Alternatives to Athena

Atherton

English surname and place-name

A rather formal British surname that originated as a place name in the county of Lancashire.

Athie

Athie is a rare feminine name with uncertain origins, possibly a diminutive form of names containing 'Ath-' elements or a variation of 'Athena.' This uncommon name has a delicate, ethereal quality…

Athéna

Greek

"from Athens"

French form of the owl-eyed ancient Greek goddess of war and wisdom.

Avalon

Celtic

"island of apples"

Avalon, an island paradise of Celtic myth and Arthurian legend--it was where King Arthur was taken to recover from his wounds-- and also the colorful capital of the California island of Catalina--…

Aþena

Icelandic

"of Athens"

Icelandic form of Athena, trending there since the early 2000s and currently in the Top 50 names for Icelandic baby girls.

Brigit

Brigit is a streamlined spelling of the traditional Irish name Brigid, derived from the Old Irish 'Brigit' meaning 'exalted one' or 'high one.' It's directly connected to Brigid, the ancient Celtic…

Calantha

Greek

"lovely flower"

Another of the new Greek-accented Cal- names.

Calista

Greek

"most beautiful"

Spelled with either one 'l' or two, Calista came to the fore in 1997 when Calista Flockhart hit it big as Ally McBeal. Flockhart, who bears her mother's middle name, didn't just introduce a name, she…

Calypso

Greek

"she who hides"

Melodic, rhythmic, and poetic in sound, Calypso is a name with connections to music, mythology, space, and pop culture. A distinctive was to nickname Callie or even Pip, it has that charming -o…

Delia

Greek

"born on the island of Delos"

Delia is a somewhat neglected southern charmer that stands on its own but also might be short for Adelia or Cordelia. Delia's name is based on that of the Greek island of Delos, which in Greek myth…

Gaia

Greek and Latin

"earth mother; rejoicing"

Floral, bright, and subtly powerful, Gaia is a name with two separate origins. In Greek mythology, it is the name of the earth goddess and the universal mother, who takes her epithet from the Ancient…

Hestia

Greek

"hearth, fireside"

Hestia is the name of the Greek goddess of the hearth, home and chastity. Though Hestia has been long dormant as a name, it's a possibility for the parent in search of a classic name with deep roots…

Iona

Scottish place-name

This name of a small island off the coast of Scotland is trending upwards along with other I names.

Irina

Russian from Greek

"peace"

Irina is a Russian ballet-inflected classic, one of the Three Sisters in the Chekhov play. While some Americans will pronounce this like Irene with three syllables, the pronunciation used throughout…

Kathina

Pali, Buddhist festival

A festival of giving and gratitude for Buddhists in South-East Asia, at the end of the rainy season. With the spiritual connotations and the similar sounds to Katherine and Athena, it's almost…

Lauretha

Lauretha appears to be a variant of Laura or Lauretta, with the feminine suffix '-etha' added for distinction. The root derives from Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel tree' or 'victory,' symbolizing…

Medusa

Greek

"protect, rule"

In Greek myth, Medusa was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, with live venomous snakes in place of hair and the ability to turn people to stone with just a glance. In later myths, Medusa was…

Minerva

Latin

"of the mind, intellect"

Minerva is the long-neglected name of the Roman goddess of wisdom and invention, the arts and martial strength, one of the mythology names for girls that might appeal to adventurous feminist parents.…

Olympia

Greek

"from Mount Olympus"

With its relation to Mount Olympus, home of the Greek gods, and to the Olympic games, this name has an athletic, goddess-like aura, making it the perfect Olivia substitute. A well-known art reference…

Reveka

Reveka is a feminine name representing a variant spelling or cultural adaptation of Rebecca. Rebecca originated from Hebrew רִבְקָה (Rivkah), meaning 'to tie' or 'to bind', and appears in the Bible…