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Ulysses S. Grant's Real Name: Hiram Ulysses Grant
Ulysses S. Grant's real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant.
Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States (1869–1877) and the top Union general of the Civil War, was born on April 27, 1822, in Point Pleasant, Ohio, as Hiram Ulysses Grant. His family called him Ulysses.
The name changed because of a paperwork error. The congressman who nominated him to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1839 wrote his name as "Ulysses S. Grant," apparently adding "S" from his mother's maiden name, Simpson. The academy registered him that way, and Grant kept the name for the rest of his life. The "S" does not officially stand for anything.
His initials also gave him a famous nickname, "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
FAQ
What does the S in Ulysses S. Grant stand for?
Officially nothing. It came from a West Point nomination error, likely taken from his mother's maiden name, Simpson.
Why did Grant not correct the name?
He accepted the name the academy recorded and used it for life.