Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2018

Xerxes

Meaning ruler among kings Gender Boy Rank 2025 #5,593

From Ancient Greek Ξέρξης (Xérxēs), from Old Persian 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 (x-š-y-a-r-š-a /⁠Xšayāršā⁠/, “ruler among kings”).

Rank 2025
#5,593
among boys · ↓365 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
17
named Xerxes
How common
1 in 100,475
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2018
21 babies
All-time total
304
#10,498 all-time among boys
First recorded
1974
in Social Security records

Xerxes popularity over time

304 babies have been named Xerxes since 1974, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2018Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s 14 1 – #4,303
1980s 22 2 +57% #4,449
1990s 10 1 -55% #10,124
2000s 48 5 +380% #7,214
2010s 117 12 +144% #4,729
2020s (to 2025) 93 16 +32% #5,228

The story of Xerxes

Xerxes is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,593 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1974, 304 American babies have been named Xerxes. Its peak came in 2018, when 21 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 Xerxes stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Xerxes?

The median living Xerxes is about 9 years old; half are between 4 and 17. An estimated 300 people named Xerxes are alive in the United States today.

median 9 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Xerxes year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 17 #5,593
2024 19 #5,228
2023 16 #5,903
2022 17 #5,621
2021 14 #6,323
2020 10 #8,028
2019 11 #7,615
2018 21 #4,729
2017 14 #6,317
2016 13 #6,707
2015 15 #5,979
2014 13 #6,611
2013 8 #9,625
2012 12 #7,023
2011 – –
2010 10 #8,105
2009 12 #7,214
2008 8 #9,837
2007 9 #8,883
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 8 #8,425
2001 6 #10,512
2000 5 #12,071
1995 5 #10,295
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 8 #4,303
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Xerxes

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Xerxes I Xerxes I King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire from 486 to 465 BC -519–-475 · Antiquity
  2. 2 Xerxes II of Persia Xerxes II of Persia Ruler of the Achaemenid Empire in 424 BC -500–-424 · Antiquity
  3. 3 Xerxes of Armenia Xerxes of Armenia King of Sophene and Commagene from 228 to 212 BC -300–-212 · Antiquity

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Xerxes, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Xerxes?

The median living Xerxes is about 9 years old. Half of all living Xerxess are between 4 and 17 years old.

How many people named Xerxes are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Xerxes are alive in the United States, based on 304 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Xerxes mean?

From Ancient Greek Ξέρξης (Xérxēs), from Old Persian 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 (x-š-y-a-r-š-a /⁠Xšayāršā⁠/, “ruler among kings”).

How popular is the name Xerxes in 2025?

Xerxes ranked #5,593 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Xerxes?

304 babies have been named Xerxes in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Xerxes most popular?

Xerxes peaked in 2018, when 21 newborns received the name.

Is Xerxes a boy or girl name?

Xerxes is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Xerxes rising or falling?

Xerxes is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Xerxes?

Well-known people named Xerxes include Xerxes I (politician), Xerxes II of Persia (politician), Xerxes of Armenia (politician).

Names like Xerxes

Names that sound and feel close to Xerxes: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Xerxes with similar names → More names starting with X →