Orion
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Orion comes from Greek mythology, where Ώρίων (Orion) was a giant huntsman of extraordinary skill, said to be the son of the sea god Poseidon. After his death, Zeus placed him among the stars as a constellation.
The constellation Orion, with its distinctive belt of 3 aligned stars, is one of the most recognizable formations in the night sky, visible from virtually every inhabited place on Earth.
This celestial connection has kept the name familiar across cultures for thousands of years.
What the name Orion means
The etymology of the Greek name is uncertain. Ancient sources connected it to various roots, including the Greek word for “urine” (a reference to a mythological birth story) and the Akkadian word Uru-anna meaning “light of heaven.”
As a given name, Orion remained rare until the 21st century. It entered the US top 1,000 in 2008 and rose quickly, reaching a peak at No. 300 in 2018 with 1,152 births.
In 2024, Orion ranked No. 325 with 1,061 births. The name has oscillated between No. 300 and No. 373 over the past decade, maintaining a consistent presence without dramatic movement in either direction.
The name appeals to parents drawn to celestial and mythological themes.
It shares the charts with other cosmic names like Atlas, Apollo, and Phoenix that have all gained traction in recent years as part of a broader move toward epic, nature-inspired naming.
NASA’s Orion spacecraft, designed for deep-space missions to the Moon and Mars, has added a modern, forward-looking association to the ancient name, connecting mythology with humanity’s spacefaring ambitions.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Orion
Orion - similar names
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