100 Enchanting Baby Names From Myth and Folklore

Looking for a name with a little enchantment woven in? This list gathers 100 magical baby names for girls and boys, each one rooted in mythology, folklore, fairy lore, or the night sky.

Every pick comes with its origin and meaning, so you can trace a name back to a goddess, a wizard, a star, or a woodland sprite before you fall for it.

Scroll on for 49 girl names and 51 boy names that carry real magic.

49 Unique Magical Girl Names

These enchanting girl names draw on goddesses, fairy lore, and the night sky, each one steeped in a little magic. The pool of American first names runs deep: 53,615 different first names appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, per the Census Bureau’s tabulations ⁽¹⁾.

1. Althea: A graceful Greek name meaning “healer,” tied to the althaea (marshmallow) plant once brewed into folk remedies.
2. Alwyn: This soft British girl’s name means “elf friend,” a quietly magical pick that suits a winter baby.
3. Asherah: An ancient Semitic name for a mother goddess, often read as “she who walks in the sea.”
4. Asteria: A starlit Greek name for girls meaning “star,” after the Titaness of falling stars and nighttime omens.
5. Athena: The Greek goddess of wisdom and war and the patron deity of Athens, one of the most recognizable mythological girl names.
6. Brigid: An Irish name meaning “exalted one,” shared by the goddess of poetry and healing and by Ireland’s beloved Saint Brigid.
7. Buffy: A playful nickname for Elizabeth, Hebrew for “pledged to God,” made iconic by TV’s vampire-slaying heroine.
8. Calypso: A lyrical Greek name meaning “she who hides,” after the sea nymph who kept Odysseus on her island for seven years.
9. Ceres: A Latin name meaning “to grow,” after the Roman goddess of the harvest who gives us the word cereal.
10. Circe: A spellbinding Greek name likely from kirkos, “hawk,” borne by the sorceress who enchanted Odysseus’s crew in the Odyssey.
11. Citrine: A sunny gemstone name for the golden-yellow quartz that serves as November’s birthstone.
12. Clover: An English nature name after the meadow flower long linked to luck, especially the rare four-leaf find.
13. Cressida: This Greek baby name meaning “gold” carries a Shakespearean glow from the heroine of Troilus and Cressida.
14. Cybele: A commanding name for the Phrygian mother goddess of wild nature, honored across the ancient world as the “mother of all gods.”
15. Cynthia: A Greek name meaning “woman from Kynthos,” an epithet of Artemis, the moon goddess born on that mountain.
16. Damara: A gentle Greek name tied to a goddess of fertility, with a meaning that reads as “gentle girl.”
17. Danu: A Celtic name for the mother goddess of the Tuatha De Danann, read as “goddess of fruitfulness.”
18. Elspeth: A storybook Scottish girl’s name, a form of Elizabeth meaning “pledged to God.”
19. Epona: The Gaulish and Roman goddess of horses, her name rooted in epos, the Celtic word for horse.
20. Esmerelda: This Spanish girl’s name means “emerald” and belongs to the spirited heroine of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
21. Estelle: A spirited French name meaning “star”, shared by the Grammy-winning British singer Estelle.
