How to say it
AT · las
ˈæt.ləs
Masculine
Atlas
Bearer, enduring
What it means
Greek Atlas, the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens after the Titans lost their war with Zeus. From a Greek root meaning 'to bear' or 'to endure.'
In Greek myth Atlas was a Titan who fought against Zeus and the Olympians; his punishment was to hold the celestial sphere on his shoulders for eternity. The name comes from a root meaning 'to bear' or 'endure.' Mercator's 1595 collection of maps was titled in Atlas's honor (he's on the cover), and that's how 'atlas' became the common word for a book of maps. As a baby name, Atlas was unused in the US until the 2000s; it entered the top 1,000 in 2014 and the top 200 by 2020, part of the broader move toward mythological and one-word strong names (Maverick, Phoenix). Rarely shortens.
Popularity over time
peaked at #75 in 2025, currently #75 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
AT-las, two syllables, stress on the first. Single short forms don't catch on.
Who's worn it
- Atlas (Greek myth) Titan condemned to hold up the sky after the Titanomachy
- Charles Atlas Italian-American bodybuilder, the comic-book ad icon for muscle-building
Names with the same feeling
See Atlas from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Atlas mean?
- Greek Atlas, the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens after the Titans lost their war with Zeus. From a Greek root meaning 'to bear' or 'to endure.'
- What does Atlas mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Atlas means "Bearer, enduring." In Greek myth Atlas was a Titan who fought against Zeus and the Olympians; his punishment was to hold the celestial sphere on his shoulders for eternity. The name comes from a root meaning 'to bear' or 'endure.' Mercator's 1595 collection of maps was titled in Atlas's honor (he's on the cover), and that's how 'atlas' became the common word for a book of maps. As a baby name, Atlas was unused in the US until the 2000s; it entered the top 1,000 in 2014 and the top 200 by 2020, part of the broader move toward mythological and one-word strong names (Maverick, Phoenix). Rarely shortens.
- How do you pronounce Atlas?
- Atlas is pronounced ˈæt.ləs. Say it as AT-las, with the stress on the "at" syllable.
- Is Atlas a boy or girl name?
- Atlas is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Atlas?
- Atlas ranked #75 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.