Julius
Julius was the 424th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 759 babies. Its best year was 1883, when it ranked 88th; the most babies were born in 1918 (1,416). Over the last ten years it has moved down 113 places. More babies were named Julius in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Latin
Say it JOOL-yus /ˈdʒuljəs/
- Rank in 2025
- #424 boys, down 89 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 759boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19181,416 babies
- Total since 1880
- 85,038babies recorded
What does the name Julius mean?
Julius is a Roman family name, best known from Julius Caesar. DMNES says its origin is uncertain: the Romans derived it from Greek ioulos, "downy-bearded", with little support, and another suggestion is Latin *Iovilios, "of Jove". DMNES notes the name came back into use in Italy in the Renaissance and was borne by two 16th-century popes. July is named after Julius Caesar.
Iulius (Latin, “Roman family name (origin uncertain)”)ἴουλος (Ancient Greek, “first downy beard (proposed)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Two proposed origins; neither is established.
Other explanations you may read: means 'youthful' or 'downy-bearded'.
Related names: Julian, Jules, Julio, Julia.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Julius', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Julius', DMNES, Durham University
Nicknames for Julius
The usual nicknames for Julius are Jules. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 boys named Julius in the last five years, 13 were named Jules, against 9 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Boys, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jules · also for Julietta, Julian, Julia | Traditional | #1,396 | 552 |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are boys given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Juliuss go by each one.
Julius popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 410 since 1888.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #424 | 759 |
| 2020 | #335 | 971 |
| 2010 | #335 | 934 |
| 2000 | #484 | 485 |
| 1990 | #402 | 573 |
| 1980 | #352 | 513 |
| 1970 | #431 | 357 |
| 1960 | #346 | 506 |
| 1950 | #301 | 506 |
| 1940 | #219 | 567 |
| 1930 | #176 | 812 |
| 1920 | #125 | 1,318 |
| 1910 | #95 | 350 |
| 1900 | #112 | 206 |
| 1890 | #105 | 159 |
| 1880 | #94 | 143 |
How popular is Julius, counting every spelling?
Julius is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #425 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #424 for Julius on its own. Together these spellings went to 759 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Julius | 759 | #424 | 4,382 |
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 Julius?
759 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Julius (0.21 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Julius 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 11 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Julius.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Julius?
About 45,800 people born in the US named Julius are alive today, with a median age of 26; half are between 12 and 52. That makes Julius mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
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.
Julius by state
How common Julius was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Mexico (2.9×), Nevada (1.9×), Massachusetts (1.6×), California (1.5×), Connecticut (1.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Idaho, West Virginia, New Hampshire.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Julius: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Julius, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Julius · Sibling names for Julius
Questions about the name Julius
What does Julius mean?
The origin of Julius is uncertain: two proposed origins; neither is established.
How popular is the name Julius?
Julius was the 424th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 759 babies. Its best year was 1883, when it ranked 88th; the most babies were born in 1918 (1,416). Over the last ten years it has moved down 113 places. More babies were named Julius in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Julius a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Julius in the US.
Where is Julius most popular?
In 2021–2025, Julius was most common in New Mexico (1.49 per 1,000 boys), followed by Nevada and Alaska.