Hero

♀ Girl

Pronounced HEER-oh /ˈhɪr.oʊ/Medium

Meaning: A Greek name; Hero was the priestess of Aphrodite in the myth of Hero and Leander - so a woman's name at root - and it doubles as the English word hero. Classic and bold.Low

In 30 seconds: Hero is a Greek name - the heroine of Hero and Leander - and the English word (said 'HEER-oh'). Classic, bold, and rare.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumGreek, English

MeaningA Greek name; Hero was the priestess of Aphrodite in the myth of Hero and Leander - so a woman's name at root - and it doubles as the English word hero. Classic and bold.

U.S. rank (2024)#16132 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 214

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hero is a Greek name borne by the heroine of the myth of Hero and Leander, and also the everyday word. It reads classic and bold, rare in the U.S. (said 'HEER-oh').

It appears rarely in the U.S. Rare, classic, and bold.

Did you know? Hero was the priestess of Aphrodite in the myth of Hero and Leander, so it is a woman's name at root, and it doubles as the word hero - a bold, classic pick, which we note (said 'HEER-oh').

Overall data confidence 44%

References - Hero — Greek myth Hero and Leander; the word 'hero'

Variations

HeroeHeiroHera

Nicknames

RoHero

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Hero…

Juno— a like short mythic name

Cleo— a like short classical name

Echo— a like Greek word-name

Calliope— a like Greek mythic name

Explore names like Hero

By themegreek word-name mythology bold

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hero mean?

Hero is a Greek name from the myth of Hero and Leander (Hero was a woman), and also the English word hero.

How do you pronounce Hero?

It's said HEER-oh /ˈhɪr.oʊ/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hero a boy or girl name?

Hero is used here for a girl; in the myth Hero is a woman, though the word reads unisex.

How popular is Hero?

Hero is a rare name in the U.S.