Odos
Ancient Greek masculine name meaning "way" or "path".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Odos. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Odos today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Odos births was 1920 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Odos. 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 Odos. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1920
6 babies that year
Average age
-
1920 SSA rank
#4,146
Tracked since 1920
Popularity
Odos: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Odos 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 Odos during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Odos
The given name Odos has its roots in ancient Greek language and culture, originating in the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Greek word "odos," which means "way" or "path." This name was often associated with travelers, explorers, and those who embarked on journeys, both literal and metaphorical.
In ancient Greek mythology, Odos was the name of a minor deity, the personification of the road or journey. While not a prominent figure in the pantheon, Odos was invoked by travelers seeking safe passage or guidance on their journeys.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Odos can be found in Herodotus' "Histories," a seminal work of ancient Greek literature written in the 5th century BCE. Herodotus mentions an Athenian soldier named Odos who fought bravely in the Greco-Persian Wars.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Odos. One such figure was Odos of Crete (c. 200 BCE), a renowned mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of geometry. Another was Odos of Rhodes (c. 100 BCE), a celebrated sculptor whose works were praised for their attention to detail and lifelike qualities.
In the 2nd century CE, Odos of Miletus was a prominent physician and writer on medical topics. His treatise on the treatment of various ailments was widely read and influential in the ancient world.
During the Byzantine era, Odos Strategos (c. 950 CE) was a distinguished military commander who played a crucial role in defending the Empire against invading forces. His strategic prowess and leadership skills were highly regarded by his contemporaries.
In the 13th century, Odos Philokalles was a renowned calligrapher and scribe whose elegant handwriting and illuminated manuscripts were treasured works of art. His contributions helped preserve and transmit ancient Greek texts through the centuries.
While the name Odos may not be as common today as it once was, its rich historical legacy and symbolic association with journeys and paths make it a unique and fascinating choice for a given name.
People
Odos + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Odos as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Odos: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Odos?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Odos 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 - US residents.
Is Odos a common name?
We classify Odos as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Odos most popular?
The single biggest year for Odos was 1920, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Odos is about 0 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 Odos in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Odos a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Odos 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 Odos still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Odos 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 Odos 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 are called Odos?
You can see how many Americans are named Odos on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.