Save Gender Feminine Usage English, German, French, Literature Pronounced Pron. /ˈkleɪ.ə/(English) /ˈkliː.ə/(English) KLE-ah(German) [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-).