Names by Origin

84 Greek Mythology Baby Names for Girls and Boys (With Meanings)

by Emma Carter
written by Emma Carter

Greek mythology has given parents some of the most striking names around. Athena, Apollo, Penelope and Atlas carry stories that have been told for nearly three thousand years, and they still sound bold and fresh today. Gentler choices like Phoebe, Daphne and Leander come from the same myths, just with a softer sound.

This list includes 84 Greek mythology baby names for girls and boys. Each entry gives a pronunciation guide, the meaning, the origin and a short note on who the figure was in myth. Many ancient meanings are uncertain, and we say so where scholars disagree rather than guessing.

Gods, Titans, Heroes and Nymphs: Who’s Who

Greek myths are crowded with characters, and knowing the main groups helps you understand the story behind a name.

  • The Olympians were the main gods, who lived on Mount Olympus under Zeus. Hera, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes and Aphrodite belong to this group.
  • The Titans were the older generation of gods, children of Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky). Rhea, Theia, Phoebe, Hyperion and Atlas were Titans or children of Titans.
  • Heroes were mortals, often with a god as one parent, who performed great deeds. Heracles, Perseus, Theseus and Jason are among the most famous.
  • Nymphs were nature spirits tied to mountains, trees, rivers and the sea, like Daphne, Echo and Calypso.
  • The Muses were the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne who inspired the arts and sciences. Calliope, Clio, Erato, Thalia, Euterpe and Urania are on our list.

Goddess and Titan Names for Girls

These are the powerful women of Greek myth: goddesses of the dawn, the moon, the harvest and the home.

No. Name Pronunciation Meaning Origin Who Was This Figure?
1 Aphrodite af-roh-DY-tee Of uncertain meaning; ancient writers linked it to aphros, foam Greek Goddess of love and beauty, said to have risen from the sea foam
2 Artemis AR-teh-mis Of uncertain meaning Greek Goddess of the hunt and the wild, twin sister of Apollo
3 Athena uh-THEE-nuh Of uncertain meaning; closely tied to the city of Athens Greek Goddess of wisdom, crafts and strategy, protector of Athens
4 Demeter dih-MEE-ter Often said to mean earth mother; debated Greek Goddess of the harvest and grain, mother of Persephone
5 Eos EE-os Dawn Greek Goddess of the dawn
6 Gaia GY-uh Earth Greek Primordial goddess of the earth, mother of the Titans
7 Harmonia har-MOH-nee-uh Harmony, agreement Greek Goddess of harmony, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite
8 Hebe HEE-bee Youth Greek Goddess of youth and cupbearer of the gods, later wife of Heracles
9 Hera HEER-uh Of uncertain meaning Greek Queen of the gods and goddess of marriage, wife of Zeus
10 Hestia HES-tee-uh Hearth Greek Goddess of the hearth and home
11 Iris EYE-ris Rainbow Greek Goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods
12 Maia MY-uh Mother, nurse Greek One of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes
13 Nike NY-kee Victory Greek Winged goddess of victory
14 Nyx NIKS Night Greek Primordial goddess of the night
15 Persephone per-SEF-uh-nee Of uncertain meaning Greek Daughter of Demeter who became queen of the underworld
16 Phoebe FEE-bee Bright, radiant Greek Titan goddess, grandmother of Apollo and Artemis
17 Rhea REE-uh Of uncertain meaning Greek Titan goddess, mother of Zeus, Hera and their siblings
18 Selene seh-LEE-nee Moon Greek Titan goddess of the moon
19 Theia THEE-uh Goddess, divine Greek Titan goddess, mother of Helios, Selene and Eos

Heroine, Nymph and Muse Names for Girls

Mortal princesses, clever nymphs and the inspiring Muses offer names that feel romantic and literary.

