I'd totally use this as a character name if it didn't look so much like "Onion". Super unfortunate as I love the sound of this name, plus the association with the constellation.
Not only does it sound like Onion but it also sounds like Oreo and Oral.
β Anonymous User 8/7/2023, edited 8/9/2023
-7
Orion Samuelson (born March 31, 1934) is a retired American radio news anchor who worked at radio station WGN in Chicago as an agriculture reporter from 1960 until his retirement in December 2020. He was notable for breaking the news of the assassination of John F. Kennedy to the public in November 1963.
I would have liked to have chosen this name for myself if it were not for Ryan Madison. I know they are not exactly the same but super close.In the end of the day it is an incredible name. Modern and cute.
I pronounce it O'Ryan. And I like it only on boys. Can't believe people made this name unisex too but still happy most people know that it's a masculine name.
β Anonymous User 5/31/2021
1
I have named my son Orien. We Pronounce it o-ri-en although everyone who first reads it pronounces it Ori-en. We choose to spell his name Orien because Orion looks similar to Onion. I feel my son will have trouble with his name all his life but I love it. It's strong it's powerful and overall a great name. We live in a small town in the UK and no one likes his name but I like it like that because he will always be the only one around here.
It looks nice. It seems nice. It is nice, but the English pronunciation has to ruin every awesome name. The Classical Greek pronunciation is great, though.
My granddaughter is named Orion. She is 5 years old now. I donβt know of any other Orionβs, but I think itβs a pretty name, though I feel sheβll go through life being asked about its origin etc.
β Anonymous User 8/19/2019
-4
I believe Orion is a really cool name. Partly because my name is Orion, I have never met another Orion and Iβm reading all these comments and itβs weird, lol. How many Orions are on here, lol. And how many of you have been called Onion before, lol. Please upvote if any of these apply to you hahaha.
This is weird... I've only ever met around 3 other Orion's face-2-face and I hardly ever read my name. I'm starting to get weird-ed out. Mr. Stark, I don't feel so good...
According to A Dictionary of the Proper Names of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, the name Orion means βa foolβ. I still really love this name because of the associations it brings to mind for me but the meaning makes me think twice.
I am a 74 year old grandmother. My name is Orion. It was difficult growing up with this name. People would make fun of it when I was in school. Coming from a small community people didn't know why I had a name as strange as Orion. The story behind my name as passed on by my parents is that I was named after the daughter of an air force officer who came to our home during the second world war. I used to hate my name but the more I researched it the more I came to love it. I pronounce it Or e on? Anyway, as I grow older I have to accept the fact that there won't be another Orion in my family. I am a strong woman and I think I know why.
I've known since grade eight I'd have a boy named Orion. I met this little boy once and he was the cutest little boy, and his name was Orion. I found it different, unique and something you do not hear everyday. I'm glad I did name him Orion, every professional person he comes in contact with, mostly Doctors, always comment on how cool and special and different his name is. It's a wonderful name if you want something of everyday and are into astrology and it's not "or-ee-In it's pronounced OH- RI ("long i)- and yes my son has been called Onion and I tell him to ignore it and remember how wonderful his name really is.
β Anonymous User 11/28/2016
6
I named my son, Orion back in 2006. I have always loved the name and it is not common from where I'm from. Actually, my son is the only one with this name that I have ever heard. I didn't get it from Greek mythology, like a lot of people think when they hear his name. Some have even asked if I got it from the Metallica song or even Men in Black (the cats name). I got it from a Disney movie when I was like 12-13 and said I would name my first son Orion and I did. The Disney movie was, 'Zenon the girl from the 21st Century', it was the sequel that had a little boy named, Orion and that's where I got it. Still to this day, I love my son's name. All 3 of my kids names are unique. My youngest son's name has no meaning at all because I can't find any meaning to his name, at ALL. When my son was first born, people were pronouncing it wrong at his doctors office calling him or-e-on. It drove me crazy, it is definitely pronounced o-ry-en or o-Ryan. It's funny, my friend has a son named Ryan Lee and my son is Orion Lee. We have to make sure we get that 'O' in his name when they are together. Lol. My brother in law is also Ryan. But, I love the name Orion and am glad that I named my son Orion and have never regretted the decision to name him this. When I was pregnant everyone told me to give him a strong manly name and the first name to pop in my head was, Spartacus. Everyone said, hell no, to that name. When I said, I have always loved the name Orion and have said I would use it since I was 11-12, everyone thought it was a great name. If my daughter would have been a boy, her name would of been Orion. My son loves his name. All his friends have nicknamed him, Oreo and he likes it. But I think Orion is a wonderful name and now my son is about to be 11, still with his unique name that we love. He was my valentine baby. Some people say I should have named him something else because his birthday was on Valentine's Day, but I would NOT be deterred from the name I picked years ago for my first son.
