Holding steady.
Popularity of Erasmus since 1880
Babies named Erasmus per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Erasmus's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 16 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 28 |
| 1920s | 30 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 12 |
Meaning & origin
Erasmus is a name borne by a 4th-century saint and the famed Renaissance humanist Desiderius Erasmus. Historically rare in the United States, it first appeared in Social Security records in 1880 and saw its peak usage in 1881, when it was given exclusively to boys. The name has never entered the top 1000 and remains an uncommon choice, with a stable trajectory over decades.
Erasmus is derived from the Greek word 'erasmios', meaning 'beloved' or 'desired'. The name was borne by Saint Erasmus, also known as Saint Elmo, a 4th-century martyr and one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. It gained scholarly prestige through Desiderius Erasmus, the Renaissance humanist and theologian, whose chosen name linked the Greek 'erasmios' with the Latin 'desideratus' (desired). The name has been used intermittently in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany, and occasionally in English-speaking countries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ras, Rassy
Variants: Erasmo, Erazmus
Sibling names for Erasmus
Names that share Erasmus's style, for a brother or sister.
