Cletus vs Zelma

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 →

Zelma

Girl #6,713 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"helmet of God, divine protection"

Origin: Germanic

Cultural Roots

German Scandinavian English American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#6,713
Total SSA Count
17
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Zel, Zellie, Elma

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Zelma →

Popularity Comparison

Cletus Rank #19,830
Zelma Rank #6,713

Zelma is more popular, ranked #6713 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

Zelma ___

  • Zelma Marie
  • Zelma Louise
  • Zelma Ann
  • Zelma Grace
  • Zelma Jean
  • Zelma Pearl

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Cletus

Earl Dewey Virgil Myrtle Thelma

If you choose Zelma

Velma Thelma Alma Elna Mabel

Which Name Fits Your Family?

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1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cletus or Zelma more popular?

Zelma is more popular, ranked #6713 compared to Cletus at #19830 in the United States.

What do Cletus and Zelma mean?

Cletus means "called forth, gloriously summoned" (Greek origin). Zelma means "helmet of God, divine protection" (Germanic origin).

Are Cletus and Zelma boy or girl names?

Cletus is primarily a boy name. Zelma is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Cletus ← Full profile: Zelma Browse all baby names