Boy · #5,459 in 2026

Orpheus

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

In Greek mythology, Orpheus was a Thracian bard, legendary musician and prophet. He was also a renowned poet and, according to legend, travelled with Jason and the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece, and descended into the underworld to recover his lost wife, Eurydice.

Greek Mythology

Current Rank

#5,459

Peak Rank

#2,576 (1968)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1916

First Year

1987

Last Year

1968

Peak Year

#2576

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Orpheus

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

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

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

Greek Mythology

Etymology

Several etymologies for the name Orpheus have been proposed. A probable suggestion is that it is derived from a hypothetical PIE root * h₃órbʰos 'orphan, servant, slave' and ultimately the verb root * h₃erbʰ- 'to change allegiance, status, ownership'. Cognates could include Ancient Greek : ὄρφνη ( órphnē ; 'darkness') and ὀρφανός ( orphanós ; 'fatherless, orphan') from which comes English 'orphan' by way of Latin. Fulgentius , a mythographer of the late 5th to early 6th century AD, gave the unlikely etymology meaning "best voice", "Oraia-phonos".

Origin & history

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The Story of Orpheus

Orpheus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1916, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1968, when 11 Orpheuss were born — ranking #2,576 that year. As of 2026, Orpheus ranks #5,459 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 76 Orpheuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Orpheus

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

Morpheus
Orfeo
Orphean
Arius
Arious
Aerious
Office
Orphans
Oreos
Orifice
Arias
Orcas

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Orpheus

What does the name Orpheus mean?

What is the origin of the name Orpheus?

Orpheus has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: Greek Mythology.

How popular is Orpheus in 2026?

In 2026, Orpheus ranks #5,459 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.

When was Orpheus most popular?

Orpheus reached its peak popularity in 1968, ranking #2,576 that year with 11 babies given the name.

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

Orpheus has historically been most popular in Illinois. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Orpheus.

Is Orpheus a unisex name?

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

What names go well with Orpheus?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Orpheus include Ronie, Joni, Kaven. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Orpheus

Orpheus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1916 and has accumulated 76 births in the dataset. Orpheus's peak popularity came in 1968 when it ranked #2,576. Use the chart and map above to compare Orpheus'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.