Hercules
A masculine name derived from Greek mythology, meaning "glory of Hera".
Name Census estimates that about 748 living Americans carry the first name Hercules. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hercules today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hercules births was 2023 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hercules. 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.
People living today
748
~ 1 in 458,228 Americans
Peak year
2023
30 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,582
Tracked since 1908
Popularity
Hercules: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hercules from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 173 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Hercules remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hercules 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 Hercules during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Hercules' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. South Carolina, California, New York recorded the most babies named Hercules, while Texas, Minnesota, Hawaii recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 47 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Hercules
The given name Hercules has its origins in ancient Greek mythology and culture. It is derived from the Greek word "Heracles," which means "the glory of Hera." Hera was the queen of the Greek gods and the wife of Zeus. The name was originally spelled as "Herakles" in ancient Greek.
Hercules was the Roman adaptation of the Greek name Heracles, the legendary hero known for his exceptional strength and numerous labors or tasks he had to complete. His mythological adventures and exploits are recounted in various ancient Greek texts, including the works of Homer, Hesiod, and Euripides.
The earliest recorded example of the name Hercules can be found in the ancient Roman epic poem "The Aeneid" by Virgil, written between 29 and 19 BCE. In this epic, Hercules is mentioned as a renowned hero who had traveled to Italy and founded several cities.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Hercules. One of the most famous was Hercules of Gaul (c. 380 CE), a Roman military leader and general who served under the Western Roman Emperor Honorius. Another notable Hercules was Hercules of Saxony (c. 1275-1344), a prince and member of the House of Ascania.
In the Renaissance period, the Italian painter Hercules Piatori (c. 1500-1572) was known for his religious works and frescoes in churches across Italy. The Dutch philosopher and mathematician Hercules Lenting (1630-1696) made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and logic.
During the 19th century, Hercules Robinson (1824-1897) was a prominent British statesman who served as the Governor of several British colonies, including New South Wales and Hong Kong. Hercules Brabazon Brabazon (1821-1906) was an Irish architect and designer who is remembered for his contributions to the Gothic Revival architectural style.
It is worth noting that the name Hercules has been used across various cultures and time periods, often associated with strength, bravery, and heroic qualities, drawing inspiration from the legendary Greek hero.
People
Hercules + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hercules as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hercules: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hercules?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 748 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hercules 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 458,228 US residents.
Is Hercules a common name?
We classify Hercules as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,300 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hercules most popular?
The single biggest year for Hercules was 2023, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hercules is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Hercules a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hercules 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.
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.