Ulys
A Greek masculine name derived from the name Ulysses, meaning "hater of company".
Name Census estimates that about 14 living Americans carry the first name Ulys. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ulys today is around 89 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ulys births was 1915 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ulys. 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 Ulys is about 89 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ulys' were born before 1947.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ulys. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
14
~ 1 in 24,482,453 Americans
Peak year
1915
11 babies that year
Average age
89
years old
1943 SSA rank
#3,522
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Ulys: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ulys from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 49 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Ulys remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ulys 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 Ulys 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 Ulys
The name Ulys is believed to have its origins in ancient Greece, derived from the name Odysseus, the celebrated hero from Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey. The name Odysseus is thought to be derived from the Greek word "odussomai," meaning "to suffer" or "to be wrathful." This connection suggests that the name Ulys may have been associated with resilience, perseverance, and the ability to endure hardships.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ulys can be found in the writings of the Roman poet Virgil, who lived from 70 BC to 19 BC. In his epic work, the Aeneid, Virgil refers to Odysseus by the name "Ulixes," which is believed to be a Latinized version of the Greek name Odysseus.
In the Middle Ages, the name Ulys gained popularity in various European cultures, particularly in France and England. One notable figure from this period was Ulys d'Albigeois, a 13th-century troubadour and poet from the Occitan region of France.
During the Renaissance, the name Ulys continued to be used, often as a reference to the mythological hero Odysseus. One prominent individual bearing this name was Ulys de Silva, a 16th-century Portuguese explorer and navigator who played a significant role in the exploration of the Indian Ocean and the establishment of Portuguese settlements in Asia.
In the 19th century, the name Ulys was used by several literary figures, including the American author Ulys A. Henderson, who wrote novels and short stories set in the American West. Another notable bearer of the name was Ulys de Reyter, a Belgian painter and engraver known for his landscapes and etchings.
Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals named Ulys was Ulys Alan Soifer, an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the iconic clothing brand, Koret. He lived from 1908 to 1997 and played a significant role in the development of the American garment industry.
While the name Ulys may not be as common today as it once was, it holds a rich historical legacy, with its roots deeply intertwined with the enduring tales of ancient Greek mythology and the resilience of the human spirit.
People
Ulys + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ulys 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
Ulys: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ulys?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ulys 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 24,482,453 US residents.
Is Ulys a common name?
We classify Ulys as "Very Rare". It ranks above 34% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 134 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ulys most popular?
The single biggest year for Ulys was 1915, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ulys is about 89 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 Ulys in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ulys a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ulys 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 Ulys still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ulys 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 Ulys 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 have Ulys as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans are named Ulys on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.