Clu
A computer-related name likely derived from the word "clue".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Clu. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Clu today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Clu births was 1962 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Clu. 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 Clu is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Clus were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Clu. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1962
5 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1962 SSA rank
#4,150
Tracked since 1962
Popularity
Clu: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Clu 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 Clu during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Clu
The name Clu is believed to have originated from the French language, derived from the Old French word "clu", meaning "closed" or "enclosed". It was likely used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who lived in a secluded or enclosed area, such as a cloister or a fortified town.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Clu can be found in the medieval French epic poem "La Chanson de Roland" (The Song of Roland), written around the late 11th century. In this poem, Clu is mentioned as the name of a Frankish knight who fought alongside the legendary hero Roland at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass.
During the Middle Ages, the name Clu was relatively uncommon but occasionally appeared in historical records and documents from various regions of France. One notable bearer of this name was Clu de Nanteuil, a French nobleman who lived in the 12th century and was known for his military exploits during the Crusades.
In the 16th century, the name Clu gained some popularity among the French aristocracy, with several individuals bearing this name appearing in records and chronicles of the time. For instance, Clu de Montmorency (1528-1579) was a prominent French nobleman and military commander who served under King Henry IV during the Wars of Religion.
Another notable figure with the name Clu was Clu de Laval (1605-1671), a French nobleman and botanist who is credited with establishing one of the earliest botanical gardens in France, the Jardin des Plantes de Montpellier.
In more recent times, the name Clu has been relatively rare, but it has been used occasionally as a first name or as a nickname derived from other names such as Claude or Clément. One notable modern bearer of this name was Clu Gulager (1928-2022), an American actor and director best known for his roles in westerns and horror films.
While the name Clu has its roots in the French language and culture, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world, albeit to a lesser extent. However, its historical significance and association with medieval French literature and nobility make it a unique and intriguing name with a rich cultural heritage.
People
Clu + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Clu 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
Clu: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Clu?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Clu 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Clu a common name?
We classify Clu as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% 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 Clu most popular?
The single biggest year for Clu was 1962, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Clu is about 67 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 Clu in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Clu a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Clu 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 Clu still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Clu 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 Clu 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 people have the name Clu?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.