Cellus
Of Latin origin, referring to someone elevated, lofty, or superior.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Cellus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cellus today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cellus births was 1920 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cellus. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cellus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1920 SSA rank
#4,398
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Cellus: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Cellus by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cellus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Cellus
The given name Cellus has its origins in Ancient Rome, dating back to the Classical period. It derives from the Latin word "celsus," meaning "lofty" or "elevated," suggesting a sense of nobility or grandeur associated with the name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cellus can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Tacitus, who mentions a Roman senator named Cellus in his work "Annals." This reference dates back to the 1st century AD, indicating the name's usage during the early Roman Empire.
In the 2nd century AD, there was a notable Roman philosopher and writer named Aulus Gellius, also known as Cellus. His work, "Attic Nights," is a collection of essays and notes on various topics, including literature, philosophy, and history. Aulus Gellius is considered one of the most influential figures in preserving and transmitting ancient Roman culture.
During the 3rd century AD, there was a Roman poet named Publius Optatianus Porfyrius, who was also known as Cellus. His works, written in the form of intricate pattern poems, were highly regarded during his time and showcased his literary talents.
In the 4th century AD, the name Cellus was associated with Saint Cellus, a Christian martyr who lived in Trier, Germany. According to tradition, he was executed for his faith during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the early 300s AD.
Another notable figure named Cellus was a 5th-century Roman grammarian and author, Arusianus Messius Cellus. His work, "De Disciplina Liberalium Artium," was an influential treatise on the liberal arts, which played a significant role in the preservation of classical knowledge during the Late Antiquity period.
While the name Cellus fell out of widespread use after the decline of the Roman Empire, it has occasionally resurfaced throughout history, particularly in academic or literary circles, as a nod to its distinguished Roman roots and associations with intellectual pursuits.
People
Cellus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cellus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cellus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cellus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cellus going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Cellus a common name?
We classify Cellus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cellus most popular?
The single biggest year for Cellus was 1920, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cellus is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Cellus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cellus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cellus in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Cellus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cellus in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Cellus can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Cellus?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.