Clio is a feminine given name of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek word "kleio," which means "to make famous" or "to celebrate." In Greek mythology, Clio was one of the nine Muses, who were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. The Muses were goddesses of the inspiration of literature, science, and the arts. Clio was the Muse of history, and she was often depicted with a book or a scroll.
The name Clio has been used throughout history, but it became more popular in the modern era after it was used by several authors as character names in their works. For example, the French writer Honoré de Balzac used the name Clio in his novel "Père Goriot," and the Irish poet W.B. Yeats included a character named Clio in his play "The Countess Cathleen."
Overall, Clio is a unique and historic feminine given name with a strong connection to Greek mythology and literature. Its meaning, "to make famous" or "to celebrate," reflects its association with the Muses and the importance of history and storytelling throughout time.
Based on the statistical data provided for the name Clio in the United States, we can observe several trends over time.
The name Clio first appeared in the records with five births each year from 1894 to 1902. It then experienced some fluctuations, with birth numbers ranging from six to twelve per year between 1906 and 1917. After a slight dip in popularity during the 1920s and 1930s, with five or fewer births each year, Clio began to reemerge in the late 1980s.
From 1986 onwards, there has been an overall increase in the number of babies named Clio. The name reached double digits in births annually from 1995 onwards, peaking at 37 births in 2015. Despite some variation year by year, the name's popularity has continued to grow steadily since then, with 36 births recorded in 2021 and 30 births in 2022.
In total, there have been 811 babies named Clio born in the United States from 1894 to 2023. This data demonstrates a consistent presence of the name Clio throughout history, with periods of growth and decline in popularity. Overall, it is safe to say that Clio remains a recognizable and chosen name for parents across different generations in the United States.