US Popularity Rank: 9660

Origin: Greek

Meaning: The darkness of the night

If you’ve got a love for folklore, the name Orpheus is a lovely choice to inspire baby’s love for dark tales. This masculine name has Ancient Greek roots, translating to “the darkness of the night,” helping your little one embrace their mysterious, spooky side. Orpheus can also connect baby to the legendary musician, poet, and prophet who may be best known for his tragic love story. As the tale goes, Orpheus descends to the underworld to see his wife, Eurydice, after she died from a snakebite. After playing mournful songs on the lyre, he persuades Hades to give Eurydice back. Unfortunately, Orpheus breaks the one rule Hades gives him—to not look back until he made it out of the underworld—and loses Eurydice forever. Whether you want to remind baby to always keep looking forward or build their love for age-old tales, the name Orpheus is sure to do the trick.