No. Name Pronunciation Meaning Origin Who Was This Figure?
1 Andromeda an-DROM-ih-duh Often said to mean ruler of men Greek Princess rescued from a sea monster by Perseus
2 Ariadne air-ee-AD-nee Most holy Greek Cretan princess who helped Theseus escape the Labyrinth
3 Atalanta at-uh-LAN-tuh Of uncertain meaning Greek Swift huntress who joined the Calydonian boar hunt
4 Callisto kuh-LIS-toh Most beautiful Greek Nymph turned into a bear and placed in the sky as a constellation
5 Calliope kuh-LY-uh-pee Beautiful voice Greek Muse of epic poetry
6 Calypso kuh-LIP-soh She who conceals Greek Nymph who kept Odysseus on her island for years
7 Cassandra kuh-SAN-druh Of debated meaning Greek Trojan princess who could see the future but was never believed
8 Clio KLY-oh To celebrate, make famous Greek Muse of history
9 Daphne DAF-nee Laurel Greek Nymph turned into a laurel tree to escape Apollo
10 Echo EK-oh Echo, sound Greek Mountain nymph cursed to repeat the words of others
11 Electra ih-LEK-truh Amber, shining Greek Daughter of Agamemnon in Greek tragedy
12 Erato AIR-uh-toh Lovely, beloved Greek Muse of love poetry
13 Euterpe yoo-TER-pee Delight Greek Muse of music and lyric poetry
14 Helen HEL-en Of uncertain meaning; often linked to torch or light Greek Helen of Troy, whose departure with Paris led to the Trojan War
15 Hermione her-MY-uh-nee Feminine form linked to Hermes Greek Daughter of Helen and Menelaus
16 Ianthe eye-AN-thee Violet flower Greek An ocean nymph, one of the daughters of Oceanus
17 Leda LEE-duh Of uncertain meaning Greek Queen of Sparta and mother of Helen
18 Pandora pan-DOR-uh All-gifted Greek First woman, who opened the jar that released troubles into the world
19 Penelope peh-NEL-uh-pee Of uncertain meaning; sometimes linked to weaving or a duck Greek Faithful wife of Odysseus who waited twenty years for him
20 Psyche SY-kee Soul, breath Greek Mortal woman who won the love of Eros and became immortal
21 Thalia thuh-LY-uh Blooming, flourishing Greek Muse of comedy; also one of the three Graces
22 Urania yoo-RAY-nee-uh Heavenly Greek Muse of astronomy

God and Titan Names for Boys

Names of gods and Titans are big and bold. Some, like Zeus and Poseidon, are rare as baby names, while Apollo and Atlas are easier to wear every day.

No. Name Pronunciation Meaning Origin Who Was This Figure?
1 Aeolus EE-uh-lus Quick-moving, changeable Greek Keeper of the winds who helped Odysseus
2 Apollo uh-POL-oh Of uncertain meaning Greek God of music, light, prophecy and healing
3 Ares AIR-eez Of uncertain meaning Greek God of war, son of Zeus and Hera
4 Atlas AT-lus Often linked to to bear or endure Greek Titan condemned to hold up the sky
5 Boreas BOR-ee-us North wind Greek God of the north wind
6 Eros AIR-os Desire, love Greek God of love, known to the Romans as Cupid
7 Helios HEE-lee-os Sun Greek Titan god of the sun who drove a chariot across the sky
8 Hermes HER-meez Of uncertain meaning Greek Messenger of the gods and guide of travelers
9 Hyperion hy-PEER-ee-un The one above Greek Titan of light, father of Helios, Selene and Eos
10 Morpheus MOR-fee-us Linked to morphe, form or shape Greek God of dreams who took human shapes in sleepers’ dreams
11 Pan PAN Of uncertain meaning Greek Goat-legged god of the wild, shepherds and flocks
12 Poseidon puh-SY-dun Of uncertain meaning Greek God of the sea, earthquakes and horses
13 Prometheus pruh-MEE-thee-us Forethought Greek Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans
14 Triton TRY-tun Of uncertain meaning Greek Sea god, son of Poseidon, who blew a conch shell
15 Zephyr ZEF-er West wind Greek Zephyrus, gentle god of the west wind
16 Zeus ZOOS Linked to an ancient word for sky or bright Greek King of the gods and ruler of Mount Olympus

Hero and Mortal Names for Boys

Heroes of the Trojan War, the Argonauts and the great adventure tales give you names with a sense of courage and quest.

