NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Hades

The ancient Greek name for the god of the underworld.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Hades is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Hades popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4107, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 5 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2017 to 2023. 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Hades. 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 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Hades ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 5 boys were registered as Hades.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hades as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4107

2023

Births in 2023

4

Latest year

Peak year

2022

5 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Hades mean?

The name Hades originates from ancient Greek mythology and refers to the god of the underworld. It is derived from the Greek word "Aidēs," which means "the unseen" or "the invisible one." The name likely emerged from ancient Greek religious beliefs and practices that date back to the 8th century BCE or earlier.

Hades was one of the most prominent deities in Greek mythology, ruling over the realm of the dead alongside his brothers Zeus and Poseidon, who governed the heavens and the sea, respectively. The name appears frequently in ancient Greek literature, including Homer's epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as in the works of poets like Hesiod and Ovid.

One of the earliest known individuals named Hades was a character in Greek mythology itself – the god of the underworld. However, there are no historical records of individuals bearing this name in ancient Greece, as it was primarily used as a reference to the deity rather than as a personal name.

Throughout history, the name Hades has been used sparingly, likely due to its association with death and the underworld. One notable figure was Hades the Sophist, a Greek philosopher and rhetorician who lived in the 2nd century CE. He was known for his writings on philosophical and rhetorical topics.

In the 16th century, the Italian Renaissance philosopher Hades Camillus (1508-1587) used the name, likely inspired by the classical Greek mythology. He was known for his work on natural philosophy and his commentary on Aristotle's writings.

The name Hades also appeared in literary works, such as the 1818 novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, where it was used as a metaphor for the underworld and the unknown realm of the dead.

Another individual named Hades was the Greek poet and playwright Hades Sikelianos (1884-1951), who was known for his works that drew inspiration from ancient Greek mythology and culture.

While the name Hades has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively rare, likely due to its strong association with the god of the underworld and the realm of the dead in Greek mythology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Hades over time

The chart below shows babies named Hades registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Hades, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Hades
01345201720202023

Decades

Hades by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hades 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 #3778 9 2
2010s #4812 3 1

Related

Names similar to Hades

FAQ

Hades: questions and answers

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

In 2023, Hades was ranked #4107 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Hades most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 5 babies registered as Hades in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Hades?

The ancient Greek name for the god of the underworld.

How many people are called Hades in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Hades across the 3 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.