Cleatus is a rare and unique given name of American origin, derived from the Latin word 'clavis,' which means 'key.' This name was more prevalent during the mid-19th century in the Southern United States but has since become quite uncommon. It is often associated with the surname Cleatus, which is believed to have originated as a patronymic name meaning "son of Cleatus.
The name Cleatus saw its peak popularity between 1916 and 1920, with a high of 25 births in 1920. However, it appears to have fallen out of favor thereafter, with fewer than 20 births per year from 1937 onwards. The name's total usage over the specified period was 894 times.