Hero
From Ancient Greek Ἡρώ (Hērṓ).
Every Hero since 2000 — 1,025 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Hero
Hero is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,195 in 2025 with 65 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 2000, 1,025 American babies have been named Hero — about 79% boys and 21% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2022, when 82 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Hero stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Hero year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #15,768 | 65 | #2,195 |
| 2024 | 5 | #16,191 | 62 | #2,295 |
| 2023 | 5 | #16,078 | 67 | #2,158 |
| 2022 | 13 | #8,228 | 69 | #2,142 |
| 2021 | 8 | #11,499 | 70 | #2,085 |
| 2020 | 11 | #9,169 | 58 | #2,330 |
| 2019 | 6 | #14,455 | 49 | #2,637 |
| 2018 | 11 | #9,407 | 48 | #2,622 |
| 2017 | 6 | #14,793 | 53 | #2,431 |
| 2016 | 22 | #5,865 | 51 | #2,489 |
| 2015 | 12 | #9,161 | 58 | #2,285 |
| 2014 | 20 | #6,289 | 16 | #5,566 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12,420 | 21 | #4,524 |
| 2012 | 8 | #12,646 | 19 | #4,923 |
| 2011 | 12 | #9,369 | 15 | #5,778 |
| 2010 | 6 | #15,676 | 22 | #4,415 |
| 2009 | — | — | 14 | #6,222 |
| 2008 | 10 | #11,092 | 7 | #10,275 |
| 2007 | 5 | #18,655 | 20 | #4,700 |
| 2006 | 5 | #18,175 | 7 | #9,951 |
| 2005 | 9 | #11,236 | 10 | #7,320 |
| 2004 | 7 | #13,254 | 5 | #12,011 |
| 2003 | 5 | #16,683 | — | — |
| 2002 | 7 | #12,698 | — | — |
| 2001 | 5 | #16,259 | — | — |
| 2000 | 8 | #11,108 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Hero
- Hero of Alexandria Mathematician · 10–75
- Hero Fiennes-Tiffin Actor · b. 1997
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hero mean?
From Ancient Greek Ἡρώ (Hērṓ).
How popular is the name Hero in 2025?
Hero ranked #2,195 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 65 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Hero?
1,025 babies have been named Hero in the United States since 2000, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Hero most popular?
Hero peaked in 2022, when 82 newborns received the name.
Is Hero a boy or girl name?
Hero is used for both: about 21% of babies named Hero have been girls and 79% boys.
Is the name Hero rising or falling?
Hero is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Hero?
Well-known people named Hero include Hero of Alexandria (mathematician), Hero Fiennes-Tiffin (actor).