Aurelius Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: aw-REL-ee-us /ɔːˈrɛliəs/
Origin: Latin
Meaning: golden; gilded
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Aurelius is derived from the Latin word "aureus," meaning "golden" or "gilded." This etymology traces back to the ancient Roman family name Aurelius, which was borne by notable figures in Roman history. The name is thought to have originated from the Latin root "aurum," meaning "gold," which reflects both a literal and metaphorical association with wealth, beauty, and high status.
The transition of the name into English occurred through the influence of the Roman Empire and later through the Renaissance, when classical names were revived in various European languages, including English. Historically, one of the most significant bearers of the name Aurelius was Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 CE, who is renowned for his philosophical writings, particularly the "Meditations." His reign is often considered a high point of the Roman Empire, and his Stoic philosophy has had a lasting impact on Western thought.
The name also appears in early Christian texts, where it was sometimes used to honor saints, further embedding it in the cultural and religious fabric of Europe. The name gained additional prominence through various translations of classical texts during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, which often included references to Marcus Aurelius.
Culturally, the name Aurelius has been associated with nobility and wisdom, reflecting the virtues of its most famous namesake. The golden connotation of the name has also made it a symbol of excellence and achievement in various contexts.
In literature and art, Aurelius has been depicted as an archetype of the philosopher-king, embodying the ideals of leadership and moral integrity. The diminutive form Aurelio has also been used in various cultures, maintaining the essence of the original name while adapting to local linguistic traditions.
Overall, Aurelius carries a rich historical legacy that continues to resonate through its associations with power, philosophy, and virtue.
Fictional characters named Aurelius
The following list of fictional characters named Aurelius 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.
Aurelius is a fictional character from the video game series Dark Souls. He is a key figure in the lore, representing the tragic fall of a once-great kingdom.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Aurelius, 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 Aurelius. 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 Aurelius was first seen in the United States in 1913.
Aurelius has ranked as high as #1170 nationally, which occurred in 2024, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Washington.
In the past 5 years the name Aurelius has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Aurelius 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 Aurelius was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Aurelius (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 | 30 | |
| TX | 19 | |
| FL | 16 | |
| NY | 11 | |
| AZ | 10 | |
| VA | 8 | |
| OH | 7 | |
| GA | 6 | |
| NV | 6 | |
| WA | 5 | |
| IL | 5 | |
| KY | 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 Aurelius.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 190 |
| 2023 | 163 |
| 2022 | 132 |
| 2021 | 87 |
| 2020 | 72 |
| 2019 | 74 |
| 2018 | 52 |
| 2017 | 43 |
| 2016 | 49 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2013 | 40 |
| 2012 | 39 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2010 | 43 |
| 2009 | 19 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1990 | 5 |
| 1989 | 9 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1983 | 7 |
| 1982 | 7 |
| 1981 | 6 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 5 |
| 1976 | 9 |
| 1975 | 5 |
| 1972 | 6 |
| 1971 | 7 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1968 | 6 |
| 1964 | 7 |
| 1963 | 5 |
| 1960 | 5 |
| 1954 | 5 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1935 | 6 |
| 1931 | 7 |
| 1930 | 7 |
| 1929 | 8 |
| 1928 | 6 |
| 1927 | 6 |
| 1926 | 5 |
| 1925 | 10 |
| 1924 | 7 |
| 1923 | 9 |
| 1921 | 8 |
| 1919 | 5 |
| 1918 | 8 |
| 1917 | 10 |
| 1915 | 10 |
| 1914 | 6 |
| 1913 | 6 |