Gus Boy

Popularity: #793 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Gus /ɡʌs/

Origin: Latin; Germanic

Meaning: Latin: great; Germanic: staff, protection

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Gus is derived from the Latin name Augustus, which means "great" or "venerable." Augustus itself comes from the root word "augere," meaning "to increase" or "to honor." The name Augustus was famously borne by Gaius Octavius, who became the first Roman emperor in 27 BCE and was granted the title Augustus, marking a significant moment in Roman history. Over time, Augustus evolved into various forms in different languages, including the Old French "August" and the Italian "Agostino," before leading to the shortened form Gus in English.

In English-speaking contexts, the name Gus emerged as a diminutive of Augustus or its variants, gaining traction in the 19th century. The name has historical significance through various notable figures, including Gus Grissom, one of the original NASA astronauts, who played a pivotal role in the early years of the American space program during the 1960s.

Additionally, the name has been associated with various saints, particularly Saint Augustine of Hippo, a significant theologian and philosopher in the early Christian church, whose works have had a lasting impact on Western thought. Culturally, the name Gus carries connotations of strength and honor, reflective of its roots in the name Augustus.

It has appeared in literature and popular culture, often symbolizing loyalty and bravery. The name's simplicity and strong phonetic quality have contributed to its enduring appeal.

While Gus is often used as a standalone name, it can also be a nickname for other names such as Angus or Augustus, further enriching its historical and cultural tapestry.

Famous people named Gus

In this section, you will find notable people named Gus. 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 Gus who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Gus 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.

Gus Van Sant is a director best known for Good Will Hunting, Milk, and My Own Private Idaho.

Gus Johnson is a sports commentator best known for his work with Fox Sports and YouTube.

Gus Dudgeon was a record producer best known for his work with Elton John and David Bowie.

Gus Frerotte is a former professional football player best known for playing as a quarterback in the NFL.

Gus Poyet is a former professional footballer and manager best known for his time at Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Fictional characters named Gus

The following list of fictional characters named Gus 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.

Gus is a fictional character from the animated television series Gus. He is a friendly and optimistic character who often helps others in their adventures.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gus, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MaxLeoSamFinnJudeToby

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Gus. 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.

GabeGuyGlenGrahamGrantGideonGavinGentry

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Gus was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Gus has ranked as high as #699 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Texas, New York, California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Gus has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Gus 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 Gus was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

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 Gus.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 145 145 0
2024 167 167 0
2023 176 176 0
2022 196 196 0
2021 167 167 0
2020 164 164 0
2019 195 195 0
2018 207 207 0
2017 181 181 0
2016 204 204 0
2015 163 163 0
2014 155 155 0
2013 143 143 0
2012 122 122 0
2011 117 117 0
2010 133 133 0
2009 126 126 0
2008 124 124 0
2007 115 115 0
2006 108 108 0
2005 96 96 0
2004 84 84 0
2003 60 60 0
2002 62 62 0
2001 66 66 0
2000 42 42 0
1999 49 49 0
1998 47 47 0
1997 45 45 0
1996 29 29 0
1995 42 42 0
1994 41 41 0
1993 45 45 0
1992 50 50 0
1991 50 50 0
1990 44 44 0
1989 38 38 0
1988 44 44 0
1987 42 42 0
1986 57 57 0
1985 46 46 0
1984 45 45 0
1983 51 51 0
1982 52 52 0
1981 60 60 0
1980 65 65 0
1979 57 57 0
1978 76 76 0
1977 69 69 0
1976 83 83 0
1975 98 98 0
1974 85 85 0
1973 97 97 0
1972 96 96 0
1971 126 126 0
1970 86 86 0
1969 90 90 0
1968 93 93 0
1967 117 117 0
1966 134 134 0
1965 144 144 0
1964 141 141 0
1963 151 151 0
1962 173 173 0
1961 183 183 0
1960 196 196 0
1959 175 175 0
1958 199 199 0
1957 178 178 0
1956 166 166 0
1955 168 168 0
1954 197 197 0
1953 176 176 0
1952 175 175 0
1951 150 150 0
1950 164 164 0
1949 145 145 0
1948 180 180 0
1947 195 195 0
1946 161 161 0
1945 161 161 0
1944 150 150 0
1943 163 163 0
1942 168 168 0
1941 148 148 0
1940 152 152 0
1939 170 170 0
1938 168 168 0
1937 144 144 0
1936 180 180 0
1935 197 197 0
1934 199 199 0
1933 206 206 0
1932 224 224 0
1931 239 239 0
1930 263 263 0
1929 257 257 0
1928 262 262 0
1927 285 285 0
1926 294 294 0
1925 324 324 0
1924 303 298 5
1923 277 277 0
1922 303 303 0
1921 327 327 0
1920 312 312 0
1919 323 323 0
1918 309 309 0
1917 291 291 0
1916 288 288 0
1915 287 287 0
1914 223 223 0
1913 198 198 0
1912 163 163 0
1911 100 100 0
1910 106 106 0
1909 104 104 0
1908 80 80 0
1907 96 96 0
1906 85 85 0
1905 76 76 0
1904 75 75 0
1903 71 71 0
1902 85 85 0
1901 70 70 0
1900 120 120 0
1899 71 71 0
1898 78 78 0
1897 89 89 0
1896 95 95 0
1895 72 72 0
1894 76 76 0
1893 93 93 0
1892 117 117 0
1891 85 85 0
1890 109 109 0
1889 114 114 0
1888 133 133 0
1887 82 82 0
1886 102 102 0
1885 87 87 0
1884 117 117 0
1883 81 81 0
1882 120 120 0
1881 94 94 0
1880 99 99 0

Top States for Gus (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 12
11%
MN 12
11%
WI 12
11%
CA 8
7%
IN 8
7%
OH 7
6%
PA 7
6%
UT 7
6%
MA 6
5%
NE 6
5%
NY 6
5%
IL 5
5%
WA 5
5%
MO 5
5%
NJ 5
5%