Declining since 2022, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Hercules since 1908
Babies named Hercules per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2023, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hercules's real moment was 1908.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 111 |
| 1920s | 168 |
| 1930s | 173 |
| 1940s | 149 |
| 1950s | 163 |
| 1960s | 109 |
| 1970s | 67 |
| 1980s | 57 |
| 1990s | 59 |
| 2000s | 20 |
| 2010s | 120 |
| 2020s | 118 |
Meaning & origin
Hercules is a name of mythological weight, derived from the Greek Herakles and Latinized by the Romans. It has never been widely popular in the U.S., reflecting its grand and unusual nature. The name first appeared in Social Security records in 1908, its peak year, when it ranked 4,857. Since then, usage has been sporadic, with a falling trajectory noted from 2022 onward. In 2025, the name had an incidence of 1 in 85,404 births. Though no states top the list for Hercules, it remains a bold choice for parents drawn to classical heroism.
Hercules is the Latinized form of the Greek name Herakles, derived from Hera (the queen of the gods) and kleos meaning 'glory'. In Greek mythology, Herakles was the greatest of the heroes, a son of Zeus known for his superhuman strength and the Twelve Labors. The name was later adopted by the Romans, who emphasized his heroic and divine aspects.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Herc, Herky, Hercie
Variants: Herakles, Héraclès
Sibling names for Hercules
Names that share Hercules's style, for a brother or sister.
