Cleva as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Cleva

What is the meaning of the name Cleva ?

The baby name Cleva is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced KLEE-və (IPA: /ˈkliːvə/).

Cleva is in Origin.

Cleva is a rare feminine given name with more than one plausible source. In English-speaking contexts it likely developed as a vernacular feminine form of the surname/place‑name Cleve/Cleveland, from Old English clif “cliff, steep bank” + land “land,” giving the sense of “land by the cliffs.” Some modern bearers also treat it as a blended name combining Cleo (from Greek kleos, “glory”) and Eva (from Hebrew Hawwah, “life”), yielding the appealing reading “glorious life.”

Documented in late 19th‑ and early 20th‑century American records, Cleva enjoyed modest regional use before fading after mid‑century; it remains uncommon today but suits vintage‑revival tastes. Variant and related forms include Clevie (diminutive), Cleve (unisex short form), and the surname‑based Cleveland (masculine); occasional spellings such as Kleva also appear. Stylistically adjacent choices are Cleo, Clio, Eva, Evie, and Leva.

⚙ Cleva is a rare name. It doesn't appear in any of the major national birth registries we track; we found only 21 recorded uses across 7 countries. Expect very few children to share this name.