100 EPIC AND LEGENDARY NAMES (MALE AND FEMALE) - HISTORY

History is full of epic masculine names that left their mark for the different heroics worthy of being praised, from the mythical Greek heroes or gods such as Adonis, Achilles or Persephone to some more exotic ones taken from Welsh mythology or Hawaiian culture.

If you are looking for a name for your son, daughter or pet, in this list you will find the best known, but others not so common, such as Eolo, Dylan, Troilo, Wieland, Aja or Ismenia.

You may also be interested in this list of Viking names.

100 epic names for women and men

Epic male names

Adad: Name of Greek origin. It means "God of storms or floods."

Adonis: From Greek mythology, name of Semitic origin. In Greek myth, Adonis was a handsome young shepherd who was killed while hunting a wild boar. It is said that the anemone flower sprouted from his blood. Because he was loved by Aphrodite, Zeus allowed him to come back to life once a year. The Greeks borrowed this character from various Semitic traditions.

Ajax: Mythical Greek hero.

Adastro: From Greek mythology. It means "not willing to run away" in Greek. This was the name of a king of Argos in Greek legend.

Agamemnon: From Greek mythology. Possibly it means "very firm" in ancient Greek. He was the brother of Menelaus. He led the Greek expedition to Troy to retrieve Helen, his brother's wife. After the Trojan War, Agamemnon was assassinated by his wife Clytemnestra.

Agni: It means "fire" in Sanskrit. It is the name of a Hindu God of fire, with red skin and 3 legs, 7 arms, and two faces.

Ahura Mazda: Persian deity of the Zoroaster. It means "wise lord." Ahura Mazdā was worshiped by the Persian king Darius I and his successors as the greatest of all gods and protector of the righteous king.

Aidan: Name of Gaelic origin. This was the name of a 7th century Irish monk and saint. It was also the name of several characters in Irish mythology.

Ajax: From the Greek name Αιας (Aias). In Greek mythology this was the name of two of the heroes who fought for the Greeks in the Trojan War. When the armor of the slain hero Achilles was not given to Ajax, Telamon, out of anger, committed suicide.

Alberich: From Germanic mythology. It was the name of the sorcerer king of the dwarves in Germanic mythology. He also appears in the Nibelungenlied as a dwarf guarding the treasure of the Nibelungen.

Alcides: From Greek mythology. It was another name used to call the hero Heracles. It means "The one of strength."

Alexander / Alexander: Latinized form of the Greek name Αλεξανδρος (Alexandros), which meant "defend men" from Greek αλεξω (alexo) "defend, help" and ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive ανδρος).

The most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire outside of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, the use of his name spread throughout Europe.

Alf: From Norse mythology. In Norse legend this was the name of the king, the suitor of a reluctant maiden named Alfhild. She avoided marrying him by disguising herself as a warrior, but when they fought she was so impressed by his strength that she changed her mind.

Alvis: It means "he who knows everything" in Old Norse. In Norse mythology, this was the name of a dwarf who was to marry Thrud, Thor's daughter.

Thor was not happy with the fact, so he tricked Alvis by asking him questions until the sun rose, at which point the dwarf turned to stone.

Apollo: From the Greek Απολλων (Apollon), perhaps related to the Indo-European "apelo" which means "strength." Another theory claims that Apollo can be equated with Appaliunas, an Anatolian god whose name possibly means "lion father" or "father light."

The Greeks later associated Apollo's name with the Greek verb απολλυμι (apollymi) meaning "to destroy." In Greek mythology Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin of Artemis. He was the god of prophecy, medicine, music, art, law, beauty, and wisdom. Later he also became the god of the sun and light.

Amun: In early Egyptian mythology, he was the god of air, creativity, and fertility and was particularly revered in Thebes. Later, during the Middle Kingdom, his attributes were combined with those of the god Ra and he was worshiped as the supreme solar deity Amon-Ra.

