Greek Goddess Names
Greek mythology gives us some of the most beautiful names ever spoken: Athena, Persephone, Calliope, Selene. Behind each is a goddess with a job to do, whether ruling Olympus, spinning the thread of fate or guarding a single mountain spring.
This guide covers more than 90 Greek goddesses, from the great Olympians to Titans, Muses, Fates and nymphs, with what each one ruled and the story that made her famous. Their male counterparts are on our Greek god names page, and goddesses from other cultures are gathered in our goddess names hub. Choosing a baby name? Our Greek girl names list shows which of these are used today.
The Olympian goddesses
Six goddesses held seats among the Twelve Olympians. The Romans adopted all of them under new names, which is why you’ll see both versions in art and literature.
| Goddess | Domain | Roman name |
|---|---|---|
| Hera | Queen of the gods; marriage and women | Juno |
| Athena | Wisdom, war strategy and crafts | Minerva |
| Aphrodite | Love, beauty and desire | Venus |
| Artemis | The hunt, wilderness and the moon | Diana |
| Demeter | Harvest, grain and fertility | Ceres |
| Hestia | Hearth, home and family | Vesta |
Primordial and Titan goddesses
Before the Olympians came the elemental goddesses who were the world itself, and the Titanesses who gave birth to the gods. Several make striking mythology girl names.
| Goddess | Represents | Story |
|---|---|---|
| Gaia | The earth | Mother of the Titans and first of all beings |
| Nyx | Night | So powerful that even Zeus feared her |
| Hemera | Day | Daughter of Nyx who crosses paths with her at dawn |
| Thalassa | The sea | Primordial spirit of the ocean |
| Ananke | Necessity, inevitability | Force even the gods could not resist |
| Tethys | Fresh water | Mother of the rivers and the Oceanids |
| Rhea | Motherhood and generation | Hid baby Zeus from Cronus |
| Theia | Sight and shining light | Mother of the sun, moon and dawn |
| Themis | Divine law and order | Early keeper of the oracle at Delphi |
| Mnemosyne | Memory | Mother of the nine Muses |
| Phoebe | Prophecy; “bright, radiant” | Grandmother of Apollo and Artemis |
| Metis | Wisdom and cunning | Mother of Athena |
| Leto | Motherhood | Mother of Apollo and Artemis |
| Asteria | Falling stars and night oracles | Became the island of Delos |
| Dione | Oracle of Dodona | In Homer, mother of Aphrodite |
| Selene | The moon | Drove a silver chariot across the night sky |
| Eos | The dawn | Opened the gates of heaven each morning |
| Clymene | Fame and renown | Mother of Atlas and Prometheus |
| Eurybia | Mastery of the sea | Daughter of Gaia and Pontus |
Goddesses of love, health, peace and fortune
Many minor goddesses personified a single quality, which makes them perfect for meaningful names. Eirene means peace, Elpis hope, Harmonia harmony. See also names that mean peace.
| Goddess | Personifies | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hebe | Youth | Cupbearer of the gods; Roman Juventas |
| Eileithyia | Childbirth | Attended every birth on Olympus |
| Nike | Victory | Winged companion of Athena |
| Iris | The rainbow | Swift messenger of the gods |
| Hygieia | Health | Daughter of Asclepius; root of “hygiene” |
| Panacea | Universal remedy | Sister of Hygieia |
| Iaso | Recovery | Another daughter of Asclepius |
| Aceso | The healing process | Goddess of wounds closing |
| Tyche | Fortune and luck | Roman Fortuna |
| Harmonia | Harmony | Daughter of Ares and Aphrodite |
| Peitho | Persuasion | Attendant of Aphrodite |
| Eirene | Peace | One of the Horae (Seasons) |
| Eunomia | Good order | One of the Horae |
| Dike | Justice | One of the Horae; Roman Justitia |
| Aglaea | Splendor | Youngest of the three Graces |
| Euphrosyne | Mirth and good cheer | One of the three Graces |
| Philotes | Affection, friendship | Daughter of Nyx |
| Elpis | Hope | The spirit left inside Pandora’s jar |
| Aletheia | Truth | Roman Veritas |
| Eucleia | Glory and good reputation | Worshipped alongside Artemis |
| Sophrosyne | Moderation, self-control | Key Greek virtue |
The nine Muses
Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, the Muses inspired every art and science. Musicians and writers have been naming daughters after them for centuries.
| Muse | Art | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Calliope | Epic poetry | Writing tablet |
| Clio | History | Scroll |
| Erato | Love poetry | Lyre |
| Euterpe | Music and lyric poetry | Flute (aulos) |
| Melpomene | Tragedy | Tragic mask |
| Polyhymnia | Sacred hymns | Veil, pensive pose |
| Terpsichore | Dance | Lyre |
| Thalia | Comedy (also the name of one of the three Graces) | Comic mask |
| Urania | Astronomy | Globe and compass |
Goddesses of the underworld, fate and vengeance
Not every goddess was kind. These are the powers of death, destiny and punishment. Our dark names and witchy names lists pick up the same mood.
