Crux
A Latin word meaning "cross" or "difficultly," often used symbolically.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Crux. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Crux today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Crux births was 2022 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Crux. 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 Crux. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2022
5 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,714
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Crux: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Crux 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 Crux 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 Crux
The name Crux is derived from the Latin word "crux," meaning "cross." Its origins can be traced back to ancient Rome, where the cross was a prominent symbol used in various contexts, including religion, punishment, and astronomy.
In the Christian tradition, the cross holds significant religious significance, symbolizing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The name Crux may have been used as a symbolic reference to the cross, particularly among early Christians.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Crux can be found in ancient astronomical texts. The constellation known as the Southern Cross, or Crux, was recognized and named by ancient Greek and Roman astronomers. This celestial formation was an important navigational aid for sailors and explorers in the southern hemisphere.
During the Middle Ages, the name Crux appeared in various religious texts and manuscripts, reflecting its association with Christianity. Some notable individuals bearing the name Crux during this period include:
1. Crux of Metz (c. 620 - c. 688), a Frankish bishop and saint known for his missionary work in present-day Germany.
2. Crux de Vaux (c. 1160 - c. 1225), a French monk and theologian who wrote extensively on the symbolism of the cross.
In the Renaissance era, the name Crux gained popularity among scholars and intellectuals who were fascinated by classical literature and the study of ancient languages and symbolism. One notable figure from this period was:
3. Crux Nebrissensis (1444 - 1522), a Spanish humanist and grammarian known for his work on Latin grammar and etymology.
During the Age of Exploration, the name Crux was associated with navigators and explorers who relied on the Southern Cross constellation for guidance. One such explorer was:
4. Crux Fernandes (c. 1480 - c. 1540), a Portuguese navigator and explorer who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his voyage around the world.
In more recent times, the name Crux has been used by various individuals across different fields, including:
5. Crux Ansata (1912 - 1995), an American artist and sculptor known for his abstract works featuring the ancient Egyptian symbol of the Ankh, which resembles a cross.
While the name Crux may not be as common today as it once was, its historical significance and connections to ancient cultures, astronomy, and religious symbolism have contributed to its enduring legacy.
People
Crux + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Crux 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
Crux: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Crux?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Crux 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 Crux a common name?
We classify Crux 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 Crux most popular?
The single biggest year for Crux was 2022, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Crux is about 4 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 Crux in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Crux a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Crux 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 Crux still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Crux 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 Crux 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 Crux?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.