The baby name Ares blends an ethereal sound with a muscular image.
Thanks to Lenore for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE BABY NAME ARES MEAN?
The origin of Ares is straightforward. He’s the Greek God of war, son of Zeus and Hera.
His name likely comes from a Greek word meaning bane or ruin. A second Greek origin might be arsen, meaning male.
Ares is the equivalent of Mars in Roman mythology.
21st century parents will file that away as an interesting fact – or not. But it’s a significant difference. Ancient Greek mythology treats Ares as a relatively minor figure, favoring the wisdom and strategy of Athena. But the Romans? Their focus on warfare and the military meant that Mars became one of their most significant figures.
ARES IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
On a positive note, Ares exemplifies courage, valor, and the physical strength required to serve.
Also worth noting: in the Trojan War, he backs the Trojans and loses to his sister, Athena, and the Greeks.
That’s not terribly promising, but it’s not the end of the story, either.
ARES AND ARIES
Aries is the first of the twelve zodiac signs. It means “ram” in Latin, and indeed, a ram is the symbol associated with Aries, and the name of a constellation in the nighty sky.
Some say that the ram depicted in Aries is the very same that supplied the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts.
Aries is a fire sign, associated with the color red and the planet Mars. The connection between the planet and Ares is the only real link between Aries and Ares.
The constellation was first described by Ptolemy in the second century.
The Latin baby name Aries isn’t the same as the Greek Ares, but they sound identical.
ARES AS A GIRL’S NAME
While the baby name Ares is almost exclusively used for boys, it’s worth noting that a handful of girls have received the name, too.
This might be down to a mountain pass in the Pyrenees, in Spain. It’s called Coll d’Ares, and there’s a sanctuary located nearby, known as Mare de Déu de les Ares – Mother of God of the Ares.
ARES AND AIR
The baby name Ares is not related to air.
The word air, referring to the invisible mix of gases surrounding the earth, has roots in another Greek word: aēr. It originally meant mist, and later, atmosphere. It was air, the word as we know it, by the twelfth century or so, first in French and then in English.
It’s a tiny word, but one that carries outsized meaning. We can air our grievances, we can play air guitar. Castles in the air are dreams; something up in the air is undetermined.
In our moment, with so many nature names trending, Air has been used as given name. Actually, make that Aire. Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott welcomed son Aire in February 2022. It’s the perfect name for the famous family, blending on-trend style with something fresh and unexpected.
And yes, Aire has spiked in use as a boy’s name since.
But it also sounds like Ari and lots of other more traditional choices for our daughters and our sons.
POPULAR CULTURE
Two more reasons the baby name Ares is trending.
Entertainment powerhouse Game of Thrones gave the name Aerys to a character. He’s not seen in any of the television series – yet – but he’s a significant plot point. (And sharing his name with a blood-thirsty god of war tracks.)
Something that feels far more influential?
Basketball’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and wife Hailey Summers welcomed son Ares Alexander in April of 2024. It’s brought the name into the spotlight in a different way than the fantasy series or the other references.
HOW POPULAR IS THE BABY NAME ARES?
In recent years, Greek baby names borrowed from mythology and the ancient world have risen in use.
The baby name Ares debuted in the US data back in 1983, with five births. It climbed steadily, debuting in the US Top 1000 in 2013. As of 2024, the name ranks #295.
It’s quickly rising toward the most popular choices in the US.
While it’s not nearly as common in the UK, the baby name Ares also ranks in the Top 1000 choices for England and Wales.
A STRONG NAME FOR A SON
We love mythological names like Orion and Atlas. Ares fits right in.
While the original meaning of the name Ares might’ve been a bit on the aggressive side, we don’t hear it that way today.
Instead, Ares reads like a warrior. It’s a mix of courage, bravery, and resilience that seems very appropriate, especially when paired with the softer, nature-adjacent sound of the name.
With famous people like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander embracing Ares for a child, this name could climb high.
What do you think of the baby name Ares?
