Balor
In Irish mythology, Balor or Balar was a leader of the Fomorians, a group of malevolent supernatural beings, and considered the most formidable. He is often described as a giant with a large eye that wreaks destruction when opened. Balor takes part in the Battle of Mag Tuired, and is primarily known from the tale in which he is killed by his grandson Lugh of the Tuatha Dé Danann, son of Cian.
Meaning & Origin of Balor
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In Irish mythology, Balor or Balar was a leader of the Fomorians, a group of malevolent supernatural beings, and considered the most formidable. He is often described as a giant with a large eye that wreaks destruction when opened. Balor takes part in the Battle of Mag Tuired, and is primarily known from the tale in which he is killed by his grandson Lugh of the Tuatha Dé Danann, son of Cian.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Balor
Balor first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2017, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2018, when 11 Balors were born — ranking #7,134 that year. As of 2026, Balor ranks #9,864 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 30 Balors have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Balor
Phonetically similar names — useful when Balor is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Balor
What does the name Balor mean?
How popular is Balor in 2026?
When was Balor most popular?
Is Balor a unisex name?
What names go well with Balor?
About the name Balor
Balor is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2017 and has accumulated 30 births in the dataset. Balor's peak popularity came in 2018 when it ranked #7,134. Use the chart and map above to compare Balor's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2018 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.