Orphus
In Greek mythology, Orthrus or Orthus was, according to the mythographer Apollodorus, a two-headed dog who guarded Geryon's cattle and was killed by Heracles. He was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon, and the brother of Cerberus, who was also a multi-headed guard dog.
Meaning & Origin of Orphus
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In Greek mythology, Orthrus or Orthus was, according to the mythographer Apollodorus, a two-headed dog who guarded Geryon's cattle and was killed by Heracles. He was the offspring of the monsters Echidna and Typhon, and the brother of Cerberus, who was also a multi-headed guard dog.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Orphus
Orphus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1896, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1914, when 6 Orphuss were born — ranking #2,915 that year. As of 2026, Orphus ranks #2,915 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 11 Orphuss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Orphus
Phonetically similar names — useful when Orphus 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 Orphus
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About the name Orphus
Orphus is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1896 and has accumulated 11 births in the dataset. Orphus's peak popularity came in 1914 when it ranked #2,915. Use the chart and map above to compare Orphus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1914 →
- Names of the 1910s →
- Names starting with "O" →
- 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.