Find out how popular the first name Orion has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Orion by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Orion is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Orion being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 861 male babies and 23 female babies born with the name Orion.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 23 baby girls were named Orion in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Orion

The name Orion has its origins in Greek mythology, tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "Oros," meaning "mountain" or "hill." The name was given to a prominent hunter in Greek legends, who was later immortalized as a constellation in the night sky.

In Greek mythology, Orion was a handsome and skilled hunter who boasted of his abilities to the point of hubris. According to the tales, he was either blinded or killed by a scorpion sent by the gods to punish his arrogance. However, Zeus, the king of the gods, admired Orion's prowess and placed him among the stars as a constellation.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Orion can be found in the works of ancient Greek poets and writers, such as Hesiod and Homer. In the Odyssey, Homer describes Orion as a formidable hunter who was eventually slain by Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Orion. One of the earliest was Orion of Thebes, a Greek mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 5th century BC. He is credited with introducing the concept of the celestial sphere and writing works on astronomy.

In the 1st century AD, Orion of Alexandria was a renowned Greek grammarian and philologist. He is best known for his work on the Etymologicum, a dictionary of Greek words and their origins.

During the Renaissance period, Orion Fine Olavius (1548-1623) was a Danish astronomer and mathematician. He made significant contributions to the study of comets and published several works on astronomy.

In the 18th century, Orion Anderson (1766-1857) was a renowned American Revolutionary War soldier and politician who served as a Senator from Tennessee.

More recently, Orion Samuelson (born 1934) is an American agricultural journalist and broadcaster who has been a prominent voice in the farming community for over six decades.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Orion, a name that has its roots in ancient Greek mythology and has been associated with the stars, astronomy, and the pursuit of knowledge.

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

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

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