Evadne

Meaning: (Good Fortune, Well, Good, Pleasing One, From Greek Ευαδνη (Euadne), which is of unknown meaning, though the first element is derived from Greek ευ (eu) "good". In Greek legend Evadne was the wife of Capaneus. After Capaneus was killed by a lightning bolt sent from Zeus she committed suicide by throwing herself onto his burning body. The name has been used among English speakers since the 17th century.)

Origin: (Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology, Old Greek)

Pronunciation: (eh-VAA-Dneh, iy-VAEDNiy, ee-VAD-nee, ee-VOD-neh)

Gender: Female

I was watching one of those real life crime shows and one of the ladies daughters was named a name similar to this but spelled just a little differently. When I heard it and looked it up this spelling seemed most popular and I instantly liked it. I keep thinking though that I’ve seen or heard this name before or even used it on a character but for the life of me I can’t remember and can’t find any proof to back it up. It’s a beautiful name with a lovely pronunciation. The meanings are divine and the Greek Legend is very interesting if not a bit morbid and sad. It has a nice history of use.

Jacek

Meaning: (Alas, Modern form of Jacenty (yah-TSEN-ti) Polish form of Hyacinthus. Saint Jacenty was a 13^th Century Dominican monk from Krakow who was said to have taken missionary journeys throughout Europe and Asia. Hyacinthus is Latinized form of the Greek name ‘Υακινθος (Hyakinthos), which was derived from the name of the hyacinth flower. In Greek legend Hyakinthos was accidentally killed by Apollo, who caused a lily to arise from his blood. The name was also borne by several early saints, notably a 3rd-century martyr who was killed with his brother Protus.)

Origin: (Polish, Old Greek, Latin, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (YAH-tsek, YAA-SeyK, JAY-sek)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

This was the name of a Lockup Raw World Tour inmate. I like watching Lockup Raw sometimes and there was a World Edition showing prisons in different countries and I was watching it. The guy was obviously not such a great citizen but his name was cool. A good alternative to Jacek or vice versa could be Jace *see on list of posts*.

It has a great history of use and the look and meaning is decent. It has an interesting mythology to the meaning of its forms as well. I think I see a strong determined character being named this.

Lycaste

Meaning: (Orchid, Greek Mythology: The Daughter of the King of Troy, Sister of Helen of Troy.)

Origin: (Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (ly-KASS-tee)

Gender: Female

I was looking up middle name options for a secondary characters two daughters middle names and I wanted it to be an Orchid name. Though I liked this name I went with Lunaria *see on list of posts* and Laelia *see on list of posts* instead. Lycaste is a beautiful looking name with a pretty meaning and an interesting history of use. If you have sister characters it would be cool to have them be named Helen *see on list of posts* and Lycaste, named after the daughters of the King of Troy from Greek Mythology.

I would love to see this name used more often and with authors of Young Adult novels almost always using unique or rare names and using nature related names this would work, just look at Katniss.

Galatea

Meaning: (She who is Milk-White, White as Milk, Greek Mythology: Galatea was a statue loved by the sculptor Pygmalion. She was brought to life for him by Aphrodite. The myth, via G.B Shaws play “Pygmalion,” is the source of the musical “My Fair Lady.”)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (gal-ah-TEE-ah, Gaa-Laa-T-IYaa)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I forget where I saw this. I think this is a lovely but strong name. The look is unique and rare. It has an out of this world look but also a very scholarly look, like I could see a philosopher being named this. So it is a bit of everything, feminine but masculine, fantasy but old world earth, lol! I get so many different vibes from this name. I do love the meanings which are gorgeous and the mythology is very interesting.

Luna

Meaning: (The Moon, Mythology: it was the name of the Roman Goddess of the Moon, frequently depicted driving a white chariot through the sky, who is usually identified with the Greek Goddess Selene, one of the names of Artemis, Goddess of the Moon.)

Origin: (Latin, Italian, Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology)

Pronunciation: (LOO-nah)

Gender: Female

I have put Selena / Selene *see on list of posts* but I have not ever added Luna. Some people will see this name and think Lunatic or think of the Harry Potter character, I see plenty of that on Yahoo Answers. This is a beautiful short name in my opinion. I haven’t always been a huge fan but I do really like it now. I have even decided to use this as one of the twin sister names in an upcoming novel I intend to write. The twins will be Luna and Lumina *see on list of posts*. I think using the Roman Goddesses name versus the Greek Goddess Selene or even Artemis that Luna seems more bohemian and modern. And the meaning The Moon is so nature connected and lovely.

Elysia

Meaning: (Blissful, Struck by Lightening, God’s Oath, and Mythology: From Elysium which is the home of the blessed, known as the “Elysian Fields.”)

