The baby name Cyrus appears in the our history books as a regal, commanding choice. And yet it’s far less common than equally royal choices like Henry or James.
Thanks to Jess for suggesting today’s Baby Name of the Day.
THE MEANING of CYRUS
While the exact roots of the baby name Cyrus are uncertain, it’s been associated with the Greek word kyrios – lord – for millennia.
Kyrios probably comes from the Persian Kurush, which might mean far-sighted. It might also relate to the Persian word for sun, khurshid, or maybe young. As a surname, even more possibilities exist.
But we tend to hear the meaning “lord,” because the Cyrus we remember most? Ruled.
CYRUS the GREAT
Three royals answered to this name, including Cyrus II of Persia, better known as. Cyrus the Great.
He reigned from 559 to 529 BC. Successful as a military strategist, Cyrus’ campaigns created the largest empire the world had ever seen, including much of southwest and central Asia.
Cyrus promoted religious tolerance and some personal freedoms, unusual for the time. The Old Testament recounts how Cyrus ended the captivity of the Jews.
Athenian historian Xenophon authored a semi-biographical account of Cyrus’ life, known as the Cyropaedia, in the centuries following the death of Cyrus the Great.
Thanks to the Cryopedia, intellectuals from the Renaissance through Thomas Jefferson embraced his philosophy and worldview. It describes the ideal education for a future ruler. One thinker influenced by the Crypoedia? Machiavelli, author of The Prince.
His tomb, located in Iran, is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and place of great cultural significance even today.
CYRUS ACROSS THE AGES
The name wasn’t exclusive to rulers, though.
In the early 300s, a physician living in Alexandria converted to Christianity and died a martyr.
Cyrus occurs in US history, too:
- Cyrus Peirce founded the first teachers’ college in the US in the 1800s.
- Later in the 19th century, Cyrus Field laid the first transatlantic telegraph cable.
- Cyrus Hamlin served as a Union general during the Civil War.
- Many years later, Cyrus Vance served in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, before becoming Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter.
Dozens of fictional characters answer to the name, too. It appears in literature and pop culture, on a range of characters:
- The Simpsons gave the name to Grandpa Simpson’s brother, making the name sound rather aged.
- Cyrus is also one of the capable figures in Jules Verne’s 1875 novel The Mysterious Island.
- And John Malkovitch plays a scary villain called Cyrus the Virus in 1997 movie Con Air.
That’s just for starters. When you least expect it, the baby name Cyrus makes an appearance.
HOW POPULAR IS THE BABY NAME CYRUS?
The baby name Cyrus has always ranked in the US Top 1000, going back to 1880 when data is first reported.
Back in the 1880s, Cyrus ranked in the Top 300.
It slowly fell out of use, seemingly headed towards obscurity from the 1940s into the 1990s.
But something interesting has happened to the baby name Cyrus. As of the year 2000, it ranked #541 – respectable, but nothing special.
In 2010? Cyrus was at #546. Pretty much unchanged.
Over the last five years, however, the baby name Cyrus has reached #297 as of 2023.
Why?
- Nickname Cy fits in nicely with Max and Gus – brief, complete antiques that feel fresh and new now
- S ending names for boys are enjoying a moment – think equally ancient Atticus and mythological Atlas, as well as surnames like Brooks
Still, the total number of boys with the name remains on the low side, and few names sound like Cyrus.
MILEY and BILLY RAY
The surname, of course, is reasonably common. Back in 1992, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus scored a smash hit, can’t-escape-it with single “Achy Breaky Heart.”
But he’s far more famous today as the father of Miley Cyrus, who rose to fame as a child actor on the Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and then became a major pop star herself.
Despite Miley’s massive fame, and sometimes controversial persona, it doesn’t feel like she’s made a major impact on Cyrus’ popularity and use. Though, given how much Miley has risen in the rankings over the years, maybe the singer should get credit for some of the name’s rise.
ROYAL and RARE
The baby name Cyrus still shimmers with the appeal of ancient world royalty. It’s a name that’s antique, but in the glittering-gems-in-a-treasure-chest kind of way.
With casual cool nickname Cy, this is a name rich with possibility.
What do you think of the baby name Cyrus?
First published on June 21, 2008, this post was revised on June 28, 2024.
Yay! I’m so glad you already profiled this one. It’s a couple of years down the road from the Miley Cyrus craze – right??? I didn’t even think of it when I came across the name today, reading Isaiah 44-45 in the Bible. Then I looked on Bible Gateway’s site and found all the references in the entire Bible, and boy, are they all positive! Loving this name – top of the boys’ list as of an hour ago. . . Think it goes with our other boys – Judah, Boaz, Levi and Gideon?
It does – and very nicely, since the ending is different for all five. Tough to do – I know a set of five sons with similar names, and they repeat the -ah and -iah endings. As for Miley Cyrus? I think the bigger headache is that he might be mistaken for Silas, a similar name on the rise.
Just had to report back – we did have a boy a couple days ago, and named him Cyrus Isaiah! Thanks for the help!! 🙂
Just happened across this: In the movie “Down to You” (2000) with Julia Stiles, there is a SHE-Cyrus! Played by Selma Blair.
Catherine, I think your Cyrus>Jayden equation is dead on! It’s got quite a lot of history and style – great list of historical Cyruses, Lola – but the Miley/Billy Ray association doesn’t help. And so Cy Young was born Denton True … must remember that for future trivia games.
Gotta love Google, Elisabeth. Cyrus and Conrad sound like a perfect sibset to me. Never in a million years would I have imagined the question you found!
I was just thinking about how much I like Cyrus, and thought of Conrad as a companion name. I googled Cyrus and Conrad together, and came up with “Who is prettier? Miley Cyrus or Lauren Conrad?” Ugh.
Cyrus really appeals to my husband who is big fan of ancient names. It gives off a strong cowboy feel to me, which I can’t decide if I like or not. I definitely do not like the potential and perhaps inevitable nickname Cy.
I used to like Cyrus a lot until the Miley…thing happened. And, well, I met a Cyrus who was a complete burnout. So it’s ruined for me, but it’s really a great revivial name. Cyrus>Jayden, you know? I think I would still use it had I a Cyrus in the family tree.
Sorry for the typos.. I somehow miss them proofing and the feel silly after.
Cyrus would make a great brother name for Alexander (Cyrus would make a great replacement for Alexander too)! Funnily enough, My first thou7ght was Cy Young, but upon further digging, founf Cy was a nickname, he was actually Denton True Young. I think I understand the Cy, now. 😀 It’s also the name of an indie band and, upon searching a bit more, a former Secretary of the Treasury (under Jimmy Carter!), a few physics professors, Cyrus McCormick, an inventor in the mid 19th century & an artist (Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge) Interesting smatter there. Seems like a Cyrus compares to Alexander that way too… a go anywhere do anything sort of dude. I like that in a name. Boy, is he cool! Now if he only had more than Cy as a nickname option, he’d go on my own list.