Otherworldly Names

Janus

Latin

"doorway"

The meaning of this ancient Roman god's name relates to transitions, hence its connection to the name of the first month of the new year, a time of fresh beginnings. Janus is usually depicted as a…

Jupiter

Latin

"godfather"

Jupiter's partner Juno has entered the mainstream, so it's possible that her divine mate could follow. But not necessarily for boys — Jupiter is currently mostly female in the US, thanks to its…

Linus

Greek

"flax"

Can Linus lose its metaphorical security blanket and move from the Peanuts page onto the birth certificate? We think it has enough charm and other positive elements going for it for the answer to be…

Lynx

Animal name

One of the fierce new animal names new to name lists, helped by its strong x-ending.

Mars

Roman mythology

"god of war; male; red planet"

Mars is a name with interesting potential, ticking the boxes as a mythological name, a space name, and a single syllable choice ending in -s. For parents wanting something unexpected, Mars could work…

Mercury

Latin

"Roman messenger god"

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…

Neptune

Roman god of the sea, freshwater springs, and horses.

This Roman mythology (and planet) name would be very hard to handle. It derives from a root meaning cloud.

Neso

Greek

"island"

The name of one of the Nereids – daughters of the sea god Nereus – in Greek mythology. A moon of Neptune is named in her honor. In modern times, works just as well (or perhaps even better) for a son.

Nix

Greek

"night"

Variant spelling of Nyx, the name of the Greek goddess of the night. It also coincides with the English word " nix , a corruption of German nichts "nothing". Nix would fit right in with names like…

Oberon

Variation of Auberon

"elf king; noble bear"

The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its bold 'O' beginning has plenty of strength alongside its magical qualities. Oberon was…

Orcus

Latin from Greek

"oath"

Orcus is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Hades, god of the underworld. His name is ultimately derived from the Greek word hórkos , meaning "oath,"