Find out how popular the first name Atticus has been for the last 49 years (from 1975 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Atticus by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Atticus is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Atticus being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,181 male babies and 11 female babies born with the name Atticus.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 11 baby girls were named Atticus in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Atticus

The name Atticus has its origins in ancient Greek culture, stemming from the Greek word "Attikos," which means "from Attica," the region surrounding Athens. It emerged during the classical period of ancient Greece, around the 5th century BCE.

Atticus was a common name among the ancient Greeks, particularly in the Athenian region. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who mentioned an Athenian named Atticus in his dialogues.

Throughout history, the name has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous was Titus Pomponius Atticus, a Roman philosopher, and writer who lived from 109 BCE to 32 BCE. He was a close friend and correspondent of the Roman statesman and orator Cicero.

Another prominent figure bearing the name was Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Roman philosopher and orator who lived from 101 CE to 177 CE. He was known for his patronage of the arts and his efforts to restore and beautify ancient Greek cities.

In the literary realm, the name gained popularity through the character of Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's iconic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," published in 1960. Atticus Finch, a moral and principled lawyer, became a symbol of integrity and justice, contributing to the name's positive connotations.

Other notable individuals with the name Atticus include Atticus Hayter, an American actor and voice artist born in 1979, and Atticus Ross, an English musician and composer born in 1968, known for his collaborations with Trent Reznor on film scores such as "The Social Network" and "Soul."

While the name has its roots in ancient Greece, it has been adopted across various cultures and periods throughout history, often associated with qualities such as wisdom, nobility, and integrity.

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 Atticus was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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