Entry № 0050 · Greek origin

Athena Athena — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ ah-THEE-nah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Greek
Meaning
"The goddess of wisdom"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 92
First recorded
Ancient (Greek)

A name that means "the goddess of wisdom".

Athena (Αθηνά) is the name of the Greek goddess of wisdom, weaving, strategic warfare, and craft — patron of Athens, daughter of Zeus, born fully formed from her father's head. She is one of the twelve Olympian gods and one of the most consistently depicted figures in Greek art.

The etymology of the name is itself ancient and contested: it may pre-date Greek entirely, surviving from a Bronze Age Minoan religion absorbed into Greek mythology. As a given name, Athena has been used rarely in modern times — but its use is rising sharply. Today it sits in the U.S. top 100.

The goddess of wisdom and weaving. A name with shield, spear, and books built in.

The name in its native script.

Ἀθηνᾶ
Transliteration
Athēnâ
Pronunciation
/ əˈθiː.nə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Athena stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 92 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 92 in 2025
Babies named Athena · last year
2,987 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1955
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №92 NOW · №92

Athenas before her.

Real people
Athena Karkanis
Canadian actress, known for the TV series Manifest.
born 1981
In fiction
Athena
Goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology. Patron of Athens.
Ancient Greek myth

Names connected to Athena.

The number behind Athena.

5

The Free Spirit

Athena reduces to five — the number of intelligence, curiosity, and free movement. Fitting for the goddess of strategic thought.

Why families chose this name.

"We named her after the goddess of wisdom. So far she has chewed on three books."
Helena · Mother of one · Boston