Rising since 1985, #334 for boys today.
Popularity of Orion since 1880
Babies named Orion per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 34 |
| 1890s | 49 |
| 1900s | 37 |
| 1910s | 192 |
| 1920s | 281 |
| 1930s | 154 |
| 1940s | 121 |
| 1950s | 84 |
| 1960s | 82 |
| 1970s | 500 |
| 1980s | 733 |
| 1990s | 1,852 |
| 2000s | 4,367 |
| 2010s | 8,595 |
| 2020s | 6,039 |
Meaning & origin
Orion is a name drawn directly from the stars, the mythological hunter fixed in the night sky as a prominent constellation. Its graph shows a clear ascent: though first recorded in 1880, it entered a long climb beginning around 1985 and reached its peak rank of 334 in 2018, before settling at rank 334 in 2025, with 1 in every 1,688 boy births bearing the name. Geographically, Orion is most popular in Alaska, Oregon, and New Mexico, suggesting an affinity in the western and mountain states. Parents today gravitate toward it for its celestial resonance and strong mythological roots, a pattern that shows no sign of reversing.
Orion is a name from Greek mythology, borne by a giant hunter placed among the stars as the constellation Orion. The etymology is disputed: it may derive from the Greek word ὄριον (órion) meaning 'boundary' or 'limit,' or from the Akkadian 'Uru-anna' (heaven's light). The name entered occasional English use in the 19th century, inspired by astronomy and classical literature.
Where Orion 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.
“Orion” around the world
Where Orion lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
70
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
New Zealand
11
babies in 2025
Quebec
8
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: O, Rion, Ri
Sibling names for Orion
Names that share Orion's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Calliope, Lyra, Athena, Nova, Vega, Aerial, Amaris, Aurora, Briar, Cattleya, Coraline, Danae, Echo, Elara, Elvia, Halo, Ione, Isis, Jewel, Kassandra, Leandra, Luna, Minerva, Nyssa, Roxana, Selene, Star, Starla, Starr, Stormi, Thalia, Venus, Vesta, Wynter, Aeris, Alaska, Amaryllis, Ariadne, Artemis, Arwen, Aura, Aylani, Azure, Cameo, Celestia, Chenoa, Cherokee, Cyan, Denali, Elysia, Eris, Eudora, Floria, Gaia, Idalia, Juno, Jupiter, Jurnee, Lavonia, Leda, Lotus, Lucina, Mahogany, Marigold, Mazikeen, Merari, Nereida, Ninfa, Novah, Nydia, Olympia, Pandora, Persephone, Phaedra, Sable, Sequoia, Solana, Symphony, Tempest, Tesla, Xena, Zenaida, Zenobia, Acadia, Aelin, Airis, Aldora, Alura, Anthea, Antigone, Aolanis, Aphrodite, Apple, Arcadia, Arelis, Ariona, Artelia, Astraea, Athina, Atlantis, Auri, Auriel, Azora, Azura, Belladonna, Burma, Calypso, Cerena, Cirilla, Clio, Cyrena, Diantha, Elektra, Eureka, Galaxy, Gemini, Hera, Iantha, Indica, Infinity, Iridian, Jazzmen, Jurni, Kallista, Kattaleya, Kemora, Lilyth, Lumen, Lunna, Lyriq, Lysandra, Mellody, Moon, Mystic, Mystique, November, Nyx, Oasis, Oceanna, Odyssey, Omni, Onika, Orelia, Raevyn, Raiven, Sedonia, Selenia, Sephora, Sevynn, Snow, Solara, Sole, Solei, Soliana, Starlette, Starlyn, Starlynn, Talula, Tenaya, Theia, Titania, Tomara, Valena, Vela, Vesper, Vista, Xylia, Yuvia, Admire, Adonia, Aerianna, Aeriel, Aerith, Airyana, Aleera, Althia, Aluna, Ambrosia, Andromeda, Aquila, Arabia, Arbutus, Armanie, Arora, Aspasia, Astella, Asteria, Astra, Aunika, Aurorah, Bellatrix, Bloom, Cassiopeia, Celes, Chalice, Charmion, Chloris, Circe, Clytie, Cyann, Demonica, Djuna, Dynasty, Elnoria, Eluney, Erial, Estreya, Etoile, Fable, Faun, Florena, Galadriel, Galileah, Haiven, Helia, Holiday, Icelynn, Io, Ionia, Iridessa, Irisa, Iysis, Kaliope, Kassia, Katori, Kattleya, Kharis, Kismet, Krimson, Latessa, Latona, Levana, Lorian, Lumina, Lunabella, Lunabelle, Lunah, Lynix, Lyrah, Macaria, Medea, Moranda, Morningstar, Myrical, Namaari, Narcissa, Narcissus, Nieve, Novali, Novalyn, Novalynn, Novia, Orchid, Persephanie, Phoenyx, Phynix, Poet, Prisma, Quorra, Rayona, Reighn, Saphira, Sedalia, Solar, Solaris, Solstice, Starsha, Stellar, Theona, Tigerlily, Tomorrow, Ulyssa, Urania, Vanilla, Vendetta, Wrenna, Wyllow, Xylina, Yvaine, Zamia, Azori, Ellawyn, Estellar, Fauna, Kerria, Mescal, Remedi, Tacora, Aelita, Aerie, Airess, Alonia, Alori, Aloria, Alvita, Anori, Anyra, Aradia, Ardenia, Areona, Areta, Aroura, Arraya, Artemisia, Assyria, Astrea, Atenea, Athene, Athenea, Azaelia, Azaleia, Azaleya, Azalyn, Azaylie, Azoria, Azuree, Berenis, Burklee, Caliope, Callisto, Celestial, Champayne, Ciela, Cortana, Crescent, Cybele, Cynara, Cyrene, Darriona, Dejanira, Demetress, Denaly, Dreamer, Ecko, Edilia, Eirene, Ellaria, Elysium, Emberlin, Eretria, Eurydice, Evadna, Fawna, Gazella, Hebe, Hesper, Hollin, Horizon, Hyla, Hypatia, Icel, Ilithyia, Inanna, Jemini, Kauri, Kimori, Kyrene, Larimar, Laurana, Laurelin, Legacii, Leomia, Libra, Lillyth, Lun, Lunafreya, Lunarae, Lunarose, Lunetta, Luxury, Merliah, Milahni, Milian, Mirage, Miriya, Morticia, Naturi, Navee, Nebula, Nemesis, Niobe, Noir, Novalei, Novarae, Odessia, Olenna, Orphia, Ourania, Parthena, Pharah, Phenyx, Phoenicia, Priseis, Rarity, Rayvn, Rotunda, Sahalie, Salice, Sanova, Sashia, Saturn, Seleen, Seleni, Shatora, Siren, Skyra, Solae, Solani, Soli, Somalia, Starasia, Starlee, Starlena, Starletta, Starlit, Stellarose, Storii, Sunset, Symphani, Syren, Thetis, Ulanni, Winnona, Xee, Yolani, Yulani, Zanova, Zelene, Zeola, Zephyra, Zeplyn
Brothers: Atlas, Cyrus, Jasper, Leo, Felix, Adonis, Anakin, Apollo, Ares, Aries, Charon, Homer, Kashmir, Leonidas, Mars, Marvel, Nestor, Ocean, Omega, Perseus, Phoenix, Rye, Theron, Titan, Ulysses, Unknown, Zenon, Zephyr, Zeppelin, Achilles, Alonza, Arion, Arrow, Atreus, Atreyu, Avian, Cedar, Cleon, Cosmo, Daemon, Delos, Eros, Ether, Evander, Everest, Fenix, Finnick, Florian, Haze, Hercules, Ladon, Nile, Osiris, Summit, Sylus, Sylvan, Syrus, Taurus, Triton, Tyrus, Zeus, Adonnis, Adrion, Aeneas, Aero, Ajax, Alastor, Alcides, Aldrin, Altair, Anias, Aquarius, Aquiles, Arias, Ariston, Ariyon, Atom, Auron, Avant, Avenir, Caelum, Calix, Castor, Cloud, Daimon, Demon, Diamante, Eon, Falcon, Helios, Hermes, Jovian, Kairos, Kashmere, Kepler, Lucifer, Lynx, Lysander, Pheonix, Rigel, Sagan, Shadow, Sirius, Sun, Sylvanus, Takota, Theseus, Tron, Ulysee, Ulysess, Varian, Xion, Zarian, Zenith, Aarian, Aeon, Apollos, Apolo, Argus, Aristides, Arius, Astro, Athens, Azion, Banyan, Brazos, Calyx, Corion, Corydon, Cougar, Cypher, Cyprus, Daryus, Drako, Elion, Epic, Finch, Galileo, Hades, Helio, Hymen, Jedi, Jove, Kaspian, Khaos, Kratos, Legion, Lyrick, Mercury, Montay, Nike, Oberon, Orbin, Oreste, Orestes, Peregrine, Phenix, Poseidon, Raistlin, Saveon, Shine, Silus, Solan, Starlin, Syris, Thorin, Tryton, Tycho, Tyrian, Ulysees, Ulyses, Xerxes, Xylo, Xylon, Xyon, Yuma, Zarius, Zymire, Auryn, Cashmir, Eryx, Helix, Kaelum, Kyros, Acer, Aerion, Aires, Anchor, Andros, Aquan, Arson, Artimus, Atari, Atlus, Auren, Aviyon, Caspen, Chaos, Chiron, Corvus, Coyote, Damascus, Dorrien, Dragon, Dune, Eizen, Elysian, Ezren, Fenyx, Furious, Future, Huxon, Icarus, Indio, Iniko, Isair, Janus, Karas, Kharon, Kodiak, Kvion, Kyrion, Legynd, Leonidus, Leto, Logic, Lycan, Memphys, Midas, Miquan, Myreon, Naujour, Noctis, Phoenixx, Prometheus, Quanta, Rainen, Silvan, Socrates, Sonder, Syire, Taino, Taos, Thanos, Vision, Voyd, Xen, Zephyrus, Zylus, Zyrion
Names like Orion
Names whose popularity has moved with Orion's over the last 50 years.

