GREEK MYTHOLOGY NAMES SURGE IN POPULARITY FOLLOWING ODYSSEY RELEASE

Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of The Odyssey has coincided with a resurgence in baby names drawn from Greek mythology, according to analysis of Office for National Statistics data by retail company JoJo Maman Bébé. Names including Penelope, Atlas, Apollo and Athena have experienced renewed popularity amongst parents naming their children. The film, released this summer, received positive critical reviews and appears to have influenced naming trends among UK families. Anne Varsanyi, head of buying at JoJo Maman Bébé, stated that the data demonstrates how quickly naming preferences can shift.

The most popular Greek mythological names for girls, according to the analysed ONS data, are Penelope, Athena, Rhea, Persephone and Gaia. For boys, the rankings are Atlas, Ares, Apollo, Artemis and Perseus. Varsanyi noted that some names once common in schools have become increasingly rare, whilst others barely heard a generation ago now rank among the country's favourites. She described choosing a baby's name as "one of the first opportunities parents have to express something about their family, whether that's honouring tradition, celebrating heritage or simply choosing a name they love."

The shift reflects broader cultural cycles in naming patterns, with films and media often influencing parental choices. The Odyssey's theatrical success appears to have prompted renewed interest in classical Greek narratives and their associated names among contemporary audiences seeking connections to historical and mythological heritage.