100 Epic Names and their Origin (Male and Female)

History is full of Epic names Masculine ones that left their mark by the different heroisms worthy of being exalted.

From the mythical Greek heroes or gods like Adonis, Achilles or Persephone to some more exotic extracted from Welsh mythology or Hawaiian culture.

You may also like This list of viking names .

100 epic names of woman and man

Men's Epic Names

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

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

Ajax: Mythical Greek hero.

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

Agamemnon: From Greek mythology. Possibly means"very firm"in ancient Greek. He was Menelaus's brother. He led the Greek expedition to Troy to recover 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, red skin and with 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 just king.

Aidan: Gaelic origin name. This was the name of an Irish monk and saint of the seventh century. 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 murdered hero Achilles was not given to Ajax, Telamon, of the wrath, 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 who holds the treasure of the Nibelungen.

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

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

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

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

Alvis: It means"all-knowing"in ancient 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 cheated Alvis by asking questions until the sun came out, at which point the dwarf turned to stone.

Apollo: From the Greek Απολλων (Apollon), perhaps related to the Indo-European"appeal"which means"force." Another theory states that Apollo can be equated with Appaliunas, a god of Anatolia whose name possibly means"father lion"or"light of the father".

The Greeks later associated the name Apollo 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 sun and light.

Amon In early Egyptian mythology, he was the god of air, creativity and fertility and was particularly venerated 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"force". He was the Irish God of love and youth. The name was also taken by a Pictish king of the 8th century and several Irish kings.

Anubis: From Egyptian mythology. Latinized form of Ανουβις (Anoubis), the Greek form of"Inpw"that possibly meant"real 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 Princess Kunti.

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

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

Atlas : Possibly means"non-durable"of the Greek negative prefix α (a) combined with τλαω (tlao)"to support". In Greek mythology was a Titan punished by Zeus and was forced to support the heavens on his shoulders.

Achilles: Greek mythology. From the Greek Αχιλλευς (Achilleus). The name perhaps originates from the Greek αχος (achos)"dolor"or the name of the Achelous River.

This was the name of a warrior in Greek legend, one of the central characters in Homer's"Iliad." The most courageous of the Greek heroes in the war against the Trojans, he was finally 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 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 personage of the anonymous epic poem 'Beowulf' of century VIII. Located 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.

Beaver: From the Greek name Καστωρ (Kastor), possibly related to κεκασμαι (kekasmai) which means"to excel, to shine". In the 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) meaning"domesticate". According to Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who lived in Syracus in the fourth century BC.

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

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

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

Miguel Ángel next to his work"David"

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

Dylan: Welsh dy"great"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 murdered 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 comes from Fionn Mac Cumhaill, hero of Irish mythology. As a surname is taken by Huckleberry Finn, a character in the novels of Mark Twain.

Gawain: Name 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 the Arthurian legend.

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

In the 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 murdered by Achilles, who proceeded to bind his body to a chariot and drag him. This name also appears in Arthurian legends being Héctor the adoptive father of King Arthur.

Hermes : Probably from Greek 'ερμα (herma) meaning' 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 speakers.

Jason: From the Greek name Ιασων (Iason), which was derived from the Greek ιασθαι (iasthai)"heal". 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 reclaim 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 is credited with a large number of legends in that this demigod travels the islands destroying the evil, called"kupua".

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

Every night she swam across the Hellespont to meet her, but once she drowned when a storm arose. When Hero saw his corpse, he threw himself into the water and perished.

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

Mars: Possibly related to the Latin"mas"which means"macho". 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.

Marline: Magician of the legend Arturiana. Welsh name form Myrddin (meaning"sea fortress"), used by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Asturian tales of the twelfth century. Merlinus was probably chosen over Merdinus to avoid associations with merde which in French means"excrement".

Odin: Norse God. Óðr drift meaning"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 of Egyptian mythology. Osiris was the god of the dead and the judge of the underworld. He was murdered by his brother Seth, but revived by his wife Isis.

Greek god of the herds. Derived from a Greek word meaning"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 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 meaning"thunder". Thor was the god of strength, of thunder, of war and of 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 from French medieval tales, probably inspired by ancient Celtic legends, and finally merged with the legend of King Arthur.

According to the story, Tristan was sent to Ireland in order to go and 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. Its tragic history was very popular in the Middle Ages.

Troilo: This name means"that proceeds from Troy." He was a Trojan Prince of Greek mythology. Son of Priam.

God of Norse mythology. Nordic 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 had a spear in his left hand, as his right hand was torn by the Fenrir wolf.

Ulises: Latin form of the Greek hero Odysseus. He 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"earth". In the Germanic mythology Wieland (called Völundr in the old Norse) was a blacksmith and an artisan unequaled.

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 mankind from the top of Mount Olympus. He had control over time and his weapon was lightning.

Women's Epic Names

Acanta: Greek mythology. Latinized form of the Greek Ακανθα (Akantha), which means"thorn". In the Greek legend was a nymph beloved by Apollo.

Aditis: It means"unlimited, whole"or"freedom, security"in Sanskrit. This is the name of an ancient Hindu goddess of heaven 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

To her: It means"whirlwind"in Greek. In Greek mythology, this was the name of an Amazonian warrior who was murdered 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 goddess Britannia of war and death.

