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Names from myth and legend
Gods, heroes and heroines of Greek, Roman, Norse, Celtic and Egyptian myth and of Arthurian legend still name children today. A curated list that grows as more names get their stories. 76 names so far, each with its own page, story and name art.
Achilles
may mean “grief of the people”
Greek
Aeneas
may mean “praiseworthy”
Greek, via Latin
Andromeda
may mean “ruler of men”
Greek
Antigone
may mean “against birth, or in place of a mother”
Greek
Apollo
may mean “destroyer; or strength”
Greek
Ariadne
“most holy”
Greek
Artemis
may mean “safe, sound”
Greek
Athena
“name of the goddess of wisdom”
Greek
Atlas
may mean “the one who endures”
Greek
Aurora
“dawn”
Latin
Baldur
“lord, prince”
Old Norse
Brigid
“exalted one”
Irish
Calliope
“beautiful voice”
Greek
Cassandra
may mean “she who entangles men”
Greek
Castor
may mean “beaver; or excelling”
Greek
Ceres
“to grow”
Latin
Chloe
“young green shoot”
Greek
Clio
“to make famous”
Greek
Daphne
“laurel”
Greek
Deirdre
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Irish
Demeter
may mean “earth mother”
Greek
Diana
“divine, heavenly”
Latin
Dido
may mean “wanderer”
Phoenician, via Greek and Latin
Echo
“echo, sound”
Greek
Electra
“amber, shining”
Greek
Elissa
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Phoenician
Eros
“love, desire”
Greek
Flora
“flower”
Latin
Freya
“lady”
Old Norse
Freyja
“lady”
Old Norse
Gaia
“earth”
Greek, via Italian
Guinevere
may mean “fair, white”
Welsh, via French and English
Hector
“holding fast”
Greek
Helen
may mean “torch, light”
Greek
Hera
may mean “protectress; or heroine”
Greek
Hercules
“glory of Hera”
Greek, via Latin
Hermia
may mean “of Hermes”
Greek, via English
Hermione
may mean “of Hermes”
Greek
Hyacinth
“hyacinth”
Greek
Idun
“ever young”
Old Norse
Iris
“rainbow”
Greek
Isis
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Egyptian, via Greek
Isolde
may mean “ice ruler”
Celtic or Germanic, via German
Janus
“doorway, arch”
Latin
Jason
“healer”
Greek
Juno
may mean “youthful”
Latin
Lancelot
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Old French
Lucina
“light”
Latin
Maia
“mother, nurse”
Greek
Medea
“cunning, wise counsel”
Greek
Merlin
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Welsh
Minerva
may mean “mind”
Latin, from Etruscan
Morgan
may mean “sea-born; or sea circle”
Welsh
Niamh
“brightness, radiance”
Irish
Nyx
“night”
Greek
Odin
“fury, inspiration”
Old Norse
Odysseus
may mean “wrathful; or hated”
Greek
Orion
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Greek
Osiris
may mean “of uncertain meaning”
Egyptian, via Greek
Penelope
may mean “weaver”
Greek
Persephone
may mean “bringer of death”
Greek
Phoebe
“bright, radiant”
Greek
Pollux
may mean “very sweet”
Greek, via Latin
Psyche
“soul, breath”
Greek
Rhiannon
“great queen”
Welsh
Selene
“moon”
Greek
Siegfried
“victory and peace”
Germanic, via German
Sigurd
“victory guardian”
Old Norse
Thalia
“blooming, flourishing”
Greek
Thekla
“glory of God”
Greek
Thor
“thunder”
Old Norse
Tristan
may mean “tumult”
Welsh, via French
Ulysses
may mean “wrathful”
Greek, via Latin
Venus
“love, desire”
Latin
Vesta
“hearth”
Latin
Zeus
“sky, bright”
Greek