Ulysses

Ulysses - A very unique male name

Ulysses appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #345. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ulysses and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ulysses? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ulysses. The baby boy name Ulysses was given to 121 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1200 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 12,118 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ulysses peaked in popularity 116 years ago in 1910 on position 345.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ulysses, 1-5?

Ulysses is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ulysses is currently topping the baby name charts in Nevada at position #593 - and is the least popular in New York at position #2,021.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ulysses is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Ulysses origin and meaning

Latin form of Greek Odysseus

The Latin form of Odysseus; the Greek name's own meaning is uncertain and was already debated in antiquity

Ulysses is how Rome knew Odysseus, the hero of the Odyssey, and the form carried by President Ulysses S. Grant. It has been in continuous American use since 1910, always uncommon, and is now gently falling. The Latin form itself is fully documented even though the hero's name defies certain translation.

Attested etymology

Ulysses is a 7 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Ulysses, pop culture references for the name Ulysses and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ulysses

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ulysses, sorted by popularity.

Ulises / Ulices / Ulisses / Ulyses / Ulysee / Ulysse / Ulysees / Ulyssee / Ulysess /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ulysses

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ulysses a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ulysses?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

yoo-LISS-eez · /juˈlɪsiz/
The data table lists 2 syllables, but the name is spoken in three — yoo-LISS-eez.

Around the world

• Odysseus (Greek) — The Greek original of the same hero's name.
• Ulisse (Italian) — The Italian form.
• Ulises (Spanish) — The Spanish form.

Spellings and nicknames

• Ulises — The Spanish form, also used in America.

Famous bearers

• Ulysses S. Grant — Union general and 18th President of the United States (1822–1885) Historical
• Odysseus — Hero of Homer's Odyssey, known in Latin as Ulysses (Mythological) Fictional

Style

MythologicalLiteraryClassic

Why parents choose it

Ulysses is a weighty, literary choice — parents pick it for Grant, for Homer, and for a name with unmistakable substance.

Worth knowing

• It is a lot of name for a small child and has no natural short form in common use.