Home › Baby Names Directory › Orpheus

Orpheus

♂ Boy

Pronounced OR-fee-us /ˈɔr.fi.əs/Medium

Meaning: From the Greek Orpheus, of uncertain meaning (variously linked to orphne, 'the darkness of night', or to 'fatherless'); the legendary musician and poet whose song could charm all living things; routes uncertain; we note the heroLow

In 30 seconds: A legendary musician: Orpheus is a Greek hero-poet. Lyrical, classic, and warm (said 'OR-fee-us'). We note the hero.

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowGreek

MeaningFrom the Greek Orpheus, of uncertain meaning (variously linked to orphne, 'the darkness of night', or to 'fatherless'); the legendary musician and poet whose song could charm all living things; routes uncertain; we note the hero

U.S. rank (1987)#5921 ↗ Rising

1987 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1968

Total births (all-time)≈ 76

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Orpheus comes from the Greek Orpheus, of uncertain meaning (variously linked to orphne, 'the darkness of night', or to 'fatherless'); the legendary musician and poet whose song could charm all living things (routes uncertain, which we note the hero). A lyrical, classic name (said 'OR-fee-us').

In the U.S. it appears very rarely as a mythology name (the root of 'Orphic'). Rare, a-legendary-musician at the root, and lyrical.

Did you know? Orpheus is a Greek name of uncertain meaning (linked to 'the darkness of night') — the legendary musician whose song could charm all living things and who journeyed to the underworld for Eurydice — a lyrical, storied name (the routes are uncertain, which we note the hero; said 'OR-fee-us').

Overall data confidence 44%

References — Orpheus — Greek mythology; hero; routes uncertain

Variations

OrfeoOrpheas

Nicknames

Orph

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Orpheus…

Apollo— the god of music

Linus— a fellow Greek musician-figure

Oedipus— shares Orpheus's Greek roots

Perseus— a fellow Greek choice

Daedalus— echoes that soft -us sound

Explore names like Orpheus

By themeuncertain greek mythology hero

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Orpheus mean?

Orpheus is a Greek name of uncertain meaning (linked to 'the darkness of night'); the legendary musician whose song charmed all living things. The routes are uncertain. We note the hero.

How do you pronounce Orpheus?

It's said OR-fee-us /ˈɔr.fi.əs/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Orpheus a boy or girl name?

Orpheus is a boy's name.

How popular is Orpheus?

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