Boy · #4,890 in 2026

Hercules

Name: Popularity of the name Hercules in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Hercules, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Hercules is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.

Current Rank

#4,890

Peak Rank

#1,217 (2023)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

+31%

1908

First Year

2026

Last Year

2023

Peak Year

#1217

Peak Rank

Total Count

105

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Hercules

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Hercules

Hercules first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1908, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 30 Herculess were born — ranking #3,710 that year. As of 2026, Hercules ranks #4,890 for baby boys with 20 births, rising sharply (+31% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Herculess have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Hercules

Phonetically similar names — useful when Hercules is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Hercule
Herkules
Circulars
Circulus
Herculean
Circulate
Orgulous
Circulo
Wheelies
Hurtles
Hackles
Heckles

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hercules

What does the name Hercules mean?

How popular is Hercules in 2026?

In 2026, Hercules ranks #4,890 among boys' names in the U.S., with 20 babies given the name that year.

When was Hercules most popular?

Hercules reached its peak popularity in 2023, ranking #1,217 that year with 30 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Hercules most popular?

Hercules has historically been most popular in Hawaii, South Carolina, New York. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Hercules.

Is Hercules a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Hercules is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Hercules?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Hercules include Aldon, Demetrio, Emerald. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Hercules

Hercules is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1908 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Hercules's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #1,217. Use the chart and map above to compare Hercules's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.