Achilles
How to say it: uh-KIL-eez · /əˈkɪliːz/
Hero of Homer's Iliad. Etymology uncertain; possibly from 'achos' (pain) + 'laos' (people): 'he who embodies the people's pain'.
Achilles was the 1,129th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 151 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are down about 29% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,320 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,129 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 151 |
| Share of births | 1 in 21,955 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −29% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,320 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,664 among boys’ names, 10 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Climbing now, Achilles is enjoying its strongest showing in the 2020s. At its high point today, it may soften in the near term.
What goes with it
Crisp and breathy with a strong charge, Achilles sounds bold and storied. Hector reflects the same mythic roots, and Achi can soften it.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Achilles is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Greek.
In France: #1,664 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Achilles
- Achilles Statius (1524–1581)Portuguese humanist
- Achilles Gasser (1505–1577)German physician and astrologian
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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