Total births
3,844
Boys' name · since 1912
Achilles
Achilles has 3,844 recorded births since 1912 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2018 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #1220
- among boys today
- 3,844
- born since 1912
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 91%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Achilles is the #1220 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 3,844 recorded since 1912.
Social Security Administration records show Achilles recorded 3,844 times among boys since 1912, holding rank #1220 nationally today, ahead of 91% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1912 to 2025.
- #1220 among boys today
- 3,844 born since 1912
- 2010s peak decade
- 91% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Achilles is currently the #1220 boys' name in America, more common than 91% of boys - 3,844 born since 1912, peaking in the 2010s.
- #1220
- among boys today
- 3,844
- born since 1912
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 91%
- more common than other boys
Achilles vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1220
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 91% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
48% of everyone ever named Achilles was born in this single decade.
2018
Single peak year
257 babies were named Achilles in 2018 - its busiest year on record.
How Achilles compares
3,844 Top 14% higher than 86% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Achilles's all-time total is 10x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Achilles | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,844 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 257 | 23 | 22,252 |
Achilles's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Achilles splits its recorded history at 1993: 94% of all births land in the more recent half, 6% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1916 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2018 peak of 257 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Achilles at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2018
Current rank
#1,220
Active since
1912
Achilles popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–2025
- Peak year (2018)
- 257
- Annual births at peak, across 114 years of records
Achilles by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Achilles's strongest decade.
1,834 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
Achilles births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 43
1910s
43 births
- 1920s 78
1920s
78 births
- 1930s 23
1930s
23 births
- 1940s 5
1940s
5 births
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s 29
1970s
29 births
- 1980s 29
1980s
29 births
- 1990s 43
1990s
43 births
- 2000s 696
2000s
696 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,834 births
- 2020s
2020s
1,054 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 1,834 births (48% of all-time use).
How Achilles compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Achilles's total volume
Achilles vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Achilles by state
Where Achilles concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 550 | 14.3% |
| #2 | Texas | | 416 | 10.8% |
| #3 | New York | | 270 | 7.0% |
| #4 | Florida | | 258 | 6.7% |
| #5 | Arizona | | 108 | 2.8% |
| #6 | Pennsylvania | | 98 | 2.5% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 83 | 2.2% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 72 | 1.9% |
California share of Achilles's total US births 14.3%
Even split
550 of 3,844 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 30 reporting states.
Achilles appears in 30 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Achilles? ▼
3,844 babies have been named Achilles since 1912. It currently ranks #1220 among boys. The peak year was 2018 with 257 births.
When was Achilles most popular? ▼
Achilles was most popular in the 2010s decade with 1,834 total births. The single peak year was 2018.
Where is Achilles most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Achilles are California (550 births), Texas (416 births), New York (270 births).
How long has the name Achilles been used? ▼
Achilles has been recorded in Social Security data since 1912, spanning 114 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Achilles? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Achille, Achilleus, Achillies, Acheron, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Achilles's data
- Achilles's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (1,834 total births) through the 2020s (1,054) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Achilless (550 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Achilles
Nearby Names Like Achilles
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Achilles
Achille Boy
#8358 402 births
Achilleus Boy
#13417 105 births
Achillies Boy
#13258 98 births
Acheron Boy
73 births
Achyuth Boy
67 births
Compare Achilles side by side: Achilles vs Achille Achilles vs Achilleus Achilles vs Achillies
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Achilles
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1912–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Achilles: #1220 Boys' Name - 3,844 Births, Peak 2018." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/achilles. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Achilles draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.