Save Gender Masculine Usage Greek Scripts Φαέθων(Greek) Pronounced Pron. Fay-e-then [key] Other Forms FormsPHAËTHON Meaning & History From Greek meaning "Shining one". Phaethon was the son of the sun god Helios, who asked to drive the celestial chariot that drove the sun across the sky. After losing control, Zeus killed him with a lightning strike.