Given name & surname
Athena
Athena is a feminine given name from Middle English, ultimately from Ancient Greek. It is used in English and Tagalog.
Original GreekΑθένα
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Greek.
How it developed
In English usage, Athena developed from Ἀθηνᾶ.
The story
In mythological stories, Athena is associated with the goddess of war and wisdom.
Athena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 53,118
- 0 boys · 53,118 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 3,029 babies
- 2025
- 2,477
- #109 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +13%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 2,477 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 109 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 13.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (379). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 32,200 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Athena’s family of names
In English usage, Athena shares an earlier linguistic root with Athina. Athena has a related form in Athene. Athena has a related form in Athina.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Athena has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
Ancient Greekwhere Athena comes from · 1 name
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Athena
- Athena ManoukianGreek singerborn 1994
- Countess Athena of MonpezatDanish former princess; daughter of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmarkborn 2012
- Athena KarkanisCanadian television actressborn 1981
- Athina OnassisFrench-Greek heiressborn 1985
- Athina Rachel TsangariGreek film director, screenwriter and actress (born 1966)
- Athena ChuHong Kong actressborn 1971
- Athena FarrokhzadIranian-Swedish poet, literary critic, translator and playwrightborn 1983
- Athena CoustenisGreek astrophysicist (1961-)
- Athena TibiJapan-based singer from The Philippinesborn 1988
Characters named Athena: Athena Asamiya (Psycho Soldier and The King of Fighters).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Athena, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rhea
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>99% girls
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“light”
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Zenaida
Zenaida is a feminine given name from Spanish. It is used in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.
>99% girls
Echidna
>99% girls
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Adrasteia
>99% girls
Alcimede
“having great cunning”
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