Fun Facts About the Name Perseus
- More than 1 thousand babies named Perseus: U.S. records list 1,420 babies given the name Perseus from 1880 through 2025. Even 32 girls received the name Perseus - about 1 girl for every 43 boys.
What Does the Name Perseus Mean?
Perseus is a Greek name, Περσεύς, traditionally explained as meaning 'destroyer' or 'sacker.' The usual derivation connects it with the Greek verb πέρθω (perthō), 'to destroy, sack, ravage,' and the agent suffix -εύς (-eus), which forms personal names or nouns for a person who does something.
That explanation is traditional rather than certain. Some modern etymological discussions treat the deeper origin of Περσεύς as unknown or possibly pre-Greek, and the link to πέρθω may be a plausible ancient or later interpretation rather than a fully demonstrable derivation. The similar-looking Greek name Πέρσης (Persēs, 'Persian') is not the source of Perseus; the mythological story that made Perses a son of Perseus is a genealogy, not a linguistic derivation.
Later symbolic readings have treated Perseus as a hero of deliverance or as a solar figure, but those are interpretive associations, not the name's literal etymology.
Perseus Name History & Origins
The name is attested in Greek as Περσεύς and belongs to one of the major heroes of Greek myth. Perseus was said to be the son of Zeus and Danaë, daughter of Acrisius of Argos. He is best known for beheading the Gorgon Medusa with help from Athena and Hermes, for rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster, and for accidentally killing Acrisius with a thrown discus. Greek poets and later Latin writers, including Ovid in the Metamorphoses, told these stories.
In myth, Perseus and Andromeda were ancestors of Heracles, and Perseus was also linked to the founding of Mycenae. Greek writers connected him to the Persians through his son Perses, but that is a traditional genealogy rather than an etymology of the name. The name passed into Latin as Perseus and from Latin into modern European languages.
Perseus was also a historical royal name in the Greek world. Perseus, the last king of Macedon, reigned from 179 to 168 BC and was defeated by the Romans at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC. In English, the name is known mainly through classical myth and its retellings.
How Popular is the Name Perseus?
Perseus has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #1,210 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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #14,005 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #18,884 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #18,899 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #19,150 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #19,503 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #19,799 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,210 | 168 | 0.0098% |
| 2024 | #1,290 | 152 | 0.0089% |
| 2023 | #1,469 | 123 | 0.0072% |
| 2022 | #1,418 | 130 | 0.0075% |
| 2021 | #1,428 | 128 | 0.0073% |
| 2020 | #1,522 | 110 | 0.0064% |
| 2019 | #1,590 | 105 | 0.0059% |
| 2018 | #1,697 | 93 | 0.0051% |
| 2017 | #2,376 | 55 | 0.0030% |
| 2016 | #2,160 | 64 | 0.0034% |
| 2015 | #2,473 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 2014 | #2,610 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 2013 | #2,195 | 60 | 0.0032% |
| 2012 | #3,043 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2011 | #3,494 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2010 | #5,415 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #14,090 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #8,895 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1983 | #6,033 | 6 | 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 Perseus Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Perseus's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Perseus's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.