Severus
A masculine name of Latin origin meaning "strict" or "severe".
Name Census estimates that about 166 living Americans carry the first name Severus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Severus today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Severus births was 2016 (33 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Severus. 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
166
~ 1 in 2,064,785 Americans
Peak year
2016
33 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,635
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Severus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Severus from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 109 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Severus remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Severus 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 Severus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Severus' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Severus
The name Severus has its origins in the Latin language and was commonly used in ancient Rome. It is derived from the Latin word "severus," which means "stern," "strict," or "severe." The name Severus reflects the Roman values of discipline, austerity, and seriousness.
During the Roman Empire, the name Severus was popular among the upper classes and was often given to sons of noble families. It was also used by several Roman emperors, including Septimius Severus, who ruled from 193 to 211 AD. Septimius Severus was born in Leptis Magna (modern-day Libya) and was the first Roman emperor of African descent.
Another notable figure in history with the name Severus was Cassius Severus, a Roman orator and satirist who lived in the 1st century BC. He was known for his biting wit and sharp criticism of the Roman elite, which earned him both admiration and contempt from his contemporaries.
In the early Christian era, the name Severus was also borne by several saints and religious figures. One of the most famous was Saint Severus of Ravenna, who lived in the 4th century AD and served as the Bishop of Ravenna. He was known for his piety and charitable works, and his feast day is celebrated on February 1st in the Catholic Church.
In the Middle Ages, the name Severus continued to be used, although it was less common than in ancient times. One notable bearer of the name was Severus Boethius, a Roman philosopher and statesman who lived in the 6th century AD. He is best known for his work "The Consolation of Philosophy," which he wrote while imprisoned and awaiting execution.
During the Renaissance and Early Modern periods, the name Severus experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among scholars and intellectuals who were influenced by classical Roman culture. One notable figure from this time was Severus Ambrosius Fenarius, an Italian humanist and philosopher who lived in the 15th century.
Other notable individuals with the name Severus throughout history include Severus Snape, a fictional character from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Severus of Antioch, a 6th-century Monophysite Patriarch of Antioch.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Severus
People
Severus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Severus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Severus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Severus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 166 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Severus 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 2,064,785 US residents.
Is Severus a common name?
We classify Severus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 167 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Severus most popular?
The single biggest year for Severus was 2016, when 33 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Severus is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Severus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Severus 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.