Cleon

Meaning of Cleon

Cleon is a unisex appellation of Hellenic provenance, deriving from the ancient Greek root kleos, signifying “fame” or “glory,” and historically borne by figures such as the Athenian statesman of the fifth century BCE and various early Christian martyrs. Its classical resonance communicates austere dignity, even as its adoption across genders within contemporary Anglo-American contexts underscores a measured adaptability in modern naming practice. Phonetically, it appears in English as /KLEE-ən/ and in French as /klejˈɔ̃/, a dual articulation that reflects its transnational character and linguistic economy. Although its prevalence among newborns in the United States has remained modest—typically occupying rankings within the lower hundreds to upper nine-hundreds in recent decades—it retains appeal through its succinct form and scholarly associations, which continue to inform its understated yet resonant usage.