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Greek Mythology Names (with Meanings and Popularity)
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About this list
Greek mythology names have become the unlikely stars of contemporary American baby naming. The names of ancient Greek gods, Greek goddesses and nymphs, and other figures from Greek myth and legend are becoming more widely used in the modern world.
Along with names from Roman mythology and other mythical cultures around the world, Greek mythology names give their namesakes an inspiring figure and story to live up to. With many Biblical names feeling old-fashioned, mythological names are taking their place.
The top Greek mythology names in the US are Iris and Penelope for girls, Atlas and Apollo for boys.
Along with Iris and Penelope, other popular Greek mythological names for girls include Daphne, Phoebe, and Chloe. Along with Atlas and Apollo for boys, other top male names from Greek mythology include Jason, Hector, and Orion.
Trending baby names with roots in Greek mythology include Linus and Zeus for boys, Nyx and Echo for girls, and Zephyr for both genders. Rare and unusual names from Greek myth abound, including notable choices Circe, Electra, Hermes, Oceanus, Pallas, and Hebe.
Here is our complete collection of Greek mythology names.
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The names
Penelope
Greek
"weaver"
Penelope is an unlikely 21st century baby name success story. Off the Top 1000 for 25 years, Penelope jumped back on in 2001 and has been heading uphill ever since, propelled by the trend for…
Chloe
Greek
"young green shoot"
Chloe is a pretty springtime name symbolizing new growth. Though slightly off its peak in the Top 10 in 2010, Chloe still ranks in the Top 20 and is solidly a modern classic. Along with the US, Chloe…
Iris
Flower name; Greek
"rainbow"
Iris has so much going for it. It's a fashionable flower name. It's a mythological name, from the Greek goddess of the rainbow. And it's a classic name, always ranking in the girls' Top 1000 but now…
Atlas
Greek
"bearer of the heavens"
Atlas is one of those names that was previously thought too powerful for a baby boy, who would have to be strong enough to carry the world on his shoulders. Now Atlas has joined the pantheon of Greek…
Athena
Greek
"from Athens"
Magical and distinctive but grounded and familiar too, it's no surprise that Athena has become one of the most widely used ancient goddess names in the contemporary Western world. Derived from the…
Phoebe
Greek
"radiant, shining one"
Bubbly, bright, and versatile, Phoebe is a name with mythological, biblical, and literary ties. Used since the 17th century, it fell out of fashion in the US during the '60s, only to be revived after…
Jason
Greek
"to heal"
Jason, the Number 3 name for the entire decade of the 1970s -- thus the title of our original baby-naming book, Beyond Jennifer & Jason -- is more likely to be dad's name now than baby's, but it's…
Daphne
Greek
"laurel tree, bay tree"
In Greek mythology, Daphne was the nymph daughter of Peneus, a river god. Peneus saved Daphne from Apollo’s romantic obsessions by transforming her into a laurel tree. It is from this myth that the…
Adonis
Greek, from Semitic Adonai
"lord"
The name of a figure from Greek mythology, Adonis is a high-pressure name often synonymous with masculine beauty. Nonetheless, many mythological names that would have previously been deemed off…
Ares
Greek
"ruin, bane"
Rooted in Greek mythology, Ares entered the US Top 1000 in 2013, when it was one of the year's fastest rising names. Similar in style to Atticus, Atlas, and Ari, it has continued to climb up the…
Orion
Greek
"boundary, limit"
Orion is a rising star, with both mythical and celestial overtones. The Greek mythological Orion was the legendary hunter who pursued the seven daughters of Atlas, was slain by the goddess Artemis,…
Hector
Greek
"holding fast"
Previously used primarily by Latino families, this name of the great hero of the Trojan War as related in Homer's Iliad is beginning to be considered more seriously by others seeking noble ancient…
Maia
Greek
"mother"
Maia was derived from the Greek word maia , meaning "mother." In Greek legend, she was the fair-haired daughter of Atlas who mothered Zeus's favorite illegitimate son, Hermes. To the Romans, Maia was…
Apollo
Greek mythology name
"destroyer; strength; father's light"
With mythological names rising, the handsome son of Zeus and god of medicine, music, and poetry among many other things might offer an interesting, and melodic option. Similar in style to Atlas and…
Calliope
Greek mythology
"beautiful voice"
Melodic and beautiful but with a touch of sass, Calliope is the name of the muse of epic poetry — and perhaps less glamorously, the musical instrument on the merry-go-round. Bold and creative, it…
Damon
English variation of Damian
Damon is a name with a strong, pleasing aura (much like the persona of Matt D.) and extremely positive ancient associations. From the classical myth, Damon and Pythias have become symbols of true…
Leonidas
Greek
"lion"
Leonidas is an ancient name that has started rising again along with centuries-old names such as Augustus and Cato. The original Leonidas was the most famous of Sparta's warriors, sacrificing his…
Atreus
Greek
"fearless"
This unusual name from Greek mythology is gaining traction along with others in its class, such as Atlas, Artemis, and Apollo. The King of Mycenae (to where he'd been banished, after murdering his…
Selene
Greek
"moon"
Selene may be the mythological Greek original, but Latin variation Selena is used more often in the US these days. Selene is the Greek goddess of the moon, sister of Helios the sun god. Selene is…
Cassandra
Greek
"shining or excelling man"
The name of the tragic mythological Trojan princess who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but was condemned never to be believed, Cassandra has been used for striking characters in movies and…