| Goddess | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Persephone | Queen of the underworld; spring | Roman Proserpina |
| Hecate | Magic, crossroads and witchcraft | Carried twin torches |
| Nemesis | Retribution | Punished arrogance (hubris) |
| Eris | Strife and discord | Threw the golden apple that sparked the Trojan War |
| Styx | The river of unbreakable oaths | Even gods swore by her |
| Alecto | “Unceasing” anger | One of the three Furies (Erinyes) |
| Megaera | Jealous rage | One of the Furies |
| Tisiphone | Vengeance for murder | One of the Furies |
| Clotho | Spins the thread of life | One of the three Fates (Moirai) |
| Lachesis | Measures the thread | One of the Fates |
| Atropos | Cuts the thread | “The inflexible one” |
| Lyssa | Mad rage | Spirit of frenzy |
| Apate | Deceit | Escaped Pandora’s jar |
| Achlys | The mist of death | Spirit of misery |
| Lethe | Forgetfulness | River of the underworld |
| Macaria | A blessed death | Daughter of Hades in some accounts |
| Melinoe | Ghosts and nightmares | Known from an Orphic hymn |
| Keres | Violent death | Female death spirits |
Nymphs, sea goddesses and deified heroines
Greek landscapes were full of divine women tied to a spring, tree, star or wave. These names are soft, lyrical and very wearable. For more water-inspired picks, see names that mean ocean.
| Name | Who she was | Why it’s memorable |
|---|---|---|
| Amphitrite | Queen of the sea, wife of Poseidon | Rode a chariot of sea creatures |
| Thetis | Sea nymph, mother of Achilles | Dipped her son in the Styx |
| Galatea | Nereid; “milk-white” | Loved by the Cyclops Polyphemus |
| Calypso | Nymph of the island Ogygia | Kept Odysseus for seven years |
| Doris | Ocean nymph | Mother of the fifty Nereids |
| Leucothea | Sea goddess, once the mortal Ino | Rescued Odysseus from a storm |
| Daphne | Nymph turned into a laurel tree | Escaped Apollo’s pursuit |
| Echo | Mountain nymph | Could only repeat others’ words |
| Arethusa | Nymph turned into a spring | A fountain in Syracuse bears her name |
| Callisto | Companion of Artemis | Became the constellation Ursa Major |
| Maia | Eldest of the Pleiades | Mother of Hermes |
| Alcyone | One of the Pleiades | Brightest star of the cluster |
| Merope | One of the Pleiades | Said to be the faintest, hiding in shame |
| Electra | One of the Pleiades | Ancestor of the Trojan kings |
| Taygete | One of the Pleiades | A Spartan mountain range is named for her |
| Celaeno | One of the Pleiades | Name means “dark” |
| Psyche | Mortal made goddess of the soul | Won Eros after impossible trials |
| Ariadne | Cretan princess, deified wife of Dionysus | Her crown became the Corona Borealis |
| Aura | The breeze | Titan goddess of cool morning air |
| Chloris | Flowers and spring | Roman Flora |
| Circe | Sorceress goddess, daughter of Helios | Turned Odysseus’s men into pigs |
How to choose a Greek goddess name
- Read her myth first. Hera and Athena are admired, but Eris means strife and Lyssa means rage. Know the story before it goes on a birth certificate.
- Look past the Olympians. Thalia, Clio, Phoebe, Iris and Maia are all goddess names that already sound like everyday names.
- Consider the Roman form. Diana, Aurora, Luna and Flora are Roman equivalents that are easier to spell and say.
- Use a big name as a middle name. Persephone or Mnemosyne are a lot for daily use but gorgeous in the middle spot.
- Check pronunciation. Persephone is per-SEF-uh-nee, Calliope is kuh-LY-uh-pee and Hecate is HEK-uh-tee.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the most powerful Greek goddess?
Hera was queen of the gods, but Nyx, the primordial goddess of night, was the only being Zeus was said to fear. Among Olympians, Athena is often seen as the most formidable.
What Greek goddess names are good for a baby girl?
Athena, Thalia, Phoebe, Iris, Maia, Selene, Daphne and Calliope are all used as given names today and have positive associations.
Who is the Greek goddess of love?
Aphrodite, known to the Romans as Venus. Her attendants included Peitho (persuasion) and the three Graces.
What is the Greek goddess of the moon called?
Selene is the moon itself. Artemis and Phoebe were also linked to the moon, and Hecate to its dark phase.
What are the names of the three Fates?
Clotho spins the thread of life, Lachesis measures it and Atropos cuts it.