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At a Glance: Name: Gus – Meaning: short form of Augustus, Gustav, or Constantine — meaning varies – Origin: short form (Latin/Swedish/Greek) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: GUS
Gus (pronounced GUS, /ˈɡʌs/) is a short form that can stand in for Augustus, Gustav, or Constantine, so what it "means" really depends on which of those three names it's short for. You may have seen it listed elsewhere as meaning "great, magnificent" or tied to a Hebrew root for "respected/exalted man" — that's not accurate, since Gus doesn't trace to a single fixed meaning of its own. As a name style, it's clean and modern: short, plain, and easy to say.
Meaning & Origin of Gus
Meaning: Short form of augustus, gustav, or constantine — meaning varies.
Origin: short form (Latin/Swedish/Greek).
A common claim: great, magnificent Actually: Presented by some sources (including a Hebrew 'respected/exalted man' claim on one listicle) as having one fixed meaning, but Gus is documented as a short form of three different names — Augustus, Gustav, and Constantine — so the meaning depends on which one it's short for; no Hebrew root is supported by this etymology.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Gus
Phonetic: GUS IPA: /ˈɡʌs/
Popularity of Gus
Gus hit its highest point on the SSA charts back in 1882, ranking #121 with 120 baby boys given the name; by 2024 it had slid to #1212, though 166 babies were named Gus that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Gus Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Gus, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Gus mean?
Short form of augustus, gustav, or constantine — meaning varies. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Gus)
How do you pronounce Gus?
Gus is pronounced GUS (IPA: /ˈɡʌs/).
Is Gus a popular name right now?
Gus peaked at #121 in 1882 and is ranked #1212 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
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