Angus: Of Celtic origin. Possibly its meaning is "strength." He was the Irish God of love and youth. The name was also carried by an 8th century Pictish king and several Irish kings.

Anubis: From Egyptian mythology. Latinized form of Ανουβις (Anoubis), the Greek form of "Inpw" possibly meaning "royal child." Anubis was the Egyptian God who led the dead to the underworld. He was often depicted as a man with the head of a jackal.

Ares: Perhaps it comes from the Greek αρη (son) «ruin, ruin» or αρσην (arsen) «masculine». Ares was the "bloodthirsty God of war" in Greek mythology, a son of Zeus and Hera.

Arjona: It means "white, clear" in Sanskrit. It is the name of a hero in Hindu texts, the son of the god Indra and the princess Kunti.

Arthur: The meaning of this name is unknown. It could be derived from the Celtic elements artos "bear" combined with viros "man" or rigos "king".

Alternatively it could be related to a Roman family name, "Artorius." Arthur is the name of the central character in the Arthurian legend, a 6th century British king who resisted the Saxon invaders.

Atlas: Possibly means "not durable" from the Greek negative prefix α (a) combined with τλαω (tlao) "to bear". In Greek mythology he was a Titan punished by Zeus and forced to support the heavens on his shoulders.

Achilles: Greek mythology. From the Greek Αχιλλευς (Achilleus). The name may originate from the Greek αχος (aches) "pain" or from the name of the river Achelous.

This was the name of a warrior in Greek legend, one of the central characters in Homer's "Iliad." The bravest of the Greek heroes in the war against the Trojans, he was eventually killed by an arrow in his heel, the only vulnerable part of his body.

Baltazar: Variant of Belshazzar and means "Baal protects the King" in Phoenician. Baltazar is the name traditionally assigned to one of the wise men (also known as the Magi, or three kings) who visited the newborn Jesus.

Beowulf: From the old English epic. Possibly it means 'bee wolf'. This is the name of the main character in the anonymous epic poem 'Beowulf' from the 8th century. Set in Denmark, the poem tells how he kills the monster Grendel and his mother at the request of King Hroðgar. After this, Beowulf becomes the King of the Geats.

Castor: From the Greek name Καστωρ (Kastor), possibly related to κεκασμαι (kekasmai) which means "to stand out, to shine." In Greek myth Castor was a son of Zeus and the twin brother of Pollux. The constellation Gemini, which represents the two brothers, contains a star with this name.

Damon: Derived from the Greek δαμαζω (damazo) which means "to tame." According to Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who lived in Syracus in the 4th century BC.

When Pythias was sentenced to death, he was allowed to go temporarily free on condition that Damon take his place in prison. Pythias returned just before Damon was executed in his place, and the king was so impressed with their mutual loyalty that he forgave

David: From the Hebrew name דָּוִד (Dawid), which was probably derived from the Hebrew דוד (dwd) meaning "beloved." David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC

In the Old Testament several stories are told about him, including how he defeated Goliath, a giant Philistine. According to the New Testament, Jesus descended from him.

Miguel Ángel with his work «David»

Dionysus: From the Greek Διος (God) meaning "of Zeus" combined with Nysa, the name of the region where the young Dionysus was raised. In Greek mythology, Dionysus was the god of wine, festivity, fertility, and dance. He was the son of Zeus and Semele.

Dylan: From Welsh dy "big" and llanw "tide, flow." In Gaelic mythology Dylan was a god or hero associated with the sea. He was the son of Arianrhod and was accidentally killed by his uncle Govannon.

Aeolus: From Greek mythology. It means "fast, agile". It is the name of the Greek God of the winds.

Finn: Name that originates from Fionn Mac Cumhaill, hero of Irish mythology. As a surname it is borne by Huckleberry Finn, a character in the Mark Twain novels.

Gawain: Name of uncertain origin, from the Latin form Walganus, used by the 12th century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth. This was the name of a nephew of King Arthur and one of the Knights of the Round Table in Arthurian legend.

