How to say it
a · THE · na
əˈθi.nə
Feminine
Athena
Athenian goddess
What it means
Greek goddess of wisdom, craft, and strategic warfare; patron of Athens (or namesake, the etymology is disputed). Daughter of Zeus, born fully armored from his head. Among the most central Olympians.
Athena is the goddess of wisdom, craft, and strategic war in Greek myth; her name and the city of Athens share a root, though it's unclear whether the city was named for her or she for the city. She was born fully grown and armored from Zeus's head (after he swallowed her mother, the Titaness Metis). She and Poseidon famously competed for Athens; her gift of the olive tree won. As an English given name Athena is mostly a 21st-century phenomenon, rare before 2000, climbing fast since. It entered the US top 100 in 2022. Single short forms aren't common; Athie shows up occasionally.
How to spell Athena
The standard spelling is Athena. Common variants include Athene, Atena, but Athena is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #76 in 2023, currently #109 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
The owl is her symbol; Wisdom-and-strategy is the cultural read most parents bring.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Athena (Greek myth) Olympian goddess of wisdom, craft, and strategic warfare; patron of Athens
Spelling variants
- Athene
- Atena
Names with the same feeling
See Athena from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Athena mean?
- Greek goddess of wisdom, craft, and strategic warfare; patron of Athens (or namesake, the etymology is disputed). Daughter of Zeus, born fully armored from his head. Among the most central Olympians.
- What does Athena mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Athena means "Athenian goddess." Athena is the goddess of wisdom, craft, and strategic war in Greek myth; her name and the city of Athens share a root, though it's unclear whether the city was named for her or she for the city. She was born fully grown and armored from Zeus's head (after he swallowed her mother, the Titaness Metis). She and Poseidon famously competed for Athens; her gift of the olive tree won. As an English given name Athena is mostly a 21st-century phenomenon, rare before 2000, climbing fast since. It entered the US top 100 in 2022. Single short forms aren't common; Athie shows up occasionally.
- How do you pronounce Athena?
- Athena is pronounced əˈθi.nə. Say it as a-THE-na, with the stress on the "the" syllable.
- How do you spell Athena?
- The standard spelling is Athena. Common spelling variants include Athene, Atena.
- Is Athena a boy or girl name?
- Athena is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Athena?
- Athena ranked #109 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.