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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Mythological names

38 replies

Hadtocomment · 13/07/2022 11:37

Hi Mumsnetters I wonder if you can help me. I know this is baby names and I love all things names. But I'm looking for a particular name not for a baby but for a project I'm doing. I thought all of those who are into ancient greek names/goddesses etc might be able to help.

I am interested in mythology names for powerful goddesses or even female sorcerers or monsters. I'm particularly looking for those with more ambiguous connotations. I know many may be reclaimed these days as we wrestle with the sexism from the past. And more than negative connotations I'd be most interested in those that are a bit double-sided or have certain ambiguities about them. I know that's a tough ask but would be grateful for any thoughts at all. For example, Persephone is a lovely name. But it's a complicated myth with quite a lot of versions and she becomes queen of the underworld (if part-time and under duress). So that's the sort of name I'd be interested in finding more of. THank you all so much. Hope it might be fun and interesting and not just highjacking this forum. Thanks!

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Hadtocomment · 17/07/2022 22:14

"Pandora is another Eve type, too." Yes lots of women in myth punished for curiousity and thinking for themselves.

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Blackopal · 17/07/2022 17:53

Lorelei

daisypond · 17/07/2022 17:38

Not a goddess but Delilah from the Samson story. She’s portrayed as a baddy, evil temptress who bewitches Samson - she’s a type of Eve. Appears in much art and literature. She is being reclaimed from this misogynistic myth-making.

Pandora is another Eve type, too.

Lilith.

Hadtocomment · 17/07/2022 16:31

Thank you so much everyone. I wanted to go with Circe but I think it's too used. So there are a few more here I'm looking into.

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Cindie943811A · 14/07/2022 23:03

Demeter

teraculum29 · 14/07/2022 20:07

Fortuna - goddes of fortune

AdaColeman · 14/07/2022 20:00

Jocasta

Iphigenia

Phaedra

SwimmingOnEggshells · 14/07/2022 19:32

Artemis.
God of wild animals, hunting, chastity and childbirth.

She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto. Twin sister of Apollo.

PurpleishDahlia · 14/07/2022 19:26

priestess, not goddess but might be helpful

PurpleishDahlia · 14/07/2022 19:25

Cassandra - lovely name, interesting character, negative connotations :)

HuntingoftheSnark · 14/07/2022 19:24

Cybele - goddess of wild nature and fertility, also a healer and I think she was a protector during wartime too.

shootme69 · 14/07/2022 19:12

Hebe - Goddess of youth and daughter of Zeus and Hera.

samthebordercollie · 14/07/2022 18:57

Andromeda - chained to a rock and rescued by Perseus
Eurydice - killed by a snake bite, wife of Orpheus
Atalanta - abandoned as baby, raised by bears, champion hunter
Ariadne - helped Theseus escape the Labryinthe and kill the minotaur
Aphrodite - goddess of love
Athena - goddess of wisdom

FuckingHateRats · 14/07/2022 18:42

I LOVE mythology and teach it as often as I can. It's very telling in my Advanced Higher English class - I have one kid writing about The Song of Achilles and another writing about female characters in Euripides' tragedies.

MarsQueen · 14/07/2022 18:17

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MarsQueen · 14/07/2022 18:16

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midsomermurderess · 14/07/2022 17:38

Daphne, the nymph, fleeing the unwanted attentions of Apollo. She sought the help of Gaea who turned her into a laurel tree. Apollo bedecked himself with laurel leaves which became his symbol.

Many Greek myths are fairly grisly, perhaps as a method of control. Enrage the Gods, unspeakable things will happen to you.

clpsmum · 14/07/2022 11:31

@FuckingHateRats no I haven't but I will be searching for it now as I have a child free night tonight. Thank you I am now well and truly sorted (once wine is bought obviously!!)

newbiename · 13/07/2022 22:44

Freya ?

Whataretheodds · 13/07/2022 22:40

Urgh! Birthplace not mother.

Whataretheodds · 13/07/2022 22:40

Also - Pella, not mythological - mother of Alexander the Great

FuckingHateRats · 13/07/2022 20:52

clpsmum · 13/07/2022 12:09

Please not Medea such a sad tale!

Have you seen Helen McCrory in National Theatre's production of Medea? Spellbinding.

I was coming to say Medea, too.

Pandora?
Ariadne
Elektra

Pushing30 · 13/07/2022 19:23

The furies: Alecto, Tisiphone, Megaera

bloomflower · 13/07/2022 19:08

Ceres, athena, aphrodite, callisto

Hadtocomment · 13/07/2022 19:06

Thank you for this. I love the essays too so don't worry! Hekate sounds fascinating. Quite a lot of people seem to be using Circe these days.

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