Spiro
A boy's name of Greek origin with 1,011 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Spiro is a boy's baby name of Greek origin, a diminutive of Spyridon, from the Greek spyra meaning 'basket,' 'coil,' or more likely from the Latin spiritus meaning 'breath' or 'spirit.' U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew gave this Greek name an American political association.
Distinctly Greek and carrying considerable historical weight, Spiro is a name for families with Greek heritage who want something traditional but rarely heard in American schools.
EtymologyShow more
Spiro is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Greek naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Spiro creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Spiro was #8804 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #13915, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 23 | #12551 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 61 | #10140 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 75 | #9652 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 62 | #7285 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 102 | #4818 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 182 | #2561 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 130 | #2301 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 70 | #3076 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 38 | #3530 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 66 | #2875 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 152 | #2214 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 50 | #3227 | — |
The Story of Spiro
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1970, Spiro is a Gen X staple. Boys named Spiro are most likely born between 1960 and 1980.
How rare is Spiro?
Only about 1 in every 720,000 babies born in 2024 was named Spiro — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1913, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1970s with 182 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Spiro by the numbers
- Would fill 21 school buses
- Meeting one Spiro per day would take 2.8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(96 years, 1913–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | #13915 |
| 2023 | 5 | #13900 |
| 2021 | 6 | #11938 |
| 2020 | 7 | #10449 |
| 2018 | 9 | #8727 |
| 2017 | 7 | #10608 |
| 2016 | 8 | #9548 |
| 2014 | 10 | #8045 |
| 2013 | 8 | #9536 |
| 2012 | 7 | #10602 |
| 2011 | 6 | #12060 |
| 2010 | 6 | #11994 |
| 2009 | 8 | #9731 |
| 2008 | 10 | #8222 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8824 |
| 2006 | 7 | #10501 |
| 2005 | 9 | #8203 |
| 2004 | 8 | #8804 |
| 2003 | 6 | #10690 |
| 2002 | 6 | #10485 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spiro a boy's or girl's name?
When was Spiro most popular?
How popular is the name Spiro?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1913–2024