Chloe is the English form of the French name Chloé. Both versions are derived from the Greek Khlóe, which literally means 'young green shoot' (of a plant) and which has been interpreted as meaning 'blooming'.
In ancient Greek, Khloe was a nickname given to the mythological figure of Demeter - the goddess of fertility, harvest and the seasons.
Chloe is also considered to be a biblical name, as in Corinthians the apostle Paul is said to have benefited from the hospitality of 'the House of Chloe'.The name grew popular during the time of the Puritans in the 16th and 17th centuries, when a trend emerged for giving children less well known Greek New Testament names.
In England and Wales the name Chloe steadily rose in popularity in the 1990s, peaking as the most popular name for baby girls born in 1998. But since then it has begun to see a gradual wane in popularity and has fallen to the 16th most popular name for baby girls born in 2012.
Famous people called Chloe:
Toni Morrison, author (born Chloe Ardelia Wofford)
Chloe Sevigny, actor
Chloe Moretz, actor
Surnames to avoid pairing Chloe with:
Surnames beginning with an 'E' or 'Y' might cause problems, as when said aloud this combination of sounds may result in elision – when two words slurred together end up sounding like one.
Similar names: Chloé, Cloé (french), Cloe (Spanish), Khloe, Chloris, Kloey (Greek), Cloten (Shakespearean)
Masculine variations: Chlodwig - a German name meaning 'famous warrior', or the Shakespearean name Cloten.
Celebrities who named their baby Chloe:
Olivia Newton John, singer/actress
Rupert Murdoch, businessman