Ulyesses
A masculine name of Greek origin relating to Odysseus from the Odyssey.
Name Census estimates that about 17 living Americans carry the first name Ulyesses. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ulyesses today is around 70 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ulyesses births was 1929 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ulyesses. 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 Ulyesses is about 70 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ulyesses' were born before 1966.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ulyesses. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
17
~ 1 in 20,162,020 Americans
Peak year
1929
7 babies that year
Average age
70
years old
1969 SSA rank
#4,999
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Ulyesses: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ulyesses from the 1920s through to the 1960s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 13 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
Ulyesses 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 Ulyesses 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 Ulyesses
The name Ulyesses has its origins in Ancient Greek and is a variant spelling of the name Odysseus, the Latin form of the Greek Odysseus. It is derived from the Greek word odyssomai, meaning "to suffer" or "to be furious." The name is closely associated with the famous epic poem, the Odyssey, attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer.
In the Odyssey, Odysseus is the legendary king of Ithaca and the protagonist who embarks on a long and arduous journey home after the Trojan War. His name reflects the many trials and tribulations he endured during his odyssey, which lasted for ten years. The epic poem has been a cornerstone of Western literature and has greatly influenced literature, art, and culture throughout the centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ulyesses can be found in the works of the Roman poet Virgil, who wrote the Aeneid in the 1st century BC. In this epic poem, Virgil refers to Odysseus as Ulixes, the Latin form of the name. The name also appears in various other ancient Greek and Latin texts, further solidifying its historical significance.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Ulyesses or its variants. One of the most famous was Ulysse Nardin (1823-1876), a Swiss watchmaker who founded the prestigious watchmaking company Ulysse Nardin, which is still renowned today for its exceptional timepieces.
Another notable figure was Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the 18th President of the United States and a celebrated military leader during the American Civil War. His birth name was Hiram Ulysses Grant, but he was known more commonly as Ulysses S. Grant.
In literature, Ulyesses is the name of the central character in James Joyce's groundbreaking novel Ulysses, published in 1922. The novel follows the wanderings of Leopold Bloom through Dublin over the course of a single day, drawing parallels to the epic journey of Odysseus in the Odyssey.
Ulyesses Petit (1689-1768) was a French Jesuit missionary and explorer who traveled extensively in North America and explored the Mississippi River region. His writings and observations provided valuable insights into the indigenous cultures and landscapes of the time.
Lastly, Ulysse Bourgeois (1876-1952) was a Canadian painter known for his vibrant landscapes and depictions of rural life in Quebec. His works are celebrated for their vivid colors and expressive brushstrokes, capturing the essence of the Canadian countryside.
People
Ulyesses + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ulyesses as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with U
Other first names starting with U with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ulyesses: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ulyesses?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 17 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ulyesses 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 20,162,020 US residents.
Is Ulyesses a common name?
We classify Ulyesses as "Very Rare". It ranks above 37.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 36 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ulyesses most popular?
The single biggest year for Ulyesses was 1929, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ulyesses is about 70 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ulyesses a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ulyesses 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.