Achilles
Borrowed from Latin Achillēs, from Ancient Greek Ἀχιλλεύς (Akhilleús).
Every Achilles since 1912 — 3,844 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Achilles
Achilles is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,290 in 2025 with 151 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1912, 3,844 American babies have been named Achilles. Its peak came in 2018, when 257 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Achilles stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Achilles year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 151 | #1,290 |
| 2024 | 165 | #1,220 |
| 2023 | 161 | #1,226 |
| 2022 | 189 | #1,121 |
| 2021 | 196 | #1,081 |
| 2020 | 192 | #1,051 |
| 2019 | 208 | #1,004 |
| 2018 | 257 | #857 |
| 2017 | 234 | #910 |
| 2016 | 227 | #932 |
| 2015 | 214 | #966 |
| 2014 | 171 | #1,117 |
| 2013 | 142 | #1,244 |
| 2012 | 148 | #1,207 |
| 2011 | 123 | #1,364 |
| 2010 | 110 | #1,481 |
| 2009 | 100 | #1,594 |
| 2008 | 128 | #1,343 |
| 2007 | 111 | #1,445 |
| 2006 | 161 | #1,091 |
| 2005 | 133 | #1,196 |
| 2004 | 32 | #3,077 |
| 2003 | 6 | #9,592 |
| 2002 | 7 | #8,461 |
| 2001 | 8 | #7,540 |
| 2000 | 10 | #6,321 |
| 1995 | 5 | #8,876 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | 5 | #6,530 |
| 1980 | 5 | #6,258 |
| 1975 | 8 | #3,944 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | 5 | #3,684 |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | 5 | #3,462 |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | 5 | #4,198 |
| 1920 | 8 | #3,209 |
| 1915 | 10 | #2,459 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Achilles
- Achilles Tatius Writer · 200–300
- Achilles Painter Politician · -470–-425
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Achilles mean?
Borrowed from Latin Achillēs, from Ancient Greek Ἀχιλλεύς (Akhilleús).
How popular is the name Achilles in 2025?
Achilles ranked #1,290 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 151 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Achilles?
3,844 babies have been named Achilles in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Achilles most popular?
Achilles peaked in 2018, when 257 newborns received the name.
Is Achilles a boy or girl name?
Achilles is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Achilles rising or falling?
Achilles has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Achilles?
Well-known people named Achilles include Achilles Tatius (writer), Achilles Painter (politician).