cletis is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Cletis?

Cletis was always uncommon and is a genuine early-twentieth-century antique, rare since mid-century.

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