Message: "Cleo on a boy" - Behind the Name

Cleo on a boy

by Flute (meganmichele)

1/25/2021, 5:00 AM

An old friend of mine and her partner just welcomed a new baby a couple days ago - his name is Cleo James.

I was definitely surprised by the use of Cleo on a boy since Miss Cleo and Cleopatra have always made it feel more feminine to me (though I realize it's unisex), but it hasn't been popular for boys OR girls for a very long time (it only just recently charted for girls again, and even then just barely). And with the popularity of Theodore, I suppose a little Cleo might fit in with all the Theos.

Anyway, what do you think of Cleo on a boy? Combo ideas?

you taught me the courage of stars before you left
how light carries on endlessly, even after death
with shortness of breath, you explained the infinite
how rare and beautiful it is to even exist

#Cleo

Replies

- Pink Princess

1/26/2021, 2:59 PM

I know it’s technically for a boy too, because of Cleophas, Cleopas and Cleon, but I really don’t like it for a boy. On the flip side, I LOVE the name Cleo for a girl! It’s one of my fave names for a girl and definitely one I would consider using.

This message was edited 1/26/2021, 3:00 PM

- Dracotorix

1/26/2021, 11:21 AM

I like it. I think I've only heard of it on girls but it definitely works with Theo, Leo, etc.
It could also be short for Cleon, Cleos, or Cleopas.

Cleo Hephaestus
Cleo Michaelis
Cleo Proteus
Cleo Tristram
Cleo Damodar
Cleo Valerius
Cleo Lysander
Cleo Demetrius
Cleo Trevelyan
Cleo Silvanus
Cleo Salvatore
Cleo Guillaume
Cleo Gentian

This message was edited 1/26/2021, 11:25 AM

- ruby (emmach653)

1/25/2021, 12:43 PM

It was my great-great grandfather's name, so I was first introduced to it as a masculine name. I like it on a boy and I think it's especially cute on a baby. I like James as a middle name for it.

- Raven Briar (Constant)

1/25/2021, 12:15 PM

Mostly, I've just encountered cats named Cleo. Maybe if I met more people named Cleo it would broaden my horizons toward the name. I suspect he will get lots of Cleopatra comments, which wouldn't be so bad if he is a confident kid.

Since Cleo is more unusual especially for a boy, I think James was an excellent middle name choice. James's familiarity and classical boy name vibe balences out Cleo and gives him something to fall back on if he isn't fond of his first name.

- Wordsmith +1

1/25/2021, 9:47 AM

Cool!

Very daring! I love it. James doesn't work for me as a middle name, though. How about...

Cleo Alistair
Cleo Archibald
Cleo Balthazar
Cleo Barnabas
Cleo Benedict
Cleo Benvolio
Cleo Conrad
Cleo Duncan
Cleo Edmund
Cleo Ferdinand
Cleo Frederic
Cleo Icarus
Cleo Manfred
Cleo Parnassus
Cleo Parsifal / Percival
Cleo Peredur
Cleo Peregrine
Cleo Perseus
Cleo Ragnar
Cleo Redmond
Cleo Romulus
Cleo Sebastian
Cleo Siegfried
Cleo Tarquin
Cleo Wolfgang
Cleo Wolfram
Cleo Wulfhelm
Cleo Wulfric

- Flute (meganmichele)

1/25/2021, 11:37 AM

Oh these are neat! I really enjoy Cleo Alistair, Cleo Ferdinand, and Cleo Wolfgang in particular. :)

- Manipura (glaucous)

1/25/2021, 9:32 AM

I think I prefer Cleo as masculine.
But Clio only makes sense to me as feminine.

...even though they're both transliterated and are pronounced the same in English.

This message was edited 1/25/2021, 9:35 AM

- Anneza

1/25/2021, 6:23 AM

It's gender-neutral. And there are many more boy names with -o endings than girl names. I wouldn't do it myself, but nor would I throw a fit or collapse in a heap.

James as a mn is quite amusing - from the very uncommon to the definitely standard!

- noisynora

1/25/2021, 6:00 AM

Definitely unique, but it works.

Cleo Robert
Cleo Benton
Cleo Maxwell
Cleo Faran

- New_Chloe

1/25/2021, 5:54 AM

Wow, what a daring vintage choice! Cleo on a boy is a *very* old fashioned practice - I think it comes from Cleopas and Cleon. It's neat. I like it much more for a girl, but it's still jazzy and fun on a boy for me too.

- ciara23

1/25/2021, 5:30 AM

Terrible. Maybe it needs to grow on me or something but otherwise, no.

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