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Ulysses

♂ Boy

Pronounced yoo-LIS-eez /juːˈlɪs.iːz/Low

Meaning: Wrathful, to hate; the wandererLow

In 30 seconds: Ulysses is the Latin form of Odysseus, the hero of Homer's Odyssey, whose 10-year wandering journey home from Troy gave Western culture its greatest adventure story. The name means to hate or to be wrathful and was borne by US President Ulysses S. Grant.
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Origin LowLatin, Greek
MeaningWrathful, to hate; the wanderer
U.S. rank (2024)#1291 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births152 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1999
Total births (all-time)≈ 18,484

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199918802024

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

History & Origin

Ulysses is the Latin form of Odysseus, from Greek Odysseus meaning to be wrathful or to hate. The hero of Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus spent 10 years journeying home from Troy. Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th US President.

Ulysses has a grand, stately quality in the United States through its presidential and literary associations. Its three syllables flow majestically and its epic associations make it a name of extraordinary depth.

Did you know? Odysseus/Ulysses spent 10 years wandering home from Troy, facing cyclops, sirens, and the wrath of Poseidon. James Joyce's 1922 novel Ulysses maps the same mythological journey onto a single day in Dublin — one of literature's most celebrated masterpieces.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Ulysses

Variations

OdysseusUlysssUlyses

Nicknames

UlyU.S.

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885)
    18th President of the United States and commanding general of the Union Army in the Civil War

If you like Ulysses…

Odysseus— Greek original form of same name
Leonidas— Greek warrior name of same ancient heroism
Maximus— Latin greatest name of same Roman tradition
Atticus— Latin name of same literary grandeur

Frequently Asked

What does Ulysses mean?

Ulysses means wrathful or to be full of hate in the original Greek Odysseus, but the hero's character transcends this root meaning.

Who was Ulysses?

Ulysses is the Latin name for Odysseus, the Greek hero who spent 10 years wandering home from Troy in Homer's Odyssey.

How do you pronounce Ulysses?

Ulysses is pronounced yoo-LIS-eez with three syllables.

What names are similar to Ulysses?

Similar epic names include Odysseus, Leonidas, and Maximus.