Ares
Ares was the 290th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,157 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 432 places. More babies were named Ares in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Greek
Say it AIR-eez /ˈɛriz/
- Rank in 2025
- #290 boys, up 306 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,157boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20251,157 babies
- Total since 1880
- 8,576babies recorded
What does the name Ares mean?
Ares is the Greek god of war, son of Zeus and Hera, equivalent to the Roman Mars. The origin of the Greek name is not known; it has been linked with a Greek word for ruin or bane, but this is not settled. Wiktionary records Ares only as the god's name. As a boy's name it is a recent American use, part of a trend for mythological names.
Ἄρης (Ancient Greek, “Ares, god of war”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Origin of the god's name unknown.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ares', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (usage history only), US Social Security Administration
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Ares', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Ares popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 292 since 2011, 29 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #290 | 1,157 |
| 2020 | #596 | 462 |
| 2010 | #1,482 | 110 |
| 2000 | #4,593 | 16 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Ares, counting every spelling?
Ares is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #299 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #290 for Ares on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,171 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ares | 1,157 | #290 | 4,284 |
| Arez | 9 | #8,314 | 27 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Ares?
1,157 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ares (0.32 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Ares born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 7 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ares.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ares?
About 8,200 people born in the US named Ares are alive today, with a median age of 5; half are between 2 and 10. That makes Ares a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ares by state
How common Ares was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (3.1×), Nevada (2.8×), Arizona (2.1×), California (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ares: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ares, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Ares · Sibling names for Ares
Questions about the name Ares
What does Ares mean?
The origin of Ares is uncertain: Origin of the god's name unknown.
How popular is the name Ares?
Ares was the 290th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,157 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 432 places. More babies were named Ares in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Ares a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Ares in the US.
Where is Ares most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ares was most common in New Mexico (1.52 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nevada and Arizona.