Gender: Girl
Meaning: Goddess of wisdom and warfare
Origin: Greek — the name of the goddess Athena; etymology uncertain, possibly pre-Greek
Popularity: Ranked #90 in 2024 with 2,788 babies born.
History: Athena was the Greek goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, crafts, and justice — the patron deity of Athens, which was named in her honor. Born fully armored from Zeus's head, she represents the power of intellect and strategy over brute force. The Parthenon was built in her honor atop the Acropolis. The name was rarely used as a given name through most of Western history — goddesses' names were considered too sacred — but it has climbed steadily in the United States since the 2000s, entering the top 100 by the 2010s. Its mythological grandeur and wisdom associations feel completely contemporary.
Famous people named Athena: Athena (Greek goddess of wisdom)
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Athena? About 1 in 1,194 babies born in 2024 were named Athena, or roughly 7.6 per day in the United States.
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