Héctor: Latinized form of the Greek 'Εκτωρ (Hektor), which was derived from' εκτωρ (hektor) "holding fast", ultimately from εχω (echo) meaning "to hold, to possess."

In Greek legend Hector was one of the Trojan champions who fought against the Greeks. After killing Achilles' friend, Patroclus, in battle, he himself was brutally killed by Achilles, who proceeded to tie his corpse to a chariot and drag him away. This name also appears in Arthurian legends, Hector being King Arthur's adoptive father.

Hermes: Probably from Greek 'ερμα (herma) which means "pile of stones." Hermes was a Greek god associated with speed and good luck, who served as a messenger to Zeus and the other gods. He was also the patron of travelers, writers, athletes, merchants, thieves, and orators.

Jason: From the Greek name Ιασων (Iason), which was derived from the Greek ιασθαι (iasthai) "cure." In Greek mythology, Jason was the leader of the Argonauts.

After his uncle Peleas overthrew his father Aeson as king of Iolcos, Jason went in search of the Golden Fleece to regain the throne. During his travels he married the sorceress Medea, who helped him win the fleece and kill his uncle.

Kana: The name Kana is a Hawaiian name. Kana is a demigod from Maui who could take the form of a rope. He is a hero and a large number of legends are attributed to him based on the fact that this demigod travels through the islands destroying evil, called "kupua".

Leander or Leandro: Latinized form of the Greek name Λεανδρος (Leandros), derived from λεων (leon) which means "lion" and ανηρ (aner) which means "man" (genitive ανδρος). In Greek legend, Leander was Hero's lover.

Every night he swam through the Hellespont to meet her, but once drowned when a storm broke out. When Hero saw her corpse, she threw herself into the water and perished.

Loki: From Norse mythology. Meaning of this name is unknown, possibly derived from the Indo-European root * leug which means "to break". In Norse legend, Loki was a god associated with magic and fire.

Mars: Possibly related to the Latin "mas" which means "male". In Roman mythology, Mars was the god of war, often equated with the Greek god Ares. This is also the name of the fourth planet in the solar system.

Merlin: Wizard of the Arthurian legend. Form of the Welsh name Myrddin (meaning "sea fortress"), used by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his 12th century Asturian tales. The form Merlinus was probably chosen over Merdinus to avoid associations with merde, which is French for "excrement."

Odin: Norse God. It derives from óðr which means "inspiration, rage, frenzy". Odin was the highest of the gods, presiding over art, war, wisdom, and death.

Odin

Odysseus Greek hero of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Osiris: God of the underworld from Egyptian mythology. Osiris was the god of the dead and the judge of the underworld. He was killed by his brother Seth, but revived by his wife Isis.

Pan: Greek god of flocks. Derived from a Greek word that means "shepherd." In Greek mythology, Pan was a half-goat god, associated with shepherds, flocks, and pastures.

Priam: From Greek mythology. King of Troy. His name could mean "the redeemed."

Pollux: Hero of Greek mythology, twin brother of Castor. Roman form of the Greek Πολυδευκης (Polydeukes) meaning "very sweet." The constellation Gemini, which represents the two brothers, contains a star with this name.

Thor: Norse God. This name originates from Þórr which means "thunder". Thor was the god of strength, thunder, war and storms, he was the son of Odin. He was armed with a hammer called Mjolnir, and wore an enchanted belt that doubled his strength.

Thor

Tristan: Old French form of the name Picostal Drustan, a diminutive of Drust. The spelling was altered by association with Latin tristis, "sad." Tristan is a character in French medieval tales, probably inspired by ancient Celtic legends, and eventually merged with the legend of King Arthur.

According to the story, Tristan was sent to Ireland in order to find Isolde, who was to be the bride of King Mark of Cornwall. On the way back, Tristan and Isolde accidentally drink a potion that makes them fall in love. His tragic story was very popular in the Middle Ages.

