NamesPop

Clio

Primarily a girl's name of Greek origin with 831 recorded births. Also given to 25 boys.

Girl's nameAlso boy's#5973 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

A taxonomic genus within the family Cliidae – small floating sea snails, pelagic marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusks.

Clio is a girl's and boy's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek Kleio, derived from kleos (glory, fame), meaning 'she who brings fame' or 'proclaimer of glory' — in Greek mythology, Clio was one of the nine Muses, the goddess of history and heroic poetry.

Clio is among the most intellectually distinguished of all mythological names — the Muse of History, who presided over the recording of great deeds and the preservation of memory. She is typically depicted with a scroll or parchment and the trumpet of fame. In contemporary naming culture, Clio has a clean, confident quality — three letters, a Greek mythological background, and the most prestigious of all possible patronesses: History herself.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Clio is rooted in the Greek tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1894 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Clio’s 831 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.

At a Glance

831
Total births
Since 1894
2015
Peak
37 births
1894
First recorded
131 years of data
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Popularity Over Time

Clio climbed 4911 spots in the last 20 years — from #10884 to #5973.

091928371900192019401960198020002024
First appeared: 1894Peak: 2015 (37 births)Current: #5973

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Clio
DecadeBirthsAvg RankTrend
2020s135#5000
2010s256#5411
2000s156#7698
1990s80#9438
1980s11#10991
1940s6#4845
1930s11#4141
1920s58#3790
1910s80#2783
1900s28#1908
1890s10#1565

The Story of Clio

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2015, Clio is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Clio are most likely born between 2005 and 2024.

How rare is Clio?

Only about 1 in every 180,000 babies born in 2024 was named Clio — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1894, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 256 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Clio by the numbers

  • Would fill 17 school buses
  • Meeting one Clio per day would take 2.3 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(61 years, 18942024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Clio
YearBirthsRank
202420#5973
202326#5025
202230#4608
202136#4035
202023#5358
201925#5189
201824#5347
201726#5082
201630#4650
201537#4008
201432#4484
201325#5354
201220#6394
201119#6626
201018#6977
200916#7764
200822#6172
200716#7811
200616#7565
200521#5857

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Clio as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Clio has also been given to 25 boys in the U.S. since 1914.

Unranked
Current rank
25
Total births
1930
Peak year
Compare Clio as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clio a boy's or girl's name?
Clio is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 25 recorded births.
When was Clio most popular?
Clio reached its peak popularity in 2015 with 37 births that year. It is currently ranked #5973 in the U.S.
How popular is the name Clio?
Clio is currently ranked #5973 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 831 babies since 1894.
Can Clio be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Clio is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #5973. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 18942024