Save Gender Feminine Usage English (Rare), German (Rare), Portuguese (Brazilian), Literature Pronounced Pron. /ˈkleɪ.ə/(English) /ˈkliː.ə/(English) [key·simplify] Other Forms FormsCléa Meaning & History Latinate form of Cleo apparently coined by British novelist Lawrence Durrell for a character in his Alexandria Quartet. A known bearer is American actress Clea DuVall (1977-).