Rising since 2005, #5,399 for boys today.
Popularity of Xerxes since 1974
Babies named Xerxes per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 14 |
| 1980s | 22 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 48 |
| 2010s | 117 |
| 2020s | 93 |
Meaning & origin
Xerxes is a bold, historically charged name that appears rarely on U.S. birth certificates. Since first being recorded in 1974, its usage has risen gradually from 2005 onward, and it reached its peak rank (#4489) in 2018. In 2025, it ranked 5399, placed on roughly 1 in every 100,475 male births. The name is virtually absent from any top state lists, which underscores its niche status. The growing but still minor interest in Xerxes likely reflects a broader cultural fascination with ancient Persian history and monumental figures such as Xerxes I, the Achaemenid king who appears in the biblical Book of Esther as Ahasuerus and in the Greek historical record as the invader of Thermopylae. Choosing Xerxes today signals a taste for the uncommon and historically resonant, without the weight of modern celebrity or fashion.
Xerxes derives from the Old Persian 'Xšaya-ṛšā', meaning 'ruling over heroes' or 'king-hero'. The name appears in Greek as 'Ξέρξης' (Xerxes), and in the Hebrew Bible as 'Achashverosh'. Historically, it was borne by the Achaemenid king Xerxes I (5th century BCE), the fourth emperor of Persia who led the invasion of Greece. In modern usage, the name is rare but occasionally chosen for its regal, ancient feel.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Xerses, Xerkses
Sibling names for Xerxes
Names that share Xerxes's style, for a brother or sister.
