Fun Facts About the Name Scylla
- 40 babies named Scylla: U.S. records list 40 babies given the name Scylla from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Scylla Mean?
Scylla is a Greek name from myth whose meaning is uncertain. It is attested in ancient Greek as Σκύλλα (Skýlla), the name of the monstrous sea creature in the Odyssey. The etymology is disputed. A traditional suggestion connects it with σκύλλω (skýllō), "to tear, rend," but that derivation is not certain. Calling Scylla "the tearer" is therefore an interpretation drawn from the monster's behavior, not a confirmed translation.
Scylla Name History & Origins
Scylla belongs to Greek mythology. In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus must sail past the monster Scylla, who lives in a cave and has six heads and twelve feet, and past the whirlpool Charybdis. The pairing is the source of the expression "between Scylla and Charybdis." Later writers expanded her story: in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Scylla is a nymph transformed into a monster by Circe out of jealousy.
The name passed into Latin as Scylla and then into English through classical literature. It is mainly a literary and mythological name in English and is associated in tradition with the Strait of Messina and with the idea of choosing between two dangers.
How Popular is the Name Scylla?
Scylla 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 2022. Its best rank was #11,090 in 2022.
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 | #12,970 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #13,195 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #13,234 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #11,090 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #17,572 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #18,027 | 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 Scylla Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Scylla's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Scylla's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.