Ace

♂ Boy

Pronounced AYS /eɪs/High

Meaning: One, unity — from Old French as, from Latin as (a unit, the number one); extended to mean one who excelsHigh

In 30 seconds: From the Latin for 'one,' Ace leapt from card game and tennis vocabulary into baby names territory as a bold, ultra-confident choice. Short, punchy, and impossible to mispronounce.

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Origin HighLatin, Old French

MeaningOne, unity — from Old French as, from Latin as (a unit, the number one); extended to mean one who excels

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,535

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ace derives from the Old French as and Latin as, originally meaning a unit of weight or a single unit — the number one. In playing cards and later in sports (particularly tennis), 'ace' came to denote the highest card or an unreturnable serve, and by extension an expert or champion. Its use as a given name is largely a 20th- and 21st-century phenomenon.

Ace began appearing as a given name in the United States in the 20th century, often as a nickname for boys who excelled. Its profile rose as celebrity parents adopted it — notably Jessica Simpson named her son Ace in 2013. It fits the trend for bold, brief masculine names and entered the U.S. top 500 boys' names by the 2010s.

Did you know? In tennis an 'ace' is a serve the opponent cannot touch — the word came from card games where the ace (from Latin as, one unit) is often the highest-value card, equated with being number one.

Variations

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ace…

Axel— bold, punchy name with the same high-energy, modern masculine feel

Max— one-syllable classic with the same strong, confident character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ace mean?

Ace comes from Latin as meaning 'one' or a single unit, and by extension has come to mean an expert or someone who excels.

How do you pronounce Ace?

Ace is pronounced AYS /eɪs/ — one syllable.

Is Ace a boy or girl name?

Ace is used primarily as a boys' name in the United States.

How popular is Ace?

Ace entered the U.S. top 500 boys' names in the 2010s and has grown steadily as bold, brief names have become fashionable.