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

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

Aphrodite: Name 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 myrtle tree and pigeons. The Greeks connected their 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 (hippos)"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"force of the moon". In Greek mythology Alcmena was the wife of Host and mother of Heracles.

Alexandra / Alejandra: Female form of Alexander. In Greek mythology, it was an epithet of the goddess Hera, and an alternative name for Kassandra. It was the name of the wife of Nicholas II, the last czar 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 Greek Αμαλθεια (Amaltheia), derived from μαλθασσω (malthasso) meaning"to soften, to calm". In Greek myth was a goat that looked after Zeus in his childhood.

Amaterasu: From Japanese mythology. It means"to shine on the sky"in Japanese. This was the name of the goddess of the Japanese sun. At one point the Japanese royal family claimed to descend 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 the wild animals. Possibly the name originates from the Greek word αρτεμης (artemes) meaning"safe".

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

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

Athens or Atina: Perhaps it derives from the Greek αθηρ (ather)"acute, 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 and the owl.

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

Brigid or Bridget: 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 the Roman legend. Female form of Camilus. This was the name of a legendary warrior maiden of 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 excel, to shine"and ανηρ (aner)"man"(genitive ανδρος). In the Greek myth, Kassandra was a Trojan princess, daughter of Priam and Hecuba.

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

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

Cloe: It means"shoot or shoot green". 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 a name in English, Cloe has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.

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

Concord: It means harmony in Latin. She was the Goddess of harmony 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"Amores."

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

Monument to the goddess Cibeles in Madrid

Daphne: Name of Greek origin deriving from Δάφνη ( Daphne ) And means"laurel".

Deirdre: Heroin 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 maid, wife of Orpheus

Eudora

Phaedra

Flora

Freyja Norse Goddess

Grace after the Greek graces

Queen Guinevere of the Arthurian legend

Gerd: Derived from the Old Norse garðr which means"enclosure". In the Nordic myth Gerd was the goddess of fertility, she was Freyr's wife.

Helena Of Troy, legendary beauty of Greek mythology

Hera Greek women goddess, married to Zeus

Hestia Greek House Goddess

Hersilia

Ifigenia

Indira

Irene

Iris

Isis Goddess of egyptian mythology

Ismenia

Isolde Irish Princess of the 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 Demon of Jewish Folklore

Lorelei

The mermaid of Lorelei turned the siren of the German folklore

Lucina

Lucrecia

Moon

Lucrecia

Moon

Maya

Maui

Melania

Melissa

Minerva

Mohana

Nanna Nordic 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, Mary and Anna.

Morgan: Witch of the Arthurian legend.

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

From Yoruba African mythology. Goddess of the river of Niger, wife of Shango, and elder sister to the goddesses Yemaya and Oshun. She is the goddess of storms and winds, and her kingdom extends from rainbow to thunder. It is believed to be able to manifest as winds, ranging from a gentle breeze to a furious hurricane or cyclone. She is known as a ferocious warrior goddess and a protector of women. It is believed to bring change.

Partena: Derived from the Greek παρθενος (parthenos) meaning"virgin". This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Athena.

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

Penelope: Possibly it is a noble derived from the Greek πηνελοψ (penelops), a type of duck. Alternatively it could be πηνη (penis)"threads, weft"and ωψ (ops)"face, eye". In Homer's epic, the"Odyssey,"this is the name of Odysseus' wife, forced to fend off 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 kidnapped in the Underworld by Hades, but was eventually allowed to return to the surface for part of the year. The result of his comings and goings is the change of seasons.

Phoebe the Phoebe: It means"bright, pure"from the Greek φοιβος (phoibos). In Greek mythology Phoebe was a Titanide associated with the moon. The name appears in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament, where he 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 Titanide, 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: Celtic origin name. She was the goddess of the river.

Selena: Greek goddess of the moon. Sometimes he identifies 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 in England by Shakespeare, who used it for a personage in"the two knights of Verona"(1594).

Thalia : From the Greek Θαλεια (Thaleia), derived from θαλλω (thalo) meaning"to bloom". 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.

Victory: 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 nineteenth century, when Queen Victoria began her long rule of Great Britain. She was named after her mother, who was of the German royalty. Many geographic areas are named after the Queen, including an Australian state and a Canadian city.

References:

1. BabyCenter Editors. (2016). Baby names inspired by mythology. 25-3-2017, retrieved from babycentre.co.uk.
2. Campbell, M. (1996-2017). Greek Mythology Names. 25-3-2017, retrieved from behindthename.com.
3. (2017). Mythological Baby Names for Girls. 25-3-2017, retrieved from nameberry.com.
4. Wattemberg, L. (2015). Roman ¬ Greek names. 25-3-2017, from babynamewizard.com.
5. (2017). Mythological Baby Names for boys 25-3-2017, retrieved from nameberry.com.
6. Baby Name Guide Editors. (2002-2013). Mythology Baby Names. 25-3-2017, recovered from babynameguide.
7. Campbell, M. (1996-2017). Roman Mythology Names. 25-3-2017, retrieved from behindthename.com.