Gender Feminine
Scripts Ἰφιγένεια(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced Pron. /iː.pʰi.ɡé.neː.a/(Classical Greek)  [key·simplify]

Meaning & History

Derived from Greek ἴφιος (iphios) meaning "strong, stout" and γενής (genes) meaning "born". In Greek myth Iphigenia was the daughter of King Agamemnon. When her father offended Artemis it was divined that the only way to appease the goddess was to sacrifice Iphigenia. Just as Agamemnon was about to sacrifice his daughter she was magically transported to the city of Taurus.

In Christian tradition this was also the name of a legendary early saint, the daughter of an Ethiopian king Egippus.

Related Names

Rootsiphios + genes
VariantIphigenia
Other Languages & CulturesEfigênia(Portuguese (Brazilian)) Efigénia(Portuguese (European))

Categories

Entry updated January 21, 2022