Augustus

BoyLatin· “venerable, majestic”

Meaning
venerable, majestic
Origin
Latin
Pronunciation
aw-GUS-tuhs
Syllables
3
US rank 2025
#407
US babies 2025
783
Best rank
#175 (1880)
Peak year
2024

Meaning and origin of Augustus

Augustus is a Latin name that means “venerable, majestic”.

Augustus comes from the Latin augustus, meaning venerable or majestic. It was the title granted to Octavian, the first Roman emperor, and later emperors took it as part of their official names. The month of August is named in his honor. The name was revived in European royal and noble families and became fashionable in eighteenth-century Britain and Germany. Today Augustus feels grand and old-fashioned, with plenty of friendly nicknames, including Gus, Augie and August. It suits families who like classical names with history.

Popularity over time

02505007501k18801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2024: 791
US babies named Augustus per year, 1880 to 2025

Augustus has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 123 different years. Its best national rank was #175 in 1880, and the most babies received it in 2024, when 791 were named Augustus. In 2025, 783 babies were named Augustus, and it ranked #407 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.

Its national rank moved from #474 in 1920, #778 in 1950, #1,315 in 1980, #959 in 2000, #769 in 2010, and #407 in 2025. Of the 21,680 US boys named Augustus since records began, 24% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 4,094 babies.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Kian, Leandro, Marcelo, Tadeo, and Koda.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Augustus ranked highest in Alaska, District of Columbia, and Montana.

StateRank thereBabies
Alaska#5612
District of Columbia#1416
Montana#1747
Arkansas#17621
Oklahoma#18027

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for boys.

Augustus is usually pronounced aw-GUS-tuhs, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with A and ends in “-us”.

Middle names for Augustus

A few middle names that flow with Augustus: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Augustus

Similar names

Titus Boy
TY-tuhs
“uncertain; a Roman given name” · Latin
#358
Aurelius Boy
aw-REE-lee-uhs
“golden” · Latin
#991
Marcus Boy
MAHR-kuhs
“probably dedicated to Mars” · Latin
#258
Darius Boy
duh-RY-uhs
“holding firm the good” · Persian
#788
Maximus Boy
MAK-sih-muhs
“greatest” · Latin
#276
Atticus Boy
AT-ih-kuhs
“of Attica” · Latin
#281
Cyrus Boy
SY-ruhs
“uncertain; name of a Persian king” · Persian
#268
Demetrius Boy
dih-MEE-tree-uhs
“follower of Demeter” · Greek
#1,229
Magnus Boy
MAG-nuhs
“great” · Latin
#765
Cornelius Boy
kor-NEEL-yus
“uncertain; possibly 'horn'” · Latin
#1,908
Caius Boy
KY-uhs
“form of Gaius, perhaps 'rejoice'” · Latin
#927

Lists that include Augustus

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Augustus mean?

Augustus is a Latin name that means “venerable, majestic”.

What is the origin of the name Augustus?

Augustus has Latin roots. Augustus comes from the Latin augustus, meaning venerable or majestic.

Is Augustus a popular name?

Yes. Augustus ranked #407 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.

Is Augustus a boy or girl name?

Augustus is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.

How do you pronounce Augustus?

Augustus is usually pronounced aw-GUS-tuhs. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings