Mythological Names

This name of a tragic figure in Greek mythology, the daughter of King Minos, sister of Ariadne and wife of Theseus, has a mysterious and intriguing appeal, and would make a dramatic choice.

 Phaedra has been a persistent theme in literature, both ancient and modern. There have been plays by Euripedes, Racine, Unamuno, and O'Neill, novels, poetry, operas and film--as recently as the 2011 Immortals starring Freida Pinto.
 One celebrity pulled a gender switch when she named her son Phaedra Bloom Forever.

Phaedra

X marks the spot in names these days, usually at the middles or ends of names, but here is one that puts it squarely up front.
 This extravagant name, which, like many Greek names beginning with X, is pronounced as if it were a Z in English, is derived from the Greek word for the color yellow. A Homeric epithet of Demeter, Xanthe would be a striking choice, thanks to its "golden" meaning.
 
A consistent member of the UK Top 1000 since 2005, Xanthe was chosen by the social media star Emily Clarkson in 2024.

Xanthe

The Roman god of the underworld, the former ninth planet, a cartoon dog...but not a baby. 

Pluto

Abraxas is a sci-fi-sounding name with earthly possibilities, but some playground challenges. 
 Abraxas has a long and convoluted history, dating back to ancient Egyptian mythology and the Gnostics who worshiped him as the Supreme Being. The name Abraxas was carved on antique gemstones that were used as charms.
 Abraxas lives on in modern pop culture, as the name of the musical group Santana's second album, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as Draco's grandfather, on several TV series and video games, and as a cosmic entity in Marvel Comics.
 Trivia note: Abracadabra was based on Abraxas.
 One of those <a href="https://nameberry.com/unique-names">unique baby names</a> with powerful vibes!

Abraxas

Roman goddess of childbirth. Levana is one of the lesser-known ancient Roman goddess names and has a somewhat synthetic feel but authentic roots.

Levana

Ara is a <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">unique boys' name</a> that one of the most melodious in the Armenian name pool, familiarized by Notre Dame football coach Ara Parseghian. In Armenian mythology, Ara was a king so handsome that a rival queen went to war in order to make him her own. The name Ara is also known in the Arabic and Hebrew cultures.

Adya is a feminine name with ancient Sanskrit origins, meaning 'the first power' or 'primordial.' In Hindu tradition, it is associated with Goddess Durga as the original divine feminine energy. The name appears in various cultures with slight pronunciation differences: in Sanskrit traditions it's often pronounced AHD-yah, while some Western adaptations may say AD-yah. 

Adya has gained modest international recognition as global naming patterns have embraced diverse cultural choices. The name combines spiritual significance with a melodic, accessible sound pattern. Its brevity and open vowel ending make it both distinctive and easy to pronounce across languages. Adya represents an elegant choice that carries deep philosophical and spiritual significance while remaining relatively uncommon.

Adya

Anahita is the name of the water goddess who rules, among other things, fertility and wisdom. Associated with Venue, Anahita is a stylish Iranian name for girls.
 
Anahita was derived from the Old Iranian elements an and āhita, meaning "not" and "dirty, unclean" respectively.

Anahita

Another name for Jupiter, king of the Roman gods, this jovial name is eminently ready for modern use.  Feminine variations include Jovita and Jovie.

Jove

Sadly, this strong Celtic name often has "of the sorrows" attached to it because of the tragic character in Irish legend. Also a bit drab when compared with newer Irish imports. 

Deirdre

Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder. 
 
Nevertheless, if you can put the mythology and theory aside, Electra makes a bright, spikey, electric feeling choice, with a shiny, gemstone meaning. If you can't, you could follow actress Isabella Rossellini who chose the gentler Italian version, Elettra, for her now grown daughter.

Electra

Adventurous parents are starting to look back to names of ancient gods like Mercury, Zeus, and Apollo. This one is also a planet and a metallic element, and has a friendly nickname, Merc. The Roman god Mercury, which derives from the Latin words for trade or wages, is the patron of tradesmen and travelers and the fastest-moving planet in the solar system. Mercury is the planet associated with the sign of Virgo, so this is one of the prime <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/virgo-baby-names-are-pure">names for Virgo babies</a>.

 Music lovers will also appreciate the connection to the legendary Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara.

