Divine Inspiration: Beautiful Goddess Names From Around the World

Artemis

The origin and meaning of the name Artemis are uncertain. It may be derived from the Greek word artemes, meaning “safe,” or possibly from artamos, meaning “butcher.” In Greek mythology, Artemis was the goddess of the moon and hunting, and the twin sister of Apollo.

Athena

In Greek mythology, Athena — whose name meaning is unknown — was the revered goddess of wisdom, warfare, and the patron deity of Athens, Greece. It’s believed that the city’s name inspired hers, rather than the other way around. The earliest recorded reference to Athena dates back to a 15th-century BC Mycenaean Greek inscription from Knossos, Crete. As the daughter of Zeus, Athena’s birth was uniquely miraculous; according to legend, Zeus impregnated Metis, then swallowed her, and Athena emerged fully grown from his head.

Devi

Devi is the supreme Hindu mother goddess, embodying all other goddesses. Her name originates from the Sanskrit word देवी (devī), which simply means “goddess.”

Juno

In Roman mythology, Juno held a revered position as the wife of Jupiter, queen of the heavens, and goddess of marriage, women, and finance. The origin and meaning of the name are unclear, but it may be connected to an Indo-European root meaning “young.”

Demeter

The name Demeter may be interpreted as “earth mother,” a combination of the Greek words da, meaning “earth,” and meter, meaning “mother.” In Greek mythology, Demeter played a vital role as the goddess of agriculture.

Brigid

In Irish mythology, Brigit was revered as the goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom. This name is a variant of the Irish name Brighid, derived from Old Irish Brigit and the ancient Celtic term *Brigantī, which means “the exalted one.” 

Hera

In Greek mythology, Hera held a prominent position as the queen of the gods, being both the sister and wife of Zeus, and presiding over marriage and childbirth. The meaning of her name is unclear, and its origins are debated among scholars. Possible connections include the Greek words heros, meaning “hero” or “warrior”; hora, signifying a “period of time”; or haireo, meaning “to be chosen.” 

Kali

The name Kali originates from the Sanskrit word काल (kāla), meaning “black,” and translates to “the black one.” In Hindu mythology, Kali is the powerful and destructive manifestation of Shiva’s wife, embodying fierce energy. As depicted in the Puranas, Kali emerges from Durga’s forehead to vanquish demons. She is typically illustrated with black skin, four arms, and wielding a sword, while holding a severed head.

Diana

The name Diana is derived from the Latin words dia or diva, meaning “goddess,” so it means “divine” or “goddesslike.” In Roman mythology, Diana was revered as the goddess of the moon, hunting, forests, and childbirth.

Pele

Pele is the name of the revered Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire, believed to reside within the depths of the Kilauea volcano. According to legend, Pele is credited with creating the majestic Hawaiian Islands. The meaning of her name is unknown.

Kannon

Kannon is the Japanese version of the name Guanyin, derived from Chinese characters 观 (guān), meaning “to observe” or “to see,” and 音 (yīn), signifying “sound” or “tone,” particularly in reference to prayers. Kannon is the bodhisattva embodying compassion.

Ceres

The name Ceres comes from an Indo-European root word which means “to grow” or “to increase.” In Roman mythology, Ceres was the goddess of agriculture — the counterpart to the Greek goddess Demeter.

Isis

In Egyptian mythology, Isis was the goddess of the sky and nature, wife of Osiris, and mother of Horus. Her influence extended beyond Egypt, with worship also practiced by Greeks and Romans. The name Isis is the Greek adaptation of an ancient Egyptian term, which may be interpreted to mean “throne.”

One modern-day caveat: the name Isis could call to mind the jihadist group ISIS, which is obviously not something parents want for their daughter. In this case, we suggest Isidore as a substitute — it means “gift of Isis” (and Dory could be a seriously cute nickname!).

Persephone

In Greek mythology, Persephone was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, famously abducted by Hades to the underworld. A deal was eventually struck, allowing her to return to the surface for part of the year, resulting in the cyclical change of the seasons.
The meaning of the name is uncertain, likely stemming from Pre-Greek origins. However, it may be connected to the Greek words pertho, meaning “to destroy,” and phonos, signifying “murder.” 

Yemaya

Also known as Yemọja, Yemaya is the goddess of the Ogun River, as well as pregnancy and motherhood, in traditional Yoruba spirituality. Her name translates to “mother of fish” in the Yoruba language.

Venus

In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love and sex (the name originates from the Latin word for “love” and “sexual desire”), whose character was heavily influenced by the Greek goddess Aphrodite. As the mother of Aeneas, Venus was considered a maternal ancestor of the Roman people. The second planet from the sun bears her name in tribute.

Freyja

The name Freyja originates from Old Norse, meaning “lady”. In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess associated with love, beauty, war, and death. According to legend, she claims half of the brave warriors who fall in battle and welcomes them to her mystical realm of Fólkvangr; the other half are summoned by Odin to Valhalla.

Morrigan

In Irish mythology, Morrigan was a powerful goddess of war and death, often manifesting as a crow. Forever one of our favorite name meanings, it’s derived from Old Irish, with a dual interpretation: it can signify either “demon queen” or “great queen.”

Inanna

The name Inanna may originate from the Sumerian phrase nin-an-a(k), meaning “Lady of the Heavens.” In Sumerian mythology, Inanna was the goddess of love, fertility, and war. A famous myth says that her sister Ereshkigel, the ruler of the underworld, had her killed. But the god Enki intervened, and Inanna was allowed to leave the underworld on the condition that her husband, Dumuzi, would take her place.

Selene

The name Selene originates from Greek, where it literally means “moon.” In Greek mythology, Selene was the Titan goddess of the moon.

Ziva

The name Ziva (also written as Živa) is derived from the Old Slavic word živŭ, meaning “alive.” According the 12th-century writings of a Saxon priest, Ziva was the name of a Slavic goddess who was associated with life, fertility, or vitality.

Vesta

In Roman mythology, Vesta was the revered goddess of the hearth, with a sacred fire perpetually burning in her honor at the Temple of Vesta in Rome, meticulously tended by the Vestal Virgins. The origin of her name is likely tied to the Greek word hestia, meaning “hearth” or “fireside.”

Lakshmi

The name Lakshmi originates from Sanskrit, where it translates to “sign” or “mark.” In Hindu mythology, Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity, good fortune, and beauty, the wife of Lord Vishnu. She is often depicted with the lotus flower, which symbolizes purity, fertility, prosperity, beauty, and spiritual enlightenment.

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