Meaning, pronunciation, and vibe

Cleo

Unisex

Greek · English: /ˈkliːoʊ/ — KLEE-oh

Cleo links a Greek glory meaning with a crisp, open sound and an easygoing modern feel.

Origin

Greek

Pronunciation

English: /ˈkliːoʊ/ — KLEE-oh

Meaning & vibe

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Linked to the Greek element meaning “glory”.

Cleo has Greek roots and a meaning linked to glory. As a short form of Cleopatra, it keeps the first part of a name whose full meaning is “glory of the father”. In English, Cleo is used for women and men: alongside Cleopatra, the masculine names Cleon and Cleopas can be its source. The English pronunciation is KLEE-oh, with the emphasis at the beginning. The firm opening and open ending give Cleo a bright, lively feel. It offers an informal alternative to the more elaborate Cleopatra, while the uncluttered spelling can feel distinctly modern.

Etymology: A short form of Greek names such as Cleopatra; that longer name combines “glory” and “father”.

ModernBright

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Spelling table

CCharlie

LLima

EEcho

OOscar

Morse code

Code

-.-. .-.. . ---

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Braille

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Name popularity

Latest year: 2025

Girls
Rank577
Boys
Rank5,245

Source

SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.

Social Security Administration

Origins, variants & nicknames

Names with roots in the Greek language or Greek naming traditions.

Origin

Greek