Greek baby names inspired by mythological gods and heroes
We propose you some baby names based on Greek mythology, which one do you like the most?
Greek names are very common in Europe and North America. Although currently its native language is only spoken in Greece, the Greek civilization was very influential. Today names of gods and mythological characters of ancient Greece persist. Some of them are common and others sound more literary. If you are looking for baby names of Greek origin, we offer you a list with some names from Greek mythology linked to their origin and meaning.
Some Greek gods :
Index
ZEUS
Among all of them, Zeus stands out, considered the father of gods and men. He is the god of the sky and thunder. Considered “king of the gods”. His attributes are the thunderbolt, the eagle and the bull. This name probably has an Indo-European origin and its meaning could be “bright sky” . Other theories relate it to the Greek “to live, or to be in life . “
APOLO
He is one of the most important and multifaceted Olympian gods. Regarded as the god of the Sun and light , of poetry, of music, and of the arts, as well as famous for his abilities in medicine and healing. He is one of the gods most revered and respected by the Greek people, thanks to his ability to prophesy. The Greeks went to the Oracle of Delphi, the temple of Apollo, to find out about their future. The origin of the name comes from ancient Greek and means “the one who never dies” .
ATHENA
Goddess of wisdom, the arts, justice and strategy in war. Protector of the city of Athenae. Also known as Palas or Minerva in Roman culture. She is the daughter of Zeus and her name derives from the Greek, “the one with deep knowledge . “
ARES
He is the Olympian god of war, depicted as an athletic, muscular young man, in gleaming armor and ready for battle. It represents the masculine and is the equivalent of the Roman god Mars. Its name, of uncertain etymology, perhaps related to the root ar, “to destroy” ; it was considered an adjective in classical times.
APHRODITE
Represents the feminine, symbolizes beauty, sensuality and of course, love. Known as Venus by the Romans. Its name, which derives from the Greek word aphro (foam), alludes to the myth of its origin, the Greeks considered that it was born from the foam of the sea.
EROS
Male name of Greek origin that means “Love”. Son of Aphrodite and Ares. It is the equivalent of the god Cupid, but the Greeks represented him as a man of great beauty and adult, although equally winged. Responsible for sexual attraction, love and sex.
OLYMPIAD
Mount Olympus in Greece was considered the place where the gods lived and from where they cared for men. Olympia is the Greek word for the abode of the gods or belonging to Olympus.
Heroes and other mythological characters :
HERCULES
Son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmena, he is perhaps the best known of the Greek heroes, although his name in Greek is Heracles, which means, “glory of Hera” . It is an offense to the goddess, wife of Zeus, who emphasizes his infidelity.
JASON
From the Greek name Iason, which is derived from the Greek iasthai, “healer . ” In Greek mythology Jason was the leader of the Argonauts, who conquered the Golden Fleece. It is a very common name in England, thanks to the Protestant Reformation.
TESEO
Of unknown origin, although various conjectures have suggested that it may be derived from a Greek name, “God . ” Theseus was famous for defeating the minotaur from the labyrinth on the island of Crete.
ARIADNE
Princess of Crete who helped Theseus to escape from the labyrinth, thanks to a golden thread. When he escaped, he left her to marry his sister Phaedra. It comes from the ancient Greek Ariádn ?, which means “very pure, very holy . “
ADONIS
His name means “the most beautiful of men” , and is that such was the attractiveness of this Greek hero, that for his love he sighed even the goddess Aphrodite. His death is related to the red color of the rose. When Aphrodite ran to Adonis’s aid, a white rose thorn stuck in her, thus staining the roses with her blood.
PANDORA
Its name means in Greek “the one that gives all the things” . And it represents according to the Greek myth, the first woman. Created by the god Hephaistos, it was endowed with all talents by the rest of the gods. Famous for her curiosity, she opened the box that contained all the evils, which spread throughout the Earth, leaving only hope at the bottom of the box.
DAFNE
Nymph harassed by the god Apollo from whom she had to flee, when he, because of an arrow of love launched by Eros, fell madly in love with her. Her father to defend her turned her into a laurel. It is a name that evokes extreme sensitivity. It is a name of Greek origin in its Latinized version, which translates to “laurel” .
HARMONY
Daughter of Aphrodite and Ares, she represents the union between the feminine and the masculine .
Names related to the Trojan War
PARIS
In Greek mythology, Paris, also called Alexander, “the protector of man” . He was a Trojan prince, son of King Priam. Known as “the one with the beautiful figure.” It is a name of pre-Hellenic origin, so its meaning is unknown. Paris provokes the Trojan War by kidnapping the beautiful Helen.
HELENA
One of the most common Greek names, Latinized in Helena or Helene, means “she who shines or shines like a torch” . Helen of Troy, is a character from ancient Greece, famous for her beauty. In Homer’s Iliad it is related how Helen was kidnapped or seduced by Paris, which triggered the famous Trojan War , since she was married to Menelaus, king of Sparta.
ACHILLES
He was a hero of the Trojan War, famous for killing Hector. He is the son of the nymph Tethys, who in an attempt to protect him, submerged him as a child in the waters of the River Styx, holding him by the heel, so that when the arrow of Paris reached his heel, Achilles died. He is usually described as “the one with the light feet” , since he was considered the fastest of men. The name comes from the ancient Greek Akhilleys, which is a name for the Achelous River.
HECTOR
Trojan prince brother of Paris, in charge of the defense of the city. He died at the hands of Achilles, in combat. There are different versions about the origin of the name. One of them points out that it comes from the Greek and that it means “the one who sustains” . It could also have a Celtic origin and would be translated as “The one who defends” or “The defender” .
CASSANDRA
Sister of Paris and Hector, it was she who predicted the fall of Troy, however, no one believed her. The name comes from ancient Greek and means “sister of men”
ULISES
King of Ithaca, he was the architect of the famous Trojan horse with which the Athenians managed to enter the city. After the war ended, it took him ten years to return to Ithaca, his adventures are narrated in Homer’s Odyssey. It derives from the Latin ulysses: “he who has a bad character” , its Greek form is Odysseus.
PENELOPE
Wife of Ulises, who waits patiently for his return. For this reason it is considered a symbol of marital fidelity . The etymology of the name is unknown.
OTHER BABY NAMES BASED ON GREEK MYTHOLOGY
If you haven’t found the one you like yet, we suggest more Greek names to choose from , the list of baby names is very extensive: Persephone, Hera, Dionysus, Artemis, Medea, Icarus, Atlas, Iris, Tethys, Hermione , Thalia, Danáe, Echo, Psyche, Hippolyta, Phaedra, Niobe, Narcissus, Aeneas …
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.