Mythological Names for Boys

Orpheus

Greek mythology name

"the darkness of the night"

Name of the legendary ancient Greek poet and musician — whose music was so beautiful it made trees dance and rivers stop to listen — would provide a child with a challenging but indelible identity.

Bran

Diminutive of Brandon

"broom-covered hill"

A little heavy on the fiber content; we prefer Bram. But Bran is also the Celtic god of the underworld, whose symbol is the raven. It's probably not a coincidence that George R.R. Martin chose this…

Boreas

Greek

"north wind"

Boreas was the Greek god of the north wind, deriving from the same root as the Latin name of the Northern Lights, aurora borealis .

Pallas

Greek mythology name

"to brandish; youth"

Appearing several times in Greek mythology, Pallas is an epithet of Athena, the goddess or wisdom, and, depending on which version of the legends you follow, is also borne by a (female) childhood…

Pan

Greek

"all or shepherd"

Pan is the Greek god with the legs of a goat and the body of a pipes-playing man known for his mischievousness. Pan is also the god of shepherds, pastures, and fertility. Pan is also a Hindi name…

Bennu

Egyptian mythology

"to rise in brilliance, to shine"

Gentle sounding but with a bright and powerful meaning, Bennu is a name associated with both mythology and astronomy. Originally an ancient Egyptian deity, Bennu is associated with the sun, creation,…

Parthenios

Greek mythology name

Parthenios, the name of a Greek river god, is draped in a toga.

Pegasus

Greek mythology and animal name

"from a water spring"

The white winged stallion in Greek mythology who sprang from the blood of Medusa when she was beheaded by Perseus. Pegasus was ridden by the hero Bellerophon in his fight against the Chimera. The…

Peko

Latvian deity

The Latvian god of crops — especially barley and brewing. Today the Seto people — an ethnic group in Estonia — revere Peko as a national hero and king, the name and figure used widely as a national…

Bacchus

Roman mythology name

Only if you're hoping for your son to become a wine-besotted poet. To the ancient Romans, Bacchus was the god of agriculture, wine and fertility.

Perkūnas

Lithuanian

"oak tree, fir tree"

Perkūnas was the Baltic god of thunder, one of the most important deities of Baltic mythology. His name is derived from a Proto-Indo-European word meaning "oak tree" or "fir tree", which he also…

Perses

Greek

"destroyer"

In Greek mythology, Perses was a Titan and the father of Hecate, goddess of magic and the Underworld. His name derives from Ancient Greek pertho ("to destroy").

Auster

German surname

"oyster"

Fans of writer Paul Auster might consider this a worthy alternative to the trendy Austin.

Perun

Proto-Slavic mythology name

"thunder; to strike"

God of the sky, thunder, lightning, rain and war, Perun is the highest-ranking deity in Slavic mythology. Also associated with eagles, mountains, fire, the law, and oak trees, the name may come from…

Phobus

Greek mythology name

Phobus, the god of panic, was a son of Ares and one of the gods of war. This is one mythological name we don't recommend.

Phoebus

Greek

"shining, brilliant"

One of the names of the sun god Apollo, this is better known in its feminine form, Phoebe. Rarely used as a given name, perhaps owing to the clunky end sound, it might work as a unique alternative to…

Audros

Lithuanian deity

The god of storms in Lithuanian mythology. With (unrelated) Audrey at the top of the girl name charts, Audros feels like a handsome masculine successor.

Polydore

Greek

"many gifts"

As Polydoros, this rare Greek name belonged to several figures in Greek mythology, including a son of King Priam of Troy. This Anglicized form (also spelled Polidore) has been borne by eminent people…

Pontus

Greek mythology name

Pontus is a Greek sea god who rules over fish and other creatures of the ocean.

Atum

Egyptian

"completion, totality"

In Egyptian mythology, Atum was the first god, who created himself as well as the ancestors of all other deities. He is also associated with the evening sun.