Cirrus
A name derived from the wispy, feathery clouds high in the sky.
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Cirrus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cirrus today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cirrus births was 2023 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cirrus. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cirrus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
2023
7 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,932
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Cirrus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cirrus from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 7 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cirrus 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 Cirrus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cirrus
The name Cirrus has its origins in the Latin language, specifically derived from the word "cirrus," which means a curl of hair, a tuft, or a tendril. This name is believed to have emerged during the classical period of ancient Rome.
In ancient Roman mythology, Cirrus was a minor deity associated with the winds and atmospheric phenomena. According to some accounts, he was believed to be responsible for the formation of wispy, curly clouds known as cirrus clouds, which bear a striking resemblance to locks of hair.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Cirrus can be found in the writings of the Roman poet Ovid, who lived from 43 BC to 17 AD. In his work "Metamorphoses," Ovid makes a reference to Cirrus as a personification of the wind, describing his role in shaping the clouds.
Throughout history, the name Cirrus has been relatively uncommon, but a few notable individuals have borne this moniker. One such person was Cirrus, a Roman sculptor who lived during the 2nd century AD. His works, though largely lost to time, were renowned for their intricate detail and lifelike depictions.
In the 15th century, a Dutch painter known as Cirrus van der Meer (1420-1490) gained recognition for his landscapes and portraiture. His masterpiece, "The Garden of Earthly Delights," showcased his talent for capturing intricate details and symbolism.
Another notable figure was Cirrus Beaumont (1670-1745), an English architect who played a significant role in the development of the Georgian style. His designs, characterized by symmetry and classical elements, can still be seen in various buildings across Great Britain.
In the realm of literature, Cirrus Wilde (1854-1900), the nephew of the famous writer Oscar Wilde, made his mark as a poet and essayist. His work, often overshadowed by his more famous relative, explored themes of nature and the human condition.
Finally, in the 20th century, Cirrus Hawking (1942-2018) was a renowned physicist and cosmologist. Though not directly related to the famous Stephen Hawking, Cirrus made significant contributions to the understanding of black holes and the nature of the universe.
While the name Cirrus has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its origins in Latin and its association with the natural world and atmospheric phenomena have made it a distinctive and intriguing choice for those seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.
People
Cirrus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cirrus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cirrus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cirrus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cirrus 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 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Cirrus a common name?
We classify Cirrus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cirrus most popular?
The single biggest year for Cirrus was 2023, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cirrus is about 13 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 Cirrus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Cirrus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cirrus 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 Cirrus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Cirrus 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 Cirrus 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 share the name Cirrus?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.