What does Lysander mean?
Lysander means “liberator” or “releaser of men” in Greek.
What does Perseus mean?
Perseus is the Greek hero who slew Medusa; his name is often linked to “to destroy.”
Lysander vs Perseus
Which is more popular?
Perseus is more popular than Lysander today: about 168 US babies were given the name Perseus in 2025, compared with 95 named Lysander.
| Lysander | Perseus | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Liberator | Of debated meaning |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ly-SAN-der | PUR-see-us |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1931 | 1983 |
| Peak year | 2025 (95) | 2025 (168) |
| In 2025 | 95 | 168 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Lysander
Perseus
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Lysander | Perseus |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 256 | 813 |
| 2010s | 301 | 561 |
| 2000s | 151 | 5 |
| 1990s | 5 | 0 |
| 1980s | 21 | 11 |
| 1970s | 38 | 0 |
| 1960s | 15 | 0 |
| 1950s | 6 | 0 |
| 1930s | 5 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lysander or Perseus more popular?
Perseus is more popular than Lysander today: about 168 US babies were given the name Perseus in 2025, compared with 95 named Lysander.
What is the difference between Lysander and Perseus?
Lysander means Liberator (Greek origin), while Perseus means Of debated meaning (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Lysander or Perseus?
In US records, Lysander first appears in 1931 and Perseus in 1983, so Lysander has the longer recorded history.