Claude
Boy name · English · French · Latin
Meaninglame · French
- US rank
- #3,036
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #46 in 1887
40 babies were named Claude in the US in 2025. It has dropped 277 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1880–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Claude you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Claude
Claude Debussy
French classical composer (1862–1918)
Choose Claude and your child shares a first name with Claude Debussy, a French classical composer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Claude, like who?” Claude Debussy's Wikipedia article is available in 131 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Claude Debussy on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Adam Cuerden, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 42,735 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Claude, 40 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Claude would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryClaude has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Claudes, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1887, when it ranked #46. Today it's #3,036, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowClaude was 2.2× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 19,841 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 42,735.
- TrendClaude has slipped 277 places over the last five years and now sits at #3,036. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn French, Claude means “lame”. Our records link it to English, French and Latin roots.
About the name Claude
Claude is a boy name of English, French and Latin origin meaning “lame”. It has 6 letters and 1 syllable, starting with C and ending in “-ude”. US birth records list Claude for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1887, when it ranked #46 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #3,036, with 40 babies.
Origin:English namesFrench namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 58 | 17,100 girls |
| 1890s | 42 | 23,568 girls |
| 1900s | 20 | 50,025 girls |
| 1910s | 15 | 66,269 girls |
| 1920s | 16 | 62,267 girls |
| 1930s | 12 | 86,059 girls |
| 1940s | 4.5 | 222,222 girls |
| 1950s | 4.5 | 223,214 girls |
| 1960s | 3.8 | 261,097 girls |
| 1970s | 3.7 | 271,003 girls |
| 1980s | 0.7 | 1,388,889 girls |
| 1990s | 0.7 | 1,428,571 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,202 | 312 boys |
| 1890s | 3,186 | 314 boys |
| 1900s | 2,740 | 365 boys |
| 1910s | 1,983 | 504 boys |
| 1920s | 1,544 | 648 boys |
| 1930s | 1,207 | 829 boys |
| 1940s | 876 | 1,142 boys |
| 1950s | 541 | 1,850 boys |
| 1960s | 331 | 3,019 boys |
| 1970s | 196 | 5,109 boys |
| 1980s | 111 | 9,038 boys |
| 1990s | 61 | 16,364 boys |
| 2000s | 35 | 28,498 boys |
| 2010s | 25 | 39,857 boys |
| 2020s | 22 | 45,045 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Claude
What does the name Claude mean?
Claude means “lame” in French.
What is the origin of the name Claude?
Claude has English, French, Latin roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Claude a boy or girl name?
Claude is a boy name.
How popular is the name Claude?
Claude ranked #3,036 for US boys in 2025, given to 40 babies. Its best year was 1887 (#46).