Holding steady.
Popularity of Athene since 1909
Babies named Athene per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Athene's real moment was 1909.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 26 |
| 1920s | 38 |
| 1930s | 8 |
| 1940s | 18 |
| 1950s | 11 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 18 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Athene is the ancient Greek form of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war. In the United States, the name has remained exceptionally rare, with its first recorded appearance in 1909 and a peak usage in that same year. According to Social Security data, the name has never entered the top 1,000 and likely appears only a handful of times per decade, maintaining a stable trajectory. The name carries strong mythological associations and appeals to parents drawn to classical or literary names. Its rarity means that a child named Athene would almost certainly be the only one in their class, making it a distinctive choice.
Athene is the ancient Greek form of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, courage, and warfare in Greek mythology. The name's etymology is uncertain, but it may derive from the Greek word 'athenos' meaning 'wise' or from the city of Athens. Though less common than the Latinized Athena, Athene has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century, reflecting a broader interest in classical names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Thena, Nene, Atha
Sibling names for Athene
Names that share Athene's style, for a brother or sister.
