Angus Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AN-gus /ˈæŋɡəs/
Origin: Scottish; Gaelic
Meaning: Scottish: One choice; Gaelic: A measure of strength
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Angus has its roots in the Gaelic language, deriving from the Old Irish name "Aonghus," which is composed of the elements "aon" meaning "one" or "unique" and "gus" meaning "strength" or "vigor." This etymological foundation reflects a sense of singular strength or uniqueness. The name transitioned into Scottish Gaelic as "Aonghas," before being adopted into English, where it has been used since the Middle Ages.
The earliest recorded use of the name in Scotland dates back to the 9th century, associated with the Pictish king Angus mac Fergus, who ruled during this period, thus embedding the name within the historical narrative of Scottish royalty. A significant historical milestone associated with the name Angus is its connection to Saint Angus, a 7th-century figure who is venerated in both Scottish and Irish traditions.
He is often recognized for his role in the spread of Christianity in the region, and his feast day is celebrated on the 11th of January. The name also appears in various historical texts and genealogies, including the "Annals of the Four Masters," which document the lineage of notable figures in early medieval Ireland and Scotland.
Culturally, the name Angus has been associated with strength and leadership, resonating with various legends and folklore throughout Scottish history. It has been used in literature and poetry, often symbolizing noble qualities.
The name is also linked to the Angus breed of cattle, which is renowned for its quality and strength, further reinforcing the name's connotations of vigor. A diminutive form, "Gus," has emerged in various contexts, though it is less frequently used in historical texts.
Overall, Angus carries a rich legacy that intertwines linguistic roots, historical significance, and cultural resonance.
Famous people named Angus
In this section, you will find notable people named Angus. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Angus who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Angus who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Angus Young is a musician best known for being the co-founder and lead guitarist of AC/DC.
Angus T. Jones is an actor best known for his role as Jake Harper on Two and a Half Men.
Angus Macfadyen is an actor best known for his roles in Braveheart, Equilibrium, and the TV series Spooks.
Angus Deaton is an economist best known for his work on poverty, consumption, and welfare economics.
Fictional characters named Angus
The following list of fictional characters named Angus is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Angus MacGyver is a fictional character from the TV series MacGyver. He is a resourceful secret agent known for his ability to solve problems using everyday materials.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Angus, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Angus. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Angus was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Angus has ranked as high as #1257 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Washington, and North Carolina.
In the past 5 years the name Angus has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Angus is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Angus was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Angus (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 | |
| VA | 6 | |
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Angus.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 68 |
| 2023 | 77 |
| 2022 | 86 |
| 2021 | 63 |
| 2020 | 69 |
| 2019 | 84 |
| 2018 | 84 |
| 2017 | 95 |
| 2016 | 76 |
| 2015 | 88 |
| 2014 | 108 |
| 2013 | 82 |
| 2012 | 84 |
| 2011 | 68 |
| 2010 | 87 |
| 2009 | 112 |
| 2008 | 91 |
| 2007 | 106 |
| 2006 | 126 |
| 2005 | 99 |
| 2004 | 102 |
| 2003 | 109 |
| 2002 | 83 |
| 2001 | 119 |
| 2000 | 95 |
| 1999 | 95 |
| 1998 | 96 |
| 1997 | 92 |
| 1996 | 106 |
| 1995 | 78 |
| 1994 | 71 |
| 1993 | 62 |
| 1992 | 56 |
| 1991 | 61 |
| 1990 | 37 |
| 1989 | 47 |
| 1988 | 37 |
| 1987 | 37 |
| 1986 | 34 |
| 1985 | 36 |
| 1984 | 31 |
| 1983 | 37 |
| 1982 | 32 |
| 1981 | 38 |
| 1980 | 31 |
| 1979 | 33 |
| 1978 | 28 |
| 1977 | 28 |
| 1976 | 27 |
| 1975 | 34 |
| 1974 | 30 |
| 1973 | 28 |
| 1972 | 31 |
| 1971 | 35 |
| 1970 | 33 |
| 1969 | 30 |
| 1968 | 20 |
| 1967 | 34 |
| 1966 | 24 |
| 1965 | 23 |
| 1964 | 30 |
| 1963 | 37 |
| 1962 | 25 |
| 1961 | 27 |
| 1960 | 34 |
| 1959 | 38 |
| 1958 | 22 |
| 1957 | 34 |
| 1956 | 34 |
| 1955 | 39 |
| 1954 | 39 |
| 1953 | 34 |
| 1952 | 36 |
| 1951 | 32 |
| 1950 | 37 |
| 1949 | 40 |
| 1948 | 50 |
| 1947 | 36 |
| 1946 | 41 |
| 1945 | 42 |
| 1944 | 34 |
| 1943 | 43 |
| 1942 | 37 |
| 1941 | 41 |
| 1940 | 41 |
| 1939 | 33 |
| 1938 | 40 |
| 1937 | 38 |
| 1936 | 32 |
| 1935 | 31 |
| 1934 | 45 |
| 1933 | 37 |
| 1932 | 40 |
| 1931 | 52 |
| 1930 | 46 |
| 1929 | 45 |
| 1928 | 64 |
| 1927 | 69 |
| 1926 | 88 |
| 1925 | 63 |
| 1924 | 61 |
| 1923 | 72 |
| 1922 | 68 |
| 1921 | 69 |
| 1920 | 61 |
| 1919 | 72 |
| 1918 | 67 |
| 1917 | 54 |
| 1916 | 63 |
| 1915 | 72 |
| 1914 | 59 |
| 1913 | 38 |
| 1912 | 28 |
| 1911 | 23 |
| 1910 | 20 |
| 1909 | 20 |
| 1908 | 7 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1906 | 11 |
| 1905 | 11 |
| 1904 | 17 |
| 1903 | 13 |
| 1902 | 15 |
| 1901 | 9 |
| 1900 | 14 |
| 1899 | 17 |
| 1898 | 13 |
| 1897 | 15 |
| 1896 | 14 |
| 1895 | 15 |
| 1894 | 13 |
| 1893 | 10 |
| 1892 | 14 |
| 1891 | 11 |
| 1890 | 21 |
| 1889 | 14 |
| 1888 | 14 |
| 1887 | 16 |
| 1886 | 15 |
| 1885 | 14 |
| 1884 | 15 |
| 1883 | 17 |
| 1882 | 24 |
| 1881 | 9 |
| 1880 | 17 |