Cletus vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Cletus

Boy #19,830 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"called forth, gloriously summoned"

Origin: Greek

Cultural Roots

American English Christian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#19,830
Total SSA Count
6
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Clete, Clet

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Cletus →

James

Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Biblical

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5
Total SSA Count
11,793
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for James →

Popularity Comparison

Cletus Rank #19,830
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #19830 for Cletus.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Cletus ___

  • Cletus James
  • Cletus Ray
  • Cletus Eugene
  • Cletus Dale
  • Cletus Wayne
  • Cletus Earl

James ___

  • James Alexander
  • James William
  • James Thomas
  • James Edward
  • James Henry
  • James Patrick

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Cletus

Earl Dewey Virgil Myrtle Thelma

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

Which Name Fits Your Family?

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1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cletus or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Cletus at #19830 in the United States.

What do Cletus and James mean?

Cletus means "called forth, gloriously summoned" (Greek origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Cletus and James boy or girl names?

Cletus is primarily a boy name. James is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

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