P
Pope Cletus (Anacletus)
Religious
Third pope of the Catholic Church, served approximately 80-92 AD, considered a martyr
Cletus
Boy
#19830 most popular
American
English
Christian
Meanings & Origins
"called forth, gloriously summoned"
Origin: Greek
Language: Greek
"renowned, called"
Origin: Ancient Greek
Language: Latin
Popularity
#19830
Current Rank
2
Syllables
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“An ancient papal name with rural American roots”
Origin & Etymology
Cletus is an Anglicized form of the Greek name Anacletus or Akletos, meaning called forth or summoned. It was borne by Saint Cletus (also called Anacletus), the third pope of Rome, who served in the late 1st century AD. The name came to the American South and Midwest through Catholic and Protestant traditions.
Popularity Story
Cletus peaked in the rural American South and Midwest during the early 20th century. Its use declined sharply after The Simpsons introduced the character Cletus the Slack-jawed Yokel in 1993, cementing a strong rural stereotype in popular culture.
Cultural Significance
Saint Cletus (Pope Anacletus) is considered one of the early martyrs of the Catholic Church. The name carries deep Catholic historical significance, though this is largely overshadowed in modern American culture by its pop culture associations.
Fun Facts
- Saint Cletus was the 3rd Pope of Rome, serving around 80-92 AD
- The names pop culture image was transformed permanently by The Simpsons character debuting in 1993
Cletus in Other Languages
Greek
Κλητός
Latin
Cletus
Italian
Cleto
Spanish
Cleto
Portuguese
Cleto
Popularity Over Time
Peaked 1951
No historical data available.
Nicknames
Clete
Clet
Middle Names
James
Ray
Eugene
Dale
Wayne
Earl
Name Vibe
Vintage
Traditional
Bold
Famous People Named Cletus
C
Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel Fictional
Entertainer
Recurring character on The Simpsons known for his exaggerated rural stereotype