Athena
2025 SSA
About Athena
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 city name Athens, it is current a Top 100 choice in the US.
In Greek mythology, Athena is a daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom, warfare, handicrafts, mathematics, and courage. She was the great patron-goddess of the city of Athens and in Homer's Odyssey, she is described as 'sparkling-eyed Athena.' Her Roman counterpart is Minerva.
Associated with owls and olive trees, Athena is a name which might appeal to parents who value wisdom and intelligence — or those who like the sounds of Amelia, Thea, and Anabella. Alternative forms of the name include the Greek Athene and Athenais, along with the Spanish Atenea.
One of those names that is probably more popular than you might think, Athena has been in the US Top 1000 since the 1960s but in the Top 100 since 2021. It also ranks highly in England and Wales, Iceland, Canada, Italy, and France.
Appearing in Disney's The Little Mermaid as the name of Ariel's mother, Athena was also chosen in 2011 by actress and comedian Tina Fey for her second daughter's middle name, Penelope Athena. This prompted more interest in the name which rose rapidly during the 2010s.
More recently in 2024, singer and internet personality Sophia Grace (as in Sophia Grace and Rosie) chose Athena Rose for her daughter, while in 2025, Princes Beatrice selected Athena Elizabeth Rose for her second baby.
Pronounced uh-THEE-nuh.
As of October 2026, Athena ranked #109 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #76 in 2023, Nameberry popularity #198.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #195 | 1,692 | 947.2 |
| 2015 | #157 | 2,052 | 1,149.5 |
| 2016 | #142 | 2,177 | 1,228.5 |
| 2017 | #127 | 2,381 | 1,379.1 |
| 2018 | #117 | 2,604 | 1,530.8 |
| 2019 | #104 | 2,722 | 1,621.8 |
| 2020 | #107 | 2,515 | 1,555.8 |
| 2021 | #97 | 2,716 | 1,655.2 |
| 2022 | #78 | 3,025 | 1,844.4 |
| 2023 | #76 | 2,996 | 1,867.2 |
| 2024 | #90 | 2,788 | 1,720.8 |
| 2025 | #109 | 2,477 | 1,541.1 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Athena.
Athena on lists
Famous Athenas
- Athena Sophia Rhossa Alejandro Tibi
Filipina singer
- Athena Lee (born Athena Michelle Bass)
American musician and reality TV personality ("Ex,Wives of Rock")
- Athena Marguerite Francoise Marie
Princess of Denmark
- Athena Andreadis
Anglo,Greek singer
- Athena
ring name of Adrienne Reese, American pro wrestler
- Athena Dawnelle aka Athena Lundberg
American model and TV personality
- Athena Bautista (b. 1992)
daughter of wrestler Dave Bautista
- Athena Christie Hart (b. 1997)
daughter of wrestler Owen Hart
- Athena Olivia Francis (b. 2014)
daughter of Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis & Abbey Wilson; twin of sister Alexandria Claire
- Athena Belle Eisner (b. 2015)
daughter of designer Stacey Bendet and Eric Eisner
- Countess Athena Marguerite Françoise Marieof Monzepat (b. 2012)
Daughter of Prince Joaquim and Princess Marie of Denmark, formerly Princess Athena, Countess of Monzepat
Athena in pop culture
- Athena
daughter of Zeus, goddess of wisdom, craft, strategic war, mathematics and inventors. Patroness of Athens
- Athena Mulvain
character in 1954 film "Athena"
- Athena Cassadine
character on American soap "General Hospital"
- Athena
character on TV's "Battlestar Galactica"
- Athena
character on TV's "Xena: Warrior Princess"
- Athena
character in "Stargate: SG1"
- Athena
Ariel's mom in Disney's "The Little Mermaid"
- Athena Cykes
character in the video game Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies
- Athena
character in "Tomorrowland"
- Athena
Marvel Comics character and member of the Olympian Gods
- Athena
character based on the goddess in the manga/anime Saint Seiya
- Tennousu Athena
character in the manga/anime Hayate the Combat Butler
- Princess Athena
main character in arcade game "Athena"
- Athena Asamiya
character in the video game "Psycho Soldier"
- Athena
character in video game "God of War"
- "Athena
" song by The Who
- Athena Grant
character in FOX's 9,1,1
Variations & nicknames
- AtheneFrench