Is Ulysses a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Ulysses is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Ulysses?

It’s currently ranked #772 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Ulysses?

yoo-LIS-eez · IPA: //juːˈlɪsiːz//

Ulysses Boy

Popularity: #772 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

Pronunciationyoo-LIS-eez / /juːˈlɪsiːz/

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Greek: Wrathful; Latin: To be angry

Historical & Cultural Background

Ulysses is the Latin form of the Greek name Odysseus, a legendary hero in Homer's epic poem, the 'Odyssey'. The character is known for his intelligence and cunning, particularly in devising the Trojan Horse strategy. Ulysses has been a popular name in various cultures, often symbolizing adventure and resilience. The name has also been used in literature and art, reflecting themes of heroism and exploration.

Trend Summary

The name Ulysses has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a notable increase in usage in recent years.

Variants

Ulyss
Ulises

International Variants

Ulises (Spanish)
Ulysse (French)
Odisseus (Greek)

Famous people named Ulysses

Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States and a prominent Union general during the American Civil War.

Ulysses Simpson Grant was known for his leadership in the Civil War and his presidency, which focused on Reconstruction.

Ulysses Everett McGill is a character in the film 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' portrayed by George Clooney.

Ulysses is a novel by James Joyce, considered one of the most important works of modernist literature.

Fictional characters named Ulysses

Ulysses is the main character in Homer's 'Odyssey', known for his long journey home after the Trojan War.

Ulysses is a character in the animated series 'The Adventures of Ulysses', where he embarks on various adventures.

Sibling Suggestions

Hector Achilles Odysseus Perseus Theseus Aeneas

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ulysses was first seen in the United States in 1880. Ulysses has ranked as high as #1026 nationally, which occurred in 1999, and has been most popular in California, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and South Carolina. In the past 5 years the name Ulysses has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Ulysses (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	37	36%
TX	21	21%
FL	11	11%
WA	9	9%
IL	7	7%
AZ	7	7%
NC	5	5%
NY	5	5%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	29
1881	18
1882	15
1883	14
1884	23
1885	33
1886	38
1887	27
1888	25
1889	19
1890	32
1891	34
1892	27
1893	36
1894	34
1895	43
1896	32
1897	25
1898	33
1899	14
1900	34
1901	25
1902	21
1903	21
1904	29
1905	25
1906	32
1907	38
1908	33
1909	36
1910	43
1911	51
1912	75
1913	99
1914	111
1915	133
1916	160
1917	159
1918	187
1919	164
1920	190
1921	199
1922	194
1923	201
1924	177
1925	192
1926	173
1927	181
1928	174
1929	158
1930	148
1931	147
1932	161
1933	140
1934	143
1935	171
1936	121
1937	122
1938	153
1939	144
1940	154
1941	139
1942	144
1943	155
1944	156
1945	114
1946	158
1947	168
1948	196
1949	175
1950	167
1951	178
1952	185
1953	164
1954	172
1955	163
1956	164
1957	163
1958	153
1959	142
1960	150
1961	150
1962	132
1963	127
1964	123
1965	111
1966	106
1967	143
1968	115
1969	125
1970	110
1971	118
1972	104
1973	108
1974	96
1975	108
1976	114
1977	96
1978	124
1979	122
1980	121
1981	123
1982	105
1983	103
1984	110
1985	124
1986	138
1987	170
1988	180
1989	177
1990	184
1991	159
1992	151
1993	146
1994	139
1995	140
1996	178
1997	155
1998	214
1999	272
2000	217
2001	226
2002	208
2003	145
2004	155
2005	177
2006	178
2007	191
2008	191
2009	196
2010	183
2011	179
2012	167
2013	165
2014	173
2015	181
2016	144
2017	157
2018	170
2019	204
2020	188
2021	180
2022	191
2023	169
2024	152