22. Faye: A wisp of a name meaning “fairy,” from the Old French fae, leaving a little magic wherever your girl goes.
23. Freya: A Norse name meaning “lady,” after the goddess of love and seidr magic who rode a chariot drawn by cats. Now a US Top 200 pick, it shares a root with Friday, the weekday named in her honor.
24. Gaia: A primordial mystical name meaning “earth,” after the Greek goddess from whom all life sprang.
25. Hera: The Greek queen of the gods and guardian of marriage, a name often read as “protectress.”
26. Hermione: A Greek name linked to Hermes, the messenger god, now famous as the brilliant witch of the Harry Potter series.
27. Iridessa: An upbeat Latin girl’s name evoking the rainbow, brought to life by a light-loving Disney fairy.
28. Lark: An English nature name for the songbird famed for its dawn chorus, also borne by actress Lark Voorhies.
29. Lilith: A name from Mesopotamian myth for a night spirit, later cast in folklore as Adam’s defiant first wife.
30. Luna: A soaring Italian baby name meaning “moon,” and the Roman goddess who personified it, now a US Top 30 favorite that peaked at number 10 in 2023. It ranked #27 among U.S. girls in 2025, with 6,076 newborns given the name that year ⁽²⁾.
31. Marin: This Gaelic and Irish name carries the sense of “of the sea,” calm and elemental.
32. Merida: A bright Scottish-flavored name made famous by the fearless red-haired archer of Disney’s Brave.
33. Moira: An Irish name meaning “destiny,” echoing the Moirai, the Greek Fates who spun every mortal’s thread.
34. Morrigan: An Irish mythological name for the “phantom queen,” a shape-shifting goddess of war and fate, and a bolder spin on Morgan.
35. Nessa: A gentle name meaning “pure,” a soft short form of Agnes or Vanessa.
36. Nixie: A sparkling German name for a “water nymph,” the river sprite of Germanic folklore.
37. Noelani: A flowing Hawaiian girl’s name meaning “heavenly mist,” soft as island rain.
38. Orla: A radiant Celtic choice meaning “golden princess,” short and luminous.
39. Parisa: A Persian girl’s name meaning “fairy-like,” airy and enchanting.
40. Persephone: A melodic Greek name for the goddess of spring who reigns each winter as queen of the underworld.
41. Phoebe: A celestial Greek name meaning “bright,” after the Titaness linked to the moon and the oracle at Delphi.
42. Pixie: An impish English name for a “fairy,” calling up tiny sprites and a sprinkle of magic dust.
43. Reina: A regal Spanish name meaning “queen,” simple and full of poise.
44. Sarah: This Hebrew girl’s name means “princess,” a timeless classic with quiet majesty.
45. Sen: A serene Japanese name that can mean “lotus flower,” minimalist and mystical.
46. Sereia: A rare Portuguese girl’s name meaning “mermaid,” straight from coastal folklore.
47. Ursula: A Latin name meaning “little bear,” carried by a martyred saint and the scene-stealing sea witch of The Little Mermaid.
48. Vesta: A warm Latin name for the Roman goddess of the hearth, tended by her devoted Vestal priestesses.
49. Zenobia: A powerful Greek name meaning “life of Zeus,” worn by the warrior queen Zenobia who ruled Palmyra against Rome.

