Xylus
A masculine name derived from Greek "xylon" meaning wood or forest.
Name Census estimates that about 43 living Americans carry the first name Xylus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Xylus today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Xylus births was 2021 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Xylus. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Xylus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
43
~ 1 in 7,971,031 Americans
Peak year
2021
12 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,810
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Xylus: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Xylus from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 27 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Xylus by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Xylus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Xylus
The name Xylus is a unique and intriguing one, with roots that can be traced back to ancient Greek origins. It is believed to have derived from the Greek word "xylon," which translates to "wood" or "timber." This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have been initially associated with professions or trades related to woodworking, carpentry, or forestry.
In the annals of history, the name Xylus appears to have been relatively uncommon, but there are a few notable figures who bore this moniker. One of the earliest recorded instances is Xylus of Trachis, a Greek poet who lived in the 5th century BCE. Unfortunately, little is known about his life and works, as only fragments of his poetry have survived through the ages.
Another historical figure with the name Xylus was a Greek sculptor from the 4th century BCE. His works were highly regarded in ancient times, and some of his sculptures are believed to have adorned the Acropolis in Athens. However, the specifics of his life and the details of his artistic creations have been lost to time.
Moving forward in history, there is a record of a Roman soldier named Xylus who fought in the Punic Wars against Carthage in the 3rd century BCE. While little is known about his individual exploits, his name is preserved in the historical accounts of these pivotal conflicts between the Roman Republic and the Carthaginian Empire.
In the realm of literature, there is a character named Xylus in the ancient Greek play "Prometheus Bound," attributed to the tragedian Aeschylus. This Xylus is portrayed as a servant of the gods, sent to punish the defiant Prometheus for his transgressions against Zeus.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning Xylus of Cyzicus, a Greek botanist who lived in the 1st century CE. He is credited with writing a treatise on the properties and uses of various plants, although his work has unfortunately been lost over the centuries.
While the name Xylus may not have been as widely adopted as some other ancient Greek names, it has left an indelible mark on history, appearing in various contexts ranging from poetry and sculpture to warfare and botany. Its unique roots and the intriguing tales associated with those who bore this name have contributed to its enduring allure and mystique.
People
Xylus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Xylus as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with X
Other first names starting with X with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Xylus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Xylus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 43 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Xylus going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 7,971,031 US residents.
Is Xylus a common name?
We classify Xylus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 43 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Xylus most popular?
The single biggest year for Xylus was 2021, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Xylus is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Xylus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Xylus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Xylus in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Xylus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Xylus in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Xylus can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Xylus?
You can see how many Americans are named Xylus on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.