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Atticus

♂ Boy

Pronounced AT-ih-kus /ˈætɪkəs/High

Meaning: From Attica; a man of Athens or AtticaHigh

In 30 seconds: A distinguished Latin-Greek name meaning 'man of Athens.' Atticus carries the dual authority of classical antiquity and American literary greatness — Harper Lee's Atticus Finch made it the name of a conscience, a father, and a hero.
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Origin HighLatin, Greek
MeaningFrom Attica; a man of Athens or Attica
U.S. rank (2025)#281 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,208 boys (0.07% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 18,315

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202118812025

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

History & Origin

Atticus is a Latin cognomen derived from Attica, the region of Greece surrounding Athens, from the Greek Attikos (of Attica). The most famous ancient bearer is Titus Pomponius Atticus (110–32 BCE), the Roman scholar and publisher who spent years in Athens and became the closest correspondent of Cicero. His letters are among the most important documents of the late Roman Republic.

In modern naming, Atticus owes its popularity almost entirely to Atticus Finch, the moral-hero lawyer-father of Harper Lee's 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The name entered the U.S. top 200 for boys in the 2010s and continues to climb as parents seek literary names with genuine classical weight.

Did you know? Titus Pomponius Atticus (110–32 BCE) was the real-life Atticus — a Roman literary patron and close friend of Cicero, who lived so long in Athens that he earned the cognomen Atticus (the Athenian).
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Atticus — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AtticoAttic

Nicknames

AttiAttieCus

Famous Bearers

  • ★Titus Pomponius Atticus (110–32 BCE)
    Roman scholar, publisher, and close friend of Cicero whose extensive correspondence survives.
  • ★Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) (1960)
    Fictional lawyer and moral hero of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

If you like Atticus…

Cassius— classical Roman cognomen with the same literary, multi-syllable ancient dignity
Julius— Roman imperial name with the same classical Latin authority
Augustus— Latin imperial name with the same grand classical weight and literary cool
Callum— two/three-syllable classical-feel name with the same bookish intellectual appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Atticus mean?

Atticus is a Latin cognomen meaning 'from Attica' or 'man of Athens,' given to the Roman Titus Pomponius Atticus who lived in Athens.

How do you pronounce Atticus?

It is said AT-ih-kus /ˈætɪkəs/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Atticus a boy or girl name?

Atticus is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Atticus?

Atticus entered the U.S. top 200 for boys in the 2010s and has been climbing strongly since.