The baby name Atticus came from the ancient world by way of twentieth century literature to stand as one of the most stylish choices of our moment.
Thanks to Jasmin for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
How did a 1960 novel and its accompanying 1962 film adaptation become one of the hottest sources of baby name inspiration in the twenty-first century?
No really – how?
In 1960, when Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird was released, fewer than five boys received the baby name Atticus. That remains true in 1962, too – after Gregory Peck’s Oscar-winning performance as brilliant, principled attorney Atticus Finch.
It’s not until 1969 that seven boys receive the name – just enough for it to register in the US Social Security data for the first time since 1881.
Instead, Atticus – along with Harper, the author’s name – started to rise in the 1990s. The numbers are tiny at first.
It seems like the slow rise is thanks to how many people read To Kill a Mockingbird over the years, and how deeply they admired Atticus Finch.
If you don’t know the tale, here it is: Jean Louise “Scout” Finch narrates the story. It’s 1936 – the Great Depression – and she and her brother Jeremy “Jem” are growing up in a small Alabama town, raised by their widowed father, Atticus. Atticus is a lawyer, appointed by the local judge to defend Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. Tom is black; Mayella is white. That’s all most of their neighbors need to know. It’s clear that Mayella’s story doesn’t hold up, but Tom is convicted anyway.
THE BIG READ LAUNCHES NAMES
The novel is among the most widely-read by high school students. Oprah Winfrey has long talked about how much she loved the book. The Library of Congress’ One Book, One Community program launched in 1998; Lee’s novel is almost certainly the most often selected. The popularity of the program has waned, but impacted countless readers.
It’s a required reading book that has actually been read – and loved – by hundreds of thousands of people.
The timing explains the rise of Atticus. Even more dramatically, it pushed Harper all the way into the girls’ Top Ten.
21ST CENTURY TREND: PURPOSE NAMES
There’s no question that Atticus Finch is principled; beyond what many of us can imagine for his time and circumstances.
That’s appealing to parents. The 1990s kick-started the age of purpose names – a mix of nature names, like River and Kai, as well as new virtue choices like Destiny and Journey. Some, like Harmony, would’ve been at home in the 1960s. Others, like Zion, feel very twenty-first century ready.
The baby name Atticus fits for two reasons – first and foremost, for the literary associations. But look up the meaning of the baby name Atticus, and a second association emerges.
WHAT DOES ATTICUS MEAN?
The name comes from the Latin, meaning “from Attica.”
Attica is the region around Athens, the center of the world in the classical era. A handful of accomplished ancients wore the name, too.
But Athens also serves as shorthand for a Golden Age of philosophy and literature. It’s no mistake that we know Athena as the goddess of wisdom, as well as patron and protector of the city.
The name wasn’t entirely new when Harper Lee chose it for Scout’s father. But it was rare, and spoke to his character in a subtle, but powerful, way.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME ATTICUS?
Atticus, Harper, and Scout all rose in the 1990s. By 2004, Atticus debuted in the Top 1000 at #934.
In 2010, the novel celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The baby name Atticus stood at #560. Harper reached #120 for girls.
It wasn’t just the novel, though. Ancient boy names, ending with -s, were enjoying a moment. Names like Maximus and Julius rose, too, creating space for Atticus to feel like a wearable choice for a son.
As of 2023, the baby name Atticus ranked #284.
ATTICUS IN THE 21st CENTURY
Harper Lee famously wrote only one novel. The author once told Oprah Winfrey that she “said everything she had to say” in that one book.
In 2015, a sequel of sorts was released. Go Set a Watchman was discovered by Lee’s attorney the year prior, and subsequently published to much fanfare. Once again, Scout narrates. But now she’s an adult, returned home to Alabama twenty years later. Atticus isn’t nearly as noble – or perhaps he’s simply seen as human, rather than a heroic figure, now that his daughter is grown.
Lee passed away in 2016, and controversy swirled over the publication of Go Set a Watchman. Some parents of boys named Atticus worried that it tainted the name.
Instead, the baby name Atticus rose in use. It peaked at #264 in 2021.
ON THE SMALL SCREEN
During the fifth season of popular period drama Downton Abbey, the rebellious Lady Rose falls in love – and ultimately marries – Atticus Aldridge. While the show was set in the 1920s, it aired in 2014, just as the name was rising in use.
In 2020, Lovecraft Country debuted on HBO. It’s a mix of sci fi horror the real, 1950s kind courtesy of segregated America. The main character’s name? Atticus “Tic” Freeman.
Several other television series used the name for minor characters during the early 2000s, including Gray’s Anatomy and Californication.
Lovecraft Country likely deserves credit for the name’s peak popularity.
HANDSOME, LITERARY, MEANINGFUL
For many families, Atticus hits the trifecta. It’s a stylish name, on trend but with so much history that you’d never call it trendy. The name’s literary roots are immediately obvious to nearly everyone. And it conveys meaning – a mix of courage and principle that we all wish for our children.
The baby name Atticus feels like a strong choice for a son in the twenty-first century.
What do you think of the baby name Atticus? Would you consider it for a son?
First published on April 30, 2012, this post was revised on October 7, 2020 and September 19, 2024.
Jem’s full name is Jeremy, not James.
Thank you! Fixing that now …
The publication of Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” is going to change people’s perceptions of Atticus in a big way. I do feel a sense of commiseration for parents who’ve chosen it.
We are thinking of using Atticus for our next baby boy born in July. I also think Attica sounds really neat.
My four year old’s name is Atticus Michael Ash. We live in the south and I loved the book. It fits him perfectly. We named his younger brother Aleister Masin. I have a love of old-fashioned names
We named our six month old son Atticus and also use the nickname Atti. We have received plenty of positive comments from people who love the name and the book.
We’re 90% sure we’re going to name our baby boy, due in March, Atticus. We’ve been calling him Atters, for a nickname. I guess it’s a family thing – my husband calls me Jessers, my mom’s family nickname is Joycer, and my brother David goes by Dafs. At first glance, I wasn’t super found of Atters, but now I love it! I also liked the first name Anders, so Atticus = Atters works for us.
My son’s name is Atticus. We call him Atti for short. I love the name and have only had nice comments about it.
My three old son is called Atticus. I love the sound of the name, and also must admit I love the book. We call him Atty for short. The only other child i have met called Atticus (at a play centre, his parents came over to say hello as they had never met another Atticus either) also used the nickname Atty. But normally we just use Atticus. Only had positive comments about his name – all tend to be from people who have read the book. Although the vast majority who ask about where we got it have never heard of Atticus Finch.
The 1990s brought Truman Capote’s work some attention, and I wonder if Harper Lee’s connection to Capote is behind some of the current rise in Harper and Atticus, since they’re following closely on the heels of Truman gaining in popularity.
That’s an interesting theory – and very possible.
I love Atticus!! Funny though, I really dislike Harper. Atticus has that ancient world charm I love so dearly. The combo I currently have him in is Solomon Atticus Michael, so DH can use the nn Sam 😉 I on the other hand am not too terribly fond of nicknames, so the fact that Atticus lacks an easy nn is just fine for me.