Rising since 1992, #290 for boys today.
Popularity of Ares since 1983
Babies named Ares per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 66 |
| 2000s | 449 |
| 2010s | 3,018 |
| 2020s | 4,746 |
Meaning & origin
Ares is a bold mythological choice that has surged in modern American use. First recorded in the U.S. in 1983, Ares entered the top 1000 rankings and has climbed steadily, ranking 290th in 2025. Its peak year is 2025, reflecting continued upward momentum. The name is most popular in New Mexico, Nevada, and Rhode Island, suggesting a broad geographic appeal. With a 1-in-1476 usage rate, Ares remains distinctive yet increasingly familiar, part of a larger cultural revival of names from classical mythology.
Ares is the name of the Greek god of war, derived from the Greek word 'are' meaning 'bane' or 'ruin'. In mythology, Ares was the son of Zeus and Hera, and was associated with violence and bloodshed. The name has been used in the Greek-speaking world since antiquity, but its use as a given name in English-speaking countries is a modern development, reflecting a trend toward mythologically inspired names.
Where Ares is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ares” around the world
Where Ares lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
140
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
New Zealand
16
babies in 2025
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ari
Sibling names for Ares
Names that share Ares's style, for a brother or sister.