Mercury

In Greek and Roman mythology, Aeneas was the legendary son of Venus (or Aphrodite) who was the hero of Troy and Rome. Appearing in the Aeneid by the poet Virgil, he goes on to found the Roman state and break the heart of Queen Dido of Carthage. 
 
Derived from the Greek aine meaning "praise"< Aeneas is a rare choice that might fit in with popular mythological choices like Atlas, Adonis, and Aris, and with the Biblical Amias, Ozias, and Amos. It first appeared in the US stats back in 1995, and has been given to a handful of boys each year since then. Its current peak was in 2002 when it was given to 38 boys.
 
The name appears in the Bible, given to a man who is miraculously cured by Saint Peter, which may widen its appeal. It has also been borne by footballers Aeneas Williams and Aeneas Peebles, while writer Jeannie Gunn chosen Aeneas Gunn as her pen name.

Aeneas

One of the dozens of names used for Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of beauty, wealth and prosperity, Sanvika first popped up on the extended version of the Social Security Administration's name popularity list in 2011, with eight baby girls named it that year, and it's grown modestly since then, along with many other names from the Indian subcontinent.

Sanvika

In Roman mythology, Caelus was the god of the sky prior to Jupiter. It's one of the few names that's virtually one-of-a-kind yet fits in with current stylish choices such as Caius and Callum (neither of which Caelus is etymologically related to).

Caelus

Greek nature goddess name that has a pleasing femininity. Damia is one of the more unusual <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/433/goddess-baby-names">goddess names</a> newly fashionable for contemporary baby girls.

Damia

Once unique to the Zappa family, now you can have your own little prima donna. 

Diva

Succinct and simple in spelling, Leda is a currently rare choice from Greek mythology with that appealing four-letter, ending in -a format of Lyra, Maia, Vada, Veda, and Nora. Borne by a Spartan queen in classic Greek myth, Leda was the mother of Helen of Troy, Clytemnestra, and the twins, Castor and Pollux. All were fathered by Zeus, who assaulted her in the form of a swan.
 
Familiar in Brazil and a Top 1000 choice in the US in the late 19th-century, Leda was given to just 12 girls in a more recent year, with parents put off, perhaps, by the myth. Nevertheless, if you can look beyond that, Leda has plenty of potential: unique, simple, and pretty.
 
Pronounced as LEE-duh or LAY-duh in English and as LEH-dah in Italian and Greek, the exact meaning is unknown, though "woman, wife" is one possibility, while other sources link it to the similar Leta ("glad, happy") via the Latin laetus.

Leda

Lissa might be an abbreviation of Melissa, but it's more substantial in its own right: Lissa is the name of a supreme mother goddess in African mythology and an Arabic symbol of rebirth. 

Lissa

Nona is a name sometimes given to the ninth child -- but unlikely to serve that purpose today. Musical cred: the name of a song by Motley Crue.
 In Roman mythology, Nona was also a goddess of pregnancy and the spinner of the thread of life.
 Nona was the mother of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and said to be a cousin of King Arthur. There is a childrens' book called Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola and an eponymous 1978 Stephen King short story.

Nona

 come from myths and legends around the world. Deities of Greek and Roman lore have inspired some of the top baby names in the US today, including choices such as Luna and Penelope for girls, Atlas and Apollo for boys.

mythological names for girls in the US Top 1000

 include Maeve, Freya, Aurora, and Athena. Other mythological girl names popular in the US include Luna, Iris, Phoebe, and Penelope.

mythological names for boys in the US Top 1000

 include Arthur, Orion, Tristan, and Odin. Other mythological boy names widely-used in the US include Oscar, Finn, Jasper, and Dylan.

As this trend has progressed, parents have started looking for 

from a range of international cultures, such as Norse, Celtic, Hindu, and African traditions.

 from around the world trending now include the Hindu goddess name Aditi, the Slavic Zorya, and the Nigerian Oba, ancient goddess of the rivers.

 from the very beginning, a story to inspire and a heroic figure to emulate.

See our full collection of mythology names below.

Mythological names such as Luna and Apollo for baby girls and baby boys come from myth and legend around the world. Here are top and unique names from mythology with meanings, origins, and popularity (Page 10)