Nickname help!
We want to name our baby Penelope but we can’t decide on a nickname? Help!
Forget comic book heroes – you can find the coolest, most mythical names for boys and girls on our list of Greek mythology baby names.
If you want a beautiful and original baby name with meaning and passion, where better to start than with Greek myths?
They’re the stories at the foundation of Western civilization.
The characters are gods, titans, kings, queens, and heroes – from the powerful to the beautiful, to the mischievous, to the ones you definitely don’t want to mess with.
Let’s take a look at a few of the best Greek mythology baby names, starting with the gods.
In this article: 📝
- Are there 12 Greek gods?
- What are Greek goddesses’ names?
- What are Greek god names for boys?
- What is a mythical name for a girl?
- What is a mythical name for a boy?
- What is a cool Greek name?
Are there 12 Greek gods?
Yes, there are 12 main gods in Greek mythology, known as the Olympians (because they lived on Mount Olympus).
When it comes to the names from Greek mythology, there’s no better place to start than at the top of Mount Olympus.
So, in order of status:
- Zeus: God of the sky, thunder, lightning, law, and order. If you’re wondering ‘is Zeus a girl name’? Traditionally, no, because Zeus was king of the Greek gods. But if it floats your boat as a feminine first name, we say go with it.
- Hera: The first of the Greek goddess mythical names on our list. Hera was the queen of the gods and the wife of Zeus.
- Poseidon: Zeus’ brother and the god of water, the seas, storms, and horses.
- Demeter: Zeus’ sister and goddess of the harvest, nature, and the changing seasons.
- Athena: Daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom, crafts, and warfare.
- Apollo: Son of Zeus, the god of light and the sun as well as philosophy, music, art, poetry, truth, masculine beauty, and medicine.
- Artemis: Apollo’s twin sister and goddess of the moon, hunting, the wilderness, virginity, childbirth, and archery.
- Ares: Son of Zeus and god of war. Asking yourself ‘who’s the baddest Greek god?’ It might be this guy.
- Hephaestus: Son of Hera and god of craftsmanship, fire, volcanoes, and invention.
- Aphrodite: Another of Zeus’ daughters, responsible for love, passion, beauty, pleasure, and desire.
- Hermes: Zeus’ son and the winged messenger of the gods.
- Dionysus: Son of Zeus and god of wine, fertility, ecstasy, madness, and the theater.
What are Greek goddesses’ names?
Now for some Greek goddess names!
Here, you’ll see Greek goddesses’ names from across Greece, rulers of everything from flowers to hope, to the stars themselves.
Take your pick.
- Achelois: A moon goddess whose name means “she washes away the pain”.
- Achlys: Greek goddess of eternal night.
- Alextrona: A lesser-known Greek goddess of the sun, linked to the morning sun.
- Ananke: Greek goddess of inevitability.
- Antheia: Goddess of gardens and flowers.
- Apate: Another Greek goddess of flowers and gardens.
- Aphaea: A Greek mother-goddess.
- Até: Greek goddess of mischief and rash decisions.
- Atropos: Greek goddess of fate and destiny, specifically the ending of life ‒ she’s one of the Fates (Moirai), responsible for cutting the thread of a person’s life.
- Brizo: Goddess of sailors.
- Clotho: Another of the three Moirai, Clotho is responsible for spinning the thread of a person’s life.
- Cora: An alternative name for the goddess Persephone.
- Cybele: Greek goddess of caves and mountains, along with nature and wilderness.
- Eileithyia: Greek goddess of childbirth.
- Elpis: The Greek spirit of hope.
- Enyo: Greek goddess of destruction and war.
- Eos: Greek goddess of the dawn.
- Eris: Greek goddess of chaos.
- Gaia: Goddess of earth.
- Harmonia: The daughter of Aphrodite and Ares.
- Hebe: Greek goddess of youth.
- Hemera: Ancient Greek goddess of the day.
- Hestia: Greek goddess of the home, family, and hearth.
- Hygea: Greek goddess of hygiene.
- Iris: A beautiful and popular name after the Greek goddess of rainbows.
- Lachesis: Another of the three Moirai (Fates), Lachesis would measure the thread of human life.
- Mania: Goddess of madness.
- Metis: Greek goddess of wisdom.
- Mnemosyne: Goddess of memory.
- Nemesis: Greek goddess of vengeance.
- Nesoi: Goddess of islands.
- Nyx: Greek goddess of the night, perfect for a baby born under the moon.
- Persephone: Greek goddess of spring and queen of the Underworld.
- Phoebe: Goddess of prophecy and intellect.
- Rhea: A titan and mother of the senior Olympians including Zeus.
- Selene: Greek goddess of the moon.
- Styx: Goddess of the River Styx, the path to the Underworld.
- Tethys: Goddess of rivers and freshwater.
- Thalassa: Goddess of the sea.
- Theia: Greek goddess of the aether.
- Themis: Greek goddess of divine order and law.
- Thetis: Goddess of water, perfect for a baby born by the sea.
Greek goddess names: The Pleiades
The Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas, the titan who held up the world.
As the Greek myth goes, Zeus transformed the daughters into stars to save them from harm ‒ where they became the constellation Pleiades.
Each of the Pleiades’ mythical names is as beautiful and lilting as the next, so if you’re after unusual Greek mythology girls’ names, you’re in the right place.
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- Alcyone: Meaning “central one” or “kingfisher”.
- Celaeno: Meaning “the dark one”.
- Electra: Meaning “shining”.
- Maia: Meaning “mother”.
- Merope: Meaning “turned, shining face” or “bee-eating bird”.
- Sterope: Meaning “flash of lightning”.
- Taygete: Meaning “long-necked”.
Greek mythology names for girls: The Muses
If you think your daughter will be more a bookworm than a warrior, what about one of the nine muses?
While these aren’t Greek goddess names as such, the muses were daughters of Zeus and nymphs, and they were worshiped in ancient Greece as the inspiration for all art and knowledge.
- Calliope: Muse of epic poetry and eloquence.
- Clio: Muse of history and heroic poetry.
- Erato: Muse of romantic poetry.
- Euterpe: Muse of music and known as The Pleasant One.
- Melpomene: Muse of singing and musical harmony, but also tragedy.
- Polyhymnia: Muse of lyric poetry, dance, geometry, and rhetoric.
- Thalia: Muse of comedic theater and poetry.
- Terpsichore: Muse of light poetry and dance, and in some stories, the mother of the Sirens.
- Urania: Muse of astronomy.
More Greek mythology names for girls: The Nereids
The Nereids were sea nymphs who protected sailors and the oceans of the world.
So if you have a nautical link or your little one is born by the sea, how about these poetic Greek mythology girls’ names?
- Actaea: Meaning “loves on the seashore”.
- Agaue: Meaning “good”.
- Amatheia: Meaning “she is sparkling water”.
- Amphinome: Meaning “she of the surrounding pasture”.
- Amphithoe: Meaning “she who moves swiftly around” or “the shouter”.
- Amphitrite: Meaning “sea water”.
- Apseudes: Meaning “truthful”.
- Arethusa: Meaning “swift water”.
- Asia: Meaning “resurrection”.
- Autonoe: Meaning “think for oneself”.
- Beroe: Meaning “from Beirut”.
- Callianassa: Meaning “beautiful queen”.
- Callianeira: Meaning “beautiful water”.
- Calypso: A beautiful nymph from the Odyssey who fell in love with Odysseus when he washed up on her island.
- Ceto: Meaning “sea monster”.
- Clymene: Meaning “fame”.
- Cranto: The meaning of this one is lost to the ages, but we love it as an unusual boys’ name.
- Creneis: Meaning “kindness and life”.
- Cydippe: Meaning “mother of Cleobis”.
- Cymatolege: Meaning “wave-stiller”.
- Cymo: Meaning “wave-goddess”.
- Cymodoce: Meaning “wave-gatherer”.
- Cymothoe: Meaning “wave-swift”.
- Deiopea: Meaning “benefit of the gods”.
- Dero: Meaning “flay”.
- Dexamene: Meaning “powerful one”.
- Dione: From the Greek word dios, meaning ‘of Zeus’, this name effectively means ‘goddess’.
- Doris: A Greek sea nymph, mother of the Nereids.
- Doto: Meaning “giver”.
- Drymo: Meaning “forest”.
- Dynamene: Meaning “bringer”.
- Eione: Meaning “beach strand”.
- Ephyra: Meaning “fiery”.
- Euagore: Meaning “eloquent”.
- Euarne: Meaning “good body”.
- Eucrante: Meaning “bringer of fulfillment”.
- Eudore: Meaning “good gifts”.
- Eulimene: Meaning “good haven”.
- Eumolpe: Meaning “good singer”.
- Eunice: Meaning “good victory”.
- Eupompe: Meaning “good journey”.
- Eurydice: Meaning “good justice”.
- Galene: Meaning “calm weather”.
- Galatea: Meaning “milk-white”.
- Glauce: Meaning “blue-gray”.
- Glauconome: Meaning “lives in the green sea”.
- Halie: Meaning “lives in the sea”.
- Halimede: Meaning “good counsel”
- Hipponoe: Meaning “unruly as a mare”.
- Hippothoe: Meaning “swift as a mare”.
- Iaera: Meaning “honeyed”.
- Ianassa: Meaning “wedded voice”.
- Ianeira: Meaning “lady of the Ionians”.
- Ione: Meaning “violet”.
- Iphianassa: Meaning “strong queen”.
- Laomedeia: Meaning “ruler of the people”.
- Leiagore: Meaning “addressing the people”.
- Leucothoe: Meaning “swift and white”.
- Ligea: Meaning “clear-voiced”.
- Limnoreia: Meaning “salt-marsh”.
- Lycorias: Meaning “yellow-haired”.
- Lysianassa: Meaning “redeeming mistress”.
- Maera: Meaning “sparkle”.
- Melite: Meaning “honey-sweet”.
- Menippe: Meaning “courageous mare”.
- Nausithoe: Meaning “swift ships”.
- Neaera: Meaning “newly rising”.
- Nemertes: Meaning “unerring” or “truthful”.
- Neomeris: Meaning “new sea”.
- Nesaea: Meaning “dweller on islands”.
- Neso: Meaning “island”.
- Opis: Meaning “sighting”.
- Oreithyia: Meaning “mountain-rager”.
- Panope: Meaning “all-seeing”.
- Panopea: Meaning “all-seeing”.
- Pasithea: Meaning “relaxation”.
- Pherusa: Meaning “bringer”.
- Phyllodoce: Meaning “sweet leaf”.
- Plexaure: Meaning “whipping wind”.
- Ploto: Meaning “wealth-giver”.
- Polynoe: Meaning “thoughtful”.
- Polynome: Meaning “many pastured”.
- Pontomedusa: Meaning “sea-queen”.
- Pontoporeia: Meaning “seafarer”.
- Pronoe: Meaning “provident”.
- Proto: Meaning “first”.
- Protomedeia: Meaning “first ruler”.
- Psamathe: Meaning “sand goddess”.
- Sao: Meaning “rescuer”.
- Speio: Meaning “lives in caves”.
- Thaleia: Meaning “flourishing”.
- Themisto: Meaning “belonging to the law”.
- Thoe: Meaning “swift”.
- Xantho: Meaning “golden-haired”.
What are Greek god names for boys?
Now for the boys!
Here are some mighty and awe-inspiring Greek god names for males, perfect for your little wonder.
- Aeolus: God of winds.
- Αion: Greek god of eternity.
- Aristaeus: God of bee-keeping and fruit trees.
- Asclepius: Greek god of medicine.
- Atlas: The titan who was forced to hold up the sky to stop it from falling.
- Attis: Greek god of vegetation and rebirth.
- Boreas: Another Greek god of the wind, known as the North Wind.
- Chaos: Greek god of the void and the beginning of all life.
- Coeus: God of the mind and intellect.
- Chronos: Greek god of time.
- Cronus: God of the harvest.
- Deimos: God of fear.
- Eros: God of love.
- Eurus: Yet another Greek god of the wind, Eurus was the East Wind.
- Glaucus: Greek god of the sea who started life as a humble fisherman.
- Hades: God of the Underworld.
- Helios: God of the sun and twin brother of Selene, goddess of the moon.
- Hesperus: Greek god of the evening star.
- Hymenaios: God of marriage and feasts.
- Hyperion: A titan who ruled over the sun and light.
- Hypnos: Greek god of sleep.
- Iapetus: God of mortal life.
- Kratos: Greek god of strength and power.
- Momus: God of satire, writers, and poets.
- Nereus: God of the sea.
- Notus: Greek god of the South Wind.
- Oceanus: Greek god of the sea.
- Ourea: God of mountains.
- Pan: Greek god of wilderness and shepherds.
- Phosphorus: Greek god of the morning star.
- Pontus: God of the sea.
- Priapus: Greek god of fertility.
- Prometheus: Greek god of forethought.
- Tartarus: The original god of the Underworld.
- Thanatos: Greek God of death.
- Triton: Greek messenger god of the sea.
- Zephyr: God of the west wind, this is a great choice for bringing nature and myth together. And a cool Z name too! You’re welcome.
What is a mythical name for a girl?
If strong female Greek mythology names are what you’re after, what about one of the names of the Amazons, the famous tribe of female warriors?
Most were killed in the Trojan War or during the 12 Labors of Heracles, although two – Aelia and Pantariste – fought Heracles and survived.
Very few of the Amazons are named more than once, so we don’t know much about the meaning behind their mythical names, but isn’t it cool enough to be called for some of the most badass women in mythology?
- Alcippe: Meaning “strong horse”.
- Aelia: Meaning “sunlight”.
- Agave: Meaning “noble”.
- Alke: Meaning “courage”.
- Asteria: Meaning “star”.
- Deianira: Meaning “capable of great destruction”.
- Dioxippe: Meaning “Amazonian”.
- Eriboea: Meaning “from Boia”.
- Euryale: Meaning “far-roaming”.
- Evandre: Meaning “good man”.
- Lysippe: Meaning “she who lets loose the horses”.
- Melanippe: Meaning “black mare”.
- Molpadia: Meaning “death song”.
- Mytilene: Meaning “forested”.
- Pantariste: Meaning “for all”.
- Tecmessa: Meaning “woman who makes”.
- Thermodosa: Meaning “warm gift”.
- Xanthe: Meaning “yellow”.
More unusual Greek myth names for girls
There are so many characters in ancient Greek stories that it’s impossible to name them all.
But if you haven’t seen a Greek mythology name you like so far, how about one of these unusual possibilities:
- Cassandra: The Trojan princess who was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo.
- Larisa: A beautiful nymph who had three children with Poseidon.
- Circe: Pronounced ‘SUR-see’, Circe was a sorceress who could turn humans into animals.
- Keres: Greek spirits who were daughters of Nyx, the goddess of the night.
- Pallas: Linked to Athena, which means wisdom.
What is a mythical name for a boy?
Now for some Greek mythology names based on the heroes of legend.
The gods may be at the pinnacle of Greek myth, but they’re certainly not the only characters in these stories.
So let’s look at some other cool names from Greek mythology – the heroes and heroines who don’t have a seat on Mount Olympus.
- Achilles: The great hero of the Trojan War (if you can ignore the weakness of his heel).
- Adonis: A beautiful young shepherd loved by Aphrodite.
- Ajax: Another hero famed for his strength and bravery.
- Charon: The ferryman of the River Styx who guides souls to the Underworld.
- Diomedes: Friend to Odysseus and a great warrior. His name means ‘to plan’ or ‘to think’.
- Heracles: Famous for his tenacious strength.
- Jason: This name is more familiar than the others on this list, but Jason was originally the hero who led the Argonauts to find the Golden Fleece.
- Leander: Devoted lover of Hero, who was one of Aphrodite’s priestesses.
- Lykos: Meaning ‘wolf’, this name was given to several characters in Greek myths.
- Nestor: King of Pylos and one of the Argonauts who was famed for his wisdom.
- Myles: King of Laconia, and another of our favorite modern-sounding greek mythology baby boy names.
- Odysseus: The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus’ journey back to his home in Ithaca after the war.
- Oneiroi: Greek demons who represented dreams.
- Perseus: One of the greatest Greek heroes, Perseus slayed the gorgons and founded the city of Mycenae, where the story of the Iliad begins.
- Priam: The king of Troy during the Trojan War.
- Theseus: Another Greek all-star, this time the founder of ancient Athens.
What is a cool Greek name?
If you’re after a cool Greek mythology name to fill your little one with confidence, how about these quirky and uncommon Greek mythology names based on Greek gods?
Who is Greek god of dogs?
- Cerberus: Greek god of death represented by a dog.
- Crius: Greek god of domestic animals and constellations.
- Hecate: Greek goddess of crossroads, magic, and dogs.
Is there a Greek god of space?
- Aether: Greek god of air, space, and the heavens.
- Erebus: Greek god of darkness.
- Uranus: God of the heavens.
What is the coolest Greek god name?
So what is the coolest Greek god name?
Well, that’s a tough question ‒ coolness is all about confidence, so here are some Greek god and goddess names that we think inspire greatness and self-assurance:
- Astraea: Goddess of the stars.
- Bia: Goddess of energy and power.
- Caerus: God of luck.
- Kotys: Close to Dionysus, Kotys was a Greek goddess of revelry and parties.
- Morpheus: Greek god of dreams.
- Nike: Goddess of victory Just do it!
- Peitho: Greek goddess of persuasion.
- Pheme: Goddess of fame.
- Plutus: God of wealth.
- Tyche: Greek goddess of fortune.
- Zelus: Greek god of dedication and passion.
There you have it ‒ our mega-list of Greek mythology names, including Greek god names for males and Greek goddess names for females, along with monikers from myth and legend.
See any you like? Why not share them with the other moms-to-be on Peanut?
Still on the hunt for the perfect baby name?
You can find a list of modern Greek baby names here, and here for more baby names with cool origins and meanings.