Nyctimene

NIK-tih-MEH-nee; NIK-tim-un-ee

Ancient Greek

"to withstand the night; nocturnal"

Nyctimene Origin and Meaning

The name Nyctimene is a girl's name meaning "to withstand the night; nocturnal".

In Greek mythology, Nyctimene was pursued by her own father, and therefore fled to find safety in the shadows of the woods. She was later transformed into an owl by the goddess Athena, out of punishment or pity, depending on which variation of the myth you read.

Combining the Greek elements nyx and meno, Nyctimene means "to withstand or last the night", making it a name that is symbolic of strength and survival.

Nyctimene is also a genus of bats, commonly known as tube-nosed fruit bats, in which case the name is translated less poetically as "who stays up at night" to reflect the nocturnal habits of the bat.