Clea: Baby Name of the Day

 The baby name Clea is a cousin to Cleo, but more conventionally feminine and far less common, too. 

Thanks to Rachel for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME CLEA MEAN?

In Greek, kleos means glory. 

Sometimes it’s said to mean “proclaim.” That’s probably because Kleio – usually Clio in English – is the Greek muse of history, a minor goddess said to inspire greatness and share divine knowledge with creators.

Cleopatra means “glory of the father.” That’s a very different image – an ancient queen of unmatched beauty and power. Clea is sometimes a French short form of Cléopâtre, though it would be spelled Cléa – and Cléo is also heard.

HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE CLEA?

The baby name Clea could be pronounced klee UH or KLAY uh.

The latter makes it feel like a distinct choice from Cleo, it’s own independent name. But klee uh makes instinctive sense, too.

This name is so rare that parents truly can choose.

CLEA IN THE ANCIENT WORLD

Plutarch refers to Clea, a priestess of Apollo, in his writings.

Historians suggest she was a Pythia – a high priestess and oracle, respected and admired.

It’s a glimpse at an extraordinary life.

20TH CENTURY CLEA

Between 1957 and 1960, British writer LawrenceDurrell wrote the Alexandria Quartet: four novels titled Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, and Clea. 

Set in Alexandria, Egypt before and during World War II, the story of Clea moves to Corfu post-war.

The novel might lend the name some literary polish.

On a different note, two very different Cleas appear in comics:

• Queen Clea is a villain who faces off against Wonder Woman. She rules a city in Atlantis, but is forever scheming to rule all of the underwater lands. She’s not just power-hungry, she’s mean, too, and has lots of superpowers to aid in her quest for world domination. This Clea debuted in 1944, way before Durrell wrote the Alexandria Quartet. 
• Then there’s a second Clea, a sidekick and love interest for Dr. Strange. She’s as good as the regal Clea is bad, and has been around since the 1960s. In fact, Clea briefly appeared in the midcredits scene for 2022’s Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Charlize Theron played the part in the cameo. If a third movie happens, this name might get a boost.

REAL-LIFE CLEAS

At least two actresses named Clea have also made their mark:

• Clea Lewis is best known for her role as Audrey on 1990s sitcom Ellen, as well as recurring roles on series like The Americans. 
• Then there’s Clea DuVall. (Full name: Clea Helen D’EtienneDuVall. Gorgeous, right?) Known as Sofie on HBO Original Series Carnivale and Cora in Argo, DuVall has worked consistently over three decades and counting. Roles in Veep and The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as Emma Borden in Lizzie Borden Took an Axe and The Lizzie Borden Chronicles, keep her in the spotlight.

DuVall pronounces her name klee UH. The actress comes across as smart and independent, and it is easy to imagine parents hearing her name and deciding to use it for a daughter. And yes, her parents borrowed her name from the Durrell character.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME CLEA?

Despite DuVall’s long career, the baby name Clea remains very rare. 

22 girls received the name in 2023. Clea peaked in 2022, when 26 girls received the name. Most years, the names ranges between 10 and 20 girls. 

In terms of US popularity, that’s quite rare.

Clea has fared better in France in recent years, though it’s still not in their Top 100 popular names, either.

UNDISCOVERED GEM

The baby name Clea belongs with the undiscovered gems.

It’s a form of Cleo, but Cleo ranks in the US Top 1000. It shares sounds with similar names like Chloe and Mila, both Top 100 choices. 

While pronunciation might be an occasional hassle, Clea feels nicely wearable – a find from antiquity that has been overlooked, but could be the perfect name for parents seeking something rare.

What do you think of the baby name Clea?

First published on July 17, 2013, this post was revised on December 3, 2024.