Greek Hero Name Generator
Names from the Iliad, the Argo and the hero cults
Generate Greek hero names drawn from Homer, the Argonauts, the Seven against Thebes and the Amazons, with epithets and patronymics like Achilles Swift-Footed and Diomedes son of Tydeus. Includes heroines, lesser-known champions and original names built from real Greek roots.
About Greek hero names
A Greek hero was never just a name. Homer almost always attaches a tag: Achilles is swift-footed, Hector the breaker of horses, Odysseus the man of many wiles, and Agamemnon the lord of men. They filled out the metre, but also told the audience what a hero was for. Alongside the epithet came the patronymic, because lineage was the whole point of heroism: Achilles son of Peleus, Diomedes son of Tydeus, and the stand-alone forms Peleides, Atreides and Laertiades that work as names in their own right.
The names themselves are mostly compounds with a meaning you can still read. Patroclus is "glory of the father", Diomedes "counsel of Zeus", Menelaus "strength of the people", Nicostratus "army of victory". A few heroes carry short, older names like Ajax, Idas and Nestor, which is partly why they sound so archaic next to the compounds.
This list mixes the famous champions of the Iliad and Odyssey with the Argonauts, the Seven against Thebes and their sons, the Amazons, the heroines of tragedy, the athletes who received hero cults after death, and a run of original names built on the same roots. Use the bare names for a Percy Jackson-style cast, and the epithet or patronymic forms when you want a line that sounds like it came out of the poem.
How to choose Greek hero names
- Pick a spelling convention and keep it: the Latinised forms used here (Achilles, Heracles, Ajax) sit well in English prose, while the Greek forms (Achilleus, Herakles, Aias) signal a more scholarly or archaic tone.
- Give your hero an epithet that describes a deed or a trait, not a title: swift-footed, of the loud war cry, keeper of the bow. It reads as Homeric; "the Great" or "the Brave" reads as generic fantasy.
- Use a patronymic when you want to stress bloodline or a prophecy about a family: son of Peleus, daughter of Oeneus. Use a home city when the hero is a traveller or one of a crew, as with the Argonauts.
- Lesser-known canon names such as Euphemus, Melampus, Polypoetes or Hiera look authentic without the baggage of the famous ones, so they make good names for original characters in a Greek setting.
- For heroines, draw on the Amazons (Antiope, Molpadia, Thalestris), the tragic queens (Alcestis, Andromache, Iphigenia) and the rare huntress types (Atalanta, Procris, Cyrene) rather than only the goddesses.
Frequently asked questions
Who counts as a Greek hero?
In the ancient sense a hero was a mortal of extraordinary deeds, usually with a god somewhere in the family tree, who was honoured after death. That covers the warriors of Troy, the Argonauts, the monster-slayers like Perseus and Bellerophon, the Seven against Thebes, and also figures such as Asclepius, Triptolemus and the athletes Theagenes and Euthymus, who had real hero cults.
What are the Greek hero epithets and how do I use them?
Epithets are descriptive tags Homer attaches to a name: swift-footed Achilles, Hector breaker of horses, Odysseus of many wiles. They describe what the hero does best. You can attach one to any name on the list; just keep each hero to one or two so the effect stays vivid rather than repetitive.
Are there female Greek heroes?
Yes. Atalanta ran with the Argonauts and drew first blood on the Calydonian boar, Penthesilea and Hippolyta led the Amazons, Alcestis died in her husband's place, and Antigone defied a king. The list includes Amazon warriors such as Molpadia, Antiope and Thalestris alongside the heroines of Homer and tragedy.
Can I use these names for a Percy Jackson or demigod character?
Absolutely. The bare forms like Theron, Cleomachus, Nicagoras or Hyllus make good first names for a modern demigod, and the patronymic forms (son of Peleus, daughter of Danae) translate straight into the cabin-and-parent structure of that kind of story.
