This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Origin
- Old Persian (via Greek Kŷros)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- SY-rus
Cyrus is a boy's name with Old Persian roots, arriving in English by way of the Greek form Kyros. It's often said to mean "the sun," but that gloss isn't actually backed by the sourced etymology — the true meaning of the Old Persian original remains unresolved among the theories on record. Pronounced SY-rus, it fits into the classic, bold, worldly style categories.
Meaning & Origin of Cyrus
Origin: Old Persian (via Greek Kŷros).
A common claim: the sun Actually: There's no reliable evidence that Cyrus means 'the sun' — the meaning of the original Old Persian name remains genuinely unresolved.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Cyrus
SY-rusIPA /ˈsaɪrəs/
Popularity of Cyrus
Cyrus reached its all-time high in 1880 at #216, with 54 babies given the name that year. In 2024, it sat at #254 with 1,380 babies — a lower rank than its 1880 peak, but a far larger count.
Names Like Cyrus
These names share Cyrus’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Cyrus mean?
the sun There’s no reliable evidence that Cyrus means ‘the sun’ — the meaning of the original Old Persian name remains genuinely unresolved.
How do you pronounce Cyrus?
Cyrus is pronounced SY-rus (IPA: /ˈsaɪrəs/).
Is Cyrus a popular name right now?
Cyrus peaked at #216 in 1880 and is ranked #254 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Cyrus Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Cyrus, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Cyrus? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
