Narcissus
A masculine name derived from Greek mythology, meaning excessively self-admiring.
Name Census estimates that about 21 living Americans carry the first name Narcissus. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Narcissus today is around 85 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Narcissus births was 1919 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Narcissus. 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
- • The typical person named Narcissus is about 85 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Narcissus' were born before 1951.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Narcissus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
21
~ 1 in 16,321,635 Americans
Peak year
1919
16 babies that year
Average age
85
years old
1961 SSA rank
#6,353
Tracked since 1881
Popularity
Narcissus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Narcissus from the 1880s through to the 1960s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 75 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Narcissus 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 Narcissus 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 Narcissus
The given name Narcissus has its origins in Greek mythology and literature, derived from the ancient Greek word "νάρκισσος" (narkissos), which refers to the narcissus flower. The name is particularly associated with the tragic figure of Narcissus from Ovid's "Metamorphoses," a renowned work of Roman poetry dating back to the 1st century AD.
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a handsome young man who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. His vanity and self-absorption ultimately led to his demise, as he wasted away gazing at his reflection. This tragic story has become a symbol of excessive self-love and vanity, and the narcissus flower is said to have sprung from where Narcissus died.
The name Narcissus first gained popularity in ancient Greek and Roman societies, where it was given to newborn boys as a reflection of the mythological figure. It continued to be used throughout the classical period and into the Middle Ages, particularly in regions with strong Greek and Roman cultural influences.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Narcissus was a Christian martyr from the 3rd century AD, who was beheaded during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Another notable figure was Narcissus of Jerusalem, a 2nd-century bishop and saint in the early Christian church.
During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the name Narcissus experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in artistic and literary circles. This was likely due to the renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman literature and mythology during this time.
Some notable individuals named Narcissus throughout history include:
1. Narcissus of Tralles (fl. 2nd century AD), a Greek philosopher and mathematician known for his works on geometry and algebra.
2. Narcissus (fl. 3rd century AD), a Christian martyr executed during the Diocletian persecution.
3. Narcissus of Jerusalem (c. 99-216 AD), a 2nd-century bishop and saint in the early Christian church.
4. Narcissus Marsh (1638-1713), an English philosopher and clergyman who served as the provost of Trinity College, Dublin.
5. Narcissus Luttrell (1657-1732), an English historian and bibliophile known for his extensive collection of pamphlets and manuscripts chronicling the history of his time.
While the name Narcissus has its roots in Greek mythology and ancient literature, it has transcended its origins and has been used across various cultures and time periods, often reflecting the enduring influence of classical Greek and Roman culture on Western civilization.
People
Narcissus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Narcissus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Narcissus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Narcissus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 21 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Narcissus 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 16,321,635 US residents.
Is Narcissus a common name?
We classify Narcissus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 40.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 318 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Narcissus most popular?
The single biggest year for Narcissus was 1919, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Narcissus is about 85 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Narcissus a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Narcissus in the SSA data are female. 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.