Troilus: This name means "that comes from Troy." He was a Trojan prince from Greek mythology. Son of Priam.

Tyr: God of Norse mythology. Norse form of the name of the Germanic god Tiwaz, related to the god Zeus. In Norse mythology Tyr was the god of war and justice, the son of the god Odin. He carried a spear in his left hand, as his right hand was ripped off by the wolf Fenrir.

Odysseus: Latin form of the Greek hero Odysseus. It was led by Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), commander of the Union forces during the American Civil War, who went on to become an American president. Irish author James Joyce used it as the title of his book 'Ulysses' (1920).

Wieland: Legendary blacksmith of Germanic mythology. Derived from the Germanic elements "wela" and possibly means "skill" and "land" meaning "land". In Germanic mythology Wieland (called Völundr in Old Norse) was a matchless blacksmith and craftsman.

Zeus: King of the gods in Greek mythology. Related to the ancient Indo-European god * Dyeus whose name probably meant "brightness" or "sky." After he and his brothers defeated the Titans, Zeus ruled over earth and humanity from the top of Mount Olympus. He had control over time and his weapon was lightning.

Epic female names

Acanta: Greek mythology. Latinized form of the Greek Ακανθα (Akantha), meaning "thorn." In Greek legend she was a nymph loved by Apollo.

Aditis: Means "unlimited, entire" or "freedom, security" in Sanskrit. This is the name of an ancient Hindu goddess of the sky and fertility. According to the Vedas, she is the mother of the gods.

Adrastrea: From Greek mythology. It was the name of the nymph who adopted the son of Zeus. It was also another way of calling the Goddess Nemesis

Aella: It means "whirlwind" in Greek. In Greek mythology, this was the name of an Amazon warrior who was killed by Heracles during his search for Hippolyta's belt.

Aglaya: It means "splendor, beauty" in Greek. In Greek mythology it was one of the three tolerances. This name was also borne by a 4th century saint from Rome.

Agrona: Name Derived from the Celtic word "agro" which means "battle, slaughter." This was the name of the British goddess of war and death.

Aino: It means "the only one or the only one" in Finnish. In the Finnish epic "Kalevala", this is the name of a young woman who drowns when she discovers that she must marry old Väinämöinen.

Aja: In Yoruba mythology, Aja is an Orisha, patroness of the forest, the animals within her, and patroness of herbal healers, to whom she taught her art.

Aphrodite: Name of unknown meaning, possibly of Phoenician origin. Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love. She was the wife of Hephaestus and the mother of Eros, and was often associated with the myrtle tree and doves. The Greeks connected her name with αφρος (aphros) "foam", resulting in the story that she was born from the foam of the sea.

Aphrodite

Alcipe: From the Greek Αλκιππη (Alkippe), derived from αλκη (alke) «force» and «ιππος (hippopotamus)» sea horse ”. This was the name of a daughter of Ares in Greek mythology.

Alcmena: From the Greek Αλκμηνη (Alkmene), derived from αλκη (alke) «force» and μηνη (mene) «moon», so its name means “the force of the moon”. In Greek mythology Alcmena was the wife of Host and mother of Heracles.

Alexandra / Alejandra: Feminine form of Alexander. In Greek mythology, it was an epithet for the goddess Hera, and an alternate name for Cassandra. It was named after the wife of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia.

Althea: From the Greek name Αλθαια (Althaia), perhaps it is related to the Greek αλθος (althos) "healing." In Greek mythology she was the mother of Meleager.

Amalthea: From the Greek Αμαλθεια (Amaltheia), derived from the μαλθασσω (malthasso) which means "to soften, to calm." In Greek myth it was a goat that looked after Zeus in her childhood.

Amaterasu: From Japanese mythology. It means "to shine above the sky" in Japanese. This was the name of the Japanese sun goddess. At one point the Japanese royal family claimed descent from it.

