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Home › Baby Names Directory › Horatio

Horatio

♂ Boy

Pronounced huh-RAY-shee-oh /həˈreɪ.ʃi.oʊ/Medium

Meaning: From the Latin Horatius (a Roman family name), variously linked to hora, 'an hour/time', hence 'a keeper of the hours; timekeeper'; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A keeper of the hours; timekeeper: Horatio is Latin. Lyrical, classic, and warm (said 'huh-RAY-shee-oh').
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Origin LowLatin
MeaningFrom the Latin Horatius (a Roman family name), variously linked to hora, 'an hour/time', hence 'a keeper of the hours; timekeeper'; routes layered
U.S. rank (2024)#9296 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,437

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200718802024

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

Horatio comes from the Latin Horatius (a Roman family name), variously linked to hora, 'an hour/time', hence 'a keeper of the hours; timekeeper' (routes layered, which we note). A lyrical, classic name (Shakespeare's Hamlet features a Horatio; said 'huh-RAY-shee-oh').

In the U.S. it appears as a classic literary name. Rare, a-keeper-of-the-hours at the root, and lyrical.

Did you know? Horatio comes from the Latin Horatius (a Roman family name), variously linked to hora, 'an hour', hence 'a keeper of the hours' — a lyrical, classic name (the routes are layered, which we note; said 'huh-RAY-shee-oh').
Overall data confidence 32%
References — Horatio — Latin; routes layered

Variations

HoracioHoratiusOrazio

Nicknames

Race

Famous Bearers

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If you like Horatio…

Horacio— the Spanish form
Octavio— a sound-neighbor -io Latin boys' name
Hilario— another Latin name
Patricio— lands in the same popularity range
Ovidio— shares Horatio's Latin roots

Explore names like Horatio

By themeuncertainlatin

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Horatio mean?

Horatio comes from the Latin Horatius, variously linked to hora ('an hour'), hence 'a keeper of the hours'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Horatio?

It's said huh-RAY-shee-oh /həˈreɪ.ʃi.oʊ/ — four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Horatio a boy or girl name?

Horatio is a boy's name.

How popular is Horatio?

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

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