51 Mysterious Magical Names for Boys

These magical boy names lean on gods, wizards, and legendary heroes, bold picks with real mythic weight.

1. Aether: A luminous Greek name for the primordial god of the bright upper air, the pure light the gods breathed.
2. Alaric: A mighty German boy’s name meaning “ruler of all,” borne by the Visigoth king who sacked Rome in 410.
3. Angel: An ethereal name meaning “messenger of God,” gentle yet strong and used around the world.
4. Apollo: The radiant Greek god of the sun, music, and healing, a name with effortless star power.
5. Athos: A bold Greek name tied to the holy Mount Athos and the loyal swordsman of The Three Musketeers.
6. Atlas: A name of great heft for the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens, and the source of the word atlas.
7. Bari: A short Scandinavian name with old-world charm, traditionally read as “magical being.”
8. Boreas: The Greek god of the north wind, a frosty and dramatic pick for a winter arrival.
9. Bruxo: An intriguing Portuguese boy’s name meaning “sorcerer,” a bewitching twist on Bruno.
10. Burvis: A rare Latvian name meaning “sorcerer,” mysterious and entirely uncommon.
11. Cadmus: A storybook Greek name for the hero who sowed dragon’s teeth and is credited with bringing the alphabet to Greece.
12. Caerus: The Greek god of opportunity, the fleeting perfect moment you have to seize, a hopeful and lucky choice.
13. Cassiel: A celestial Latin choice for boys for the angel of Saturday, fitting for a weekend arrival.
14. Coriakin: An English name with a magical feel from Narnia, where Coriakin is a fallen star turned island magician.
15. Corvus: A Latin name meaning “raven,” dark and striking, and the name of a small southern constellation.
16. Cosmo: A quirky Greek male name meaning “order” or “universe,” also a fairy godparent on The Fairly OddParents.
17. Coven: An edgy English word-name for a “gathering of witches,” tailor-made for an October due date.
18. Cyfrin: A Welsh name meaning “mystic” or “secret,” full of quiet wonder.
19. Dewin: A whimsical Welsh boy’s name meaning “magician,” rare outside Wales.
20. Drake: A sleek English name meaning “dragon,” sharp, modern, and a little fierce.
21. Easton: A preppy English surname-name meaning “east-facing place,” modern and breezy.
22. Eragon: An English name from the Inheritance Cycle, where Eragon is a farm boy turned Dragon Rider, nearly an anagram of dragon.
23. Eric: A Norse name meaning “eternal ruler,” commanding and time-tested.
24. Frederick: A stately German name meaning “peaceful ruler,” regal with the friendly nickname Freddie.
25. Frodo: The brave hobbit of The Lord of the Rings, from an Old English root meaning “wise.”
26. Griffin: A name with mythic flair for the eagle-lion griffin, and a nod to the Welsh Gruffudd, “strong lord.”
27. Guiden: A peculiar Danish baby boy name traditionally read as “wizard,” wonderfully off the beaten path.
28. Gwydion: A spirited Welsh name for the master magician of the Mabinogi legends, steeped in enchantment.
29. Hansel: A fairytale German name, a pet form of Johannes meaning “God is gracious.”
30. Khomsan: A magical Thai name for boys meaning “enchanting,” melodic and rare in the West.
31. Kiano: An uncommon name read as “tools of the wizard,” with East African roots and easy warmth.
32. Lucifer: Latin for “morning star” or “light-bringer,” this Hebrew name carries a bold, rebellious reputation.
33. Mago: A striking Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian male name meaning “magician,” the most literal magic name here.
34. Malachi: A Hebrew name meaning “my messenger,” carried by the prophet whose book closes the Hebrew Bible.
35. Merlin: The legendary wizard of King Arthur’s court, from a Welsh root tied to “sea fortress.”
36. Oberon: Meaning “elf ruler,” this English name belongs to the fairy king of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
37. Odin: The Norse all-father, god of wisdom and war, from a root meaning “inspiration” or “frenzy,” and a steadily rising US boys’ pick now inside the Top 500.
38. Pontus: A Scandinavian favorite that doubles as the Greek primordial god of the open sea.
39. Randall: An English name meaning “shield wolf,” carrying a strong, protective energy.
40. Regin: A rare Norse name for the cunning smith who forged Sigurd’s sword in the Volsung saga.
41. Rickard: A Scandinavian form of Richard meaning “brave ruler,” also a House Stark name in Game of Thrones.
42. Rishi: A Sanskrit name meaning “sage,” after the enlightened seers who composed the Vedas.
43. Saksan: A Thai name read as “peaceful magic,” gentle and quietly powerful.
44. Sirius: A Greek name meaning “glowing,” after the brightest star in the night sky and a brave Harry Potter godfather.
45. Taikuri: A rhythmic Finnish boy’s name meaning “magician,” rare and full of spark.
46. Tenho: An unusual Finnish name that translates to “enchantment,” soft yet memorable.
47. Thor: The hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder, a name with storm-sized mythological history that stays genuinely rare in the US, well outside the Top 1000.
48. Vanir: A Norse name evoking the Vanir, the old gods of fertility and nature, earthy and mystical.
49. Velho: A crisp Finnish name meaning “wizard,” short and full of sorcery.
50. Zen: A Japanese unisex name meaning “meditation,” calm, modern, and grounded in Zen Buddhism.
51. Zeus: The Greek king of the gods, ruler of sky and thunder, one of mythology’s most powerful names.

FAQs