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Help[Opinions] Popularity of Mythological Names
Although I don’t particular like most of the names that are popular at the moment (looking at you Alfie and Mabel), I get it. They are a reminisce of our (great)grandparents. But why are over-the-top Mythological names suddenly a thing? Did they become popular because of a movie or book? (I haven’t read a newly published book in a long while) Harry Potter is the only thing I can think of, but that’s too long ago I think.
The names that surprise me most are Atlas, Orion, Apollo and Athena.
Not all names below are from my mythology, but I think do have the same ambiance? (If that’s a way to describe it)
Artemis
Orion
Allegra
Bodhi
Zion
Persephone
Ophelia, Octavia, Ottilie
Athena
Hestia
Theseus
Phaedra
Calliope, Calypso
Gaia
Orion, Odin
Atlas, Apollo
formerly Belphoebe
⭐️
I am in the mood
to dissolve
in the sky.
- Virginia Woolf
The names that surprise me most are Atlas, Orion, Apollo and Athena.
Not all names below are from my mythology, but I think do have the same ambiance? (If that’s a way to describe it)
Artemis
Orion
Allegra
Bodhi
Zion
Persephone
Ophelia, Octavia, Ottilie
Athena
Hestia
Theseus
Phaedra
Calliope, Calypso
Gaia
Orion, Odin
Atlas, Apollo
⭐️
I am in the mood
to dissolve
in the sky.
- Virginia Woolf
This message was edited 4/15/2024, 12:53 AM
Replies
Am surprised by Atlas, not particularly attractive and not a very interesting character comparitivly. Some are quite attractive though, and people seem to be in a desperate search for what they call unique names - a word whose definition is clearly misunderstood. Orion has been used forever, it was the name of Mark Twain's brother nearly 200 years ago, and there was an Olympic skater called Apollo a generation ago, and some like Penelope or Jason were always lurking, especially among certain ethnicities. Personally know a 20 something Athena of Greek extraction, and a small boy whose mn is Odin whose dad is Norwegian. Guessing these are 'safe' yet 'edgy' names, made safer by a growing pop culture familiarity.
While I would be surprised to see an up tick in names like Demeter and Clytemnestra, not surprised by Juno or Freya. Personally have names like Circe and Calypso well down on my go list.
While I would be surprised to see an up tick in names like Demeter and Clytemnestra, not surprised by Juno or Freya. Personally have names like Circe and Calypso well down on my go list.
Rick Riordan is even more popular than he used to be, if you're looking for an influence along the lines of Harry Potter. I've always liked mythological names but I don't know why they got more popular recently.
I met an Atlas recently. Years ago I met people with these names: Orion, Isis, Athena, Gaia, Freya, Hera, Leda. And I've met animals named Zeus, Artemis, Apollo, Io, and probably more that I forgot. My cat is named Alecto. And I've definitely met humans and animals named Penelope.
There are also the ones that have been popular for a long time - Cassandra, Jason, Helen, Chloe, Daphne, Bridget, etc.
I like a lot, including these (mostly Greek here, and I'm including many that I'd only use or suggest as middle names):
Orion, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Hera, Gaia, Persephone, Poseidon, Theseus, Hestia, Calliope, Phaedra, Freya, Odin, Thor, Hypatia, Ophelia, Octavia, Cordelia,
I met an Atlas recently. Years ago I met people with these names: Orion, Isis, Athena, Gaia, Freya, Hera, Leda. And I've met animals named Zeus, Artemis, Apollo, Io, and probably more that I forgot. My cat is named Alecto. And I've definitely met humans and animals named Penelope.
There are also the ones that have been popular for a long time - Cassandra, Jason, Helen, Chloe, Daphne, Bridget, etc.
I like a lot, including these (mostly Greek here, and I'm including many that I'd only use or suggest as middle names):
Orion, Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Hera, Gaia, Persephone, Poseidon, Theseus, Hestia, Calliope, Phaedra, Freya, Odin, Thor, Hypatia, Ophelia, Octavia, Cordelia,
This message was edited 4/15/2024, 7:35 PM
Athena and Gaia have been around a while, I think, but I'm glad to see others climbing the charts! I think Greek names are SO cool, and I've had many on my PNL long before they started becoming popular.
Well, if I had had kids on schedule, they would align with the rise of the mythological name, because I was a huge Greek mythology nerd and I suspect a LOT of other people in my generation were as well. Myths, pagan stories, fantasy and magic were important aspects of growing up, and I bet that made an impact on naming culture when they had kids. A lot of people find "epic" or "legendary" status very alluring nowadays and it's probably having an effect on things, which is why names relating to cowboys and outlaws and leaders and heroes and gods are popular. Just my theory!
The HP universe and this Percy Jackson guy are also pretty popular and probably brought a lot of the names into public awareness.
The HP universe and this Percy Jackson guy are also pretty popular and probably brought a lot of the names into public awareness.
I do think Harry Potter was an influence - people who read it as kids are now naming kids. There's also Percy Jackson, Atlas Shrugged, Xena, Star Wars, The Matrix (idk, that's part of why I like Niobe), various comic books and video games, space/science references (Apollo), music (Aurora, Bruno Mars), historical fiction, religious/Christian undertones (Adonai - Adonis), celebrity baby names, some that have been more common already in a different culture, ones with other popular names that sound similar (Ryan - Orion; Atticus - Atlas). The usage of some seems more multi-faceted or complex to me than others. I think there is a tradition of using classical/mythological/pop-culture names already (Diana, Minerva, Iris, Phoebe, Deirdre, etc); new ones are just more noticeable to me, especially as a trend, and rare ones sometimes have a more vintage and/or "larger than life" sound than others. Sometimes they might seem (sort of paradoxically) more appealingly secular to nonreligious people than cultural Christian classics like Mary and less conservative than something like Edward.
I don't get the same vibe from all the names you listed.
I don't get the same vibe from all the names you listed.
This message was edited 4/15/2024, 9:17 AM
I have loved Orion for years, long before it gained popularity with modern parents. I'm glad to see it in the charts, as I would have hesitated to use it myself.
I like Athena, Apollo, Atlas, Zues, Titan, Calypso, Calliope, Persephone, Ophelia, Octavia, Otillie, Zion, and Odin.
I prefer Hercule to Hercules because it sounds a bit more like a human name. Ariadne is another one that people love. I've come to like it. I think that Penelope also has some Greekness to it. I'm unsure about Artemisia but I like Ambrosia much more than Ambrose. Theodosia also gives me the same vibes and is ostentatiously pretty.
I don't like Artemia, Orpheus, Bodhi or the others.
I like Athena, Apollo, Atlas, Zues, Titan, Calypso, Calliope, Persephone, Ophelia, Octavia, Otillie, Zion, and Odin.
I prefer Hercule to Hercules because it sounds a bit more like a human name. Ariadne is another one that people love. I've come to like it. I think that Penelope also has some Greekness to it. I'm unsure about Artemisia but I like Ambrosia much more than Ambrose. Theodosia also gives me the same vibes and is ostentatiously pretty.
I don't like Artemia, Orpheus, Bodhi or the others.
This message was edited 4/15/2024, 6:52 AM
Penelope was the wife of Odysseus (or Ulysses); he was away from home for many years, fighting in the Trojan War and then getting lost on his way home. She was as good as she was beautiful, and her home was filled with men who wanted to marry her, and tried their best to persuade her that her husband was never coming home. She finally agreed that she would marry one of them, after she'd finished the big piece of needlework (weaving probably) that she was busy with. They agreed, and continued to eat her food, drink her wine and quarrel among themselves. And every day she worked hard at her loom ... but every night she silently unravelled it, so she was never going to finish. Happy Ending! Odysseus did come home, got rid of the suitors, and he and Penelope lived happily ever after. Get your tissues ready: when he left for the war, he didn't take his favourite dog with him. It waited, like Penelope, and slept outside on a rubbish dump. When its master came, the old dog got up and greeted him joyfully and then quietly died of old age and happiness.