Prometheus
A masculine name of Greek origin meaning "forethought" or "foresight".
Name Census estimates that about 91 living Americans carry the first name Prometheus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Prometheus today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Prometheus births was 2022 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Prometheus. 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 Prometheus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
91
~ 1 in 3,766,531 Americans
Peak year
2022
18 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,084
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Prometheus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Prometheus from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 46 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Prometheus 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 Prometheus 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 Prometheus
The name Prometheus originates from Greek mythology and is derived from the Greek words "pro" meaning "before" and "manthano" meaning "to learn". It is the name of the Titan who defied the gods by stealing fire from Mount Olympus and giving it to humankind, enabling the progression of civilization.
The earliest known written records of the name Prometheus can be found in the ancient Greek epic poems, "Theogony" by Hesiod and "Prometheus Bound" by Aeschylus, dating back to the 8th and 5th centuries BC respectively. In these works, Prometheus is depicted as a champion of humanity, who was punished by Zeus for his transgression against the gods.
Throughout history, the name Prometheus has been associated with various figures who embodied the spirit of intellectual curiosity, defiance against authority, and advocacy for human progress. One notable bearer of the name was Prometheus of Athens, a Greek philosopher and astronomer who lived in the 4th century BC and made significant contributions to the study of celestial bodies and the measurement of time.
In the Renaissance period, the name Prometheus became a symbol of the humanist movement and the pursuit of knowledge. The Italian artist and scholar Prometheus Pandolfo (1460-1515) was a prominent figure in this era, known for his expertise in philosophy, literature, and the arts.
In the 19th century, the name gained popularity as a symbol of the Romantic movement and the celebration of human potential. The German writer and philosopher Prometheus Albertus (1808-1872) was a leading figure in this movement, advocating for individual freedom and the exploration of human emotions.
In more recent times, the name Prometheus has been associated with scientific and technological advancements. Prometheus Brown (1920-2005) was an American engineer who played a crucial role in the development of the Apollo spacecraft that enabled the first human landing on the Moon.
The name Prometheus continues to inspire individuals who push boundaries, challenge conventional wisdom, and strive for the betterment of humanity through knowledge and progress.
People
Prometheus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Prometheus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Prometheus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Prometheus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 91 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Prometheus 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 3,766,531 US residents.
Is Prometheus a common name?
We classify Prometheus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 63.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 92 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Prometheus most popular?
The single biggest year for Prometheus was 2022, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Prometheus is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Prometheus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Prometheus 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.