Ulysses
Boy name · #1197 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Ulysses? In official American birth records, Ulysses has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 169 baby boys were named Ulysses, placing it at #1197 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1082, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,651 boys born in 2025 was named Ulysses.
Babies named Ulysses per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Ulysses first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 29 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 272 boys were named Ulysses — good for #642 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ulysses against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ulysses in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ulysses is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ulysses will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ulysses is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ulysses is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ulysses is most common in AZ (0.3 per 1,000), CA (0.3 per 1,000), TX (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 Ulysses is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ulysses
Statistically, parents drawn to Ulysses tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ulises, Moises, Ramses, Andreas, and Moses.
UlisesMoisesRamsesAndreasMosesNilesMarkusReyes
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ulysses | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 169 | #1196 |
| 2024 | 152 | #1290 |
| 2023 | 170 | #1189 |
| 2022 | 191 | #1113 |
| 2021 | 180 | #1131 |
| 2020 | 188 | #1064 |
| 2019 | 204 | #1018 |
| 2018 | 170 | #1135 |
| 2017 | 157 | #1186 |
| 2016 | 144 | #1266 |
| 2015 | 181 | #1082 |
| 2014 | 173 | #1102 |
| 2013 | 165 | #1110 |
| 2012 | 167 | #1109 |
| 2011 | 179 | #1054 |
| 2010 | 183 | #1053 |
| 2009 | 196 | #1004 |
| 2008 | 191 | #1009 |
| 2007 | 191 | #1012 |
| 2006 | 178 | #1028 |
| 2005 | 177 | #980 |
| 2004 | 155 | #1046 |
| 2003 | 145 | #1069 |
| 2002 | 208 | #814 |
| 2001 | 226 | #759 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ulysses?
In official American birth records, the name Ulysses first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 29 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ulysses a popular boy name?
Ulysses ranked #1197 among boys in 2025 with 169 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1082.
When was the name Ulysses most popular?
Ulysses peaked in 1999, when 272 American boys received the name (ranked #642 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ulysses?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,651 newborn American boys was named Ulysses. 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.