Clema
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a combination of Clementine and Emma.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Clema. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Clema today is around 89 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Clema births was 1915 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Clema. 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
- • The typical person named Clema is about 89 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Clemas were born before 1947.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Clema. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1915
12 babies that year
Average age
89
years old
1940 SSA rank
#3,940
Tracked since 1893
Popularity
Clema: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Clema from the 1890s through to the 1940s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 72 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Clema 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 Clema during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Clema
The name Clema is believed to have its origins in ancient Greek culture, dating back to the classical period of the 5th century BC. It is thought to be derived from the Greek word "klema," which means "tendril" or "young shoot." This association with nature and growth suggests that the name may have been given to children as a symbol of new life and vitality.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clema can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentions a woman by that name living in the city of Miletus around 450 BC. However, records from that time are scarce, and little is known about this individual's life or significance.
In the centuries that followed, the name appears to have been used sparingly across the Greek world, though it is difficult to find concrete examples due to the fragmentary nature of historical records from that era. It was not until the Byzantine period, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century AD, that the name gained more widespread recognition.
One notable figure named Clema from this time was a Greek Orthodox nun who lived in the 9th century AD. She is recorded as having founded a convent in the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul) and being renowned for her piety and devotion to her faith. Unfortunately, details about her life and accomplishments are limited, as she lived during a tumultuous period in Byzantine history.
Another individual named Clema who left a mark on history was a poet and scholar who lived in the 12th century AD. She is known to have written several works of literature, including a collection of poems that explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality. While her works were widely celebrated during her lifetime, many of them have since been lost or forgotten over the centuries.
In the realm of art and culture, a notable figure named Clema was a Greek painter who lived in the 15th century AD. She is credited with creating several religious icons and frescoes that adorned various churches and monasteries throughout the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately, many of her works have not survived to the present day, but those that remain are considered exemplary examples of the Byzantine artistic tradition.
The name Clema also appeared in ancient Greek mythology, though its significance in this context is somewhat obscure. One reference suggests that Clema was the name of a minor goddess associated with agriculture and fertility, but little else is known about her role or importance within the pantheon of Greek deities.
While the name Clema has ancient roots and a rich history, it is important to note that it has never been a particularly common name, even in its place of origin. As such, finding detailed historical records or famous individuals bearing this name can be challenging. Nonetheless, its enduring presence across centuries serves as a testament to its unique cultural significance and the lasting impact of ancient Greek traditions on modern naming practices.
People
Clema + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Clema 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
Clema: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Clema?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Clema 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 1 in 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Clema a common name?
We classify Clema as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 196 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Clema most popular?
The single biggest year for Clema was 1915, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Clema is about 89 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 Clema in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Clema a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Clema in the SSA data are female. 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 Clema still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Clema 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 Clema 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 common is the name Clema?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.