If you are expecting a baby and looking for boy names, you could take inspiration from the classic story. We propose nine names of mythological heroes .
Achilles
Achilles was one of the most recognized heroes of the Trojan War and the greatest warrior of the Greeks. Young, handsome, and often blinded by pride and fury, Achilles had been born mortal, but his mother was the goddess Thetis, and to make him invulnerable she bathed him in the waters of Styx, the lagoon of the realm of the dead.
However, when he did this, he submerged it by holding it by his heel, which never got wet, making it the only weak part of his body. Achilles, despite being notable in the Trojan War, is said to have died from that weakness, after receiving a poisoned arrow on his heel.
The name Achilles comes from the ancient Greek Ἀχιλλεύς ( Akhilleys ), which is a name of the Achelous River.
Phoenix
Phoenix was the son of the sovereigns of Boeotia and together with the centaur Chiron, he was the one who educated Achilles to be a remarkable warrior. He accompanied him as a counselor in the Trojan War and later he was with his son.
The name Phoenix comes from the Greek Φοίνιξ ( Phoinix ), which in Greek mythology and the Talmud, was the name of a bird that emerged from the ashes.
Hector
Hector was the prince of Troy, the eldest son of King Priam and his wife Hecuba. He was married to Andrómaca, daughter of the king of the Cilicians, with whom he had an only son, Astianacte.
Known as the horse tamer, Hector was in charge of the defense of the city in the historic Trojan War, despite the fact that his beloved wife had asked him not to go, as he had to fulfill his duty as a prince and warrior.
His contribution in this war was decisive, but despite his multiple attempts to defeat the enemy, he is finally killed by Achilles.
The name Hector is believed to come from the Greek ἔχειν ( ejein ), with the approximate meaning of “the one who sustains”.
Jason
Jason was the son of the king of Yolcos, but when he dies, his uncle steals the throne. Like the legendary Achilles, Jason grew up under the care of the centaur Chiron, who trained and educated him.
To send him away, his uncle sent him on an impossible mission in the hope that he would never return: to get the Golden Fleece. Jason then embarked on his talking ship, the Argos, accompanied by the most courageous and brilliant men of Greece of his generation: Hercules, Castor, Pollux, Orpheus, Theseus and the legendary Atalanta, among others.
When they reached their destination, the terrible and enigmatic Medea fell madly in love with him. With the promise of marrying her and taking her to Greece, Medea used her knowledge of sorcery to help Jason obtain the skin of the golden ram.
The adventures of Jason and the Argonauts became legend, some years before the famous Trojan War broke out.
The name Jason means “healing.”
Nestor
Nestor was the wise king of Pylos, who also participated in the Trojan War with the Greeks. Not only did he reign and fight, but he was also a counselor, and one of the most respected for three generations.
The name Nestor has two possible meanings: “the one who is remembered” and “reaching the goal”.
Odysseus
Odysseus was the legendary king of the island of Ithaca and was characterized by his brilliance, cunning and versatility. In his peaceful kingdom away from continental problems, he lived with his beloved wife Penelope.
But when the Trojan War broke out, Odysseus was forced to participate in it because of a promise he had made many years before. It was he who devised the famous Trojan horse with which the Greeks entered the city and gave them victory.
It took him 20 years to return home, first because of the 10 years of the war and later because of the curse of the gods, but in the end, he managed to return to Penelope’s arms and regain his kingdom.
The name Odysseus means “wrathful.” It is the Greek form of Ulysses.
Paris
Paris was the prince of Troy, son of King Priam and his wife Hecuba along with his brothers Hector and Cassandra. Known for his attractiveness, he is famous for being responsible for the tragic Trojan War, which broke out after he kidnapped (or ran away) with Helen, the wife of King Menelaus.
The name Paris means “the one who best helps”.
Perseus
The son of Zeus and the mortal Danae, Perseus was a demigod who was credited with founding Mycenae. Like Jason, Perseus was sent on a seemingly impossible mission, with the intention that he would not return alive: to kill the terrible Medusa.
With the help of the gifts that Athena and some nymphs had given him, Perseus managed to defeat Medusa by cutting off her head, as they had indicated. From the blood of Medusa, the legendary winged horse Pegasus was born.
In one of his later adventures, Perseus rescued Andromeda, the daughter of King Cepheus, whom he later married and had five sons and a daughter. After his death, Athena, raised him to the skies and turned him into a constellation.
The name Perseus means “to destroy.”
Theseus
Theseus was the son of Aegean, king of Athens, and Etra, although it was believed that his father was actually Poseidon. Due to a conflict that existed with Crete, the city of Athens was obliged to send a tribute year after year, consisting of a group of boys and maidens who were offered to the Minotaur.
When he found out about this, Theseus volunteered for the next group, intending to defeat that terrible beast. Upon arriving in Crete, Theseus met the king’s daughter: Ariadne, who fell madly in love with him.
Ariadna knew the intention of Theseus and in love, she offered to help him with the promise that later he would take her from Crete and make her his wife. Once the Minotaur was defeated, Theseus took Ariadne with him, but when making a stopover on the island of Naxos for supplies, he abandoned her while she slept on the beach.
Upon returning to Athens, Theseus forgot to change the black sails of his ship for white ones, so his father thought that Theseus had died and threw himself into the sea. Theseus became king of Athens and it was he who managed to unite the peoples that later formed the Athenian state.
The name Theseus means “god”.
Bonus: Ulises
Odysseus was the Latin name for Odysseus, who, as we have already mentioned, participates in the Trojan War despite not wanting to separate from his wife. In the end, he manages to return to his kingdom.
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