Manchester Evening News
·Aug 2026
The Ten Baby Names Making a Big Comeback as Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Hits the Big Screen
The release and success of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey have renewed interest in Greek mythology-inspired baby names. Analysis by JoJo Maman Bébé of the latest Office for National Statistics data found that Penelope was the most popular mythological name for girls in England and Wales, with 1,174 babies given the name in 2025, followed by Athena, Rhea, Persephone and Gaia. The leading names for boys were Atlas, Ares, Apollo, Artemis and Perseus; Atlas was given to 355 babies, while Apollo and Perseus remained relatively rare. The analysis compared 2025 popularity with changes since 1996.