Maybe it’s the influence of Disney’s Hercules or the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan, but mythology names are on the rise! Parents are also increasingly more interested in finding names that are a little more uncommon. So here’s the combination of those two trends: cool and unique mythological names! All of the names listed here are outside of the top 1000 most popular names in the United States according to the U.S. Social Security Administration’s data from 2019.

Artemis: While this Greek goddess’s name has an unknown meaning, Artemis’s associations are the moon, wilderness, and wild animals. She is also heralded as the protector of young girls.

Branwen: In Welsh mythology, Branwen is the sister of legendary king Brân the Blessed. The name means “white crow.”

Dalia: This is the name of the goddess of fate and the giver and taker of goods in Lithuanian mythology. The name is said to mean “destiny, fate” or “a strong branch.”

Eluned / Luned: In the Mabinogian tale of Owain, Luned (a variant of Eluned) is his rescuer and also is a servant of the Lady of the Fountain. The name means “image, idol.”

Embla: Along with Ask, Embla is one of the first humans created by the gods in Norse mythology. The name most likely means “elm.”

Hestia / Vesta: In Greek mythology Hestia is the goddess of the hearth, which is also the meaning of the name. Vesta, a goddess in Roman mythology, is also a goddess of the hearth, and her name is most likely is the Latin version of the Greek name.

Niamh: This name with a “bright” meaning comes from Irish mythology, where Niamh is the daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir and one of the queens of the land of eternal youth. The name can be pronounced as “NEEV,” “NEE-uhv,” or “NEHv.”

Pax: In Roman mythology, Pax is the goddess of peace and the name literally means peace as well. The Latin word is commonly used to describe a golden age of Roman history, “Pax Romana.”

Persephone: While the meaning of Persephone is a heavy one, “Bringer of Destruction,” the mythological figure is fascinating. She is the wife of Hades and the goddess of vegetation.

Saga: In Norse mythology Saga is a goddess often associated with Frigg. In Old Norse the name means “seer” and in modern Swedish it means “fairy tale.”

Alberich: In German legend Alberich is a dwarf and the guardian of the Nibelung’s treasure. The name means “ruler of elves.”

Evander: While the name is Greek, Evander is featured in Roman mythology and is credited with bringing Greek pantheon, laws, and alphabet to Italy where he settled. The name means “good man.”

Fionn: In Irish mythology, Fionn mac Cumhaill is a hunter-warrior at the center of various tales. The name Fionn means “fair-haired.”

Hermes: This is the name of the Greek god associated with speed and good luck. Hermes is the messenger of Zeus and guide to the underworld. The name Hermes means “interpreter.” Hermès is also a French manufacturer of luxury goods.

Linus: While many might associate this name with the Peanuts character, it’s also the name of multiple figures in Greek mythology including a son of Apollo. Linus means “flax colored.”

Lir: In Irish mythology, Lir (also spelled Ler) means “sea” and he is the god of the sea. He is the king in the tale The Children of Lir and his Welsh counterpart is Llŷr.

Osiris: This is the Latinized version of the Egyptian god Usir’s name. Osiris is the lord of the underworld and judge of the dead.

Sigurd: In Norse mythology and German legend Sigurd is a hero of various tales. The name means “victory” and “guardian” and in the German legends he is named Siegfried.

Silvius: This was the name of various mythological kinds in Roman mythology. Silvius derives from the Latin word for “forest.”

Zephyr: While zephyr is used as a word in English, it’s also the name of the Greek god of the west wind. The west wind is considered the gentler of the winds.