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Home › Baby Names Directory › Achilles

Achilles

♂ Boy

Pronounced ah-KIL-eez /əˈkɪl.iːz/Low

Meaning: Pain of the people; possibly thin-lippedLow

In 30 seconds: Achilles is the name of the greatest warrior of Greek mythology, the hero of Homer's Iliad. His name's meaning is debated but he is universally known as the greatest fighter of the Trojan War — and for the famous vulnerable spot on his heel.
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Origin LowGreek
MeaningPain of the people; possibly thin-lipped
U.S. rank (2025)#1290 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births151 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,842

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819122025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Achilles was the son of the sea-nymph Thetis and the mortal Peleus in Greek mythology. His name's etymology is uncertain — possible meanings include pain of the people or thin-lipped. He was the greatest Greek warrior in the Trojan War and the central character of Homer's Iliad.

Achilles has been used as a given name in classical scholarship contexts and has grown as a bold choice for parents who want a name with epic mythological weight. Its three syllables and powerful associations make it striking.

Did you know? The Achilles tendon — the tendon connecting the calf muscle to the heel — is named after Achilles, because legend says he was dipped in the river Styx for invulnerability but held by the heel, leaving that one spot vulnerable. Every human carries this mythological name in their anatomy.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Achilles

Variations

AchilleusAchilleoAkilles

Nicknames

AceKiliAki

Famous Bearers

  • ★Achilles (mythological)
    Greatest warrior of the Trojan War and central hero of Homer's Iliad in Greek mythology

If you like Achilles…

Hector— Trojan hero of same Iliad; same epic mythological weight
Perseus— Greek hero name of same mythological tradition
Leonidas— Greek warrior name of same ancient military heroism
Ulises— the same mythology feel
Ulysses— echoes that soft -es sound

Explore names like Achilles

By themegreekthree-syllablemythologywarriorepichero

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Achilles mean?

Achilles' name meaning is debated. Possible interpretations include pain of the people or thin-lipped in Ancient Greek.

Who was Achilles?

Achilles was the greatest Greek warrior of the Trojan War, son of the sea-nymph Thetis, and central hero of Homer's Iliad.

How do you pronounce Achilles?

Achilles is pronounced ah-KIL-eez with three syllables.

What is the Achilles tendon?

The Achilles tendon connecting calf to heel is named after the myth that Achilles was invulnerable everywhere except his heel.

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