Meaning and background
The story behind Cerberus
Cerberus is the Latin spelling of Greek Kerberos, the legendary hound posted at the gates of Hades. The familiar three-headed portrayal is only part of its history: Hesiod describes fifty heads, while later storytellers generally settle on three. That variation makes the myth much more interesting than a fixed cartoon image. Explanations of the name's original syllables remain speculative, so the guardian role is its secure association.
- Origin
- Latinised form of Greek Kerberos, the mythological hound guarding Hades Source
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About Cerberus
Recorded as a dog’s name
Cerberus appears in 6 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- City of Seattle Seattle Pet Licenses — DOG-only name aggregate, current source dated 6 October 2026 — Secondary spelling corroboration from dog-only licence rows. No cats, owner fields, national ranking or unique-dog claim.
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.