My son's name is Orion, which I pronounce o-RI-on, & I am so happy I did. Nobody I knew liked the name, but it has special meaning to me. My husband & I both fell in love with it the moment I said it out loud. We had 7 months to choose a name, & could NOT agree on one. My poor boy had no name when I went in for my scheduled C-section. It was 1-21-09. Our back up name was Alexander. After I had him, it was difficult. My husband was home with my daughter & I was alone.. stressed, because he had no name. Plus he was having trouble feeding. I was changing him that first night & was saying "Alexander" & "Alex" & "Xander"; none felt right at all. He kept fussing & I was having the hardest time getting this diaper on! Finally, I said "Orion". He slowly calmed down. I said it again, & he calmed down all the way. AND, it seemed like we finally clicked together! Special reason I chose that name. My mom & I found that constellation & learned about it when I was in the second grade. She had passed away in 2005, 6 months before her 1st grandchild was born. So, it's a special name. I LOVE IT & AM SO GLAD WE NAMED OUR SON ORION! I had no idea it was also used as a girls' name. Also, Orion is the next space shuttle thing. (I think to get to Mars?)
Orion is a prominent constellation, sometimes better known as Orion's Belt. It was named after Orion, a hunter from Greek mythology. Its three brightest stars are Betelgeuse (Orion's right shoulder), Rigel (Orion's left foot) and Bellatrix (Orion's left shoulder). The stars that make up the 'belt' are Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka.
People, please stop naming your daughters this. Orion is a masculine name. While parents for many decades have thought it clever to impose boy names on girls, the trend has only ever been irritating.That said, Orion is a great name. It invokes images of strength and masculinity.
β Anonymous User 10/12/2015
14
My name is Orion. I absolutely love it. It was frustrating earlier in my life having the constant mispronunciations, but I found it built character and broke down ego, which I've found to be very synonymous with the character Orion in Greek mythology, as in many interpretations he is very prideful.I learned to pronounce my name differently, and in line with the Akkadian etymology, I introduce myself as "Or-ion" or "Aur-ion." I think people put too much emphasis on the O and I, because it should have a continuous flow. Aur-ion. The OR/AUR has always made me think of Light, aura, aurora, ori(light.) I was just surprised to see everyone caught on O-rye-en and O-ree-un. I prefer Or-ion. Just a preference I developed living my life with the name.
β Anonymous User 3/10/2015
6
We named our daughter Orion - she is now 7 months old. I agree with everything the poster above me has said! Loved your comments!
One of my favorite (and easiest) constellations to find. Strong meaning and great story. If I ever use this I would use it for a boy and name him Orion Sky or Orion Hunter.
I absolutely LOVE this name, and I might consider it as a middle name for a son. The only real problem is that people might get confused on how to spell it, or they might pronounce it OR-ee-en. That is why I believe it would make a better middle name.
I like the sound of this name and the fact that it starts with O. There is a sex shop called Orion where I live though so that kind of ruined it for me.
Great name for a boy. Maybe I'm just tired of parents making every name unisex though. Regardless, it's a very pretty name. I imagine a cute little dark haired boy playing in the snow whenever I hear it.
β Anonymous User 4/25/2010
3
This is a cool name, but it happens to also be my brand of deodorant, so I can't use it.
β Anonymous User 2/27/2010
1
I really think it is a pretty name for a girl. I would love to name my child Orion.
β Anonymous User 9/3/2009
-8
Another version of the myth of Orion is that he accidentally (or maybe intentionally) looked upon Artemis--with whom he was enamoured--and some nymphs bathing, and, being the virgin goddess, she was angered by this and killed him.
β Anonymous User 7/16/2009
2
In the United States, at least, Orion is also occasionally pronounced OR-ee-ən. The city of Lake Orion, Michigan, uses this pronunciation, as does Orion Samuelson, best-known agricultural broadcaster in the country and Radio Hall of Fame member.
Orion was a favoured hunting companion of the virgin goddess Artemis. He was killed a number of different ways, depending on the area in Greece. One way was that he declared he would kill all the animals on Earth, which angered Gaia (goddess of the earth). She sent a giant scorpion after him. The goddesses were upset by his death and pleaded with Zeus to raise him to the stars, which he did. He also raised the scorpion (the constellation Scorpio) to commemorate his death. Another legend is that Apollo was angry at Orion for distracting his twin, Artemis, and set Orion up as a target. He then challenged Artemis to hit the target, which was too far away for her to recognize as Orion. She hit the target with perfect accuracy and when she went to look at her handiwork, she saw her love, dead. She was very upset and raised Orion to the heavens so he may live forever. A third legend is that Artemis was jealous of Orion's affection for Eos, goddess of the dawn, and killed him herself of her own will.
