Ulysses

Meaning of Ulysses

It probably means 'wrathful' or 'hateful,' but some think it means 'troubled'. It's associated with resourcefulness and adventure.

Ulysses has Greek roots — browse every Greek baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Ulysses

After ranking as high as #759 in 2001, Ulysses has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Ulysses

• Ulysses S. Grant
  U.S. President, Civil War general
• James Joyce
  Author of "Ulysses"
• Ulysses Lee Bridgeman III
  Former NBA player
• Ulysses Dove
  American choreographer
• Ulysses Samuel Curtis
  Union Army general

More Greek names

Questions about the name Ulysses

What does the name Ulysses mean?

Ulysses means it probably means 'wrathful' or 'hateful,' but some think it means 'troubled'. it's associated with resourcefulness and adventure, and it comes from Greek origins.

Is Ulysses a boy's or a girl's name?

Ulysses is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Ulysses?

Ulysses did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Ulysses most popular?

Ulysses peaked at #759 in 2001.