Ulysses Boy

Popularity: #769 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: yoo-LIS-eez //juːˈlɪsiːz//

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: Wrathful; Latin: To be angry

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ulysses has its roots in the Latin form 'Ulixes,' which is derived from the Greek 'Odysseus.' The etymology of Odysseus is often linked to the Greek verb 'odyssomai,' meaning 'to be angry' or 'to hate,' although interpretations vary. The name entered the English language through the Latin translation of Homer's epic poems, particularly the 'Odyssey,' which recounts the adventures of Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War.

This translation and subsequent adaptations helped solidify the name's presence in English literature and culture. Historically, Ulysses is most famously associated with the hero of Homer's 'Odyssey,' which dates back to the 8th century BCE.

The narrative of Odysseus's long and perilous journey home has resonated throughout Western literature, influencing countless works and adaptations over the centuries. The name also appears in various classical texts and has been referenced by notable figures, including the Roman poet Virgil in the 'Aeneid' and later in Renaissance literature.

In the 19th century, the name gained further prominence through James Joyce's modernist novel 'Ulysses' (1922), which parallels the structure of Homer's epic with a narrative set in contemporary Dublin. Culturally, Ulysses embodies themes of cunning, resilience, and the quest for identity, making it a symbol of the human experience.

The character's journey reflects the trials and tribulations faced in life, contributing to the name's enduring significance in literature and art. The diminutive 'Uly' has also been used informally, though the full form remains the most recognized.

Overall, Ulysses stands as a testament to the lasting impact of classical mythology on Western culture and language.

Famous people named Ulysses

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

We also feature individuals named Ulysses 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.

Ulysses S. Grant is a military leader and U.S. President best known for leading the Union Army during the American Civil War, serving as the 18th President of the United States, and his role in Reconstruction.

Fictional characters named Ulysses

The following list of fictional characters named Ulysses 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.

Ulysses is a fictional character from the epic poem The Odyssey by Homer. He is the clever and resourceful hero who struggles to return home after the Trojan War.

Sibling suggestions

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

HectorAchillesOdysseusPerseusTheseusAeneas

Similar names

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

EliasSilasJuliusTobiasLuciusCyrusDariusMaximusOctavius

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Ulysses has ranked as high as #1428 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 down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ulysses 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 Ulysses 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 Ulysses.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 169 169 0
2024 152 152 0
2023 170 170 0
2022 191 191 0
2021 180 180 0
2020 188 188 0
2019 204 204 0
2018 170 170 0
2017 157 157 0
2016 144 144 0
2015 181 181 0
2014 173 173 0
2013 165 165 0
2012 167 167 0
2011 179 179 0
2010 183 183 0
2009 196 196 0
2008 191 191 0
2007 191 191 0
2006 178 178 0
2005 177 177 0
2004 155 155 0
2003 145 145 0
2002 208 208 0
2001 226 226 0
2000 217 217 0
1999 272 272 0
1998 214 214 0
1997 155 155 0
1996 178 178 0
1995 140 140 0
1994 139 139 0
1993 146 146 0
1992 151 151 0
1991 164 159 5
1990 184 184 0
1989 177 177 0
1988 180 180 0
1987 170 170 0
1986 143 138 5
1985 124 124 0
1984 111 111 0
1983 103 103 0
1982 105 105 0
1981 123 123 0
1980 121 121 0
1979 121 121 0
1978 125 125 0
1977 96 96 0
1976 114 114 0
1975 108 108 0
1974 96 96 0
1973 108 108 0
1972 104 104 0
1971 118 118 0
1970 110 110 0
1969 125 125 0
1968 115 115 0
1967 143 143 0
1966 106 106 0
1965 111 111 0
1964 123 123 0
1963 127 127 0
1962 137 132 5
1961 150 150 0
1960 150 150 0
1959 142 142 0
1958 153 153 0
1957 163 163 0
1956 164 164 0
1955 163 163 0
1954 172 172 0
1953 164 164 0
1952 185 185 0
1951 177 177 0
1950 168 168 0
1949 175 175 0
1948 196 196 0
1947 168 168 0
1946 158 158 0
1945 114 114 0
1944 156 156 0
1943 155 155 0
1942 144 144 0
1941 139 139 0
1940 154 154 0
1939 144 144 0
1938 153 153 0
1937 122 122 0
1936 121 121 0
1935 171 171 0
1934 143 143 0
1933 145 140 5
1932 161 161 0
1931 147 147 0
1930 148 148 0
1929 158 158 0
1928 174 174 0
1927 181 181 0
1926 173 173 0
1925 192 192 0
1924 177 177 0
1923 201 201 0
1922 194 194 0
1921 204 199 5
1920 190 190 0
1919 164 164 0
1918 187 187 0
1917 159 159 0
1916 160 160 0
1915 133 133 0
1914 111 111 0
1913 99 99 0
1912 75 75 0
1911 51 51 0
1910 43 43 0
1909 36 36 0
1908 33 33 0
1907 38 38 0
1906 32 32 0
1905 25 25 0
1904 29 29 0
1903 21 21 0
1902 21 21 0
1901 25 25 0
1900 34 34 0
1899 14 14 0
1898 33 33 0
1897 25 25 0
1896 32 32 0
1895 43 43 0
1894 34 34 0
1893 36 36 0
1892 27 27 0
1891 34 34 0
1890 32 32 0
1889 19 19 0
1888 25 25 0
1887 27 27 0
1886 38 38 0
1885 33 33 0
1884 23 23 0
1883 14 14 0
1882 15 15 0
1881 18 18 0
1880 29 29 0

Top States for Ulysses (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
CA 37
34%
TX 21
19%
FL 11
10%
WA 9
8%
IL 7
6%
AZ 7
6%
CO 7
6%
NC 5
5%
NY 5
5%