Declining since 2019, #4,707 for boys today.
Popularity of Castor since 1998
Babies named Castor per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 19 |
| 2000s | 89 |
| 2010s | 176 |
| 2020s | 106 |
Meaning & origin
Castor is a name with deep classical roots, derived from Greek mythology as one of the Divine Twins. Despite its ancient pedigree, it has never been common in the United States. The Social Security Administration records show it was first recorded in 1998, and it reached its peak rank of 4,707 in 2016, with about 1 in 81,337 boys given the name that year. Since 2019, its trajectory has been falling. In the 2010s, it saw modest interest but remained rare, with no state showing a concentration of use. Castor's rarity gives it an esoteric appeal for parents drawn to mythological names without widespread familiarity.
Castor is derived from the Greek name Κάστωρ (Kastor), which may mean 'beaver' (from κάστωρ). In Greek mythology, Castor was one of the twin sons of Zeus and Leda, known as the Dioscuri. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 17th century, often as a classical revival. Its modern usage, though rare, gained some traction after the late 1990s.
Sibling names for Castor
Names that share Castor's style, for a brother or sister.
