Achilles

At a Glance

Origin

Ancient Greek

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

uh-KIL-eezListen

Achilles traces its origin to Ancient Greek, though its deeper meaning is genuinely uncertain. You may have heard it's said to mean 'pain' or 'grief of the people' — that's a popular folk etymology, not an established scholarly fact. So if you choose this name, you're choosing one whose true meaning remains an open question rather than a settled definition.

Meaning & Origin of Achilles

Origin: Ancient Greek.

A common claim: commonly said to mean 'pain' or 'grief of the people' Actually: this is a popular folk etymology, not an established scholarly fact — the name's true origin is genuinely uncertain.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Achilles

Popularity of Achilles

Within SSA records spanning 1912 to 2024, Achilles peaked in 2018 with 257 babies given the name (rank #856), then eased to 164 babies and rank #1221 by 2024.

Names Like Achilles

These names have followed a similar path to Achilles in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Merrick
• Sekani
• Adiel
• Ismail
• Heavenly
• Jaylene

FAQ

What does the name Achilles mean?

commonly said to mean ‘pain’ or ‘grief of the people’ this is a popular folk etymology, not an established scholarly fact — the name’s true origin is genuinely uncertain.

How do you pronounce Achilles?

Achilles is pronounced uh-KIL-eez (IPA: /əˈkɪliːz/).

Is Achilles a popular name right now?

Achilles peaked at #856 in 2018 and is ranked #1221 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1912–2024.)

Make Achilles Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Achilles, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.