The first name Ulysses
A boy’s name meaning “odysseus”.
Pronounced /juːˈlɪ.siːz/ 3 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Ulysses means “odysseus”.
From Latin Ulyssēs, a frequent alternative form of Ulixēs (“Odysseus”), influenced by the Ancient Greek Ὀδυσσεύς (Odusseús). Doublet of Odysseus.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 3 boys were named Ulysses, making it the 5,137th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2023, with 6 births (#3,112).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ulysses with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Ulysses at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 169 boys born in the United States were named Ulysses, the 1,201st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1999, when 272 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.
Famous people named Ulysses
5 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Maximilian Ulysses BrowneAustrian field marshal, 1705–1757
- Ulysses LlanezAmerican soccer player, born 2001
- Ulysses GuimarãesBrazilian politician and lawyer (1916-1992)
- Ulysses KayComposer (1917–1995)
- Junior BridgemanAmerican basketball player and businessman, 1953–2025
Questions
- What does the name Ulysses mean?
- Ulysses means “odysseus”.
- How popular is the name Ulysses?
- In 2025, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Ulysses, ranking 5,137th. Its peak was 2023, with 6 births.
- Is Ulysses a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 18,680 US babies named Ulysses since 1880 were boys.
- When was Ulysses most popular?
- 1999 in the United States, when 272 babies were named Ulysses, its highest rank at 642nd.
- How do you pronounce Ulysses?
- Ulysses is /juːˈlɪ.siːz/, 3 syllables.