Anat: Ancient Semitic goddess of fertility and war. It probably means "spring water".

Artemis: Greek goddess of the hunt, the desert, the moon and wild animals. Possibly the name originates from the Greek word αρτεμης (artemes) which means "safe."

Astrea: Greek goddess of justice and innocence. Astrea means "star" in Greek.

Ariadne: It means "the most blessed, the most sacred" in Greek. She was the daughter of King Minos. She fell in love with Theseus and helped him escape the Labyrinth and the Minotaur, but was later abandoned by him. Eventually she married the god Dionysus.

Athens or Atina: Perhaps derived from the Greek αθηρ (ather) "sharp, precise, sharp" and αινη (aine) "praise." Atina was the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, the daughter of Zeus, and the patron goddess of the city of Athens in Greece. It is associated with the olive tree and the owl.

Aurora: It means "dawn" in Latin. Aurora was the Roman goddess of the morning. It has been used occasionally as a name since the Renaissance.

Bellona: Derived from the Latin bellare which means "to fight." This was the name of the Roman goddess of war, companion of Mars.

Brigid or Brígida: From Irish mythology. It was the name of the goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom, daughter of the god Dagda.

Calliope: Greek muse of epic poetry. This name means "beautiful voice".

Camila: Warrior of Roman legend. Feminine form of Camilus. This was the name of a legendary warrior maiden from the Volsci. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by Fanny Burney's novel 'Camilla' (1796).

Cassandra: Name possibly derived from κεκασμαι (kekasmai) "to stand out, shine" and ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive ανδρος). In Greek myth, Cassandra was a Trojan princess, daughter of Priam and Hecuba.

Ceres: Roman goddess of agriculture. Derived from the Indo-European root "ker" which means "to grow"

Clio: Derived from the Greek κλεος (kleos) which means "glory". In Greek mythology she was the goddess of history and heroic poetry, one of the nine muses. It is said that she introduced the alphabet in Greece.

Chloe: It means "green throw or shot". It was an epithet for the Greek goddess Demeter. The name is also mentioned by Paul in one of his epistles in the New Testament. As an English name, Chloe has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.

Cinthia: Latin form of the Greek Κυνθια (Kynthia) which means «woman of Kynthos». This was an epithet for the Greek moon goddess Artemis, given because Kynthos was the mountain of Delos in which she and her twin brother Apollo were born.

Concordia: Means harmony in Latin. She was the Goddess of concord and harmony.

Corina: Latinized form of the Greek name Κοριννα (Korinna), which was derived from κορη (kore) "virgin." The Roman poet Ovid used the name to create his female character in his book "Loves."

Cybele: Roman goddess, mother of the gods. Possibly this name means "stone".

Monument to the goddess Cibeles in Madrid

Daphne: Name of Greek origin that derives from Δάφνη (Daphne) and means "laurel".

Deirdre: Hero of Irish mythology.

Demeter, Demetra Greek goddess of the harvest

Diana: Probably derived from an old Indo-European root meaning "heavenly, divine." Diana was a Roman goddess of the moon, hunting, forests, and childbirth, often identified with the Greek goddess Artemis.

Dido

Electra

Elisa

Euridice: Greek maiden, wife of Orpheus

Eudora

Phaedra

Flora

Freyja: Norse goddess

Grace: after the Greek graces

Queen Guinevere: from the Arthurian legend

Gerd: Derived from Old Norse garðr meaning "enclosure". In the Norse myth Gerd was the goddess of fertility, she was the wife of Freyr.

