Aristides

Meaning & origin

Aristides is a name with classical Greek roots, evoking the integrity of Aristides the Just, an Athenian statesman of the 5th century BCE. First recorded in U.S. data in 1917, the name reached its peak rank in 1982, though it has always been rare. In 2025, it ranked 8,243 and was given to approximately 1 in 189,786 boys, reflecting a rising trajectory since 2021. The name's revival in the 1980s aligns with a broader interest in ancient Greek names, though it remains uncommon, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive, historically resonant choice.

Aristides derives from the Greek name Aristeides, composed of "aristos" (best) and the suffix "-ides" (son of). It was borne by an Athenian statesman and general known as Aristides the Just, a figure of high integrity in classical Greece. The name saw limited use in the English-speaking world, occasionally appearing in the 19th and 20th centuries.