Mythological Names for Girls

The Mayan goddess of the moon and the night, associated with swallows, eagles, and jaguars.

Often heard in India, this is the name of the Hindu goddess of abundance, beauty, and prosperity, the embodiment of grace and charm --lucky omens indeed. The goddess Lakshmi is worshiped daily in Hindu homes, and has festivals held in her honor.

The mythological queen whose perpetual weeping for her slain children turned her into a stone has always cast a pall over this name. Still, when other names with less-than-savory associations -- Delilah, Ophelia, Persephone -- are becoming popular, parents might want to consider this one of the more unusual mythology names for girls.

The Roman goddess Fortuna personified luck and ruled over fortune and fate. She is often depicted as blindfolded, and remains an important figure in Italian culture today, where a common saying translates to "Luck is blind."

The Etain (or more properly Étaín) of Irish mythology was a beautiful fairy turned into a fly (or in some versions, a butterfly), by a jealous queen. The insect Étaín fell into a glass of milk and was swallowed by yet another queen, then reborn as a beautiful maiden. Its pronunciation is similar to the number eighteen.

Ciza is a goddess in Polish mythology whose areas include nourishment and breastfeeding. It is recorded that the German city Ausburg was once known as Cisaris after this goddess.

Aušrinė is the Lithuanian goddess of the morning star. Each day she prepares the way for Saulė (the sun). Her counterpart is Vakarinė of the evening star.

Signy — also spelled Signe — would make another distinctively offbeat alternative to Sydney. Signy appears in Norse mythology as the twin sister of Sigmund.

A deity worshipped across Eastern European countries, goddess of the moon, hunting, and wilderness. Folklore describes Devana as a virgin goddess whose virginity is renewed every spring, and she is often depicted riding on a mare.

Leto is the titaness of motherhood (there's a title!) and, with Zeus, mother of the twin Olympians Artemis and Apollo. Simple, sleek, and unique, Leto is one mythological name for girls we might expect to hear a lot more of.

Morena is the goddess of seasonal rites and rebirth worshipped in Central Europe.

A name rich in Hindu tradition as the alternate name for the Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of beauty and charm; currently borne, appropriately, by model-actress-writer Padma Lakshmi.

The name of the Lithuanian love diety is a unique way to get to the nickname Millie. Milda has also been seen as a diminutive for names such as Matilda and Mildred. It appeared on the US Top 1000 in 1886 and 1887.

The literal word for "spring" in many Slavic languages and the name of an ancient Slavic springtime deity.

The Roman goddess of hinges. She is one of three deities that ruled over doorways, along with Forculus, god of the door, and Limentinus, god of the threshold.

A sunny choice that's popular for girls in Lithuania. Also the name of the ancient Lithuanian sun goddess.

Lithuanian goddess of fire and the protector of families and homes.

Lada is the Slavic goddess of youth, merriment, beauty and fertility, usually associated with spring. Her name is referenced in wedding and folk songs in Eastern Europe, but largely unknown in the West.

Pleun is a unisex Dutch name deriving from Apollonius or Apollonia, although now it ranks far higher for girls in its native land than the original form.

A Polish goddess of seasonal rites and rebirth. She is known to be the bringer of death and the symbol of winter, and is the counterpart of the spring goddess — either Lada or Vesna.