Greek Mythology Names: A Comprehensive Guide to Meaning and Origins

Delving into the rich tapestry of Greek mythology, we uncover a treasure trove of captivating names, each carrying deep meaning and resonance. From gods and goddesses to heroes and monsters, these names offer a glimpse into the ancient Greek worldview and its profound connection to nature, fate, and the human condition. This extensive list explores the origins and meanings of prominent figures in Greek mythology, revealing the stories and symbolism woven into these timeless names.
1. **Aphrodite:** Meaning "born of foam," the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.
2. **Apollo:** The god of music, poetry, light, prophecy, healing, plague, and archery. His name is derived from the Greek word "apollôn" which means "destroyer."
3. **Ares:** The god of war, violence, and bloodshed. His name comes from the Greek word "arês" meaning "to fit" or "to destroy."
4. **Artemis:** The goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, and the moon. Her name is derived from the Greek word "artemis" meaning "whole," "healthy," or "unharmed."
5. **Athena:** The goddess of wisdom, courage, justice, and warfare. Her name comes from the Greek word "athênê" meaning "from Athens."
6. **Atlas:** The Titan condemned to hold up the sky. His name is derived from the Greek word "atlas" meaning "to bear" or "to endure."
7. **Cronus:** The Titan who ruled during the Golden Age. His name comes from the Greek word "kronos" meaning "time."
8. **Demeter:** The goddess of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest. Her name is derived from the Greek word "dêmêtêr" meaning "mother earth."
9. **Dionysus:** The god of wine, fertility, theatre, and religious ecstasy. His name is derived from the Greek word "dionyssos" meaning "twice born."
10. **Eros:** The god of love and desire. His name is derived from the Greek word "eros" meaning "desire" or "passion."
11. **Hades:** The god of the underworld. His name is derived from the Greek word "hades" meaning "unseen" or "invisible."
12. **Hephaestus:** The god of fire, metalworking, and craft. His name comes from the Greek word "hêphaistos" meaning "to kindle" or "to burn."
13. **Hera:** The goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, and family. Her name is derived from the Greek word "hêrê" meaning "protector."
14. **Hermes:** The messenger of the gods, god of commerce, travel, thieves, and athletes. His name comes from the Greek word "hermes" meaning "heap."
15. **Hestia:** The goddess of the hearth, home, and family. Her name is derived from the Greek word "hestia" meaning "hearth."
16. **Hypnos:** The god of sleep and dreams. His name is derived from the Greek word "hypnos" meaning "sleep."
17. **Nike:** The goddess of victory. Her name is derived from the Greek word "nikê" meaning "victory."
18. **Pan:** The god of the wild, shepherds, flocks, and rustic music. His name is derived from the Greek word "pan" meaning "all" or "every."
19. **Persephone:** The queen of the underworld, goddess of spring and vegetation. Her name is derived from the Greek word "persephonê" meaning "she who brings destruction."
20. **Poseidon:** The god of the sea, earthquakes, horses, and storms. His name is derived from the Greek word "poseidon" meaning "earth shaker."
21. **Zeus:** The king of the gods, god of the sky, thunder, lightning, law, order, and justice. His name is derived from the Greek word "zeus" meaning "bright sky."
22. **Achilles:** The greatest Greek hero of the Trojan War. His name comes from the Greek word "akhilles" meaning "pain."
23. **Ajax:** A Greek hero known for his strength and courage during the Trojan War. His name is derived from the Greek word "ajax" meaning "eagle."
24. **Andromeda:** A princess who was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. Her name is derived from the Greek words "andros" meaning "man" and "medousa" meaning "ruling."
25. **Cassandra:** A Trojan princess gifted with the power of prophecy, but cursed to never be believed. Her name is derived from the Greek word "kassandra" meaning "light of man."
26. **Circe:** A powerful sorceress who transforms men into animals. Her name is derived from the Greek word "kirke" meaning "falcon."
27. **Hector:** A Trojan prince and warrior known for his bravery and loyalty. His name is derived from the Greek word "hektor" meaning "holder."
28. **Helen:** The most beautiful woman in the world, whose abduction sparked the Trojan War. Her name is derived from the Greek word "helene" meaning "light" or "torch."
29. **Hercules:** A demigod known for his incredible strength and courage. His name is derived from the Greek word "herakles" meaning "glory of Hera."
30. **Icarus:** A young man who flew too close to the sun with wings of feathers and wax. His name is derived from the Greek word "ikaros" meaning "wax."
31. **Jason:** The leader of the Argonauts who sailed in search of the Golden Fleece. His name is derived from the Greek word "iasôn" meaning "healer."
32. **Medusa:** A Gorgon with snakes for hair who could turn men to stone with her gaze. Her name is derived from the Greek word "medousa" meaning "protector."
33. **Midas:** A king who was given the power to turn everything he touched into gold. His name is derived from the Greek word "midas" meaning "ruler."
34. **Odysseus:** A cunning Greek king who was the hero of Homer's Odyssey. His name is derived from the Greek word "odyssêus" meaning "angry" or "hating."
35. **Pandora:** A woman who opened a box containing all the evils of the world. Her name is derived from the Greek words "pan" meaning "all" and "dora" meaning "gift."
36. **Perseus:** A demigod who slew Medusa. His name is derived from the Greek word "perseos" meaning "destroyer."
37. **Prometheus:** A Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity. His name is derived from the Greek words "pro" meaning "before" and "metheus" meaning "thought."
38. **Scylla:** A monstrous sea creature with six heads and twelve feet. Her name is derived from the Greek word "skylla" meaning "shark."
39. **Sisyphus:** A king who was condemned to roll a boulder uphill for eternity. His name is derived from the Greek word "sisyphos" meaning "wise."
40. **Thetis:** A sea nymph and the mother of Achilles. Her name is derived from the Greek word "thetis" meaning "goddess."
41. **Tithonus:** A Trojan prince who was granted immortality but not eternal youth. His name is derived from the Greek word "tithonos" meaning "man of honour."
42. **Trojan War:** The ten-year war between the Greeks and Trojans, sparked by the abduction of Helen. The word "Trojan" comes from the Greek word "troia" meaning "city of Troy."
43. **Typhon:** A monstrous giant who was the most fearsome of all monsters. His name is derived from the Greek word "typhon" meaning "storm wind."
44. **Zues:** The name "Zues" is the Dorian dialect of Zeus.
45. **Cerberus:** The three-headed guard dog of the underworld. The name "Cerberus" comes from the Greek word "kerberos" meaning "spotted" or "dark."
46. **Chiron:** A centaur who was a wise teacher and healer. His name comes from the Greek word "kheirôn" meaning "hand" or "arm."
47. **Eurydice:** The wife of Orpheus who was brought back from the underworld but lost again. Her name is derived from the Greek words "eurys" meaning "wide" and "dike" meaning "justice."
48. **Minos:** A king of Crete who was known for his justice. His name is derived from the Greek word "minos" meaning "powerful."
49. **Narcissus:** A handsome young man who fell in love with his own reflection. His name is derived from the Greek word "narcissos" meaning "daffodil."
50. **Nyx:** The goddess of night. Her name is derived from the Greek word "nyx" meaning "night."
51. **Orpheus:** A musician who travelled to the underworld to bring back his wife Eurydice. His name is derived from the Greek word "orpheus" meaning "dark" or "shadow."
52. **Pegasus:** A winged horse. His name is derived from the Greek word "pegasos" meaning "springing" or "leaping."
53. **Phoenix:** A mythical bird that is reborn from its ashes. His name is derived from the Greek word "phoinix" meaning "red" or "purple."
54. **Styx:** A river in the underworld that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead. His name is derived from the Greek word "styx" meaning "hate."
55. **Thanatos:** The god of death. His name is derived from the Greek word "thanatos" meaning "death."
56. **Tyche:** The goddess of fortune and luck. Her name is derived from the Greek word "tyche" meaning "luck" or "fortune."
57. **Amphitrite:** The wife of Poseidon, the goddess of the sea. Her name is derived from the Greek word "amphitritê" meaning "she who surrounds."
58. **Hecate:** The goddess of witchcraft, magic, ghosts, and necromancy. Her name is derived from the Greek word "hekate" meaning "far-reaching."
59. **Iris:** The goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods. Her name is derived from the Greek word "iris" meaning "rainbow."
60. **Nemesis:** The goddess of retribution and vengeance. Her name is derived from the Greek word "nemesis" meaning "retribution."