Ptolemy
Meaningwarlike · Greek
- US rank
- #9,714
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #8,146 in 2016
7 babies were named Ptolemy in the US in 2025. It has climbed 891 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 2003–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Ptolemy you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 243,902 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Ptolemy, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Ptolemy would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryPtolemy first shows up in US birth records in 2003, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
- Best yearIts best year was 2016, when it reached #8,146.
- New on the scenePtolemy wasn't given to enough babies to be counted in 2000. It only took off after 2003.
- TrendPtolemy has climbed 891 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #9,714. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn Greek, Ptolemy means “warlike”.
About the name Ptolemy
Ptolemy is a boy name of Greek origin meaning “warlike”. It has 7 letters and 3 syllables, starting with P and ending in “-emy”. US birth records list Ptolemy for boys from 2003 to 2025, in 9 of those 23 years. Its best year was 2016, when it ranked #8,146 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #9,714, with 7 babies.
Origin:Greek names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.8 | 1,296,296 boys |
| 2010s | 1.2 | 854,701 boys |
| 2020s | 2.3 | 431,655 boys |
More Greek boy names
- Boy name: Theodore · gift of God
- Boy name: Mateo · gift of God
- Boy name: Lucas · man from Lucania
- Unisex name: Elias · my God is Yahweh
- Boy name: Sebastian · venerable
- Boy name: Leo · lion
- Boy name: Thomas · twin
- Unisex name: Miles · possibly gracious
Questions about the name Ptolemy
What does the name Ptolemy mean?
Ptolemy means “warlike” in Greek.
What is the origin of the name Ptolemy?
Ptolemy has Greek roots in our records. Other Greek names include Theodore, Mateo, Lucas.
Is Ptolemy a boy or girl name?
Ptolemy is a boy name.
How popular is the name Ptolemy?
Ptolemy ranked #9,714 for US boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 2016 (#8,146).