Helen of Troy: legendary beauty from Greek mythology

Hera: Greek goddess of women, married to Zeus

Hestia: Greek goddess of the hearth

Hersilia

Iphigenia

Indira

Irene

Iris

Isis: goddess of Egyptian mythology

Ismenia

Isolde: Irish princess from Arthurian legend

Jocasta: mother of Oedipus in Greek mythology

Juno: Roman name of Hera, goddess of women

Kali

Lara

Larissa

Leda: queen of Sparta in Greek mythology

Leto: mother of Apollo and Artemis in Greek mythology

Lilith Lilith's demon from Jewish folklore

Lorelei

Lucina

Lucrecia

Moon

Lucrecia

Moon

Maya

Maui

Melania

Melissa

Minerva

Mohana

Nanna: Norse goddess

Nicky

Girl

Marian: Lady Marian or Marion, from the English myth Robin Hood. In general, Marian / Marianne is a combined name of two names, Maria and Ana.

Morgan: Sorceress of Arthurian legend.

Olwen: From Gaelic mythology. It means "white or blessed footprint." From the Welsh "Ol" which means "footprint" and "gwen" which means "white, just, blessed". She was a beautiful maiden, lover of Culhwch and the daughter of the giant Yspaddaden.

Oya: From Yoruba African mythology. River goddess of Niger, wife of Shango, and older sister to the goddesses Yemaya and Oshun. She is the goddess of storms and winds, and her kingdom stretches from rainbows to thunder. It is believed to be capable of manifesting as winds, ranging from a gentle breeze to a raging hurricane or cyclone. She is known as a fierce warrior goddess and a protector of women. It is believed to bring change.

Partena: Derived from the Greek παρθενος (parthenos) which means "virgin." This was an epithet for the Greek goddess Athena.

Pax: It means "peace". It was the name of the Roman Goddess of Peace.

Penelope: Possibly it is a name derived from the Greek πηνελοψ (penelops), a type of duck. Alternatively it could be from πηνη (penis) "threads, plot" and ωψ (ops) "face, eye". In Homer's epic, the "Odyssey," this is the name of Odysseus's wife, forced to defend herself against suitors while her husband is away fighting in Troy.

Persephone: From Greek mythology. Name of unknown origin. In Greek mythology, she was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She was abducted from the underworld by Hades, but was eventually allowed to return to the surface for part of the year. The result of their comings and goings is the changing of the seasons.

Phoebe or Febe: It means "bright, pure" from the Greek φοιβος (phoibos). In Greek mythology Phoebe was a Titan associated with the moon. The name appears in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament, where it belongs to a minister in the church of Céncreas. In England, it began to be used as a given name after the Protestant Reformation. A moon of Saturn bears this name.

Rhea: In Greek mythology Rhea was a Titan, the wife of Cronos, and the mother of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. Also, in Roman mythology a woman named Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome.

Sabrina: Name of Celtic origin. It was the Goddess of the river.

Selena: Greek goddess of the moon. Sometimes it is identified with the Goddess Artemis.

Shakti: It means "power" in Sanskrit. In Hinduism a shakti is the female counterpart of a god. Shakti is the female counterpart of Shiva, also known as Parvati among many other names.

Sheila: Irish and English name. Inspired by the Celtic Goddess of fertility

Silvia: Mother of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. It has been a common name in Italy since the Middle Ages. It was introduced to England by Shakespeare, who used it for a character in "The Two Knights of Verona" (1594).

Thalía: From the Greek Θαλεια (Thaleia), derived from θαλλω (thalo) which means "to flourish." In Greek mythology she was one of the nine muses, the muse of comedy and pastoral poetry. It was also the name of one of the three tolerances.

Victoria: It means "victory" in Latin, and was the name of the Roman goddess of victory. The name was very rare in the English-speaking world until the 19th century, when Queen Victoria began her long rule of Great Britain. She was named after her mother, who was German royalty. Many geographic areas are named after the queen, including an Australian state and a Canadian city.

100 EPIC AND LEGENDARY NAMES (MALE AND FEMALE) - HISTORY - 2024

100 epic names for women and men

Epic male names

Epic female names

Related topics

100 EPIC AND LEGENDARY NAMES (MALE AND FEMALE) - HISTORY - 2024

100 epic names for women and men

Epic male names

Epic female names

Related topics

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