Atreus
Atreus was the 582nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 504 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 457th with 674 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 11,670 places. More babies were named Atreus in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning fearless (Greek) · Greek
Say it AY-tree-us /ˈeɪtriəs/
- Rank in 2025
- #582 boys, up 160 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 504boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2023674 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,534babies recorded
What does the name Atreus mean?
Atreus is a figure of Greek myth, a king of Mycenae and son of Pelops and Hippodamia. Wiktionary analyzes the Greek name as a-, not, plus treō, to tremble or fear, giving "fearless," and compares a Hittite name, Attaršiya. Wiktionary also notes that zoologists used Atreus for a group of scorpions. As an American given name it appears only from the late 2000s.
ἀ- (Ancient Greek, “not, un-”)τρέω (Ancient Greek, “to tremble, fear”)
How sure is this? Probable. 'Fearless' is Wiktionary's analysis of the Greek name; ancient names of this kind are not always transparent.
Related names: Atreides.
See also: Greek names, names that mean brave.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ἀτρεύς' (Ancient Greek section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Atreus' (English section), Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- US Social Security Administration, national baby-name data 1880-2025 (yob*.txt), team3 computation of first year recorded, US Social Security Administration (public domain)
Atreus popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #582 | 504 |
| 2020 | #742 | 328 |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Atreus, counting every spelling?
Atreus has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #575 for boys in 2025, against #582 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Atreus?
504 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Atreus (0.14 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Atreus 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 17 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Atreus.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Atreus?
About 3,500 people born in the US named Atreus are alive today, with a median age of 3; half are between 2 and 5. That makes Atreus 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.
Atreus by state
How common Atreus was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (4.2×), Arizona (2.1×), Kansas (1.9×), Nevada (1.9×), Missouri (1.9×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Atreus: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Atreus, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Atreus · Sibling names for Atreus
Questions about the name Atreus
What does Atreus mean?
Atreus means “fearless (Greek)” (Greek origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Atreus?
Atreus was the 582nd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 504 babies. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked 457th with 674 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 11,670 places. More babies were named Atreus in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Atreus a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Atreus in the US.
Where is Atreus most popular?
In 2021–2025, Atreus was most common in New Mexico (1.33 per 1,000 boys), followed by South Dakota and Arizona.