Circe
A girl's name of Greek origin with 270 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
An enchantress who turned Odysseus's men into pigs.
Circe is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek Kirkē, possibly meaning 'bird' or derived from the Greek word for a type of hawk. In Homer's Odyssey, Circe is the powerful sorceress-goddess who transforms Odysseus' crew into pigs before becoming his ally.
Circe is a name of formidable mythological power — she is one of antiquity's great enchantresses, a woman of supreme magical ability and complex moral character. The critically acclaimed novel Circe by Madeline Miller (2018) brought her story back to contemporary readers with extraordinary force, making the name feel both ancient and urgently modern. For parents drawn to mythology, Circe is one of its most compelling offerings.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Circe belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, approachable ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. At one syllable, it has a punchy, memorable cadence that makes an immediate impression.
Within the Greek naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Greek names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Circe’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Circe has 26+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1967.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 124 | #5329 | ▲ |
| 2010s | 57 | #13454 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 39 | #12880 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 22 | #13322 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 5 | #10722 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 18 | #8040 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 5 | #6965 | — |
The Story of Circe
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2022, Circe is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Circe are most likely born between 2012 and 2024.
How rare is Circe?
Only about 1 in every 128,571 babies born in 2024 was named Circe — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1967, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2020s with 124 births that decade.
Circe by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(26 years, 1967–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 | #4785 |
| 2023 | 18 | #6469 |
| 2022 | 34 | #4226 |
| 2021 | 24 | #5265 |
| 2020 | 20 | #5901 |
| 2019 | 19 | #6225 |
| 2017 | 5 | #16400 |
| 2016 | 5 | #16819 |
| 2015 | 6 | #14912 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12188 |
| 2013 | 8 | #12242 |
| 2010 | 6 | #15394 |
| 2009 | 7 | #14018 |
| 2008 | 10 | #10978 |
| 2007 | 9 | #11843 |
| 2005 | 7 | #13316 |
| 2003 | 6 | #14245 |
| 1999 | 5 | #14901 |
| 1996 | 5 | #13958 |
| 1993 | 7 | #10835 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Circe a boy's or girl's name?
When was Circe most popular?
How popular is the name Circe?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1967–2024