Sirius Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance

Meaning

The scorching one

Origin

Greek (via Latin)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

SEER-ee-uhsListen

Sirius comes from Greek, by way of Latin, and its meaning is "the scorching one." You've probably heard it means "dog" — it's a popular idea, reinforced by the Dog Star nickname and the Harry Potter character who turns into one — but that's not accurate. Sirius only picked up the "Dog Star" nickname because of its position in the constellation Canis Major ("Greater Dog"), not because the word itself means dog.

Meaning & Origin of Sirius

Meaning: The scorching one.

Origin: Greek (via Latin).

A common claim: Sirius is popularly thought to mean 'dog,' from its nickname 'the Dog Star' (reinforced by the Harry Potter character Sirius Black, who transforms into a dog) Actually: Sirius doesn't actually mean 'dog' — it comes from Greek σείριος ('scorching'); it's called the 'Dog Star' only because of its position in the constellation Canis Major ('Greater Dog'), not because of the word's own meaning.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Sirius

Popularity of Sirius

In Social Security data spanning 1999 to 2024, Sirius peaked at #2344 in 2022 with 61 babies given the name, then eased to #2657 in 2024 with 50.

Names Like Sirius

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

• Athaliah
• Antonela
• Shloimy
• Steel
• Azra
• Salaar

FAQ

What does the name Sirius mean?

The scorching one. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Sirius?

Sirius is pronounced SEER-ee-uhs (IPA: /ˈsɪriəs/).

Is Sirius a popular name right now?

Sirius is near its all-time peak (#2344 in 2022), ranked #2657 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1999–2024.)

Make Sirius Name Art

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