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Persephone

♀ Girl

Pronounced per-SEF-oh-nee /pərˈsɛf.ə.ni/High

Meaning: Exact meaning disputed; possibly related to Greek pertho (to destroy) and phone (voice or murder); name of the goddess of spring and queen of the underworldMedium

In 30 seconds: A grand, mythological Greek name borne by the goddess of spring and queen of the underworld, Persephone is the ultimate bold choice for parents who love mythology and maximalist names.

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Origin HighGreek

MeaningExact meaning disputed; possibly related to Greek pertho (to destroy) and phone (voice or murder); name of the goddess of spring and queen of the underworld

U.S. rank (2025)#735 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births372 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,955

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

Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter in Greek mythology. She was abducted by Hades and taken to the underworld, where eating pomegranate seeds bound her to spend part of each year below the earth. Her mother Demeter's grief caused winter; her return brought spring.

Long considered too grand or unusual for daily use, Persephone has been rising in the U.S. since the 2010s as maximalist mythological names gain popularity. It ranks as a bold statement name for parents confident enough to carry off four syllables.

Did you know? Persephone's abduction and annual return from the underworld was the ancient Greek explanation for the seasons — her name is literally built into how the Greeks understood the calendar.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name — Persephone — etymology and mythologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

PersefoneProserpina

Nicknames

PerseySephiePercy

Famous Bearers

★Persephone (antiquity)
Goddess of the dead, grain, and spring in ancient Greek mythology and religion, and Queen of the Underworld as the wife of Hades, who abducted her from the surface world to his realm. She is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and the myth of her cyclical descent to and return from the underworld — her time below causing winter, her return bringing spring — was the central Greek explanation of the seasons. Persephone was the principal figure of the Eleusinian Mysteries, among the most sacred religious rites of the ancient Greek world, and her Roman equivalent is Proserpina.

If you like Persephone…

Calliope— same bold multi-syllable Greek mythological name for confident parents

Cassandra— fellow Trojan-era myth name with dramatic literary depth

Athena— equally mythological Greek goddess name, slightly more familiar

Selene— shares the ethereal goddess quality and ancient Greek heritage

Explore names like Persephone

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Persephone mean?

Persephone is an ancient Greek name of disputed meaning, possibly related to destruction or grain-threshing. She was the goddess of spring and queen of the underworld.

How do you pronounce Persephone?

It is said per-SEF-oh-nee /pərˈsɛf.ə.ni/ — four syllables, stress on the second.

Is Persephone a boy or girl name?

Persephone is used almost exclusively as a girls name.

How popular is Persephone?

Persephone ranked around #735 in the U.S. in 2025 and has been rising as maximalist mythological names gain popularity.