Given name & surname · also Greek
Cyrus
“a king”
Cyrus is used as a given name and a surname. One Persian interpretation is “a king.” Its derivation is not certain.
Original GreekΚύρος
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Persian interpretation is “a king.” Its derivation is not certain.
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In Cebuano usage, Cyrus developed from Κῦρος. In Cebuano usage, Cyrus developed from 𐎤𐎢𐎽𐎢𐏁.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Cyrus through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 29,286
- 29,208 boys · 78 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 1,400 babies
- 2025
- 1,296
- #268 for boys · #8,481 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +49%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,284 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 268 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 48.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 12 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (150). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 17,992 as a first name in 2020; 4,485 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Cyrus’s family of names
Cyrus has a short form in Cy. In English usage, Cyrus has a feminine form in Kyra. In English usage, Cyrus has a conventional equivalent in the Portuguese form Ciro.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Cyrus has relatives in 10 languages. Lines run from its Persian roots to each of them.
10 related names in 10 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 9
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Syrusvariant · English
- Cydiminutive · English
- Cirovariant · Italian, Spanish
- Cyrovariant
- Cyrisvariant
- Cyrusslikely variant
- Cirisvariant
- Cirusvariant
Show 1 moreShow fewer
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 14
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- ΚύροςGreek
- Κῦροςroot · Ancient Greek
- Kyrafeminine form · English
- Kyrosequivalent
- Cyrahfeminine form
- Kouroshequivalent
- Kirequivalent
- Koreshiequivalent
Show 6 moreShow fewer
People named Cyrus
- Cyrus the Greatfounder of the Achaemenid Empire (559–529 BC)599 BC–529 BC
- Cyrus Ithird king of the Achaemenid kingdom (625–580 BC)
- Cyrus the YoungerAchaemenid prince, satrap of Lydia from 408 to 401 BC500 BC–400 BC
- Cyrus VanceUnited States Secretary of State from 1977 to 1980 (1917–2002)
- Cyrus McCormickAmerican inventor and businessman (1809–1884)
- Cyrus ChristieIrish footballer (born 1992)
- Cyrus W. FieldAmerican businessman (1819–1892)
- Cy YoungAmerican javelin thrower (1928–2017)
- Cyrus Edwin DallinAmerican sculptor (1861-1944)
Characters named Cyrus: Cyrus Lupo (the TV series Law & Order).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Cyrus, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Amir
“a prince” · “from the treetop”
>99% boys
Vasilijus
“of the king, kingly, royal”
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𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩
“king's son”
>99% boys
Шахислам
“shah, king”
>99% boys
খান
“born to royalty; a prince”
>99% boys
ბასილი
“of the royal line; queenly; one who is valiant”
>99% boys
Շահնազար
“shah, king” · “sight, look”
>99% boys
Василь
“royal”
>99% boys