Athena
Athena is a girl name of Greek origin, meaning Goddess of wisdom and war.
What Athena means
Goddess of wisdom and war.
Athena sits at 6 letters, and ends on a vowel, which tends to make a name sound open and carry well when called across a room.
Where Athena comes from
Greek names often reach back to mythology, philosophy, or the early Church. They tend to be transparently meaningful in the original: many are compounds you can still take apart into their two halves.
Athena is recorded as Greek in origin. Browse other Greek names.
How popular is Athena?
Athena is not in the current top 100 girl names we track. In practice that means a child called Athena is unlikely to be one of three in a classroom — the name is established and recognisable, just not in heavy circulation right now.
The character of Athena
Athena spans Wisdom and courage and battle, which is why it can read differently depending on which association you notice first. Both threads are worth following.
Names like Athena
These share Athena's themes, origin, or both — closest first.
- Odin — All-father; god of wisdom and war.
- Sophia — Wisdom.
- Alexander — Defender of the people.
- Cassandra — Shining upon man; a prophetess.
- Ophelia — Help; serene wisdom.
- Sophie — Wisdom.
- Achilles — The great warrior hero.
- Ares — God of war.
- Atticus — From Attica; of Athens.
- Hector — Holding fast; steadfast defender.
- Homer — Pledge; the great poet.
- Perseus — Destroyer; heroic slayer.
More Greek names
- Astra — Of the stars.
- Atlas — Enduring; the Titan who bears the sky.
- Ariadne — Most holy and pure.
- Atticus — From Attica; of Athens.
- Ares — God of war.
- Azalea — The azalea flower.
- Apollo — God of light, music and the sun.
- Basil — Kingly; royal.
- Anthea — Flower; blossom.
- Berenice — Bringer of victory.