No. Name Pronunciation Meaning Origin Who Was This Figure?
1 Achilles uh-KIL-eez Of uncertain meaning Greek Greatest Greek warrior of the Trojan War
2 Adonis uh-DON-is Lord (from a Semitic word) Phoenician, via Greek Handsome young man loved by Aphrodite
3 Aeneas ih-NEE-us Of uncertain meaning Greek Trojan hero who escaped Troy and, in Roman legend, founded the Roman line
4 Ajax AY-jaks Of uncertain meaning Greek Mighty Greek warrior at Troy
5 Argus AR-gus Bright, shining Greek Hundred-eyed giant; also the loyal dog of Odysseus
6 Cadmus KAD-mus Of uncertain meaning Greek Founder of the city of Thebes, husband of Harmonia
7 Castor KAS-ter Of uncertain meaning Greek Twin brother of Pollux; together they became the constellation Gemini
8 Evander ee-VAN-der Good man Greek Arcadian hero who settled on the future site of Rome
9 Hector HEK-ter Holding fast Greek Prince of Troy and its greatest defender
10 Heracles HAIR-uh-kleez Glory of Hera Greek Hero of the twelve labors, called Hercules by the Romans
11 Icarus IK-uh-rus Of uncertain meaning Greek Son of Daedalus who flew too close to the sun
12 Jason JAY-sun Healer Greek Leader of the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece
13 Leander lee-AN-der Lion-man Greek Young man who swam the Hellespont each night to see Hero
14 Linus LY-nus Of uncertain meaning Greek Legendary musician and teacher of Heracles
15 Nestor NES-ter Of uncertain meaning Greek Wise old king of Pylos who advised the Greeks at Troy
16 Odysseus oh-DIS-ee-us Of uncertain meaning Greek Clever hero of the Odyssey, called Ulysses by the Romans
17 Orion oh-RY-un Of uncertain meaning Greek Giant hunter placed among the stars as a constellation
18 Orpheus OR-fee-us Of uncertain meaning Greek Legendary musician who went to the underworld for Eurydice
19 Paris PAIR-is Of uncertain meaning Greek Prince of Troy who took Helen from Sparta
20 Perseus PER-see-us Of uncertain meaning Greek Hero who defeated Medusa and rescued Andromeda
21 Philemon fih-LEE-mun Affectionate Greek Kind old man who, with his wife Baucis, welcomed Zeus and Hermes
22 Phoenix FEE-niks Dark red; also the mythical bird Greek Tutor of Achilles; also the bird reborn from its ashes
23 Theseus THEE-see-us Of uncertain meaning Greek Hero of Athens who defeated the Minotaur

Gentle Names From Divine Titles

The Greeks often called gods by titles, called epithets, that described a place or role. These titles make softer, more everyday names that still have a mythological story behind them.

No. Name Pronunciation Meaning Origin Who Was This Figure?
1 Chloe KLOH-ee Green shoot Greek A title of Demeter as goddess of new growth
2 Cora KOR-uh Maiden Greek From Kore, a title of Persephone
3 Cynthia SIN-thee-uh Woman from Mount Cynthus Greek A title of Artemis, born on Delos near Mount Cynthus
4 Delia DEE-lee-uh Woman from Delos Greek A title of Artemis, born on the island of Delos

Greek and Roman Names: Two Versions of the Same Gods

The Romans identified many of their own gods with Greek ones, so a single figure often has two names. Zeus became Jupiter, Hera became Juno, Aphrodite became Venus, Artemis became Diana, Athena became Minerva, Ares became Mars, Hermes became Mercury and Eros became Cupid. Heracles is better known by his Roman name, Hercules, and Odysseus by Ulysses.

Apollo is one of the few major gods whose name stayed the same in both cultures. If you love a figure but not the Greek name, the Roman version may suit you better. Diana and Juno, for example, are much more familiar as baby names than Artemis or Hera.

Know the Whole Story Before You Choose

Greek myths are dramatic, and not every story is a happy one. Icarus fell from the sky when the sun melted his wax wings. Cassandra saw the future but was cursed so that no one believed her. Echo was cursed to repeat the words of others. Pandora is remembered for releasing troubles into the world, though in the myth hope remained behind in the jar.

