NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Eros

Masculine name of Greek origin meaning "romantic love" or "desire".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Eros is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Eros popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 10 births.

This profile covers 81 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 70% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 81 living people in the UK are called Eros. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Eros ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 10 boys were registered as Eros.
  • About 81 living people in the UK are estimated to have Eros as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2921

2024

Births in 2024

7

Latest year

Peak year

2022

10 births

Estimated living

81

2026

Meaning

What does Eros mean?

The name Eros has its origins in ancient Greek mythology and culture, dating back to around the 8th century BC. It is derived from the Greek word "eros," which means "love" or "desire." The name is associated with the Greek god of love and fertility, who was often depicted as a handsome, winged youth carrying a bow and arrows.

In Greek mythology, Eros was considered one of the primordial deities, born from Chaos, the primeval emptiness. He played a crucial role in the creation of the world and was responsible for igniting love and passion among gods and mortals alike. The name Eros appears frequently in ancient Greek literature, including the works of Homer, Hesiod, and Sappho.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eros can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, who lived around 700 BC. In his celebrated work "Theogony," Hesiod described Eros as one of the primordial deities, born from Chaos.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Eros. One of the most famous was Eros of Armenia (c. 450 BC - 392 BC), a renowned military commander and statesman who played a significant role in the Achaemenid Empire. Another prominent figure was Eros of Naxos (fl. 300 BC), a Greek sculptor known for his intricate and lifelike statues.

In the Renaissance period, the name Eros gained popularity among artists and intellectuals who were fascinated by classical Greek culture. One notable figure from this era was Eros Strozzi (1508-1582), an Italian humanist and poet who wrote extensively on classical themes.

Another historical figure with the name Eros was Eros Agoglia (1795-1862), an Italian painter and sculptor who was known for his neoclassical works and his involvement in the Italian Romantic movement.

Finally, Eros Nucleu (1888-1967) was a Romanian sculptor and painter who gained recognition for his avant-garde style and his contributions to the modern art movement in Romania.

While the name Eros has its roots in ancient Greek culture, it has been used across various civilizations and time periods, often associated with love, passion, and artistic expression. The enduring legacy of this name reflects the profound impact of Greek mythology on Western culture and the continued fascination with the concept of love personified.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Eros over time

The chart below shows babies named Eros registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Eros, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Eros
035810200420142024

Decades

Eros by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Eros was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2607 39 5
2010s #3705 27 6
2000s #3636 15 4

Related

Names similar to Eros

FAQ

Eros: questions and answers

How popular is the name Eros in the UK right now?

In 2024, Eros was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.

When was Eros most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 10 babies registered as Eros in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Eros?

Masculine name of Greek origin meaning "romantic love" or "desire".

How many people are called Eros in the UK?

A total of 81 babies have been registered as Eros across the 15 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.