Is Homer a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Homer is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Homer?

It’s currently ranked #898 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Homer?

HOH-mer · IPA: //ˈhoʊ.mər//

Homer Boy

Popularity: #898 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationHOH-mer / /ˈhoʊ.mər/

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Greek: hostage; Latin: a man who is a hostage

Historical & Cultural Background

Homer is an ancient Greek name, most famously associated with the epic poet traditionally said to be the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The name has been used in various cultures, often symbolizing wisdom and storytelling. In the 19th century, the name gained popularity in English-speaking countries, influenced by literary references. It has remained a classic name throughout history.

Trend Summary

The name Homer has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the early 20th century and becoming less common in recent decades.

Variants

Homero
Omer

International Variants

Omero (Italian)
Homerus (Latin)

Famous people named Homer

Homer Simpson is a fictional character from the animated television series The Simpsons, known for his humorous and often bumbling personality.

Homer Adams was an American politician who served in the state legislature in the early 20th century.

Homer Plessy was a key figure in the civil rights movement, known for his role in the landmark Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson.

Homer Bailey is a professional baseball player known for his time as a pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Fictional characters named Homer

Homer is a character in the epic poems Iliad and Odyssey, representing the archetype of the epic hero.

Homer is a character in the video game series Assassin's Creed, known for his historical significance in ancient Greece.

Sibling Suggestions

Hank Henry Harold Hugo Harris Harrison

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Homer was first seen in the United States in 1880. Homer has ranked as high as #237 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. In the past 5 years the name Homer has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Homer (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	5	100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	205
1881	181
1882	190
1883	210
1884	216
1885	228
1886	224
1887	248
1888	256
1889	255
1890	223
1891	230
1892	301
1893	293
1894	273
1895	296
1896	258
1897	278
1898	246
1899	239
1900	326
1901	257
1902	269
1903	257
1904	256
1905	318
1906	267
1907	312
1908	340
1909	313
1910	347
1911	419
1912	794
1913	987
1914	1,152
1915	1,487
1916	1,506
1917	1,552
1918	1,680
1919	1,547
1920	1,722
1921	1,657
1922	1,630
1923	1,545
1924	1,647
1925	1,544
1926	1,503
1927	1,371
1928	1,320
1929	1,206
1930	1,172
1931	1,104
1932	1,055
1933	965
1934	937
1935	821
1936	830
1937	889
1938	855
1939	785
1940	773
1941	776
1942	781
1943	802
1944	741
1945	641
1946	593
1947	641
1948	619
1949	589
1950	552
1951	537
1952	543
1953	480
1954	459
1955	412
1956	467
1957	409
1958	373
1959	374
1960	323
1961	327
1962	310
1963	254
1964	265
1965	230
1966	224
1967	173
1968	193
1969	193
1970	182
1971	189
1972	143
1973	119
1974	143
1975	112
1976	109
1977	111
1978	101
1979	99
1980	106
1981	98
1982	78
1983	86
1984	72
1985	79
1986	70
1987	55
1988	53
1989	50
1990	58
1991	39
1992	49
1993	29
1994	31
1995	32
1996	36
1997	29
1998	33
1999	27
2000	22
2001	18
2002	31
2003	9
2004	24
2005	19
2006	22
2007	22
2008	27
2009	13
2010	25
2011	21
2012	25
2013	20
2014	30
2015	30
2016	24
2017	26
2018	32
2019	23
2020	30
2021	32
2022	35
2023	39
2024	26