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All 500 Greek hero names
A: 103 names
- Abderus
- Acamas
- Acastus
- Achilles
- Achilles son of Peleus
- Achilles Swift-Footed
- Actaeon
- Actaeon of the Hounds
- Admetus
- Admetus of Pherae
- Adrastus
- Adrastus of Argos
- Aeacides
- Aeacus
- Aegeus
- Aegialeus
- Aella
- Aeneas
- Aeneas son of Anchises
- Aeneas the Pious
- Aeson
- Aethalides
- Aethra
- Agamemnon
- Agamemnon Lord of Men
- Agapenor
- Agathocles Iron-Willed
- Agave
- Agenor
- Ajax Bulwark of the Achaeans
- Ajax the Great
- Ajax the Lesser
- Alcaeus
- Alcathous
A, continued
- Alcestis
- Alcestis of Pherae
- Alcibie
- Alcides
- Alcimedon
- Alcimus Storm-Born
- Alcinous
- Alcippe
- Alcmaeon
- Alcmaeon son of Amphiaraus
- Alcmene
- Alector
- Alexicles Bronze-Armed
- Althaea
- Amphiaraus
- Amphiaraus the Seer
- Amphidamas of Cythera
- Amphilochus
- Amphimachus
- Amphion
- Amphitryon
- Amphitryoniades
- Amyntor
- Amythaon
- Anaxander the Far-Shooter
- Anaxibia
- Ancaeus
- Anchises
- Anchisiades
- Androcles of the Lion
- Andromache
- Andromache of Thebe
- Andromeda
- Antandre
A, continued
- Antenor
- Antianeira
- Anticlea
- Antigone
- Antilochus
- Antilochus son of Nestor
- Antiochus of Corinth
- Antiope the Amazon
- Antiphates
- Arcesilaus
- Arete of Phaeacia
- Argia
- Argus the Shipwright
- Ariadne
- Aristaeus
- Aristander of Thessaly
- Aristodemus
- Aristomachus the Tireless
- Aristomenes of Messene
- Ascalaphus
- Ascanius
- Asclepius
- Asius
- Asterion
- Asteropaeus
- Astyanax
- Astyoche
- Atalanta
- Atalanta the Swift
- Atreides
- Auge of Tegea
- Augeas
- Autolycus
- Automedon
- Autonoe
B: 7 names
- Bathycles
- Bellerophon
- Bellerophon Rider of Pegasus
- Bias son of Amythaon
- Brasidas of Sparta
- Bremusa
- Butes
C: 44 names
- Cadmus
- Cadmus of Thebes
- Caeneus
- Calais
- Calais Wing-Footed
- Calchas
- Callinicus of Tiryns
- Canthus
- Capaneus
- Capaneus the Defiant
- Cassandra
- Castor
- Castor the Horse-Tamer
- Cephalus
- Cepheus
- Charidemus
- Charops
- Chionis of Sparta
- Chrysaor
- Chrysothemis
- Cleitus the Fair
- Cleodorus of Phocis
C, continued
- Cleomachus the Bold
- Cleomedes of Astypalaea
- Cleon of Salamis
- Cleopatra of Calydon
- Clete
- Clonie
- Clymenus
- Clytemnestra of Mycenae
- Clytius
- Clytoneus
- Codrus
- Coronus
- Cresphontes
- Crethon
- Creusa
- Ctesippus
- Ctesius
- Cyanippus
- Cycnus
- Cynegeirus of Athens
- Cyrene
- Cyzicus
D: 21 names
- Daedalus
- Damasichthon
- Danae
- Dardanus
- Deianira
- Deianira of Calydon
- Deion
- Deiphobus
- Deiphontes
- Deipyle
- Demoleon
- Demophon
- Derinoe
- Deucalion
- Dexamenus
- Dieneces
- Diocles
- Diomedes
- Diomedes of the Loud War Cry
- Diomedes son of Tydeus
- Diores
E: 39 names
- Echemus
- Echeneus
- Echephron
- Echion
- Electra
- Electra of Argos
- Electryon
- Elephenor
- Elpenor
- Epeius
- Epistrophus
- Erechtheus
- Erginus
- Eribotes
- Eteocles
- Eualces son of Damon
- Euchenor
- Eudorus
- Eumaeus the Swineherd
- Eumelus
- Euneus
- Euphemus
- Euphemus Wave-Runner
- Euryalus
- Euryalus of the Phaeacians
- Euryalus son of Mecisteus
- Eurybates
- Eurydamas
- Eurydice
- Eurylochus
- Eurymedon the Tall
- Eurypylus
- Eurysthenes
- Eurytion
- Eurytus
- Eurytus the Archer
- Euthymus of Locri
- Evadne
- Evandre
G: 3 names
- Glaucus
- Glaucus son of Hippolochus
- Guneus
H: 33 names
- Haemon
- Halitherses
- Halius
- Harpalyce of Thrace
- Hector
- Hector Breaker of Horses
- Hector son of Priam
- Hegesander Leader of Hosts
- Helen of Sparta
- Helenus
- Helle
- Heracles
- Heracles of the Twelve Labours
- Heracles son of Alcmene
- Hermione
- Hesione
- Hiera of Mysia
- Hilaeira
- Hippalcimus
- Hippasus
- Hippodamas
- Hippolochus
- Hippolyta
- Hippolyta of the Golden Girdle
- Hippolytus
- Hippomedon
- Hippothoe
