Home › Baby Names Directory › Cyrus

Cyrus

♂ Boy

Pronounced SY-rus /ˈsaɪrəs/High

Meaning: Sun; far-sighted; possibly throne or youngMedium

In 30 seconds: A majestic Persian name carried by Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus combines royal grandeur with a warm, approachable sound — quietly distinctive and loaded with ancient prestige.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighPersian, Greek
MeaningSun; far-sighted; possibly throne or young
U.S. rank (2025)#268 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,284 boys (0.07% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 29,192

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202418802025

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

History & Origin

Cyrus is the Greek and Latin form of the Old Persian name Kourosh (کوروش), whose etymology is debated. Proposed meanings include 'sun' (from Avestan hvar), 'throne' (from Old Persian *karu), or 'far-sighted.' The name was famously borne by Cyrus II (the Great), founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, who is praised in the Hebrew Bible (Isaiah 45:1) as God's anointed.

Cyrus entered English use via biblical and classical sources. In the United States it was a modest but steady name in the 19th and early 20th centuries, then declined before reviving in the 21st century as parents rediscovered ancient names with strong phonetics. It entered the U.S. top 200 for boys in the 2010s.

Did you know? Cyrus the Great (c. 600–530 BCE) issued the Cyrus Cylinder in 539 BCE, often described as the world's first charter of human rights — earning him admiration even from the Hebrew Bible, which calls him the Lord's 'anointed.'
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name — Cyrus — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

KouroshKyrosCiro

Nicknames

Cy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) (c. 600–530 BCE)
    Founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, noted for his tolerance and the Cyrus Cylinder decree.

If you like Cyrus…

Darius— Persian royal name with the same ancient imperial grandeur
Cassius— classical Latin name with the same bold two-syllable aristocratic confidence
Maximus— Latin imperial name with the same ancient power and sonorous gravitas
Aurelius— Roman imperial name with the same majestic historical pedigree

Frequently Asked

What does the name Cyrus mean?

Cyrus is the Greek form of the Old Persian Kourosh. Its meaning is debated, with proposed interpretations including 'sun,' 'far-sighted,' and 'throne.'

How do you pronounce Cyrus?

It is said SY-rus /ˈsaɪrəs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Cyrus a boy or girl name?

Cyrus is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Cyrus?

Cyrus entered the U.S. top 200 for boys in the 2010s and continues to rise.