Agon
A masculine given name derived from Greek meaning "contest" or "struggle".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Agon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Agon today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Agon births was 2023 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Agon. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Agon with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Agon. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2023
5 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,285
Tracked since 2023
Popularity
Agon: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Agon by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Agon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Agon
The given name Agon finds its origins in Ancient Greek, where it was derived from the word "agon," meaning "contest" or "struggle." This name was prevalent in ancient Greek societies, particularly among those who valued athletic competition and physical prowess.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Agon can be found in the works of Homer, the renowned ancient Greek poet. In the Iliad, Agon is mentioned as a participant in the funeral games held in honor of Patroclus, a close friend and companion of Achilles.
During the Classical period of ancient Greece, the name Agon gained popularity due to its association with the prestigious athletic competitions and cultural festivals held in various city-states. These events, often referred to as "agones," celebrated excellence in sports, poetry, and drama.
In the realm of philosophy, Agon was the name of a prominent Pythagorean philosopher who lived in the 5th century BCE. He is credited with contributing to the development of mathematical principles and theories related to the nature of the universe.
Throughout the Hellenistic period, the name Agon continued to be used, although its popularity waned as Greek culture spread across the Mediterranean region and blended with other civilizations.
One notable figure bearing the name Agon was a Greek physician from the 1st century CE, known for his contributions to the study of anatomy and medical practices. His written works were highly regarded and influential during his time.
Another historical figure named Agon was a Byzantine scholar and theologian from the 9th century CE. He played a significant role in the debates surrounding the use of icons and religious imagery in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
As the Byzantine Empire expanded, the name Agon found its way into the cultural and linguistic traditions of various regions, including parts of the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Caucasus.
While the name Agon is not as common in modern times, it still holds a connection to its ancient Greek roots, evoking notions of competition, struggle, and the pursuit of excellence in various fields.
People
Agon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Agon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Agon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Agon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Agon going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Agon a common name?
We classify Agon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Agon most popular?
The single biggest year for Agon was 2023, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Agon is about 3 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Agon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Agon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Agon in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Agon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Agon in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Agon can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Agon?
You can see how many people have the name Agon on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.