Fun Facts About the Name Xanthus
- 11 babies named Xanthus: U.S. records list 11 babies given the name Xanthus from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Xanthus Mean?
Xanthus is the Latinized form of the Greek masculine name Xanthos (Ξάνθος), formed from the adjective xanthos, meaning "yellow," "golden," or "fair-haired." The literal sense is a color word; the common English explanation "golden-haired" applies the adjective specifically to hair color, one of its ordinary uses in Greek.
Xanthus Name History & Origins
Xanthos was used as a personal name in the Greek world. In Homer's Iliad, Xanthus is one of the immortal horses of Achilles, and the river Scamander is called Xanthus by the gods. A later bearer was Xanthus of Lydia, a fifth-century BC writer on Lydian history. The name passed into Latin as Xanthus and from there into English; English references usually follow the Latin spelling and concern the mythological horse, the river, or the Lydian writer.
How Popular is the Name Xanthus?
Xanthus 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 2004. Its best rank was #11,298 in 2004.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | #13,976 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,298 | 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.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with X
How the Name Xanthus Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to help others, but sometimes you take on too much and sacrifices are difficult to bear. You might be called upon to make so many emotional adjustments that find yourself in a state of constant turmoil. At the best, you might be exalted leader. You have good ability to observe and be resourceful in times of trouble. 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.
✦ Xanthus's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Xanthus's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.