Fun Facts About the Name Claude
- An established favorite: Claude held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 43 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1922.
- More than 92 thousand babies named Claude: U.S. records list 92,292 babies given the name Claude from 1880 through 2025. Even 952 girls received the name Claude - about 1 girl for every 96 boys.
What Does the Name Claude Mean?
Claude is the French form of the Latin name Claudius, a Roman family name (nomen gentilicium). The traditional meaning is "lame" or "limping," from the Latin adjective claudus. The Latin name ends in the common family-name suffix -ius. Ancient writers connected Claudius with claudus, but the derivation is not fully settled; some sources accept the link, while others treat the origin of the Roman name as uncertain or suggest a Sabine or other Italic source. Roman tradition describes a Sabine leader named Attus Clausus who came to Rome and founded the Claudian family; his name was Latinized as Claudius. Because of this, the meaning is often given as "lame," but it is sometimes listed as uncertain.
Claude Name History & Origins
Latin Claudius belonged to the gens Claudia, a prominent patrician family in Rome. Members of the family held high offices in the Roman Republic and Empire. Appius Claudius Caecus, censor in 312 BC, is remembered for building the Appian Way and the first Roman aqueduct. The emperor Claudius, who ruled from 41 to 54 AD, was a member of the family; his full name was Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. The feminine form Claudia was also used in Rome.
As Latin developed into the Romance languages, Claudius became Claude in French, Claudio in Italian and Spanish, and Cláudio in Portuguese. The French form Claude was borne by several saints. Saint Claude of Besançon, a bishop and abbot who died around 699, is the namesake of the town of Saint-Claude in the Jura region of France. Saint Claude de la Colombière, a 17th-century Jesuit priest, is another religious figure with the name.
In French, Claude is used as both a masculine and a feminine given name, though the feminine forms Claudine and Claudette are also common. English speakers adopted Claude as a masculine name, while the Latin Claudius and the feminine Claudia also remain in use. The name appears in literature: Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris (1831) includes the character Claude Frollo. This is a literary use of the name, not its origin. Other notable bearers include the French painter Claude Monet and the French composer Claude Debussy.
How Popular is the Name Claude?
Claude remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1922. Its highest annual birth count was in 1920, and people born that year turn 106 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | #13,917 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #8,289 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #10,705 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #7,442 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #7,432 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #8,180 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #6,355 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #8,662 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #5,555 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #6,103 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #7,212 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #5,531 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #7,179 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #5,559 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #5,359 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #4,673 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #5,996 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #5,970 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #4,304 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #3,536 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #3,287 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #4,982 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #5,499 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,957 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1955 | #4,437 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #5,242 