Orion is a distinctive choice, ranked #5892 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Orion in their class.
Origin & Meaning
Greek — Rising in the sky; great hunter of Greek mythology
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UK Rank 2024
#5892
US Rank #325
About the Name Orion
Orion has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 5466 places in five years. It was most popular in 2020 at #426 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1997.
The name carries Greek roots, where it means "Rising in the sky; great hunter of Greek mythology". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Orion is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #325, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Orion
Unlikely. With around 3 UK babies named Orion per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Orion in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Orion has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 5466 places in the last five years. Its peak was #426 in 2020. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
The name Orion has Greek origins and means "Rising in the sky; great hunter of Greek mythology". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Orion appears in the US top 500 at #325 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
3
UK babies named Orion (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
< 1
In a school of 600
↓ 5466 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Orion
Likely around 1 other Orion in the class
UK Popularity (1997–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Orion
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
James Hodges Ellis, also known as Orion, was an American singer. His voice was similar to Elvis Presley's, a fact which he and his record company played upon, making some believe that some of his recordings were by Presley, or even that Presley had not died in 1977.
Richard Orion Kerkering is an American professional baseball player who is a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Phillies selected Kerkering in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft.