God Names from Myth and Legend
- Ragnarok
Origin:
Norse MythologyDescription:
Ragnarök is a great future battle foretold in Norse mythology, which will lead to the ultimate destruction of many key deities and the rebirth of the Earth and mankind. The word is newly familiar to many thanks to the 2017 Marvel Comics film "Thor: Ragnarok".
- 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.
- Bacchus
Origin:
Roman mythology nameDescription:
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.
- Narvi
Origin:
Norse MythologyDescription:
A variant spelling of Narfi. The Narvi spelling also belongs to a moon of Saturn and a dwarf in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.
- Shango
Origin:
African, Yoruba, mythology nameDescription:
More substantial than it sounds: Shango was the god of thunder and legendary ancestor of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
- Narfi
Origin:
Norse MythologyDescription:
The name of two figures in Norse mythology: one the father of Nótt, the personification of the night; the other a son of Loki and Sigyn, who is transformed into a wolf (or killed by one, depending on your source). The name may mean "narrow", or possibly "demon of the dead".
- Alvis
Origin:
Norse mythology nameDescription:
Alvis, sometimes spelled Alviss, is a dwarf in Norse mythology who claims to know everything and names all the features of the natural world to show off to Thor, whose daughter Alvis wants to marry. But he gets so caught up in showing off his knowledge that the sun comes up and turns him to stone.
- Dagur
Origin:
Norse mythological nameMeaning:
"day"Description:
Dagur, one of the top boys' names in Iceland, is the personification of day. His mother is Nott, or night, and together they are thought to ride in a chariot around the earth every 24 hours.
- Auster
Origin:
German surnameMeaning:
"oyster"Description:
Fans of writer Paul Auster might consider this a worthy alternative to the trendy Austin.
- Volos
Origin:
Proto-Slavic deityDescription:
God of cattle, earth, and the underworld worshipped in Slavic areas. He is considered the opponent of the thunder god Perun, and is imagined as a dragon-like figure — resembling a cross between a bear and a snake that devours lifestock.
- Lugh
Origin:
Irish mythology nameDescription:
Lugh is the Irish god of the harvest, who also rules over truth, the law, and the arts. His magic includes a fiery spear and a boat that sails itself (dubbed the "wave sweeper") and his inventions include horse racing.
- Amphion
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
Son of Zeus known for musical abilities, an edgy choice for music-minded families.
- Pyramus
Origin:
Greek mythological nameDescription:
Though the name of his great tragic love Thisbe remains in modern use, that of her paramour Pyramus, a young Babylonian, has all but disappeared.
- Taranis
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
"thunder"Description:
Taranis was the Celtic god of thunder, the equivalent of the Norse god Thor. With Thor along with a legion of mythological choices back in use as baby names, Taranis just may have a chance to rise from the recesses of history to make the modern baby name rosters.
- Kiwa
Origin:
MaoriMeaning:
"Pacific ocean"Description:
Kiwa, one of the most popular Maori names for boys in New Zealand, is the name of several ocean guardians in Maori mythology. It's part of a poetic name for the Pacific ocean.
- Ahti
Origin:
Finnish, unknown meaningDescription:
In Finnish mythology, Ahti (also known as Ahto) was the sea god.
- Peko
Origin:
Latvian deityDescription:
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 symbol.
- Kyi
Origin:
Ukrainian deityDescription:
The name of the legendary founder of the capital city of Ukraine — Kyiv. In one source, Kyi is associated with smithery.
- Parthenios
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
Parthenios, the name of a Greek river god, is draped in a toga.
- Kovas
Origin:
Lithuanian deityDescription:
God of war in Lithuanian mythology. According to legend, worshippers of Kovas would sacrifice black horses to him.