Cesar
Cesar was the 385th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 824 babies. Its best year was 2004, when it ranked 158th with 2,538 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 104 places. More babies were named Cesar in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin, Spanish
Say it SAY-zar /ˈseɪzɑr/
- Rank in 2025
- #385 boys, down 14 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 824boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20042,538 babies
- Total since 1880
- 79,139babies recorded
What does the name Cesar mean?
Cesar is the Spanish César, from Latin Caesar, the family name of Julius Caesar that became a title of Roman emperors. DMNES says the name's origin is uncertain and lists ancient explanations: Pliny's link with caedere, "to cut" (an ancestor born by caesarean section), and three later folk etymologies, from caesaries, "hair", oculis caesiis, "grey eyes", and a word for elephant. Its use as a given name honors Caesar or the imperial title.
Caesar (Latin, “Roman family name (origin uncertain)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. DMNES calls the origin uncertain and records several ancient folk etymologies.
Other explanations you may read: from caesaries 'hair'; from 'grey eyes' (oculis caesiis); from a Moorish word for elephant.
Related names: César, Caesar, Cesare, Kaiser.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Cesar', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Caesar', DMNES, Durham University
Cesar popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 315 since 1965.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #385 | 824 |
| 2020 | #371 | 841 |
| 2010 | #202 | 1,819 |
| 2000 | #170 | 2,260 |
| 1990 | #200 | 1,506 |
| 1980 | #264 | 823 |
| 1970 | #389 | 424 |
| 1960 | #635 | 150 |
| 1950 | #950 | 53 |
| 1940 | #1,997 | 13 |
| 1930 | #1,704 | 19 |
| 1920 | #2,633 | 11 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Cesar, counting every spelling?
Cesar is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #392 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #385 for Cesar on its own. Together these spellings went to 829 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cesar | 824 | #385 | 4,409 |
| Cezar | 5 | #12,379 | 53 |
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 Cesar?
824 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Cesar (0.23 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Cesar 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 10 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Cesar.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Cesar?
About 75,300 people born in the US named Cesar are alive today, with a median age of 25; half are between 17 and 35. That makes Cesar mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Cesar by state
How common Cesar was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (2.8×), Arizona (2.8×), Texas (2.5×), Nevada (2.3×), California (2.2×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Cesar: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Cesar, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Cesar · Sibling names for Cesar
Questions about the name Cesar
What does Cesar mean?
The origin of Cesar is uncertain: DMNES calls the origin uncertain and records several ancient folk etymologies.
How popular is the name Cesar?
Cesar was the 385th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 824 babies. Its best year was 2004, when it ranked 158th with 2,538 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 104 places. More babies were named Cesar in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Cesar a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Cesar in the US.
Where is Cesar most popular?
In 2021–2025, Cesar was most common in New Mexico (1.43 per 1,000 boys), followed by Arizona and Texas.