Charon
In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of the Greek underworld. He transports the souls of those who have been given funeral rites across the river that borders the underworld. Archaeology confirms that, in some burials, low-value coins known generically as Charon's obols were placed in, on, or near the mouth of the deceased, or next to the cremation urn containing the ashes.
- Greek Mythology
Meaning & Origin of Charon
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of the Greek underworld. He transports the souls of those who have been given funeral rites across the river that borders the underworld. Archaeology confirms that, in some burials, low-value coins known generically as Charon's obols were placed in, on, or near the mouth of the deceased, or next to the cremation urn containing the ashes.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Greek Mythology
Etymology
The Story of Charon
As a girl name
Charon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1937, with 9 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1973: 29 births, good for #2,506 nationwide. About 22% of every Charon on record arrived during the 1970s, its defining decade. Charon last appeared in the published SSA data in 2008, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 1K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1930s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Charon as a boy name dates back to 1970, when 6 babies received it. 1990 was its biggest year on record, with 13 newborns named Charon — #4,167 in the national rankings. About 34% of every Charon on record arrived during the 1980s, its defining decade. Charon last appeared in the published SSA data in 2013, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 216 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Charon
Phonetically similar names — useful when Charon 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 Charon
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Is Charon a unisex name?
What names go well with Charon?
About the name Charon
Charon is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1937 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Charon's peak popularity came in 1973 when it ranked #2,506. Use the chart and map above to compare Charon's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1973 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.