Herakles

Herakles, also known as Hēraklês ‎(Ἡρακλῆς), is a traditional Greek first name that appears in both Greek and Roman mythology.

What does the name Herakles mean?

The name Herakles, or Hēraklês ‎(Ἡρακλῆς), is a well-established Greek first name with mythological roots. Its translation is 'the glory of Hera'. Hera is revered in Greek mythology as the queen of the gods. The name has its roots in Ancient Greek, composed of the elements Hḗrā ‎(Ἥρᾱ), meaning 'name of the goddess Hera' or 'the planet Venus', and kléos (κλέος), meaning 'glory', 'honor', 'fame', or 'report'. In Greek and Roman mythology, Hēraklēs is depicted as a protector of mankind, a demigod, and one of the greatest heroes of antiquity. He is the son of Zeus and Alcmene and is often seen as an example of masculinity. Additionally, he acts as a defender of the Olympic order against chthonic monsters. Other variants of the name include Heracles, Herakleios, Heraclius, Hercules, Hercule, Herkules, Hercli, Irakli, Iraklis, Ercole, and Ercwlff.

Where does the name Herakles come from?

The origin of the name Herakles is Ancient Greek and means 'the glory of Hera'. The name is composed of Hḗrā ‎(Ἥρᾱ), meaning 'name of the goddess Hera' or 'the planet Venus', and kléos (κλέος), meaning 'glory', 'honor', 'fame', or 'report'. The language of the name is Greek.

How do you pronounce Herakles?

He-ra-kles

Popularity

In Germany, Herakles is a rather rare first name. In 2023, it ranked 5,488th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 2016, when it reached 4,252nd place. Over the last ten years, the name Herakles has been given about 10 times, placing it 6,380th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 7,533rd. The popularity and frequency of the name Herakles varies worldwide.