Origin: (Latin, Hebrew, Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology)

Pronunciation: (eh-LIHS-iy-aa, eh-LIHZ-iy-ah)

Gender: Female

This reminds of a few other Ely names on this blog but it is separate from them. It has a pretty look and the meanings are beautiful. This could be used if trying to make a comparison to Elysium or Elysian Fields, maybe bringing a characters connection to the myth. Or completely steering away from the meaning and using it for its look alone. Really this name strikes me as a sci-fi / fantasy name so I would love to see a feisty maybe dystopian heroine named this.

Epemetheus

Meaning: (Derived from Greek επιμηθεια (epimetheia) meaning "Hind Sight, Hind Thought". In Greek mythology he was a Titan, the brother of the god of forethought Prometheus.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (ep-ee-mee'-thee-us, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Epemetheus to hear how it is pronounced: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=epimetheus )

Gender: Male, possibly Uni-Sex

I was looking at Greek Mythology names and saw this one. Most have heard of Prometheus but few have seen Epemetheus. I do like the look of this name but the meaning and mythology may give some reason to rethink it but I think there could be a very good reason one might name a character this. I do like it a lot.

Eros

Meaning: (Love, Greek Mythology: Greek God of Love.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (air-os, eer-os, er-ows)

Gender: Male

Over the crazy holiday season they kept showing perfume and cologne ads. One was for a cologne named Eros, after the Greek God apparently. So I decided to add it here. I think is an attractive name with a good look. I would think it is a name that would not fit in the modern era but there are a lot of people with Greek Mythology names. In a novel I would like to see how an author takes to naming a character this.

Eos

Meaning: (Dawn, This was the name of the Greek Goddess of the Dawn, Roman equivalent of Aurora. In Greek Mythology, Eos is a Titaness and the Goddess of the Dawn, who rose each morning from her home at the edge of the Oceanus.)

Origin: (Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek)

Pronunciation: (EE-aws (English), E-os (Ancient Greek), IYaoS)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was watching 2011’s syfy movie Red Faction: Origins, the other day and saw this name. It was the name of one of the towns. It is a simple yet beautiful name. I am also thinking of using this name as a race name for one of my future novels. The meanings are lovely and the mythology is interesting. It is also a nice alternative for those that don’t like the name Aurora.  

Attina

Meaning: (Powerful and Complete, Most famously known as the name of a goddess in Greek Mythology. She is the Goddess of Wisdom, a virgin goddess who was the daughter of Metis and Zeus. Her birth was quite extraordinary, as she is said to have sprung fully armed for war from Zeus's head after he swallowed pregnant Metis.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (A-TEE-na, ah-te-na)

Gender: Female

This is one of The Little Mermaids sister’s names. I was seeing The Little Mermaid DVD special edition advertised and I went into looking into her sister’s names. Attina is a unique name with beautiful strong meanings. It is also a Greek Mythology name with quite an interesting history. The long history might do well and be just the right fit for an author’s character.

Alcyone

Meaning: (Calm, Kingfisher, In Greek myth this name belonged to a daughter of Aeolus and the wife of Ceyx. After her husband was killed in a shipwreck she threw herself into the water, but the Gods saved her and turned them both into Kingfishers. This is also the name of the brightest star of the Pleiades, the seven stars in the constellation Taurus.)

Origin: (Latin, Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (al-SIE-a-nee, aeLSAYahNiy)

Gender: Female

 

This is one of those names I also saw on someone list on a site for their future child’s name. I love the look of this name but at first I had no clue how to pronounce it. Though now that I can see the pronunciation next to the name it makes sense seeing just the name now as to how it is pronounced, I hope that makes sense, lol. The meanings are decent and the mythology is especially interesting. This has a nice long history of use and would make a very nice character name. Also another reason I really like this is it is the name of the brightest star in the Pleiades. Anyone that looks to the right side of the blog and looks at my Favorite Female Names list will see Rana Thurayya on the list. Thurayya means the Pleiades. So one of my favorite names means Pleiades and Alcyone is one of the stars names in the Pleiades.   

Thisbe

Meaning:  (Lover, Where the Dove Lives, Greek Mythology name: Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” tells the tragic tale of the lovers Pyramus and Tisbe, which is retold in Shakespeare “A Midsummer Night’s Tale”.)

Origin: (Old Greek, Greek Mythology, Latin)

Pronunciation: (thizz-bee, THIHSB)

Gender: Female

I was looking up the name Rhydian *see on list of posts* the other day and there was a woman’s list of names that I read on one site and I really liked a few of them. Thisbe was one of the names on her list. I do like the meanings and the look is definitely interesting. I am not sure where this could fit but given time and the right author this could be a pretty cool name in a novel.

Triton

Meaning: (Greek Mythological God name for the Messenger of the Sea, he was the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, god and goddesses of the sea respectively. Triton was depicted as having the head and torso of a man and the tail of a fish.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (TRY-ton, tri-tun)

Gender: Male

I saw a truck the other day near my house with this name on the side. People were loading computers on it. This is a strong name with good meanings. It has an interesting history to this name as well. It isn’t a name that I would love to see too much but it is definitely a cool name.

