Fun Facts About the Name Sirius
- 727 babies named Sirius: U.S. records list 727 babies given the name Sirius from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Sirius - about 1 girl for every 144 boys.
What Does the Name Sirius Mean?
Sirius comes from Latin Sirius, which was taken from Greek Σείριος (Seirios). The Greek word is an adjective meaning "glowing" or "scorching," used of something that burns or sparkles. It was applied to the brightest star in the night sky, and Greek writers tied the word to the fierce heat that arrived when that star first appeared in the dawn sky after its yearly absence. The earlier origin of the Greek root is uncertain: it is sometimes linked to an Indo-European root having to do with burning or shining, but that derivation is not settled.
Sirius Name History & Origins
Sirius is the Greek and Latin name of the star in the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog. Because the star rose in the dawn sky in late summer, the Greeks connected it with the season's heat and with fever. Hesiod, in Works and Days, describes Sirius parching the fields, and Homer names it in the Iliad as a sign of summer. The Romans kept the form Sirius and called the hottest weeks dies caniculares, the "dog days," because the star belongs to the Dog.
Use of Sirius as a personal name is far more recent and far less common than the star's long record. It appears occasionally as a given name in modern Europe and the United States, usually drawn directly from the star rather than from an older naming custom. In recent fiction it is the name of Sirius Black in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels, a literary use distinct from the name's ancient astronomical history.
How Popular is the Name Sirius?
Sirius 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 #2,344 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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #18,504 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,500 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #2,657 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 2023 | #2,530 | 53 | 0.0031% |
| 2022 | #2,344 | 61 | 0.0035% |
| 2021 | #2,909 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2020 | #3,122 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2019 | #2,481 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 2018 | #2,837 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 2017 | #3,113 | 38 | 0.0021% |
| 2016 | #2,982 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2015 | #2,955 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2014 | #4,115 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2013 | #4,292 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2012 | #5,947 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #4,483 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2010 | #5,009 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #4,262 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2008 | #5,453 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #5,404 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #3,765 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 2005 | #5,835 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2004 | #11,155 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #6,197 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #7,024 | 9 | 0.0005% |
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.
Explore More Lists with Name Sirius
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with S
How the Name Sirius 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 intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Sirius's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sirius's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.