Every culture builds its own folklore and creates a shared mythology of stories and allegories. Most of us are taught about ancient Greek and Roman mythology. The majority of these myths feature gods with supernatural abilities who do heroic things. Because of the nature of these stories, it’s an attractive prospect to choose characters from them as inspiration for your baby’s name.
Now, many of the names used in these myths are out there! Now, we’re not suggesting you name your son Adonis or your daughter Aphrodite, but we beg you to keep an open mind when considering some of the names we found. Here are 25 mythological baby names for your little one that we think you should try.
25. Aries
Much better than Capricorn or Cancer, the boy’s name Aries is a handsome name. Aries was the Roman god of War. Which, may or may not appeal to you. The name means “a ram.”
24. Athena
The girl’s name Athena has grown in popularity over the last two decades! Which is wonderful because this storied name really is beautiful. Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom and Athens is named for her.
23. Atlas
Actor and influencer, Shay Mitchell named her baby girl Atlas last year. Typically, the name is given to boy but we see the crossover appeal for a baby girl as well. Unisex baby names are all the rage right now! Atlas was a Greek titan who carried the world on his back. The name has come to mean “to carry.”
22. Aurora
Aurora was the Roman goddess of sunshine. How precious would that sentiment be for your daughter? The name Aurora means “dawn.”
21. Argo
Argo is a boy’s name of Greek origin that was the name of the ship sailed by Jason in his search for the Golden Fleece. Argo is a handsome name that we’d love to hear more of. In ancient Greece, “Argos” was a nickname that connoted laziness! But, don’t hold that against the name! It’s been a long, long time.
20. Clio
Clio is the name of the ancient Greek mythological muse of history and heroic poetry. The storied name for girls means “glory.” It makes for a great alternative to Cleo or Cleopatra.
19. Castor
One of the twins that form the constellation of Gemini, Castor is an excellent name for a baby boy. The Greek name means “pious one.”
18. Delia
The name Delia means “born from the island of Delos.” In Greek mythology, Delos was a magical island where both Apollo and Artemis called home. Delia has such a sweet sound to it.
17. Finn
One of the greatest heroes of Irish Mythology, Finn MacCool was an intrepid warrior with supernatural powers. The name means “fair” or “white.” Finn is a precious name for a little boy.
16. Echo
In Greek mythology, Echo was a nymph who fell in love with Narcissus who did not return her favor. She faded so that all that was left was her voice. Not that happiest story, but Echo is an exquisite name for a little girl.
15. Hector
In Homer’s Iliad, Hector is a great hero of the Trojan War. The name Hector is Greek and means “holding fast.” Hector is such a strong and bold name for a little boy.
14. Freya
The name Freya comes from Norse mythology and she was the goddess of love, fertility, and beauty. The name means “noble” and it has been growing in popularity in the UK. Freya is a gorgeous name for a girl.
13. Hermes
More than the name of a luxury brand, Hermes was the Greek god of speed and good luck. The handsome and lyrical name means “messenger of god.”
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12. Iris
The Greek goddess Iris was the god of the rainbow! She rode rainbows as a bridge between the mortal world and the godly one. The name Iris refers to rainbows, but it is also shared with the purple Iris flower.
11. Janus
Janus is a god that’s usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions because he sees both the future and the past. The Greek name that was adopted by the Romans means “gateway.” The name represents renewal and is often given to boys born in January, the start of the new year.
10. Isis
The Egyptian goddess, Isis governed the moon, motherhood, wisdom, and fertility. The goddess was worshipped outside of Egypt and relics of her followers were found all over the Greek and Roman empires. Isis is a stunning name that means “throne.”
9. Kirin
Kirin is a name born from Chinese mythology that’s just beautiful. It’s a gender-neutral name that also belongs to a horse-like creature with wings that’s similar to a dragon. Kirin is a great alternative to the Irish name Kieran.
8. Juno
Juno is such an old name that somehow feels very fresh. Juno is a Latin name that once referred to the patron goddess of Rome and the protector of women and marriage. The name means “queen of the heavens.”
7. Lir
Pronounced the same as Lear, Lir is an Irish name for boys that belonged to the god of the sea. Lir has fallen out of fashion and no boys were given the name in the US in 2018 (the latest year data is available). We’d love for this simple and elegant name to come back in style.
6. Leda
In Greek myth, Leda was a great beauty who gave birth to Helen of Troy. The name means “happy.” Any little girl would surely feel tickled to learn that her name is synonymous with happiness. The name is popular across Europe where it’s commonly pronounced “lee-da” by everyone except the Italians who say “lay-dah.”
5. Pan
Pan was a Greek god with the legs of a goat who played a piped instrument. The figure was known for his playfulness and mischievousness. The name means “shepherd.” Pan is short and sweet and would be such a fun name for a boy.
4. Maeve
Maeve comes from Irish myth and refers to the queen of the fairies. This mysterious-sounding name for girls means “she who intoxicates.” Images of Maeve are often accompanied by mead and honey.
3. Paris
Forget Paris Hilton! Paris is a name for boys that belonged to Helen of Troy’s lover according to Greek mythology. Although it’s probably best knows as the French capital, Paris comes Greek.
2. Rhea
Rhea comes from Greek mythology and she was the earth mother and mother of all the gods. Rhea means “a flowing stream.” The popularity of this name ebbs and flows as well. It spiked in 1984 before falling off the charts and then most recently had a good year in 2004. Rhea is a great name for a girl and we’d love for it shoot back up in popularity.
1. Thor
The most butch name… ever. Thor comes from Norse mythology and he was considered the god of thunder, rain, and strength. The name means “thunder” and we think it would make a fine name for your son.
Mythology from every culture and tradition is a great place to look for inspiration when you’re trying to find a unique name for your child. Many mythological figures are associated with ideas and positive qualities that we all want to see in our children. From Achilles to Zeus, there’s no shortage of mythological names to choose from.
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Baby Name Generator
No baby name sounding good? Want a quick way to generate unique baby name ideas? Try our baby name generator below!
Set your terms (sex of the baby, number of letters, popularity, etc.) and then get a list of names that meet your criteria. Maybe the perfect name is just waiting to be generated for you.