Cletus as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Cletus

What is the meaning of the name Cletus ?

The baby name Cletus is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KLEE-təs (IPA: /ˈkliːtəs/).

Cletus is Greek in Origin.

Cletus is the Latinized form of Greek Klētos (Κλητός), from the verb kalein “to call,” meaning “called, invited, chosen,” often read in Christian contexts as “called by God.” The name is borne by Pope Cletus of the 1st century - frequently identified with, and sometimes listed separately from, Anacletus - whose cult carried the name through early church calendars.

Usage remained rare in English until the 19th century, with modest U.S. popularity from the 1880s to the 1930s, especially in Catholic and Greek communities; it is uncommon today. Variants and related forms include Anacletus/Anencletus (Latin), Cleto (Italian/Spanish/Portuguese), Kletus (German), and Klētos or Kletos in modern Greek; the feminine Cleta occurs sporadically. Do not confuse it with Cleitus/Kleitos (from kleos “glory”), a different Greek name. Cletus carries a sober, early-Christian tone that may appeal to lovers of vintage, saintly names despite modern pop‑culture caricatures.