I think Orion is a really cool name. I probably wouldn't use it though as it may be a little too cool. It may sound goofy on anyone over 35.
β Anonymous User 11/25/2008
-1
I think Orion is a wonderful name for a boy. It kind of looks like onion though at first glance.
β Anonymous User 8/13/2008
3
I think that Orion is beginning to make its mark as a unisex name as of recent times. I've met a man and a girl both with this name (though it was one of the girls middle names). This name is lovely for either sex in my eyes.
β Anonymous User 6/16/2008
-4
In the classic fantasy novel "The King of Elfland's Daughter" by Lord Dunsany, Orion is the son of Lirazel, an elf princess, and Alveric, a mortal man. Lirazel named him Orion after the constellation, because she loved the stars so much (there were no stars in Elfland), and Alveric said that Orion was a good name, because Orion was a hunter, and Alveric loved hunting. Orion was three years old by the time Lirazel named him, as she couldn't pick a name before then. I think Orion is a marvelous name, I've always loved it! I like it as a variant of Ryan, as well. I know the names have nothing to do with one another, but Orion sounds like Ryan with an O in front. Orion is a wonderful, I love it!
It is a constellation and its orgin came from a Greek myth. It is said that Apollo sent the scorpion to Orion sending Orion to his death. Orion was Apollo's twin sister, Artemis's companion, which made Apollo very jealous, resulting in the scorpion being sent. Artemis forgave her brother when he helped her put Orion up into the sky. That is how Orion became a constellation.
I love the name. I plan one day, if I have a child and that child is a boy, to name him Orion. It reminds me of my guardian that watches upon me from the night sky and puts me at peace. In Greek mythology Orion dies and not so with justice but he was a great companion and he enchants me every day.
In Greek, the name would have been pronounced o-ree-on, as the sound of ie (as given by this site's pronunciation key) was spelled "ai", whereas the u sound did not exist, making the modern English pronunciation originally impossible.Also, the light about a person is spelled "aura" and derived from a Latin word of the same spelling, meaning "breath".
A friend of a friend was named Aurian, and every time my friend would talk about him at first, I thought she was saying 'Ryan'. He must have gotten a lot of confused looks growing up, and probably still does. Cool name, though - especially spelled the way he spelled it!
We named our daughter Orion, because it is an ancient word from Sumerian and Aramaic that means light. That's why so many stars and things related to light bear parts or the whole name of Orion as a name. An example, is the "Ora" of a person or light around a person or "ray" of light. In modern Hebrew Or and Orion still mean light and it is both male and female name.
β Anonymous User 7/16/2007
2
I've also been pronouncing this name OAR-ee-on, and I personally think it sounds better that way, but the other pronunciation is okay, too.
β Anonymous User 6/9/2007
1
Reminds me too much of Ryan, even though they have nothing to do with each other. Isn't O'Ryan even an Irish surname?
β Anonymous User 5/30/2007
2
Some etymologists believe that if the name is truly derived from the Greek language, it means "mountain man." If it is of Akkadian origin, it means "light of heaven."
β Anonymous User 5/25/2007
3
I really like this name, and I don't know why. I discovered it on this website, and I love it! It has a unique sound, is uncommon, and is mythologic.
I like this name, and obviously it has nothing to do with Ryan, but it seems too much like you're trying to make a slightly different and therefore 'unique' version of Ryan.
β Anonymous User 4/9/2007
1
I feel stupid. I've always been pronouncing it OAR-ee-on. I prefer it that way, too.
There is a rug company called Orian Rugs Inc. They pronounce it OAR-ee-on so I guess the "a" vs. the "o" makes the difference. I personally prefer the sound of the rug company's name instead of the Greek mythology name.
This name is the BEST! I would prefer it if it was spelled like Aurion. I think that looks better. This name is so fantastic it might even have overtaken Kai as my favourite boys name!
Can also be pronounced as o-REE-un, that is how I pronounce it anyway and I wish it would be that way. I love Orion. It sounds so alluring I can't help but imagine an attractive, masculine figure from Greek mythology or something similiar, it's just so classically gorgeous, but never old-fashioned. I'd really recommend this name.
β Anonymous User 6/4/2006
1
I think Orion is a great name for a boy. I might even name my child that.
Artemis didn't send the scorpion that killed Orion. Orion was a son of Poseidon who was a great hunter, and he and Artemis were great friends because both loved to hunt. Artemis even considered marrying Orion, but Apollo, her twin, got jealous, so he sent the scorpion after Orion. Artemis was angry, naturally, but it was she who hung Orion in the sky.