Kleb
Short masculine name from German origin referring to sticky or clingy.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Kleb. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Kleb today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Kleb births was 2011 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Kleb. 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 Kleb. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2011
5 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2011 SSA rank
#13,453
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Kleb: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Kleb 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 Kleb during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Kleb
The name Kleb is a rare and intriguing one with roots that can be traced back to ancient Slavic cultures. Originating from the Old Church Slavonic word "klębŭ," which means "ball" or "sphere," the name itself is believed to have emerged around the 9th or 10th century AD. It was primarily found in regions that are now part of modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
In its earliest recorded instances, the name Kleb appeared in several medieval chronicles and manuscripts, often associated with individuals from noble or influential families. One of the most notable bearers of this name was Kleb Smolensky, a prominent boyar (nobleman) who lived in the 12th century and played a pivotal role in the political affairs of the Principality of Smolensk.
During the 13th century, the name gained further recognition when Kleb Chernyshev, a skilled military commander, rose to prominence for his bravery and strategic abilities in the battles against the Mongol invaders. His exploits were documented in various historical accounts, cementing his place in the annals of Russian history.
In the realm of religion, the name Kleb is associated with Saint Kleb of Novgorod, a revered figure who lived in the 15th century. He was known for his pious life and dedication to the Russian Orthodox Church, earning him a reputation as a spiritual leader and wise counselor.
Another noteworthy bearer of the name was Kleb Fyodorov, a 16th-century scholar and pioneer in the field of printing. He is credited with publishing the first printed book in Russia, an achievement that paved the way for the dissemination of knowledge and literature throughout the country.
Moving forward to the 17th century, Kleb Naryshkin, a prominent statesman and diplomat, left an indelible mark on Russian history. He served as a trusted advisor to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and played a crucial role in shaping the country's foreign policies during a tumultuous period.
While the name Kleb has maintained a certain rarity throughout the centuries, it has endured as a testament to its rich cultural heritage and the remarkable individuals who have carried it. Each bearer of this name has contributed to the tapestry of history, leaving an indelible mark on the societies they belonged to.
People
Kleb + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Kleb as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Kleb: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Kleb?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Kleb 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Kleb a common name?
We classify Kleb as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% 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 Kleb most popular?
The single biggest year for Kleb was 2011, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Kleb is about 15 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 Kleb in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Kleb a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Kleb 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 Kleb still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Kleb 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 Kleb 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 Kleb?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.