Cleotha is a rare and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from Greek roots, combining 'kleos' meaning "glory" or "renown", and 'theos' signifying "god". Thus, Cleotha translates to "glorious in god" or "of divine glory". This name has a rich historical context, particularly among African American families who adopted it during the late 19th to mid-20th centuries. Despite its unique spelling, Cleotha shares similarities with other names like Cleo and Thea, which may contribute to its overall familiarity and appeal.
The name Cleotha had a peak popularity during the early 1920s with consistent high numbers of births occurring annually from 1920 to 1924, with an average of around 11 births per year. However, it seems to have declined significantly after that period, not reaching double digits again until 1933, and then only sporadically in the following years up to 1973. The total number of births recorded for the name Cleotha is 292 over this span.