Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Cleo
GirlGreek· “glory of the father”
- Meaning
- glory of the father
- Origin
- Greek
- Pronunciation
- KLEE-oh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #577
- US babies 2025
- 516
- Best rank
- #171 (1907)
- Peak year
- 1920
Meaning and origin of Cleo
Cleo is a Greek name that means “glory of the father”.
Cleo is a short form of Cleopatra, a Greek name meaning glory of the father. Cleopatra was borne by several queens of the Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, most famously Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of that kingdom, whose story has been retold by Shakespeare and countless others. Cleo has stood on its own as a given name for well over a century. It is compact, stylish and slightly vintage, fitting alongside names like Iris and Stella. Some parents also link it with Clio, the Greek muse of history, which has a similar sound.
Other spellings with the same sound: Clio.
Famous parents who chose Cleo: Christina Ricci and Mark Hampton (2021). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Cleo has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 84 different years. Its best national rank was #171 in 1907, and the most babies received it in 1920, when 1,049 were named Cleo. In 2025, 516 babies were named Cleo, and it ranked #577 nationally. That is 330% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #191 in 1920, #686 in 1950, #3,013 in 1980, #2,343 in 2000, #2,408 in 2010, and #577 in 2025. Of the 33,565 US girls named Cleo since records began, 24% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 7,368 babies. Since 2010, 3,985 more have been named Cleo.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Essie, Dorothea, Angeline, May, and Effie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Cleo ranked highest in Alaska, Montana, and Utah.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | #148 | 5 |
| Montana | #221 | 5 |
| Utah | #253 | 18 |
| California | #370 | 89 |
| Connecticut | #411 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 94% of US babies named Cleo over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Cleo is usually pronounced KLEE-oh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with C and ends in “-eo”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Clio.
Middle names for Cleo
A few middle names that flow with Cleo: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Cleo
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Lists that include Cleo
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cleo mean?
Cleo is a Greek name that means “glory of the father”.
What is the origin of the name Cleo?
Cleo has Greek roots. Cleo is a short form of Cleopatra, a Greek name meaning glory of the father.
Is Cleo a popular name?
Yes. Cleo ranked #577 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Cleo a boy or girl name?
Cleo is mainly a girl's name. About 94% of US babies named Cleo over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Cleo?
Cleo is usually pronounced KLEE-oh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings