Aurelius
Aurelius was the 991st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 230 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,931 places. More babies were named Aurelius in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning golden · Latin
Say it aw-REE-lee-us /ɔˈriliəs/
- Rank in 2025
- #991 boys, up 987 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 230boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025230 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,764babies recorded
What does the name Aurelius mean?
Aurelius is the name of a Roman family (gens), best known from the 2nd-century emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius. DMNES calls its origin uncertain but notes that it may come from aureus 'golden', since older forms of both the name and that word were spelled with -s- in place of -r-. Wiktionary gives the same 'golden' derivation. Related names include Aurelio and the feminine Aurelia.
aureus (Latin, “golden”)aurum (Latin, “gold”)
How sure is this? Probable. DMNES calls the origin uncertain; 'golden' is the only derivation offered.
Related names: Aurelio, Aurelia, Aurelien.
See also: Latin names, names that mean a color.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Aurelius', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Aurelius' (Latin section), Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Aurelius', DMNES, Durham University
Aurelius popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #991 | 230 |
| 2020 | #1,978 | 72 |
| 2010 | #2,793 | 43 |
| 2000 | #9,188 | 6 |
| 1990 | #8,211 | 5 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | #4,776 | 5 |
| 1960 | #4,071 | 5 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | #3,311 | 7 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Aurelius, counting every spelling?
Aurelius has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #955 for boys in 2025, against #991 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Aurelius?
230 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Aurelius (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Aurelius 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 36 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Aurelius.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Aurelius?
About 1,600 people born in the US named Aurelius are alive today, with a median age of 6; half are between 2 and 14. That makes Aurelius 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.
Aurelius by state
How common Aurelius was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Washington (2.1×). In 30 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Aurelius: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Aurelius, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Aurelius · Sibling names for Aurelius
Questions about the name Aurelius
What does Aurelius mean?
Aurelius means “golden” (Latin origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Aurelius?
Aurelius was the 991st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 230 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,931 places. More babies were named Aurelius in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Aurelius a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Aurelius in the US.
Where is Aurelius most popular?
In 2021–2025, Aurelius was most common in Washington (0.20 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nevada and New Mexico.