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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hercules

Hercules

♂ Boy

Pronounced HUR-kyuh-leez /ˈhɜr.kjə.liz/Medium

Meaning: From the Latin Hercules (Greek Herakles) — 'the glory of Hera' (Hera, the goddess, plus kleos, 'glory'); the name of the great mythological hero; we note the mythological heroLow

In 30 seconds: The glory of Hera: Hercules is the mythological strongman — 'the glory of Hera'. Bold, classic, and warm (said 'HUR-kyuh-leez').
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Origin MediumGreek, Latin
MeaningFrom the Latin Hercules (Greek Herakles) — 'the glory of Hera' (Hera, the goddess, plus kleos, 'glory'); the name of the great mythological hero; we note the mythological hero
U.S. rank (2025)#4921 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births20 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,320

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319082025

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

Hercules comes from the Latin Hercules (Greek Herakles) — 'the glory of Hera' (Hera, the goddess, plus kleos, 'glory') — the great mythological hero famed for his strength and the Twelve Labors (we note the mythological hero). A bold, classic name (said 'HUR-kyuh-leez'; nickname Herc).

In the U.S. it appears thinly. Rare, the-glory-of-Hera at the root, and bold.

Did you know? Hercules (Greek Herakles) means 'the glory of Hera' (Hera, the goddess, plus kleos, 'glory') — the great hero of strength and the Twelve Labors — a bold, classic name (we note the mythological hero; said 'HUR-kyuh-leez').
Overall data confidence 58%
References — Hercules — mythological hero noted

Variations

HeraklesErcoleHercule

Nicknames

Herc

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Hercules…

Ulysses— a fellow classical hero's name
Achilles— a companion Greek hero's name
Atlas— a sound-neighbor mythology boys' name
Apollo— another Greek mythology boys' name

Explore names like Hercules

By themelatingreekmythology
By meaningGod / DivineHonor

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hercules mean?

Hercules is Greek/Latin for 'the glory of Hera' — the great mythological hero. We note the mythological figure.

How do you pronounce Hercules?

It's said HUR-kyuh-leez /ˈhɜr.kjə.liz/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hercules a boy or girl name?

Hercules is a boy's name.

How popular is Hercules?

Hercules is a very rare name in the U.S.

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