Felix means happy or fortunate — the most optimistic meaning in all of Latin naming. Felix the Cat was the first animated superstar. Felix Baumgartner jumped from the edge of space. Felix Mendelssohn composed some of the most beautiful music in the Romantic era. The X-ending gives it visual sharpness. Two syllables of Latin happiness and stratospheric courage.
Felix comes from the Latin meaning happy or fortunate. Felix the Cat (1919) was the first animated character to achieve massive popularity. Felix Baumgartner jumped from the stratosphere in 2012, breaking the speed of sound in freefall. Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847) composed some of the Romantic era's most beautiful music. Four popes and dozens of saints bore the name.
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First recorded
Earliest known use: Ancient Rome — multiple saints and popes named Felix.
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Today
Felix remains a beloved choice, ranking #219 in the US. 82,090 babies have been named Felix since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
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How popular is Felix?
2024peak year
The name Felix reached its peak in 2024, with 2,081 registrations (ranked #177). The name has actually been around since 1880 — over a century — though it took until recently to find its widest audience. Since the peak, the name has eased to around #219 today, averaging about 1,744 new babies per year. Felix's usage has held roughly steady recently. Across all years on record, approximately 82,090 American babies have carried this name.
Year-by-year registrations1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
2,081 Babies named in peak year (ranked #177)
1,744Avg. per year (last decade)
17,440Total registrations last 10 years
82,090All-time total (since 1880)
Popularity in the US today (rank #219)Very popular
Felix's Life Path 3 is the communicator's number — communicating happiness. People named Felix tend to be fortunate, optimistic, and gifted at making everyone around them happier.
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