Find out how popular the first name Acheron has been for the last 12 years (from 2010 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Acheron by gender

Based on the last 12 years of data, Acheron is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Acheron.

The history of the first name Acheron

The name Acheron has its roots in Greek mythology and is derived from the river Acheron, one of the five rivers of the underworld in ancient Greek beliefs. The name is thought to be derived from the ancient Greek word "akhos" meaning pain or distress, reflecting the sorrow associated with the realm of the dead.

In Greek mythology, the river Acheron was one of the boundaries separating the world of the living from the underworld, the domain of Hades. It was believed that the souls of the deceased had to cross this river to enter the afterlife. The Acheron was often depicted as a deep, swirling, and gloomy river, reflecting the sorrowful nature of death and the underworld.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Acheron can be found in Homer's Odyssey, where the epic hero Odysseus is instructed to journey to the banks of the Acheron to seek guidance from the dead. The name also appears in other ancient Greek texts, such as Virgil's Aeneid and Dante's Inferno, further solidifying its association with the underworld and the afterlife.

Throughout history, the name Acheron has been borne by various individuals, although it has never been a particularly common name. One notable figure was Acheron of Pontus (c. 4th century BCE), a philosopher and follower of Plato who lived in ancient Greece. Another was Acheron of Alexandria (c. 6th century CE), a mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of geometry.

In the Middle Ages, the name Acheron was occasionally used by religious figures and scholars, perhaps as a nod to its mythological roots. One such individual was Acheron of Arles (c. 12th century), a Benedictine monk and writer who authored several theological works.

During the Renaissance period, the name Acheron was adopted by a few notable individuals, including Acheron Bocchi (1488-1562), an Italian poet and humanist, and Acheron Philibert (1551-1619), a French mathematician and astronomer.

More recently, the name Acheron has been used in literature and popular culture, often as a reference to its mythological origins. For example, Acheron is the name of a character in the fantasy novel series The Immortals by Tamora Pierce, and it is also the name of a metal band formed in the 1980s.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Acheron was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Acheron, please contact us.

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