NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Odysseus

A masculine given name from Greek mythology meaning "troublesome, hateful".

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.

Odysseus is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Odysseus popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 4 births.

This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2010 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Odysseus. 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

  • Odysseus ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 4 boys were registered as Odysseus.
  • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Odysseus as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2021

4 births

Estimated living

20

2026

Meaning

What does Odysseus mean?

The given name Odysseus has its origins in ancient Greek mythology and literature. It is derived from the Greek words odys, meaning "trouble," and nēos, meaning "heart" or "soul." The name's meaning is often interpreted as "troubled soul" or "one who endures troubles."

Odysseus is the Latin spelling of the Greek name Odysseus, which is the name of the legendary Greek hero and the main protagonist in Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey. The Odyssey, believed to have been composed around the 8th century BCE, tells the story of Odysseus's journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.

The name Odysseus first appears in this ancient Greek epic, and the character's adventures and struggles have become an integral part of Western literature and mythology. Odysseus is renowned for his cunning, resilience, and resourcefulness, as he overcomes numerous challenges and obstacles during his decade-long journey.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Odysseus was Odysseus of Chios, a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 5th century BCE. He is credited with contributing to the development of early geometry and the study of conic sections.

Another notable figure named Odysseus was Odysseus of Corinth, a Greek tyrant who ruled the city-state of Corinth in the 6th century BCE. He gained control of the city through cunning and deception and is remembered for his harsh and oppressive rule.

In the 2nd century CE, there was a Greek writer and philosopher named Odysseus of Miletus, who wrote on various topics including ethics, politics, and natural philosophy.

During the Byzantine Empire, Odysseus Monembasus was a high-ranking military commander and statesman who lived in the 11th century CE. He played a significant role in the conflicts between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk Turks.

In more recent history, Odysseus Androutsos was a Greek revolutionary and military leader who fought against Ottoman rule during the Greek War of Independence in the early 19th century. He is considered a national hero in Greece for his contributions to the struggle for independence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Odysseus over time

The chart below shows babies named Odysseus registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 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 Odysseus, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Odysseus
01234201020172024

Decades

Odysseus by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Odysseus 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 #4417 11 3
2010s #4746 9 3

Related

Names similar to Odysseus

FAQ

Odysseus: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Odysseus was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Odysseus most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 4 babies registered as Odysseus in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Odysseus?

A masculine given name from Greek mythology meaning "troublesome, hateful".

How many people are called Odysseus in the UK?

A total of 20 babies have been registered as Odysseus across the 6 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.