Cyrus

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Cyrus

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Cyrus is the English form of Kyros, a Greek name. It’s ultimate origin is Persian, but its exact meaning is disputed. It may be from the Persian word “khur” (sun); it may be from the Persian word “kuru” (throne). Another suggested meaning is “shepherd.”

History:
Cyrus the Great, that famous Persian King, was mentioned in the Old Testament so the name Cyrus was taken up by 17th century American Puritans.

Pronunciation: sye-russ.

Diminutives:
English: Cy.

Alternates: Kyrus.
Italian: Ciro.
Spanish: Ciro.

Feminine: Cyra, Kira.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Ciro Ferri (1634-1689)
Italian painter.
Cyrus Dallin (1861-1944)
American sculptor.
Ciro Alegría (1909-1967)
Peruvian novelist.

Educators, Scholar, and Social Workers:
Cyrus Adler (1863-1940)
American-Jewish scholar.
Cyrus H. Gordon (1908-2001)
American Orientalist.

Miscellaneous:
Cyrus H.K. Curtis (1850-1933)
American publisher.

Political Figures:
Cyrus Vance (1917-2002)
American Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter.

Royalty:
Cyrus I (7th century BC)
Achaemenian king.
Cyrus II the Great (590/580 BC-529 BC)
A founder of the Achaemenian empire.
Cyrus the Younger (423 BC-401 BC)
A son of Darius II.

Scientists:
Cyrus H. McCormick (1809-1884)
American inventor of the mechanical reaper.
Cyrus Thomas (1825-1910)
American entomologist.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.007 % named Cyrus

Popularity of Cyrus:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 133rd most popular.
1875: 228th most popular.
1900-1910: 428th most popular.
1910-1920: 554th most popular.
1920-1930: 614th most popular.
1930-1940: 812th most popular.
1940-1950: 744th most popular.
1950-1960: 977th most popular.
1960-1970: 964th most popular.
1970-1980: 801st most popular.
1980-1990: 726th most popular.
1990: 853rd most popular.
1991: 831st most popular.
1992: 742nd most popular.
1993: 744th most popular.
1994: 767th most popular.
1995: 809th most popular.
1996: 738th most popular.
1997: 634th most popular.
1998: 552nd most popular.
1999: 555th most popular.
2000: 546th most popular.
2001: 526th most popular.
2002: 470th most popular.
2003: 490th most popular.