Names by origin
Greek mythology baby names
Artemis is up +250% in searches this year — and she brought the whole pantheon with her. Here are the god, goddess, and hero names that actually work on a modern birth certificate.
Why mythology is mainstream now
A generation raised on Percy Jackson is now naming babies. Mythological names deliver what 2026 parents want most: meaning with a story attached, instant recognizability without ranking in the top 100, and a grown-up gravitas that invented names can't match. The trick is choosing figures whose stories you're happy to retell at bedtime.
Goddess names for girls
ArtemisGoddess of the hunt & wilderness; this year's fastest riser
SeleneGoddess of the moon; sleek Luna alternative
AthenaGoddess of wisdom and strategy
IrisGoddess of the rainbow; doubles as a flower name
TheaTitaness of light; two friendly syllables
EosGoddess of the dawn; ultra-minimal
PersephoneSpring and the underworld; dramatic but wearable (Percy!)
CalliopeMuse of epic poetry; nickname Callie
God & hero names for boys
ApolloGod of light, music, and prophecy
AtlasTitan who held up the sky; strength embodied
OrionThe great hunter; now a constellation
AjaxFearless Trojan War hero; punchy single syllable feel
HectorTroy's noblest defender; long history as a real name
Evander“Good man”; Arcadian hero, soft sound
Leander“Lion-man”; swam the Hellespont for love
PerseusMonster-slayer; Percy Jackson's namesake
Choose the story, not just the sound
| Name | The story you'll retell | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|
| Artemis | Independent protector of the wild | None major — story is a feature |
| Persephone | Spring's return; resilience | Underworld chapter needs framing |
| Atlas | Carries the heavens; endurance | “Carrying the world” can read heavy |
| Icarus | Flight and ambition | The ending — most parents pass |
| Medea / Narcissus | — | Stories overpower the sound; avoid |
Tip: gods used as first names (Apollo, Artemis) still surprise some grandparents. A conventional middle name — Apollo James, Artemis Claire — gives the child an easy exit ramp they will probably never use.