Claude
Claude is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Lame or enclosed; from the ancient Roman patrician gens Claudius.
Origin and history
Claude is derived from the Roman family name Claudius, originating from the Latin word for 'lame' or 'crippled'. Historically a classic French given name, it gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the U.S., it is a traditional name that saw its highest usage in the early 1900s.
Popularity in the United States
91,337 babies in the United States have been named Claude since 1880. It ranks #333 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1697.
States where it is most popular
- TX (7.2 %)
- NC (7.1 %)
- VA (5.8 %)
- TN (5.6 %)
- GA (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,504 |
| 1890-1900 | 3,636 |
| 1900-1910 | 3,704 |
| 1910-1920 | 12,792 |
| 1920-1930 | 16,999 |
| 1930-1940 | 12,741 |
| 1940-1950 | 12,820 |
| 1950-1960 | 10,831 |
| 1960-1970 | 6,436 |
| 1970-1980 | 3,244 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,034 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,195 |
| 2000-2010 | 699 |
| 2010-2019 | 472 |
| 2020-2029 | 230 |
Famous people named Claude
- Claude Monet: Painter, Artist
- Claude Debussy: Composer, Pianist
- Claude Shannon: Mathematician, Engineer
Fun facts
- The name stems from the ancient Claudian gens, one of the most prominent noble families of ancient Rome.
- While historically predominantly male in English-speaking regions, Claude is a traditional unisex name in French-speaking countries.