Ulysses
Boy name · #1197 in 2025 · Uniqueness 68/100
In 2025, 169 baby boys were named Ulysses, placing it at #1197 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1082, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,651 boys born in 2025 was named Ulysses.
Babies named Ulysses per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Ulysses first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 29 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 272 boys were named Ulysses — good for #642 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ulysses against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ulysses in class?
Ulysses scores 68 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Ulysses will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ulysses is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ulysses is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ulyssess were CA (44), TX (18), AZ (10), FL (9), IL (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ulysses
Statistically, parents drawn to Ulysses tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ulises, Moises, Ramses, Andreas, and Moses.
UlisesMoisesRamsesAndreasMosesNilesMarkusReyes
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ulysses | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 169 | #1196 |
| 2024 | 152 | #1290 |
| 2023 | 170 | #1189 |
| 2022 | 191 | #1113 |
| 2021 | 180 | #1131 |
| 2020 | 188 | #1064 |
| 2019 | 204 | #1018 |
| 2018 | 170 | #1135 |
| 2017 | 157 | #1186 |
| 2016 | 144 | #1266 |
| 2015 | 181 | #1082 |
| 2014 | 173 | #1102 |
| 2013 | 165 | #1110 |
| 2012 | 167 | #1109 |
| 2011 | 179 | #1054 |
| 2010 | 183 | #1053 |
| 2009 | 196 | #1004 |
| 2008 | 191 | #1009 |
| 2007 | 191 | #1012 |
| 2006 | 178 | #1028 |
| 2005 | 177 | #980 |
| 2004 | 155 | #1046 |
| 2003 | 145 | #1069 |
| 2002 | 208 | #814 |
| 2001 | 226 | #759 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ulysses a popular boy name?
Ulysses ranked #1197 among boys in 2025 with 169 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1082.
When was the name Ulysses most popular?
Ulysses peaked in 1999, when 272 American boys received the name (ranked #642 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ulysses?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,651 newborn American boys was named Ulysses. It scores 68/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.