Boy · #2,820 in 2026

Cloud

Name: Popularity of the name Cloud in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Cloud, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

In meteorology, a cloud is an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, ice crystals, or other particles, suspended in the atmosphere of a planetary body or similar space. Water, primarily, comprises the droplets and crystals.

Current Rank

#2,820

Peak Rank

#2,473 (2020)

Total Babies

801

5-Yr Trend

+34%

2018

First Year

2024

Last Year

2018

Peak Year

#15678

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Cloud

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology

The origin of the term "cloud" can be found in the Old English words clud or clod , meaning a hill or a mass of stone. Around the beginning of the 13th century, the word came to be used as a metaphor for rain clouds, because of the similarity in appearance between a mass of rock and cumulus heap cloud. Over time, the metaphoric usage of the word supplanted the Old English weolcan , which had been the literal term for clouds in general.

The Story of Cloud

Cloud first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1913, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 50 Clouds were born — ranking #2,546 that year. As of 2026, Cloud ranks #2,820 for baby boys with 45 births, rising sharply (+34% over the past five years). In total, more than 801 Clouds have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Cloud

Phonetically similar names — useful when Cloud is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Clod
Clawed
Claude
Claud
Clout
Clyde
Clad
Clud
Clued
Clade
Cloyd
Cloyed

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cloud

What does the name Cloud mean?

How popular is Cloud in 2026?

In 2026, Cloud ranks #2,820 among boys' names in the U.S., with 45 babies given the name that year.

When was Cloud most popular?

Cloud reached its peak popularity in 2020, ranking #2,473 that year with 50 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Cloud most popular?

Cloud has historically been most popular in Georgia, Minnesota, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Cloud.

Is Cloud a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Cloud is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Cloud?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Cloud include Acey, Della, Romuald. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Cloud

Cloud is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1913 and has accumulated 801 births in the dataset. Cloud's peak popularity came in 2020 when it ranked #2,473. Use the chart and map above to compare Cloud's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.