Find out how popular the first name Hades has been for the last 18 years (from 2006 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Hades by gender

Based on the last 18 years of data, Hades is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Hades being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 29 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Hades.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Hades in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Hades

The name Hades originates from ancient Greek mythology and refers to the god of the underworld. It is derived from the Greek word "Aidēs," which means "the unseen" or "the invisible one." The name likely emerged from ancient Greek religious beliefs and practices that date back to the 8th century BCE or earlier.

Hades was one of the most prominent deities in Greek mythology, ruling over the realm of the dead alongside his brothers Zeus and Poseidon, who governed the heavens and the sea, respectively. The name appears frequently in ancient Greek literature, including Homer's epics the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as in the works of poets like Hesiod and Ovid.

One of the earliest known individuals named Hades was a character in Greek mythology itself – the god of the underworld. However, there are no historical records of individuals bearing this name in ancient Greece, as it was primarily used as a reference to the deity rather than as a personal name.

Throughout history, the name Hades has been used sparingly, likely due to its association with death and the underworld. One notable figure was Hades the Sophist, a Greek philosopher and rhetorician who lived in the 2nd century CE. He was known for his writings on philosophical and rhetorical topics.

In the 16th century, the Italian Renaissance philosopher Hades Camillus (1508-1587) used the name, likely inspired by the classical Greek mythology. He was known for his work on natural philosophy and his commentary on Aristotle's writings.

The name Hades also appeared in literary works, such as the 1818 novel "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley, where it was used as a metaphor for the underworld and the unknown realm of the dead.

Another individual named Hades was the Greek poet and playwright Hades Sikelianos (1884-1951), who was known for his works that drew inspiration from ancient Greek mythology and culture.

While the name Hades has been used throughout history, it has remained relatively rare, likely due to its strong association with the god of the underworld and the realm of the dead in Greek mythology.

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

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

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