Elara

Meaning:  (Is a rare French name, the feminine form of Alar, the name of a Breton (Brittany) saint. St. Alar is Patron Saint of Goldsmiths, Blacksmiths, protectors of horses. Name of one of the moons of Jupiter. Greek Mythology: Elara and Zeus were the parents of Tityus the giant.)

Origin: (Greek Mythology, French)

Pronunciation: (EE-lahrah, EE-la-ra, ehLAHRuh, EE-laruh) 

Gender: Female

I was looking up a name that is an asteroids name and I saw this name. It is pretty and sorts of exotic but still easily pronounced. I really like this name so I don’t have anything more to say, LOL.

Zephyr

Meaning: (Of the West Wind, A Mild Gentle Breeze, Light Breeze, Strong Wind)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (ZEF-er, ZEHF-er)

Gender: Male

I can’t believe I haven’t added this name as of yet. I have used this name for a character name and I love the look and meanings a lot. The look is other worldly and the meanings are strong.

Aphrodite

Meaning:  (Risen from the Foam, Greek Mythology: Name of the Greek Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, lust, and procreation, known to the Romans as Venus. She was said to have been born on the sea foam. She was the wife of Hephaestus and the mother of Eros, and she was often associated with the myrtle tree and doves. Root of the word “Aphrodisiac”.)

Origin: (Old Greek, Greek Mythology, Phoenician, English)

Pronunciation: (a-frə-DIE-tee (English), aeFRahDAYTiy, a-fro-DIE-tee)

Gender: Female

I love Greek God and Goddess names and so I have decided to add this one. I love the meaning and the mythology behind this name. It’s a name not used too often because of it being the name of a mythical goddess but it is a beautiful name. I was watching a wedding dress show a few months ago and one of the brides was named Afrodite which is a variant spelling of Aphrodite and she was engaged to a man named Achilles, how cute is that. So there are still people named this in the real world.

Cassiopeia

Meaning: (She whose Words Excel, Cassia Juice, Greek Mythology: Cassiopeia was an Ethiopian Queen, the wife of Cepheus and mother of Andromeda, the maiden who was chained to a rock and rescued by Perseus. According to legend, both mother and daughter were placed among the stars after death, and there are constellations named after them.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (ka-see-a-PEE-a, KaeSiyahPIYah)

Gender: Female

I have added Andromeda recently *See on list of posts* which in the myth was Cassiopeia’s daughter. I love the meanings and the look of this name. It is a beautiful wonderful mythology name. It could fit in modern age with a character with this name going by just Cass.

 

Andromeda

Meaning: (Leader of Men, Ruler of Men, To Think of a Man, Greek Mythology: An Ethiopian Princess, the daughter of Cassiopeia, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a seas monster until Perseus rescued her. Also a northern constellation, Also the name of a shrub that blooms in spring.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (an-DRAH-ma-dah, an-DRAW-ma-dah, aeNDRAOMahDah)

Gender: Female

I was reading something the other day on Yahoo Answers and someone was asking about nicknames for Andromeda. They said they saw this name in a more modern book. I think Andromeda is a powerful name with nice meanings. The mythology is also very interesting. I have so many ideas for characters running through my head when I hear and see this name.

Maera

Meaning:  (Jolly, Jovial, Marvelous, Star of the Sea, Daughter of Atlas, Beloved of Amun, Great Lord, Pregnant Mother, Greek Mythology: Maera (hound), hound of Icarius, was turned into the dog star. Maera, daughter of Proetus the son of Thersander, mother of Locrus by Zeus. Maera, daughter of Atlas, wife of Tegeates.  Maera, one of the Nereids, daughters of Nereus and Doris. Maera, one of the four daughters of the river god Erasinus, along with Anchirhoe, Byze and Melite. They are associated with Britomartis.)

Origin: (Latin, Irish, Gaelic, Celtic, Egyptian, French, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (M-EHRah, May-Rah, mare-uh) 

Gender: Female

When looking up the meanings behind Atlas *See on list of posts* I saw this name. I like the lovely meanings and the spelling of this name is unique. It has a large usage in mythology as well.

Atlas

Meaning:  (To Carry, Atlas was a mythical Titan who bore the weight of the world on his shoulders, so the name bears connotations of Great Strength. Not enduring" from the Greek negative prefix α combined with τλαω (tlao) "to endure".)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology, English)

Pronunciation: (AT-ləs, AT-lis)

Gender: Male

I was looking at the blog Baby Name Addict and she had the name Atlas on there. At first I thought it was a bit weird but then I started to see it could be a very strong name for a character. I like the meanings and the history behind this name.