Anubis Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: uh-NOO-bis //əˈnuːbɪs//
Origin: Egyptian
Meaning: God of the afterlife; one who is in the place of embalming
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Anubis originates from the ancient Egyptian language, where it is derived from the word "Anpu" or "Inpu," which is believed to mean "to decay" or "to be in decay." This etymology reflects Anubis's role in ancient Egyptian mythology as the god associated with mummification and the afterlife. The name transitioned into Greek as "Anoubis" and later into Latin, maintaining its association with the funerary practices of ancient Egypt.
The adoption of the name into English occurred through the study of Egyptology and the translation of ancient texts, particularly during the Renaissance when interest in ancient cultures surged. Historically, Anubis was a significant figure in ancient Egyptian religion, appearing as early as the Old Kingdom (c.
2686–2181 BCE). He was often depicted as a jackal or a man with a jackal's head, symbolizing his connection to death and the protection of the dead.
Anubis played a crucial role in the funerary rites, overseeing the embalming process and guiding souls to the afterlife. His prominence is evident in various texts, including the Pyramid Texts and the Coffin Texts, which date back to the Middle Kingdom (c.
2055–1650 BCE). Anubis's influence continued through the New Kingdom (c.
1550–1070 BCE), where he was often invoked in rituals and depicted in tomb art. Culturally, Anubis embodies the ancient Egyptian beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife, symbolizing protection and the transition of souls.
His association with mummification and the weighing of the heart against the feather of Ma'at highlights the importance of morality and justice in the afterlife. The enduring legacy of Anubis is reflected in various forms of art and literature, where he is often portrayed as a guardian of the dead.
The name has also inspired various adaptations in modern media, though these interpretations diverge from the original cultural context.
Fictional characters named Anubis
The following list of fictional characters named Anubis 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.
Anubis is a fictional character from the video game series Smite. He is a god of the afterlife and is known for his abilities related to death and judgment.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Anubis, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Anubis was first seen in the United States in 2002.
Anubis has ranked as high as #1335 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in California, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Anubis has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Anubis 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 Anubis was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Anubis (2023)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 7 | |
| TX | 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 Anubis.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 |
| 2023 | 41 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2018 | 17 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2002 | 10 |