Orion
Orion: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈɹaɪ.ən/ · /ɒˈɹaɪ.ən/
Meaning and origin of Orion
- A male given name from Ancient Greek of modern usage.
- A female given name.
Etymology
From Middle English Orioun, from Latin Ōrīōn, from Ancient Greek Ὠρίων (Ōríōn), speculatively from Akkadian 𒌋𒊒𒀭𒈾 (Uru-anna, “heaven's light”), though without any firm evidence.
How popular is Orion?
Since 1880, 630 girls and 23,120 boys in the U.S. have been named Orion (3% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3785 in 2021. Its highest rank for boys was #300 in 2018. In 2025 it ranked #334 for boys, with 1,030 babies given the name.
Names similar to Orion
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Greek boy names
Sibling name ideas for Orion
Sister and brother names that share Orion's Greek roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Orion FAQ
What does the name Orion mean?
A male given name from Ancient Greek of modern usage. A female given name. From Middle English Orioun, from Latin Ōrīōn, from Ancient Greek Ὠρίων (Ōríōn), speculatively from Akkadian 𒌋𒊒𒀭𒈾 (Uru-anna, “heaven's light”), though without any firm evidence.
What is the origin of the name Orion?
Orion is listed as a name of Greek origin.
How popular is the name Orion?
Since 1880, 630 girls and 23,120 boys in the U.S. have been named Orion (3% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3785 in 2021. Its highest rank for boys was #300 in 2018. In 2025 it ranked #334 for boys, with 1,030 babies given the name.
Is Orion a boy or girl name?
Orion is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 630 girls and 23,120 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.