Ariadne is a clever, courageous mythological figure – and a name that debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2014.
This Baby Name of the Day post was originally published on May 9, 2008. It was revised in August 2010, and substantially revised and reposted on March 7, 2016.
Ariadne: Courageous Princess
The original bearer of the name was a princess, daughter of King Minos. Their kingdom had defeated Athens in battle, and the price the victors demanded was steep.
Each year, Athens was required to send seven young men and women for sacrifice to the Minotaur, a vicious half-bull who stalked his prey in a maze.
When our story begins one of the fourteen was a spoiler – the valiant Theseus, who volunteered. Shades of The Hunger Games. But Theseus believed that he could kill the beast and end the practice of sacrificing Athenian youth.
If not for the princess, Theseus would long be dust in the depths of the labyrinth. The princess lent him a suitable sword and a ball of red thread, so he could mark his path into the maze – and back out again.
That makes Ariadne a hero name, too.
Ariadne: Music and Arts
Like many a Greek myth, Ariadne’s story ends tragically. But it’s oft-repeated in music and the arts. Richard Strauss wrote an opera about her, and there are poems and paintings and plays, too. In brief: Theseus abandons her. She marries the god Dionysius, and in some accounts, becomes a goddess, though a happily ever after proves elusive.
Plenty of names from Greek myth have made their way into more general use, but women named Ariadne tend to be clever, at least a partial reference to the original:
- Agatha Christie gave the name to a friend of Hercule Poirot, a mystery novelist who often assists Poirot in his investigations – though she’s not a detective in any way.
- In 2010’s Inception, Ellen Page wore the name. Her character designed labyrinths.
- The royal family – Ariadne and her parents – are featured in the BBC’s mythological(ish) drama Atlantis.
Something of the original heroine remains in the name.
Ariadne: Beyond the Labyrinth
The name was used in the real world, at least sometimes. Around the year 500, the name was worn by a Byzantine empress. And there’s an even earlier Saint Ariadne, who died around the year 130 after refusing to participate in pagan rituals.
The names’s meaning is straightforward: it comes from the Greek words ari and adnos -most holy.
It’s the name of a butterfly and an algorithm, and there are other references throughout the natural world.
Ariadne: On Trend
The name succeeds for several reasons:
- We’re wild about Greek ends-with-e names for girls, like Zoe, Chloe, and Penelope.
- We love A names for girls, including several that are close to Ariadne, like Adriana/Adrianna.
- The Italian form of the name, Arianna, and the related Ariana, are both Top 100 choices for girls in the US. In fact, the single ‘n’ spelling was one of the 25 fastest rising names for girls in 2014.
It’s also the name of popular Mexican actress Ariadne Diaz, who had a big year in 2012 and 2013, starring in telenovela La mujer del Vendaval, and followed it up with more television work in 2014.
Ariadne: After 2014
In 2014, the name entered the US Top 1000 for the first time ever. Credit the combined force of a popular Spanish-language star, our affection for Greek names for girls, and the ongoing interest in A names for our daughters.
It suggests that Ariadne could be a mythological name to watch in the coming years.
What do you think of Ariadne? Would you consider it for a daughter, or do you prefer Ariana/Arianna?
You remembered right, Fran! But that doesn’t dampen Ariadne any for me. I mean, Ariande’s miles better than say, Bliss (her character name in that roller derby flick)!
I firmly like Ariadne and think I’d fawn all over the mother of one. I’d love to use it myself but Leo, Simon, Josephine & Ariadne? I don’t think so. Well, that and I doubt #4 will ever happen now.
But WOW! for somebody else! 🙂
Yikes – I wonder if the parents naming their children Aryana have considered what the name looks like without the final “a”? Ariadne is a cool name but I can’t imagine it on an actual kid.
correct me if i’m wrong but wasn’t this ellen page’s character name in inception? the pronunciation was hard to make out but it did sound very similar to this if it wasn’t!
I do believe it was. I cracked up when I saw the connection- they had an Ariadne making mazes! I love stuff like that
Yay ! I’ve been saying it right. If people are willing to use Isla or Imogen & deal with mispronunciation, I wouldn’t worry about it
Gorgeous name with an interesting history
I like Ariadne and would be much more inclined to use her than the overused Arianna, etc. In Agatha Christie’s Poirot mysteries there’s an Ariadne Oliver who appears in a number of stories.
This used to be in my top names. I still like it, but am not sure if I’d still use it. I also liked the Polish version of Ariadna.
Aerianne … yikes! Mythological names can be tough to wear, but at least when we don’t recognize them, it’s a gap in our knowledge – not because the name was pulled from the ether. It might not make kindergarten easier, but I suspect by freshman year, it’s less of an issue. Assuming, of course, that your mythological namesake was more or less decent and well-behaved.
I love Ariadne a kazillion times more than Arianna or Adriana. I knew an Aerianne in high school. That girl was miserable!
Maybe so, but I’m not sure it’s any worse than *spelling* Arianna every time you say it. 😉
Pretty, but she’d be doomed to a life-long pronunciation battle.