Cyrus

Meaning: Possibly shepherd, protector
Origin: Old Persian (disputed etymology) — Proposed Elamite origin; disputed

Nicknames: Cy

Boy's name · #268 in the US (2025) · Comeback

Popularity over time

Cyrus was #216 in 1880, slipped to #947 by 1976, and has climbed back to #268 today. About 29,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Cyrus is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 47 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Cyrus ranks in other countries and regions.

#198 in New Zealand (2025) · #373 in Scotland (2025) · #432 in England & Wales (2025) · #884 in Ireland (2025) · #1,395 in Belgium (2025) · #1,627 in Switzerland (2025) · #2,336 in France (2025) · #343 in Canada (2024).

Famous Cyruses

Cyrus the Great — Achaemenid founder
Cyrus I — The third king of the Achaemenid kingdom (625–580 BC)
Cyrus the Younger — Achaemenid prince, satrap of Lydia from 408 to 401 BC
Cyrus Vance — United States Secretary of State from 1977 to 1980 (1917–2002)
Cyrus McCormick — American inventor and businessman (1809–1884)

In stories & tradition

Cyrus (Solomon Grundy) — Batman: Arkham City (video game)
Cyrus the Great in the Bible — Biblical accounts of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus Lupo — Law & Order (TV series)

What Cyruses become

Among 356 notable people named Cyrus:

Lawyers & judges appear 2.34× more often than among typical names — e.g. Cyrus Griffin, American judge (1749–1810).

Spellings & nicknames

About 58 boys a year are given Cy as their full name.

Similar names: Fletcher · Kieran · Ali · Khalil · Kian · Jasper

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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