- Hippothous
- Hylas
- Hylas the Fair
- Hyllus son of Heracles
- Hyperenor
- Hypsipyle
I: 21 names
- Ialmenus
- Icarus
- Idas
- Idas of Messene
- Idmon
- Idomeneus
- Idomeneus of Crete
- Ilus
- Ino
- Iolaus
- Iolaus Charioteer of Heracles
- Iole of Oechalia
- Iphianassa
- Iphicles
- Iphiclus
- Iphicrates
- Iphidamas
- Iphigenia
- Iphigenia at Aulis
- Iphitus
- Ismene
J: 2 names
- Jason
- Jason of the Argo
L: 24 names
- Laertes
- Laertes of Ithaca
- Laertiades
- Lampedo
- Lampus
- Laocoon of Troy
- Laodamas
- Laodamia
- Laodice
- Laogonus
- Leda
- Leitus
- Leocritus
- Leodocus
- Leonidas of Sparta
- Leonteus
- Leontius of Corinth
- Lycaon
- Lycomedes
- Lycon
- Lycurgus of Nemea
- Lycus
- Lynceus
- Lynceus the Sharp-Eyed
M: 32 names
- Machaon
- Marpesia
- Marpessa
- Medea
- Medon
- Megapenthes
- Megara
- Meges
- Melampus
- Melanippe
- Melanippus
- Meleager
- Meleager of Calydon
- Memnon
- Memnon of Aethiopia
- Menalcas
- Menecrates of Pylos
- Menelaus
- Menelaus of the Fair Hair
- Menestheus
- Menesthius
- Menoetiades
- Menoetius
- Mentor
- Meriones
- Mestor
- Milo of Croton
- Minos
- Molion
- Molpadia
- Mopsus
- Myrina
N: 14 names
- Nauplius
- Nausicaa
- Nausicaa of Scheria
- Nebrophonus
- Neoptolemus
- Neoptolemus son of Achilles
- Nestor
- Nestor the Gerenian Horseman
- Nicagoras Shield-Bearer
- Nicomachus
- Nicostratus
- Nireus
- Noemon
- Nycteus
O: 19 names
- Odysseus
- Odysseus of Many Wiles
- Odysseus son of Laertes
- Oebotas of Dyme
- Oedipus
- Oedipus Solver of the Riddle
- Oeneus
- Oenomaus
- Oileus
- Omphale of Lydia
- Orestes
- Orestes son of Agamemnon
- Orion
- Orion the Hunter
- Orpheus
- Orpheus of Thrace
- Orsilochus
- Othryades
- Otrera
P: 74 names
- Palaemon
- Palamedes
- Pandarus
- Parthenopaeus
- Patroclus
- Patroclus Gentle-Hearted
- Patroclus son of Menoetius
- Peiraeus
- Peisander
- Peisistratus
- Pelagon
- Peleides
- Peleus
- Peleus of Phthia
- Pelops
- Peneleos
- Penelope
- Penelope of Ithaca
- Penthesilea
- Penthesilea Queen of the Amazons
- Periboea
- Periclymenus
- Perimedes
- Periphas
- Perseus
- Perseus Gorgon-Slayer
- Perseus son of Danae
- Phaedimus Bright-Shield
- Phaedra
- Phalerus
- Pheidon
- Pherecles of the Ships
- Pheres
- Philippus of Croton
- Philoctetes
- Philoctetes Keeper of the Bow
- Philoetius
P, continued
- Philonoe
- Phocus
- Phoenix
- Phorbas
- Phylacus
- Phylas
- Pirithous
- Pirithous of the Lapiths
- Pittheus
- Podalirius
- Podarces
- Poeas
- Polemusa
- Polites
- Polites of Ithaca
- Pollux
- Pollux the Boxer
- Polybus
- Polydamas
- Polydamas of Scotussa
- Polydorus
- Polymedon Spear-Famed
- Polynices
- Polyphemus son of Elatus
- Polyphontes
- Polypoetes
- Polyxena
- Polyxenus
- Priamides
- Procles
- Procris
- Promachus
- Protesilaus
- Prothous
- Pylades
- Pylades of Phocis
- Pyrrha
R: 2 names
- Rhadamanthus
- Rhesus
S: 14 names
- Sarpedon
- Sarpedon of Lycia
- Scamandrius
- Schedius
- Semele
- Sophanes of Decelea
- Sosicles Saviour of Thebes
- Sosthenes
- Staphylus
- Stentor
- Sthenelus
- Sthenelus son of Capaneus
- Stratius
- Stratonicus the Steadfast
T: 43 names
- Talaus
- Talthybius
- Telamon
- Telamon of Salamis
- Teleboas
- Telemachus
- Telemachus son of Odysseus
- Telephus
- Temenus
- Teucer
- Teucer the Archer
- Thalestris
- Thalpius
- Theagenes of Thasos
- Theano
- Theoclymenus
- Thermodosa
- Theron of Argos
- Thersander
- Thersander son of Polynices
- Theseus
T, continued
- Theseus Minotaur-Slayer
- Theseus son of Aegeus
- Thessalus
- Thestor
- Thoas
- Thoon
- Thrasius
- Thrasymachus of Elis
- Thrasymedes
- Timaeus Lion-Hearted
- Timandra
- Timoleon
- Tiphys
- Tiphys the Helmsman
- Tiresias
- Tlepolemus
- Triptolemus
- Troilus
- Tros
- Tydeides
- Tydeus
- Tydeus the Small but Fierce
X: 2 names
- Xanthippus Gold-Crested
- Xanthus