The Uniqueness of the name “Atticus”

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Let’s be honest: Atticus is a name which you don't hear too often in the modern world. Tis truly a pity because this name refers to some very important people throughout history and literature. From the inimitable To Kill a Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch to the unknown yet low-key famous current English musician Atticus Ross, Atticus is a name of great relevance. So much so that we dedicate this article to everything "Atticus": Etymology, cultural meaning of the name, possible relevance to Biblical history, and more. Does "Atticus" perchance have Bible roots?

Let’s delve into all things Atticus.

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First Things First

Etymologically speaking, Atticus derives from the Greek–it’s a name that means "man from Attica." Attica was a location in Ancient Greece known for its strong and noble class of citizens; it’s a region where the mighty city of Athens was present. As such, a name like "Atticus" would be quite the compliment. 

But all of this being said, what can we say about Atticus being found in the Bible?

Full stop: we do not have any mention of Atticus in the Bible. Despite Atticus being the name of some Greek individuals during the first century AD, there exists no such Biblical record of any man from Attica; and especially none whose name is Atticus.

But let us visit Ancient Greece to see how this name comes on the scene first in the annals of humanity.

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Understanding Herodes Atticus

Did you know that some people believe that a person named Atticus was in the Bible? Why is that?

It is likely because a man named Herodes Atticus lived during the early church times, and exerted great influence. With Revelation being dated to around 90 AD, Herodes Atticus' birth in the year 101 AD set him within this newly Judeo-Greek Christian context. But if he isn't in the official canon of Scripture, then what was it that Herodes Atticus did? Moreover, why should we care?

Historical relevance is in order: Herodes Atticus, born in Marathon, Greece (101 AD - 177 AD), was a well-known and ecstatic financier of many public works. Perhaps it is for this reason that this man, born into an extremely wealthy and noble family (surely you can see how well he fits his namesake), became a renowned Roman Senator. He is named among the great benefactors of his day, using his expertise in civil engineering to improve aqueducts in his city.

Herodes Atticus was also a great rhetorician and philosopher, so much so that he had been the teacher of many notable students. One of these students was the one and only Marcus Aurelius–the heralded and perhaps most well known Stoic philosopher of antiquity. Aurelius, is also known for being the last of the good Roman emperors. Upon receiving an invitation from Emperor Antoninus Pius to teach his two adopted sons, Herodes Atticus taught Marcus Aurelius the benefits of Stoicism. 

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Introducing The Family of Herodes Atticus

Though we have little reason to believe in Atticus’s more extravagant claims–that he was the descendant of many mythic Greek kings like Theseus, Aeacus, and Zeus–it is of his more direct family that a much more favorable and well-attested account is known. 

The members of his family are:

• Father: Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodes (noble Roman Senator)
• Mother: Vibullia Alcia Agrippina (a wealthy heiress)
• Brother: Tiberius Claudius Atticus Herodianus
• Sister: Claudia Tisamenis

In terms of his own wife and children, we know of the following:

• His wife Regilla, whose whole name was Aspasia Annia Regilla (whom Herodes Atticus married when he was 40 and she was 14; talk about robbing the cradle). Upon his wife's death, Herodes Atticus remained unmarried.
• Son Claudius, son Atticus Bradua, son Vibullius Regillus
• Daughter Elpinice Agrippina Atria Polla, and daughter Athenais Gavidia Latiaria (who herself married Lucius Vibullius Rufus).

Only three of Herodes Atticus’s children ever survived to adulthood; it is these three children who carried on his namesake. In his later years, the aged Atticus (despite a stormy relationship with Athens) remained a well-honored citizen of Rome and was considered to be a stalwart supporter of Roman culture. Upon his death, his kinsmen Athenians wrote favorable accounts of the philosopher and statesman.

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Who Was Atticus Finch? 

This name is perhaps the first reference of thought for most when the name Atticus is spoken.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the seminal books of all American literature. Written in 1960 by Harper Lee, it won the Pulitzer Prize for literature, and is widely included in every high school curriculum in the United States.

In this moving novel–of which a movie was also made– Atticus Finch is a lawyer in 1930’s Alabama. Atticus defends innocent Tom Robinson, a black man, against the false accusations of Mayella Ewell, a white woman.

Told from the perspective of the young protagonists Scout and Jem–Atticus' own children–the book details the efforts of Atticus in courageously and wisely defending Tom Robinson amidst heavy racial overtones. Despite threats to his own life and that of his family, Atticus remains strong and noble in his pursuit of clearing Tom in court. One would be remiss to neglect mentioning that Ms. Lee chose such a name for her main protagonist because, remember, Atticus means “strong and noble” in the Greek.

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Atticus in Literature

Are there other mentionings of this noble name Atticus?

The name also finds usage in a variety of other famous and more modern literary works such as:

• Dan Brown's Angels and Demons (Brown is also the author is the wildly popular The Da Vinci Code)
• J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Matt Ruff's Lovecraft Country (turned into a 2022 HBO mini-series)
• Greg Rucka's series of books Keeper, Finder and Smoker
• Kevin Hearne's The Iron Druid Chronicles

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Conclusion

While we can say with great certainty that the name Atticus did not appear in the Bible, the name seems to be contemporary with the Scripture in terms of its age. From Herodes Atticus to Atticus Finch, the name stands the test of time as a unique name that carries with it an interesting dignity. Though many are unaware of its etymology and the roots in ancient Greek as  "those strong and noble men of Attica", it has continued to be used in that very way throughout literature henceforth. The name attracts attention, and not without good cause.

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