Claus is a Scandinavian name of Danish origin, derived from the Old Norse word "klaufi" which means "limping". It is believed to have been given to children who were born with some physical disability or deformity, such as a limp.
The name Claus has been used in Scandinavia for centuries and was popular among the nobility. One of the most famous bearers of this name was King Christian IV of Denmark, who ruled from 1588 until his death in 1648. He was known for his military prowess and is considered one of Denmark's greatest kings.
Despite its origins, Claus is not a particularly popular name today. It has been largely replaced by more modern names such as Christopher and Nicholas. However, it still holds historical significance in Scandinavia and is occasionally used as a tribute to the region's rich history.
The name Claus has been given to a total of 366 babies born in the United States over the years. While it was quite popular during the early to mid-20th century, with peaks of 11 births in both 1956 and 1959, its popularity has since declined.
Looking at the data from 1880 to 1980, we can see that there were periods where Claus was more commonly chosen as a baby name. From 1887 to 1925, there were consistently between 5 and 13 births each year, with a notable spike in popularity in 1916 with 13 births.
However, after 1960, the number of babies named Claus began to decrease significantly. There were only 6 births each year from 1966 to 1970, and then there was no recorded birth of a baby named Claus until 1980 when there was just one birth.
This data shows that while the name Claus was once quite popular in the United States, its popularity has waned over time.