US Popularity Rank: None

Origin: Scandinavian

Meaning: Sea; Bridge

Pontus is a boy’s name of Greek, Latin, and Scandinavian origin. It’s a Scandinavian form of the Latin name Pontius, which comes from the Greek word pontos, meaning “sea” or “bridge.” If you’re hoping to raise a little sailor, this could be the perfect name! Pontius was a Roman family name, most famously borne by Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judaea who ordered Christ’s crucifixion. The name was brought to Sweden by the French nobleman Pontus de la Gardie. Though his name was Ponce in French, he chose to translate it as Pontus rather than Pontius. The name gained popularity in Sweden in the 1980s and 1990s, and is also used in Denmark, Finland, France, and other countries.