Tag Archives: Mythological Names

Daetor

Posted on by
Reply
Dido Aeneas Nicolas Verkolye
Dido Aeneas Nicolas Verkolye by thegetty is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0
  • Origin: Greek Δαίτωρ
  • Meaning: “to light; to burn; to kindle; divider; judge; host of a feast.”
  • Gender: Male
  • Modern Greek: Daitor (DYE-tore)
  • Eng pron: DAY-tor

The name is derived from the Greek δαίω (daio) meaning, “to light; to burn; to kindle,” and “to divide, share, tear” or “to host a feast.” The element has the same meaning as distributing justice, items or food.”

It is borne in the Illiad by a minor character, a Trojan warrior who attacked the Greek fleet during the tenth year of the Trojan war and was subsequently shot dead.

Sources

Ptelea

Posted on by
Reply
  • Origin: Greek Πτελέα
  • Meaning: “elm tree.”
  • Gender: Female
  • Eng (TEL-ee-ah)

The name is from the Greek word for the elm tree, in Greek mythology, this was the name of one of the Hamadryad nymphs. Ptelea presided over elm trees.

In botany, this is the name of a genus of flowering plants in the citrus family, Rutaceae. Thus names by Carl Linnaeus due to its similar appearance to the elm tree.

Sources

Eimyrja

Posted on by
Reply
a woman in red sweater sitting under a furry blanket while sitting in front of a bonfire
Photo by Nikolay Danilov on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Old Norse
  • Meaning: “embers.”
  • Gender: Female
  • Pron: (i-MEER-yah)

From the Old Norse word for “embers,” in Norse Mythology, this was the daughter of the jötunn known as Logi (fire), the latter who is considered the personification of fire, a long with his wife Glöð (glowing embers). He fathered another daughter Eisa (glowing ember), both of whom were said to be stunningly beautiful.

Its status as a given-name in most Scandinavian countries is a relic from the past but may appeal to parents drawn to authentic early Nordic names.

Sources

Eisa

Posted on by
Reply
back lit profile of a girl wearing a vintage dress in a park
Photo by Kate on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Old Norse
  • Meaning: “glowing ember.”
  • Gender: Female
  • I-sah

The name comes directly from the Old Norse word meaning “glowing ember.” In Norse Mythology, this is the name of one of the beautiful daughters of Logi (fire), and Glöð (glowing embers).

Later, it came to be associated as a pet form of Elizabeth or a German form of Aise (short form of any Nordic name beginning in the Egg-, Agi– element.)

Note: the name can also be an Arabic form of Jesus.

Sources

Logi

Posted on by
Reply
back view of man with torch at night
Photo by Manish Jangid on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Old Norse
  • Meaning: “flame; blaze.”
  • Gender: Male
  • LOH-gee

The name comes directly from the Old Norse word for “flame; blaze,” and is also used as a poetic word for a sword. It is born in Norse Mythology by Logi, a jötunn and the personification of fire. He was the son of Fornjótr. He is known for winning a meat eating competition against Loki.

A Swedish variation is Loge

It is a cooler and fresher alternative to Logan, with a spark.

Sources

Anthracia

Posted on by
Reply
woman holding burning newspaper
Photo by Class Art on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Greek Ανθρακια
  • Original Greek form: Anthrakia
  • Meaning: “ember; burning charcoal.”
  • Gender: female
  • Eng (an-THRAY-shuh; Grk ahn-THRAH-kee-ah)

The name comes from the Ancient Greek noun ἄνθραξ (ánthrax), meaning “ember; burning charcoal.”

Anthracia is best known from Greek myth as one of the nymphs who nursed the infant Zeus in secret to protect him from Cronus.

Source

Phyllodoce

Posted on by
Reply
mermaid flowing red hair rising
  • Origin: Greek Φυλλοδόκη
  • Modern Greek: Fillodoki
  • Meaning: “receiver of foliage.”
  • Gender: Female
  • Eng pron: FYE-loh-DIS-ee; Grk (Fil-LOH-do-keh)

The name derives from the Ancient Greek elements φύλλον (phyllon), meaning “leaf, foliage,” and δέχομαι (dechomai), “to receive” or “to welcome.”

In Greek mythology, Phyllodoce was one of the Nereids, the fifty sea nymph daughters of Nereus and Doris.

The name Phyllodoce was later adopted in scientific Latin for a genus of mountain heath plants (family Ericaceae), commonly called mountain heathers. These small evergreen shrubs, with delicate purple or pink flowers, grow in alpine and arctic regions.

With its lyrical cadence and mythological roots, Phyllodoce reflects the 18th–19th-century European taste for classical revival names, particularly those drawn from nature and mythology.

Sources

Afallach, Avalloc

Posted on by
Reply
photo of boy eating an apple
Photo by Louise Cornelissen on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: “apple.”
  • Gender: Male
  • Pron: AH-va-lok

From the Welsh afal, meaning “apple,” Afallach is the name of a male deity in early Welsh mythology. He is described as a god of the Otherworld and of healing—figures sometimes link him to the Isle of Apples (Ynys Afallach), the mythic realm better known to us as Avalon. Through this association, Afallach is regarded as the mythic progenitor of the name Avalon, the legendary paradise of Arthurian lore.

Avalloc is its Anglicized form. Other Anglicized forms includem Evelake, and Aflach.

It has seldom use, if at all, as a given-name in the modern era, but it’s a bold, evocative choice pulled straight from Welsh mythology. It is ideal for those drawn to ancient, nature-infused names with literary and mystical resonance or those who want a pagan inspired name.

Sources

Lamis

Posted on by
Reply
smiling girl holding gray rabbit
Photo by Anastasiya Gepp on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Arabic لَميس
  • Meaning: “soft.”
  • Gender: Female

The name comes directly from the Arabic لمِيس ‎(lamīs), meaning “soft; tender; soft to the touch.”

An Urdu and Bengali form is Lamisa.

Alternately, it appears in Greek mythology, in the epic Dionysiaca by Nonnus of Panopolis as the name of one of the leaders of the satyrs who joined the army of Dionysus in his campaign against India. In that context, the meaning of the name is not clarified and the mythological reference is very obscure.

Sources

Elara

Posted on by
Reply
  • Origin: Greek Ἐλάρα
  • Meaning: “hazelnut; spear.”
  • Gender: Female
  • Pron: EL-e-ruh; EHL-ə-rə

The name is of uncertain etymology. It has sometimes been linked to the ancient Greek word ἄλαρα (álara), said to mean “hazelnut” or “spear-shaft.”

In Greek mythology, Elara was a mortal princess of Orchomenus loved by Zeus. When she became pregnant, Zeus hid her deep beneath the earth to protect her from Hera’s jealousy. There she gave birth to their gigantic son Tityos (Τιτυός). Because of this myth, Elara is sometimes associated with the earth or the underworld. One of Jupiter’s moons, discovered in 1905 by Charles Dillon Perrine, was later named in her honor.

As a given-name in the English-speaking world, it does appear in records in the 19th-century, mainly in the U.S. Recently, it has appeared in England & Wales Top 900 girls’ name, coming at #467 (2024).

With its celestial link and mythological depth, Elara feels like a luminous and romantic alternative to other El- names such as Elena, Eleanor, and Elodie. Its lunar connection gives it a quietly modern yet timeless appeal.

Sources