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #3,515 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #5,015 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #3,759 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #3,715 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #3,948 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #3,642 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #4,429 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #3,458 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #2,797 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #3,553 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1942 | #4,204 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,264 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1939 | #2,318 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1938 | #3,234 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1937 | #3,503 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #2,053 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #2,456 | 12 | 0.0011% |
| 1934 | #3,208 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1933 | #2,568 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1932 | #1,699 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1931 | #2,218 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,214 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #1,531 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1928 | #1,741 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1927 | #2,450 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1926 | #1,840 | 22 | 0.0019% |
| 1925 | #2,301 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,423 | 15 | 0.0012% |
| 1923 | #2,102 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1922 | #1,967 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #1,996 | 20 | 0.0016% |
| 1920 | #2,185 | 17 | 0.0014% |
| 1919 | #2,540 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1918 | #1,976 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #2,442 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1916 | #3,073 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1915 | #2,277 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1914 | #1,918 | 13 | 0.0017% |
| 1913 | #1,690 | 13 | 0.0021% |
| 1912 | #2,195 | 8 | 0.0014% |
| 1911 | #2,247 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1910 | #1,654 | 9 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #1,635 | 8 | 0.0023% |
| 1908 | #2,176 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1907 | #2,130 | 5 | 0.0016% |
| 1906 | #1,772 | 6 | 0.0020% |
| 1904 | #1,275 | 9 | 0.0033% |
| 1903 | #1,339 | 8 | 0.0031% |
| 1902 | #1,638 | 6 | 0.0023% |
| 1900 | #1,118 | 12 | 0.0040% |
| 1899 | #1,297 | 7 | 0.0030% |
| 1898 | #1,053 | 11 | 0.0043% |
| 1897 | #795 | 16 | 0.0068% |
| 1896 | #1,145 | 9 | 0.0038% |
| 1895 | #899 | 13 | 0.0056% |
| 1893 | #1,032 | 9 | 0.0042% |
| 1892 | #971 | 10 | 0.0047% |
| 1891 | #1,117 | 7 | 0.0038% |
| 1890 | #795 | 12 | 0.0063% |
| 1889 | #1,321 | 5 | 0.0028% |
| 1888 | #972 | 8 | 0.0045% |
| 1887 | #875 | 8 | 0.0055% |
| 1886 | #738 | 10 | 0.0069% |
| 1885 | #857 | 7 | 0.0053% |
| 1883 | #841 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1882 | #688 | 8 | 0.0074% |
| 1881 | #587 | 9 | 0.0098% |
| 1880 | #553 | 10 | 0.0110% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,044 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2024 | #3,332 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2023 | #3,126 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 2022 | #3,423 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2021 | #3,133 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 2020 | #2,768 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 2019 | #2,903 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2018 | #2,515 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 2017 | #2,965 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2016 | #2,368 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2015 | #2,432 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 2014 | #2,815 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2013 | #2,722 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 2012 | #2,685 | 45 | 0.0024% |
| 2011 | #2,594 | 47 | 0.0025% |
| 2010 | #2,332 | 55 | 0.0029% |
| 2009 | #2,258 | 58 | 0.0029% |
| 2008 | #2,093 | 66 | 0.0032% |
| 2007 | #2,263 | 58 | 0.0028% |
| 2006 | #2,109 | 62 | 0.0030% |
| 2005 | #1,842 | 70 | 0.0035% |
| 2004 | #1,885 | 65 | 0.0033% |
| 2003 | #1,551 | 82 | 0.0042% |
| 2002 | #1,684 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 2001 | #1,679 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 2000 | #1,302 | 99 | 0.0050% |
| 1999 | #1,321 | 91 | 0.0047% |
| 1998 | #1,288 | 93 | 0.0049% |
| 1997 | #1,286 | 89 | 0.0047% |
| 1996 | #1,108 | 108 | 0.0057% |
| 1995 | #1,055 | 113 | 0.0059% |
| 1994 | #1,017 | 119 | 0.0062% |
| 1993 | #898 | 143 | 0.0073% |
| 1992 | #889 | 142 | 0.0071% |
| 1991 | #870 | 146 | 0.0072% |
| 1990 | #836 | 151 | 0.0074% |
| 1989 | #757 | 170 | 0.0085% |
| 1988 | #696 | 181 | 0.0095% |
| 1987 | #634 | 209 | 0.0112% |
| 1986 | #677 | 177 | 0.0096% |
| 1985 | #639 | 189 | 0.0102% |
| 1984 | #622 | 188 | 0.0104% |
| 1983 | #628 | 184 | 0.0103% |
| 1982 | #560 | 235 | 0.0130% |
| 1981 | #560 | 233 | 0.0130% |
| 1980 | #524 | 268 | 0.0150% |
| 1979 | #514 | 268 | 0.0156% |
| 1978 | #498 | 262 | 0.0160% |
| 1977 | #515 | 255 | 0.0155% |
| 1976 | #484 | 268 | 0.0171% |
| 1975 | #449 | 317 | 0.0203% |
| 1974 | #443 | 319 | 0.0203% |
| 1973 | #434 | 324 | 0.0208% |
| 1972 | #417 | 362 | 0.0223% |
| 1971 | #391 | 422 | 0.0239% |
| 1970 | #383 | 447 | 0.0241% |
| 1969 | #368 | 448 | 0.0251% |
| 1968 | #332 | 530 | 0.0305% |
| 1967 | #334 | 506 | 0.0290% |
| 1966 | #316 | 548 | 0.0307% |
| 1965 | #308 | 603 | 0.0324% |
| 1964 | #293 | 718 | 0.0360% |
| 1963 | #282 | 743 | 0.0366% |
| 1962 | #292 | 701 | 0.0339% |
| 1961 | #277 | 803 | 0.0378% |
| 1960 | #277 | 838 | 0.0393% |
| 1959 | #270 | 852 | 0.0399% |
| 1958 | #253 | 951 | 0.0448% |
| 1957 | #242 | 1,024 | 0.0475% |
| 1956 | #231 | 1,004 | 0.0475% |
| 1955 | #218 | 1,084 | 0.0526% |
| 1954 | #208 | 1,142 | 0.0560% |
| 1953 | #204 | 1,139 | 0.0577% |
| 1952 | #197 | 1,144 | 0.0589% |
| 1951 | #188 | 1,239 | 0.0658% |
| 1950 | #177 | 1,253 | 0.0700% |
| 1949 | #176 | 1,220 | 0.0688% |
| 1948 | #168 | 1,345 | 0.0767% |
| 1947 | #167 | 1,433 | 0.0783% |
| 1946 | #163 | 1,306 | 0.0804% |
| 1945 | #159 | 1,166 | 0.0866% |
| 1944 | #154 | 1,289 | 0.0946% |
| 1943 | #152 | 1,364 | 0.0956% |
| 1942 | #149 | 1,314 | 0.0951% |
| 1941 | #151 | 1,189 | 0.0968% |
| 1940 | #145 | 1,194 | 0.1030% |
| 1939 | #141 | 1,157 | 0.1045% |
| 1938 | #131 | 1,311 | 0.1182% |
| 1937 | #137 | 1,138 | 0.1067% |
| 1936 | #132 | 1,225 | 0.1181% |
| 1935 | #129 | 1,264 | 0.1214% |
| 1934 | #130 | 1,264 | 0.1224% |
| 1933 | #131 | 1,253 | 0.1264% |
| 1932 | #126 | 1,352 | 0.1295% |
| 1931 | #134 | 1,296 | 0.1247% |
| 1930 | #122 | 1,481 | 0.1350% |
| 1929 | #119 | 1,449 | 0.1347% |
| 1928 | #116 | 1,533 | 0.1384% |
| 1927 | #114 | 1,621 | 0.1438% |
| 1926 | #106 | 1,714 | 0.1543% |
| 1925 | #102 | 1,696 | 0.1520% |
| 1924 | #103 | 1,706 | 0.1506% |
| 1923 | #103 | 1,694 | 0.1545% |
| 1922 | #97 | 1,806 | 0.1660% |
| 1921 | #96 | 1,887 | 0.1713% |
| 1920 | #92 | 1,893 | 0.1779% |
| 1919 | #92 | 1,772 | 0.1808% |
| 1918 | #95 | 1,878 | 0.1853% |
| 1917 | #98 | 1,625 | 0.1756% |
| 1916 | #93 | 1,733 | 0.1947% |
| 1915 | #96 | 1,605 | 0.1891% |
| 1914 | #93 | 1,284 | 0.1961% |
| 1913 | #88 | 1,076 | 0.2099% |
| 1912 | #89 | 890 | 0.2070% |
| 1911 | #87 | 466 | 0.2062% |
| 1910 | #78 | 463 | 0.2384% |
| 1909 | #74 | 419 | 0.2555% |
| 1908 | #69 | 428 | 0.2773% |
| 1907 | #74 | 364 | 0.2479% |
| 1906 | #73 | 346 | 0.2598% |
| 1905 | #63 | 399 | 0.3016% |
| 1904 | #70 | 337 | 0.2630% |
| 1903 | #71 | 301 | 0.2525% |
| 1902 | #68 | 336 | 0.2739% |
| 1901 | #58 | 341 | 0.3203% |
| 1900 | #59 | 433 | 0.2878% |
| 1899 | #63 | 293 | 0.2759% |
| 1898 | #59 | 371 | 0.3024% |
| 1897 | #59 | 345 | 0.3060% |
| 1896 | #54 | 398 | 0.3329% |
| 1895 | #55 | 389 | 0.3314% |
| 1894 | #53 | 419 | 0.3619% |
| 1893 | #52 | 394 | 0.3508% |
| 1892 | #62 | 353 | 0.2893% |
| 1891 | #57 | 327 | 0.3232% |
| 1890 | #57 | 347 | 0.3125% |
| 1889 | #49 | 386 | 0.3491% |
| 1888 | #55 | 374 | 0.3095% |
| 1887 | #46 | 375 | 0.3698% |
| 1886 | #48 | 391 | 0.3529% |
| 1885 | #52 | 343 | 0.3182% |
| 1884 | #54 | 353 | 0.3085% |
| 1883 | #54 | 315 | 0.3011% |
| 1882 | #50 | 356 | 0.3131% |
| 1881 | #53 | 302 | 0.2998% |
| 1880 | #56 | 309 | 0.2797% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
