The first name Athanasius
A boy’s name from Greek meaning “immortal”.
Pronounced /ˌæθəˈneɪʃəs/ 4 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Athanasius means “immortal” in Greek.
Borrowed from Latin Athanasius, from Ancient Greek Ἀθανάσιος (Athanásios), from ἀθανάσιος (athanásios, “immortal”), from ἀθάνατος (athánatos, “immortal”). Doublet of Athanasios and Afanasy. Compare Ambrose.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Athanasius at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 19 boys born in the United States were named Athanasius, the 5,053rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2023, when 25 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Athanasius in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Athanasius in German and Latin too.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
Famous people named Athanasius
3 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Athanasius KircherGerman Jesuit scholar (1601 or 1602-1680)
- Athanasius the AthoniteByzantine monk, 920–1000
- Athanasius Atule UsuhCatholic bishop, 1940–2016
More Greek boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Athanasius mean?
- Athanasius means “immortal” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Athanasius?
- Borrowed from Latin Athanasius, from Ancient Greek Ἀθανάσιος (Athanásios), from ἀθανάσιος (athanásios, “immortal”), from ἀθάνατος (athánatos, “immortal”). Doublet of Athanasios and Afanasy. Compare Ambrose.
- Is Athanasius a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 259 US babies named Athanasius since 1880 were boys.
- When was Athanasius most popular?
- 2023 in the United States, when 25 babies were named Athanasius, its highest rank at 4,235th.
- How do you pronounce Athanasius?
- Athanasius is /ˌæθəˈneɪʃəs/, 4 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Athanasius?
- Athanasios.