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Names from Greek myths: inspiration for writing Greek mythology books

The recent boom in Greek mythology fiction has been incredible as someone who loves reading classical Greek myths. From Percy Jackson to The Song of Achilles, there’s so much potential for writing Greek mythology books. So I’ve collected some names from Greek myths to help inspire more writers.

I’ve categorised names based on being feminine or masculine, so if you’re looking for a particular name for a character you can jump straight to the section you need. Or browse each list and write down your favourite names!

I’ve also noted whether the name comes from a deity, a hero (the child of a mortal and a god), or a mortal in Greek mythology. All names use the Latinised version, but you can find Hellenised versions on websites like Theoi.

Feminine names – Ancient Greek names for women

There are many feminine names in Greek mythology, and I’ve tried to include a variety of heroines and deities amongst the mortals. Unsurprisingly, a lot of women named in Greek mythology are victims of men or lovers of the gods (especially Zeus).

  • Aethra (mortal)
  • Aceso (deity)
  • Andromeda (mortal)
  • Anesidora (alternative name for Pandora)
  • Antiope (mortal)
  • Arachne (mortal)
  • Atalanta (heroine)
  • Balanis (deity)
  • Batia (deity)
  • Bendis (deity)
  • Bolina (deity)
  • Cacia (deity)
  • Calliope (deity)
  • Callirhoe (deity)
  • Callisto (mortal)
  • Cassiopeia (mortal)
  • Chione (deity)
  • Coronis (mortal)
  • Cyrene (mortal)
  • Daeira (deity)
  • Damia (deity)
  • Danaë (mortal)
  • Daphne (deity)
  • Despoena (deity)
  • Doris (deity)
  • Echo (deity)
  • Eirene (deity)
  • Electra (deity)
  • Elpis (deity)
  • Enarete (mortal)
  • Enyo (deity)
  • Erato (deity)
  • Evadne (mortal)
  • Galatea (deity)
  • Galene (deity)
  • Glauce (mortal)
  • Halia (deity)
  • Harmonia (deity)
  • Hecamede (mortal)
  • Hedone (deity)
  • Helle (mortal)
  • Hemera (deity)
  • Hippolyte or Hippolyta (hero)
  • Iaso (deity)
  • Idaia (deity)
  • Io (mortal)
  • Ioke (deity)
  • Ismene (mortal)
  • Jinx (deity)
  • Leda (mortal)
  • Lethe (deity)
  • Leuce (deity)
  • Lilaea (deity)
  • Limos (deity)
  • Macaria (deity)
  • Macris (deity)
  • Maera (deity)
  • Maia (deity)
  • Melaena (deity)
  • Melia (deity)
  • Melinoe (deity)
  • Metanira (mortal)
  • Nais (deity)
  • Neaera (deity)
  • Nemea (deity)
  • Nephele (deity)
  • Nicaea (deity)
  • Niobe (mortal)
  • Ocyrhoe (deity)
  • Oenoe (deity)
  • Opora (deity)
  • Orithyia (mortal)
  • Otrera (mortal)
  • Paidia (deity)
  • Pandora (mortal)
  • Pasiphaë (deity)
  • Penthesilea (mortal)
  • Psyche (mortal)
  • Pyrrha (mortal)
  • Samia (deity)
  • Semele (hero)
  • Sinope (deity)
  • Soteria (deity)
  • Sponde (deity)
  • Teledice (deity)
  • Tethys (deity)
  • Thalassa (deity)
  • Thalia (deity)
  • Thea (deity)
  • Thisbe (mortal)
  • Tyro (mortal)
  • Upis (deity)
  • Urania (deity)

Masculine names – Ancient Greek names for men

Many masculine names in Greek mythology are given to kings, deities, and heroes, but I’ve tried to include mortals as well. Many names are rarely used in modern literature, whether because the association to mythical figures is too strong or because they were villains.

  • Achilles (hero)
  • Actaeon (mortal)
  • Adonis (deity)
  • Alcaeus (mortal)
  • Alcides (alternative name for Heracles)
  • Ascalabus (mortal)
  • Bellerophon (hero)
  • Boreas (deity)
  • Cadmus (mortal)
  • Caerus (deity)
  • Carystus (hero)
  • Chiron (deity)
  • Cycnus (hero)
  • Cyparissus (mortal)
  • Damysus (deity)
  • Delphin (hero)
  • Deucalion (hero)
  • Dolus (deity)
  • Elatreus (deity)
  • Endymion (hero)
  • Erebus (deity)
  • Eridanus (deity)
  • Eurymedon (mortal)
  • Gelus (deity)
  • Geryon (deity)
  • Harpocrates (deity)
  • Hecaterus (deity)
  • Helenus (mortal)
  • Helicon (deity)
  • Heracles (hero)
  • Hesperus (deity)
  • Hyacinthus (mortal)
  • Iamus (hero)
  • Iasion (mortal)
  • Icelus (deity)
  • Ister (deity)
  • Ithax (deity)
  • Ixion (mortal)
  • Japetus (deity)
  • Jason (hero)
  • Lamos (deity)
  • Lelantus (deity)
  • Leneus (deity)
  • Lycaon (mortal)
  • Meleager (mortal)
  • Mimas (mortal)
  • Morus (deity)
  • Mylinus (deity)
  • Narcissus (mortal)
  • Nessus (deity)
  • Nestor (mortal)
  • Nomus (deity)
  • Nysus (deity)
  • Oceanus (deity)
  • Oenus (deity)
  • Ophion (mortal)
  • Orion (deity)
  • Otus (deity)
  • Paeon (deity)
  • Pallas (deity)
  • Penthus (deity)
  • Perseus (hero)
  • Phaenon (deity)
  • Phaunus (deity)
  • Salmoneus (mortal)
  • Scamander (deity)
  • Sciron (deity)
  • Sisyphus (mortal)
  • Syceus (deity)
  • Talos (deity)
  • Tantalus (mortal)
  • Tennes (mortal)
  • Tithonus (mortal)
  • Zelus (deity)
  • Zephyrus (deity)

Looking for more names? Check out 130 non-binary names for characters.

Or find more names from Greek myths on these websites: