Names That Mean Mythology

Nimue

Celtic Mythology (one of the names of the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legends)

Nimue (Lady of the Lake) is the ruler of Avalon in the Arthurian legend. Nimue plays a pivotal role in many stories, including giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising…

Sedna

Native American, Inuit

"goddess of the sea"

The name of the Inuit goddess of the sea, marine animals, and the underworld. There is also a dwarf planet in the outer solar system called 90377 Sedna, discovered in 2003 and named after the goddess…

Io

Greek mythology name

Io may be one of the slightest names in the book, but there aren't many two-letter names with as much substance as this Greek mythological example. Io, a name used for the largest moon of Jupiter,…

Clytie

Greek mythology name

"glorious or renowned"

Clytie was a sea nymph who loved the sun god Helios, who spurned her. She turned into the heliotrope flower.

Maui

Hawaiian place name and Polynesian mythology name

While Maui was a male trickster god in Polynesian mythology, the well-known Hawaiian place name Maui can work for either gender.

Hecate

Greek mythology name

"willpower or far-reaching"

In Greek mythology, Hecate is associated with witchcraft and magic. The name may mean "willpower" or "far-reaching". She was often associated with the moon and with storms, making this name a good…

Moria

Greek mythology name

"sacred olive tree"

Moria was a nymph, sister of Tylus, who played a role in a very complicated story involving a serpent and a life-giving plant. It sounds like and will often be mistaken for the name Mariah, as in…

Makaria

Greek mythology name

"blessed one"

Makaria or Macaria is the name of two figures in Greek mythology, neither of whom have very uplifting stories to inspire a baby name. One was a daughter of Heracles who sacrificed herself to save the…

Aeron

Welsh

Tolkien may have been inspired by this unisex name of a Celtic goddess of war. Welsh poet Dylan Thomas named his daughter the variation Aeronwy. With goddess names so hot for baby girls, this…

Minthe

Greek mythology name

"mint"

The mythological story of Minthe goes that she attempted to seduce Hades, god of the underworld. In an act of revenge, his wife Persephone transformed Minthe into the mint plant. In Ancient Greece,…

Antigone

Greek

"worthy of one's parents, in place of one's parents"

In Greek mytholgy, Antigone was the noble and courageous daughter of Oedipus, who acts as his guide after he blinds himself. Antigone is also the eponymous heroine of a play by Jean Anouilh. Despite…

Atalanta

Greek mythology name

"equal in weight"

Atalanta was a beautiful mythological maiden who refused to marry any man who couldn't beat her in a footrace -- quite a role model. This myth is found in Ovid's Metamorphoses and later in…

Ceres

Roman

"nourishment"

Little known name of the goddess of the harvest — her name literally means nourishment, and is the origin of the word cereal. A possibility for the parent seeking something original, but with the…

Danaë

Greek

A Greek goddess of music and poetry, Danaë has a novel yet familiar sound.

Émer

Irish mythology name

The wife of legendary Irish hero Cu Chulainn, blessed with the gifts of beauty sweet speech, wisdom, needlework, and chastity -- a mixed bag.

Macha

Irish

"of the plain"

Irish goddess and saint name that's strong, to say the least.

Muse

Greek mythology name

Remember, the Muse is passive: someone else's inspiration.

Nerine

Greek mythology name

A new brand of eyedrop.

Oba

Nigerian

Intriguing name of the ancient goddess of rivers.