Ulyssis
A masculine name derived from the Greek hero Odysseus.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Ulyssis. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ulyssis today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ulyssis births was 2011 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ulyssis. 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 Ulyssis. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2011
5 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2011 SSA rank
#14,214
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Ulyssis: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Ulyssis 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 Ulyssis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Ulyssis
The name Ulyssis finds its origins in Greek mythology and literature. It is derived from the Greek name Odysseus, the hero of Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey, believed to have been written around the 8th century BC. Odysseus was the king of Ithaca and a legendary figure in ancient Greek culture, renowned for his intelligence, cunning, and endurance during his long journey home after the Trojan War.
The name Ulyssis is a Latinized form of Odysseus, adopted during the Roman era. It first appeared in classical Latin literature, such as Virgil's Aeneid, where Odysseus is referred to as Ulixes or Ulysses. The name gained popularity in Europe during the Renaissance period when ancient Greek and Roman literature experienced a revival.
One of the earliest recorded historical figures with the name Ulyssis was Ulysses I, Count of Burgundy, who lived from around 1092 to 1166. He was a powerful nobleman and military leader during the 12th century in what is now eastern France.
Another notable figure was Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the 18th President of the United States. He was a celebrated military leader during the American Civil War and played a pivotal role in the Union's victory. His first name was a nod to the classical Greek hero.
In literature, Ulysses is the central character in James Joyce's iconic modernist novel, "Ulysses," published in 1922. The book follows the wanderings of Leopold Bloom through Dublin over the course of a single day, drawing parallels with the epic journey of Odysseus.
Ulysses Everett McGill is a memorable character from the Coen Brothers' 2000 film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," a modern retelling of the Odyssey set in the American South during the Great Depression. The character's name is a direct reference to the Greek hero.
Ulysses S. Grant Dietz (1915-1997) was a renowned American sculptor and animalier, known for his realistic depictions of wildlife and his public monuments, including the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
People
Ulyssis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ulyssis 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
Ulyssis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ulyssis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ulyssis 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Ulyssis a common name?
We classify Ulyssis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ulyssis most popular?
The single biggest year for Ulyssis was 2011, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ulyssis is about 15 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 Ulyssis in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ulyssis a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ulyssis 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 Ulyssis still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ulyssis 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 Ulyssis 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 Ulyssis as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.