Chloe has long been a name that represents beauty, youth, and vibrancy. It dates to second-century Greece, making it one of the oldest names still widely used. Chloe derives from the Greek word Χλόη, meaning "blooming" or "green sprout." The name is pronounced slightly differently around the world – "klo-ee," "klo-eh,"and "klau-eh" are some variations.
Chloe is spelled with or without diacritical marks (the tiny accent or dots above a letter). It may be written as Chloë or Chloé, or spelled with a K, as in Khloe.
When you break the name down further, the chlo part means green, which shares the prefix of the word chlorophyll. An online translator might translate Chloe to English as "grass." But Chloe is so much more than green matter sprouting from the earth. Modern translations suggest that Chloe means something or someone who is flourishing.
The name Chloe has often been given to strong, independent women. Goddesses, heroines, and women of wealth and status have been named Chloe. Probably the most famous Chloe in history (before reality television became a thing) was Greek goddess Demeter, whose nickname was Chloe. She was the goddess of the harvest, agriculture, and the earth itself. Given that Chloe means something that grows from the earth, this nickname suited her perfectly.
Chloe is also mentioned in the Bible in Corinthians 1. She was an early Christian woman living in Corinth, Greece who was known to the apostle Paul.
Chloe was a popular name in the U.S. in the early 1900s; its popularity dipped afterward. But, in true heroine fashion, Chloe rose up the ranks again starting in the 1980s. By the year 2000, Chloe was in the top 50 girls' names in the U.S. Just 10 years later, Chloe made it all the way to number nine – pretty impressive!
BabyCenter parents consistently appreciate the name Chloe, too. It has been in the top 30 baby girl names since 2000. (BabyCenter's ranking is based on data from hundreds of thousands of parents who share their baby's name with us.)
An international name with multicultural appeal, Chloe is popular outside the United States. France, the United Kingdom, and Australia all see a fair share of babies named Chloe each year.
Chloe has historically been a girl's name – it doesn't have a masculine version. There are a few boys born in the U.S. and abroad named Chloe, but girl Chloes significantly outnumber boys with the name.
Given how Chloe has blossomed in cultures around the world, you can expect the name to last at least another 2,000 years.
