Fun Facts About the Name Caius
- More than 2 thousand babies named Caius: U.S. records list 2,328 babies given the name Caius from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Caius Mean?
Caius is a Latin praenomen, an older spelling of Gaius. In the Roman naming system, a praenomen was the first name of a male citizen, placed before the family name. The meaning of the name is not securely known. A traditional explanation connects it with the Latin verb gaudere, meaning 'to rejoice', and the related noun gaudium, meaning 'joy'. That derivation is uncertain, however, and the name is often described as of unknown meaning. The spelling Caius belongs to the period before the letter G was introduced into the Latin alphabet, when C represented both the /k/ and /g/ sounds. After G came into use, the usual spelling became Gaius, while the abbreviation C. continued to stand for the name.
Caius Name History & Origins
The name is attested in the Latin-speaking world as a standard Roman praenomen. It was borne by many historical Romans, including the general and statesman Gaius Marius, the dictator Gaius Julius Caesar, and Gaius Octavius, who became the emperor Augustus. In English and other modern languages, the older spelling Caius has often been used for these Roman names, especially in older translations and historical writing.
In early Christian use, Gaius is a name that appears in the New Testament. Several Christian men named Gaius are mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles and in Paul's letters, and the recipient of the Third Epistle of John bears the name. Older English Catholic translations, such as the Douay-Rheims Bible, use the spelling Caius for these figures. A pope of the late third century is also known as Caius (or Gaius) and is venerated as a saint.
In England, the name is associated with John Caius (1510 - 1573), a physician who refounded Gonville Hall as Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; the college's name is traditionally pronounced 'keys'. The name also appears in English literature: Shakespeare used Caius as a character name in Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus, and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
How Popular is the Name Caius?
Caius recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #927 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #927 | 254 | 0.0149% |
| 2024 | #1,061 | 205 | 0.0120% |
| 2023 | #1,347 | 140 | 0.0082% |
| 2022 | #1,282 | 150 | 0.0086% |
| 2021 | #1,340 | 138 | 0.0079% |
| 2020 | #1,209 | 156 | 0.0090% |
| 2019 | #1,328 | 137 | 0.0076% |
| 2018 | #1,361 | 130 | 0.0072% |
| 2017 | #1,511 | 110 | 0.0059% |
| 2016 | #1,224 | 153 | 0.0081% |
| 2015 | #1,289 | 138 | 0.0072% |
| 2014 | #1,376 | 124 | 0.0065% |
| 2013 | #1,494 | 109 | 0.0058% |
| 2012 | #1,924 | 74 | 0.0039% |
| 2011 | #2,709 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 2010 | #2,520 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 2009 | #2,806 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 2008 | #3,840 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #3,609 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 2006 | #5,557 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #3,957 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #5,537 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #5,071 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #5,438 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #4,703 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #6,381 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #7,975 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #8,977 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Caius Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Caius's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Caius's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.