Greek Names
- Oceanus
Origin:
Mythological nameMeaning:
"ocean"Description:
Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the Mayflower. Modern variations include Ocean, Oceana, and Oceane, a popular French name for girls.
- Daedalus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"craftsman"Description:
Name of a tragic mythological hero, used as a surname in the works of James Joyce; heavy but ponderous for an American boy, though pulled off very well by single-name musician Daedalus and writer and artist Daedalus Howell.
- Melania
Origin:
Spanish and Greek variation of MelanieMeaning:
"black"Description:
The current wife of Donald Trump, Slovenian model Melania Knauss, brought this pretty version to the fore. Saint Melania was an heiress who freed thousands of enslaved people.
- Thaïs
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"beloved"Description:
A paramour of Alexander the Great and the heroine of a Massenet opera, this name is nothing if not dramatic.
- Hermia
Origin:
Greek, female form of HermesMeaning:
"messenger"Description:
Though we've gotten used to Hermione via Harry Potter, and even Hermes with its godlike and fashion associations, most people would still have a problem with Hermia (too close to hernia?) and Herman.
- Sirena
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"entangler"Description:
Sounds like Serena, but refers to the mythological sirens -- half woman, half bird -- who virtually sang men to death. Not a great role model for your little girl.
- Lamia
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
Name of mythological fiend who seduced young men and then ate them, which inspired the Keats poem "Lamia." Described in mythology as a snake with the head and breasts of a woman, this name has been considered in modern times as a vampire name. And if all that isn't discouraging enough, there's the "lame" connection.
- Hilary
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"cheerful, happy"Description:
Hilary (also spelled with two 'l's) is a hot potato of a name, so closely identified with Sen. Clinton that it's hard for most parents to see it as a baby name. A pity, really, as it's got so much going for it: the popular, rhythmic three-syllable structure, the fact that it's strong but light, proper but jaunty, with an irresistible meaning -- having the same root as hilarious.
- Veronique
Origin:
French form of VeronicaMeaning:
"true image"Description:
Veronica seems poised to rise again, along with many other V names, and with it may follow this more romantic French version.
- Rodion
Origin:
Russian from GreekMeaning:
"song of the hero"Description:
Well used in Russia, this is a distinctive and undiscovered choice here. Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov is the fictional protagonist of Crime and Punishment by Feodor Dostoyevsky.
- Muse
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
Remember, the Muse is passive: someone else's inspiration.
- Dionne
Origin:
Greek, feminine variation of DionMeaning:
"divine"Description:
Dionne is an Americanized version of the Greek Dione, with many sub-versions of its own, identified with singer Dionne Warwick. It was also the surname of the Canadian quintuplets born in 1934, who gained worldwide fame as the first kown quints to survive to adulthood.
- Lethe
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"oblivion"Description:
In Greek mythology, Lethe was the name of one of the five rivers in Hades, the underworld. Lethe was also the name of the Greek spirit of forgetfulness and oblivion, with whom the river was often identified.
- Kassia
Origin:
Spelling variation of Cassia, GreekMeaning:
"cinnamon"Description:
Kassia is the k-styled spelling variation of rising star name Cassia, an obscure but attractive botanical choice drawn from the cassia tree, which produces a cinnamon-like spice. The biblical Keziah is related.
- Nike
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"victory"Description:
Cool goddess name, but brace yourself for lots of sneaker jokes.
- Carissa
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"grace"Description:
Trending down, along with others of both the Car and the issa groups.
- Jase
Origin:
Diminutive of JasonMeaning:
"the Lord is salvation"Description:
Nickname name Jase joined twin brother Jace in the Top 100 in 2013, after first entering the list in 2002 -- but has since dropped in the charts. Inspiration may be Jase (born Jason) Robinson of the reality show Duck Dynasty.
- Medea
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"middle"Description:
Mythological princess who killed her kids. Eternal no-no.
- Timon
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"reward, honor"Description:
Kids would be more likely to associate this name with the hyperactive meercat in "The Lion King" than with the ancient Greek philosopher or Shakespearean character, which could cause playground problems.
- Eustace
Origin:
English from GreekMeaning:
"stable"Description:
Eustace was originally popularized by St. Eustace, who was born a Norman nobleman and is said to have been converted to Christianity by seeing a crucifix between the antlers of the deer he was hunting. It was introduced to England by the Normans, and can be found in medieval legend. In literature the name appears in the person of Eustace Clarence Scrubb in C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia.
The image of Eustace today is as sedate and stuffy as the monocled Eustace Tilly character on The New Yorker magazine covers. Its diminutive Stacy became a unisex hit.