Dionysus
In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus is the god of wine-making, orchards, fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus by the Greeks for a frenzy he is said to induce called baccheia.
- Greek Mythology
Meaning & Origin of Dionysus
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus is the god of wine-making, orchards, fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus by the Greeks for a frenzy he is said to induce called baccheia.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Greek Mythology
Etymology
The Story of Dionysus
The earliest SSA record of Dionysus as a baby boy name dates back to 1973, when 7 babies received it. 2022 was its biggest year on record, with 13 newborns named Dionysus — #6,475 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 47% of all recorded Dionysuss. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 89 Dionysuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Dionysus
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Dionysus. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Dionysos
Names that sound like Dionysus
Phonetically similar names — useful when Dionysus is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Dionysius
- Dionysis
- Dionysos
- Diagnosis
- Dionisio
- Dionysia
- Diathesis
- Diocese
- Deinonychus
- Cyanosis
- Dialysis
- Diaphysis
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dionysus
What does the name Dionysus mean?
What is the origin of the name Dionysus?
How popular is Dionysus in 2026?
When was Dionysus most popular?
Is Dionysus a unisex name?
What names go well with Dionysus?
What are nicknames or variants of Dionysus?
About the name Dionysus
Dionysus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1973 and has accumulated 89 births in the dataset. Dionysus's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #6,475. Use the chart and map above to compare Dionysus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- 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.