Achilles
Boy name · #1290 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Achilles? In official American birth records, Achilles has been tracked continuously since 1912, giving it 113 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 151 baby boys were named Achilles, placing it at #1290 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #966, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,921 boys born in 2025 was named Achilles.
The 113-year story
Achilles first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 257 boys were named Achilles — good for #857 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Achilles per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Achilles against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Achilles in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Achilles is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Achilles will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Achilles is most common
Geography matters for names, and Achilles is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Achilles is most common in FL (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Achilles is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Achilles
Statistically, parents drawn to Achilles tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Stiles, Welles, Anas, Nehemias, and Amadeus.
StilesWellesAnasNehemiasAmadeusAndersPhineasAksel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Achilles | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 151 | #1290 |
| 2024 | 165 | #1220 |
| 2023 | 161 | #1226 |
| 2022 | 189 | #1121 |
| 2021 | 196 | #1081 |
| 2020 | 192 | #1051 |
| 2019 | 208 | #1004 |
| 2018 | 257 | #857 |
| 2017 | 234 | #910 |
| 2016 | 227 | #932 |
| 2015 | 214 | #966 |
| 2014 | 171 | #1117 |
| 2013 | 142 | #1243 |
| 2012 | 148 | #1207 |
| 2011 | 123 | #1364 |
| 2010 | 110 | #1481 |
| 2009 | 100 | #1594 |
| 2008 | 128 | #1343 |
| 2007 | 111 | #1445 |
| 2006 | 161 | #1091 |
| 2005 | 133 | #1196 |
| 2004 | 32 | #3074 |
| 2003 | 6 | #9581 |
| 2002 | 7 | #8456 |
| 2001 | 8 | #7536 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Achilles?
In official American birth records, the name Achilles first appeared in 1912 (over 113 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 113 years.
Is Achilles a popular boy name?
Achilles ranked #1290 among boys in 2025 with 151 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #966.
When was the name Achilles most popular?
Achilles peaked in 2018, when 257 American boys received the name (ranked #857 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Achilles?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,921 newborn American boys was named Achilles. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.