Chloe Name Meaning: Variations, Namesakes & History

Evoking feelings of nature and growth, Chloe is a very ancient name that is popular among newborn girls. Read on to find out about its origins, meaning, and more.

What Does Chloe Mean?

The name Chloe means “blooming,” “fertility,” or “young green shoot.”

Chloe stems from the Greek root word “*ǵʰelh₃-,” which refers to the green stems, shoots, and foliage on plants in spring ⁽¹⁾. The English prefix “chloro-” (chlorine, chlorophyll, etc.) comes from the same Greek root.

Chloe’s meaning is rooted deeply in nature and change. The Greek root word referred to plants that grew during the spring. That was when flowers finally began to grow after many infertile months. Therefore, Chloe doesn’t just mean “blooming” and “fertility,” but blooming and fertility in a time of infertility.

What Is the Origin of the Name Chloe?

The name Chloe originated in Ancient Greece, where it was a common girls’ name. Across Greece, Chloe was used in works of fiction and their mythological pantheon.

Demeter, the Greek goddess of harvest and agriculture, often used the byname Chloe. When using that, Demeter could invoke ever-lasting fertility and growth. Demeter is considered to be the same deity as the Roman Ceres and the Anatolian Cybele.

Aside from Demeter, Chloe’s other prominent appearance was in Longus’s novel “Daphnis and Chloe.” It told of two young people from the isle of Lesbos who get separated, learn to love across many adventures, and are eventually reunited and married.

It was one of history’s first stories to use “true love’s kiss” as a plot point, roughly 1,800 years before becoming a Disney staple.

The name Chloe also appeared in Christianity’s New Testament. 1 Corinthians 1:11 mentions “the house of Chloe, a prominent woman among the Corinthian Saints.” Corin was a notable city in Greece, so the appearance of the name Chloe in this part of the Bible makes a lot of sense.

How Popular Is the Name Chloe?

Chloe is a very popular name in many countries and has been since the early 1990s. According to the Social Security Administration, Chloe ranked the 27th most used girls’ name in the United States in 2020 ⁽²⁾. Chloe was at its most popular from 2009 through 2010, when it ranked as the ninth most used girls’ name.

Globally, the name Chloe was most popular from the 1990s to the 2010s. Chloe was Northern Ireland’s most used girls’ name from 1997 through 2002. In 2013, Chloe ranked as Australia’s fourth most-used newborn girls’ name.

Chloe was decidedly more popular at the turn of the millennium. Indeed, it was one of the most common names for members of Generation Z but will be slightly less common for Generation A.

How Do I Pronounce Chloe?

The name Chloe is pronounced, “KLOH-ee.” Chloe opens with a “k” sound and rhymes with “snowy.”

Is Chloe a Boy or Girl Name?

Chloe is a feminine name mostly only given to girls. That being said, Chloe is technically unisex but is a rare choice for boys.

Variations of Chloe

Seeing as it’s an incredibly ancient name, Chloe has developed numerous variations across different languages:

• Chloë (Greek)
• Chloé (Greek)
• Chloé (French)
• Cloe (Greek)
• Cloé (Greek)
• Cloee (Greek)
• Cloey (Greek)
• Khloe (Greek)
• Khloey (Greek)
• Kloe (Greek)

Nicknames for Chloe

Chloe is a beautiful name that opens the doors for some fun nicknames, including:

• Chlo
• Cloe
• Clove
• Clover
• Clo-Clo
• Coey
• Co-Co
• Loey
• Lo-Lo
• Lola

Similar Names to Chloe

Chloe may not be the exact name you’re looking for, and that’s alright! In meaning, origin, and pronunciation, here are similar names:

• Arbor
• Briar
• Cedar
• Claire
• Eva
• Forrest
• Freya
• Holly
• Jasmine
• Keira
• Oaklee
• Octavia
• Sophia
• Zoe

Middle Names for Chloe

A middle name sticks with a person forever, so picking out the right one for your newborn is essential. Examples include:

• Ann
• Kai
• Kay
• Lila
• Luna
• Marie
• Olivia
• Willow

Sibling Names for Chloe

Should Chloe be lucky enough to be a sister, here are some names we think will go great with her:

For a Brother:

• Kevin
• Leo
• Logan
• Lucas
• Oliver
• Orson

For a Sister:

• Bailey
• Holly
• Ingrid
• Kaden
• Sage
• Sophia

Famous People Named Chloe

Below are some of Chloe’s most notable namesakes:

• Chloë Agnew: Irish singer and songwriter; youngest founding member of the music group Celtic Woman.
• Chloe “Chloë” Bailey: American actress, dancer, singer, and songwriter; earned five Grammy Awards alongside her sister, Halle Bailey.
• Chloe Bennet: American singer and actress, best known for ABC/Marvel TV series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
• Khloé Kardashian: American reality TV star, best known for E! series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
• Chloé Zhao: American director, writer, and producer, best known for “The Eternals” and “Nomadland,” which she won two Academy Awards for.

Chloe in Popular Culture

The ancient novel “Daphnis and Chloe” wasn’t Chloe’s only outing in the world of fiction. Below are some of the most notable Chloe’s in popular culture:

• Chloe Beale: Character in “Pitch Perfect” movie franchise.
• Chloe Cerise: Recurring character and trainer in the anime series “Pokémon.”
• Chloe Frazer: Treasure hunter and romantic interest in the “Uncharted” video game franchise.
• Chloe Mitchell: Long-term character in CBS TV series “The Young and the Restless.”
• Chloe O’Brian: Senior intelligence analyst and Jack Bauer’s most trusted colleague in Fox TV series “24.”
• Chloë Rice: Recurring character in Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.”

Chloe FAQs

Below are some of the most asked questions about the name Chloe.