Some figures are also complicated in less obvious ways. Zeus and Apollo pursued many nymphs and mortals who did not welcome their attention, and Ares was disliked even by the other gods in some stories. Heroes like Jason and Theseus are admired for their quests but abandoned the women who helped them. Myths were told in many versions, so you may find gentler or harsher accounts of the same figure.

That does not mean these names are off-limits. Many parents love Echo or Cassandra for their sound and their literary weight. Just read the myth first so you can share the story proudly when your child asks about their name.

Mythology Names in the Night Sky

Many figures from Greek myth live on in astronomy, which gives these names an extra layer of meaning. Orion, Andromeda and Perseus are constellations, and Castor and Pollux are the two brightest stars of Gemini. Callisto is one of Jupiter’s largest moons, and Jupiter’s other large moons, Io, Europa and Ganymede, are also named for figures from the myths of Zeus. Triton is the largest moon of Neptune.

If your family loves stargazing, one of these names could connect your child to both an ancient story and a point of light they can find in the sky.

Greek Names That Are Not From Myth

Not every Greek name comes from mythology. Some of the most popular names in the U.S. are Greek in origin but belong to everyday words, saints or historical figures. In the Social Security Administration’s data for babies born in 2025, Theodore (“gift of God”) ranked No. 4 for boys, and Sophia (“wisdom”) ranked No. 5 for girls. Names like Alexander, Nicholas, Zoe and Chloe are also Greek.

If you want a Greek name with a softer link to myth, you can mix the two styles. A mythological middle name, such as Iris, Atlas or Phoebe, pairs nicely with a classic Greek first name like Sophia or Theodore.

How to Pronounce Greek Mythology Names

Greek names came into English through Latin, and they follow a few patterns that trip up many parents. Once you know them, most names on this list become easy to say.

  • A final e is usually pronounced. Persephone, Penelope, Calliope, Daphne and Hebe all end with an “ee” sound.
  • Ch sounds like k. Chloe is KLOH-ee, not CHLOH-ee.
  • Ph sounds like f. Phoebe is FEE-bee, and Orpheus is OR-fee-us.
  • A starting ps drops the p. Psyche is SY-kee.
  • The -eus ending is often said as “ee-us” or “yoos,” as in Perseus and Theseus.

Pronunciations can differ a little between English and modern Greek. The guides in our tables reflect the common American English pronunciation.

Mythology Names in Modern Greece

Many of these names are still in everyday use in Greece, not just in storybooks. Names like Athena, Penelope, Electra and Hector have been given to Greek children for centuries. Greek families traditionally name children after their grandparents, and many people celebrate a name day, the feast of the saint who shares their name, in addition to a birthday.

Tips for Choosing a Greek Mythology Name

  • Check the pronunciation. Names like Persephone, Ariadne and Calliope are spelled very differently from how they sound. Practice them with family before you decide.
  • Think about nicknames. Long names have friendly short forms, like Percy for Perseus, Thea for Theia or Cal for Calliope.
  • Balance bold and simple. A big mythological first name pairs nicely with a short, classic middle name, and the reverse works too.
  • Consider unisex picks. Phoenix, Echo, Zephyr and Orion feel modern and flexible. See more in our guide to gender-neutral baby names.
  • Look for meaning. Names like Iris (“rainbow”), Nike (“victory”) and Selene (“moon”) have clear, lovely meanings. Find more in our list of baby names with beautiful meanings.
  • Stand out on purpose. If you want a name few classmates will share, Ianthe, Evander or Harmonia are rare finds. Our list of rare and unique baby names has more.

Tip: Some figures share names with planets, moons, constellations or brands. Search a name once before you choose so you know what associations come with it.

Choosing a Name Worthy of Legend

A name from Greek mythology gives your child a story as old as Western literature, along with a sound that feels both ancient and modern. Start with the figures whose stories you admire, check the pronunciation and nickname options, and say each favorite out loud with your last name. For more timeless ideas, browse our classic baby names that never go out of style, or use our guide on how to choose a baby name to narrow your list.

REFERENCES

Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names for 2025 (press release)Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names

Frequently Asked Questions

Athena, Penelope, Phoebe, Iris, Daphne and Thalia are well-loved girl names from Greek mythology. Each comes with a story worth reading before you choose.

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