Cele
Cele is both a surname and a given name. In South Africa it is known as a surname of the Cele Clan
Meaning & Origin of Cele
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Cele is both a surname and a given name. In South Africa it is known as a surname of the Cele Clan
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Cele
Cele first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1901, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1912, when 13 Celes were born — ranking #1,540 that year. As of 2026, Cele ranks #5,828 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 129 Celes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Cele
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Bheki Cele (born 1952), South African politician
- Clara Germana Cele (1890–1912), South African girl
- Henry Cele (1949–2007), South African actor
- Siboniso Cele (born 1985), South African canoeist
- Zibuse Cele , South African politician
- Cele Abba (1906–1992), Italian actress
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Cele
Phonetically similar names — useful when Cele is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cele
What does the name Cele mean?
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About the name Cele
Cele is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1901 and has accumulated 129 births in the dataset. Cele's peak popularity came in 1912 when it ranked #1,540. Use the chart and map above to compare Cele's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1912 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.