Odysseus

Odysseus, also called Odysséus (Ὀδυσσεύς), is a traditional Greek name for boys, likely tracing back to a pre-Greek origin.

What does the name Odysseus mean?

The name Odysseus, or Odysséus (Ὀδυσσεύς), has its roots in ancient Greece and is often translated as 'the Wrathful', 'the Angry', or 'the Hateful'. Its origin may lie in the ancient Greek term odýssomai (ὀδύσσομαι), which means 'to hate', 'to be angry', 'angry', and 'annoyed'. Odysseus was the legendary king of Ithaca, an island in the Ionian Sea located south of Corfu. He played a central role in the Trojan War, as described in the works of Homer, particularly in the Iliad and the Odyssey. After a ten-year odyssey at sea, he eventually returned to his wife Penelope after angering the god Poseidon. He was also the one who conceived the idea of the Trojan Horse. Homer's use of the name may have been influenced by a folk-etymological connection to the Greek word ὀδύσσομαι for 'to be angry'. There are numerous variants of the name, including Odyssee, Odysseas, Odissey, Odyssa, Ulysse, Ulysses, Ulisse, Ulises, and Ulixes.

Where does the name Odysseus come from?

The name Odysseus is a masculine name of Greek origin, meaning 'the Wrathful'. The ancient Greek root odýssomai (ὀδύσσομαι) stands for the terms hate, anger, wrath, and annoyance. The language is Ancient Greek.

How do you pronounce Odysseus?

Odysseus is pronounced approximately as: o-DI-sse-us.

Popularity

In Germany, Odysseus is a rather rare name. Currently, it ranks 5,840th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its highest ranking was in 2015, when it reached 2,705th place. In the last ten years, Odysseus has been given as a first name about 20 times, placing it 6,103rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 5,827th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ody

Famous people

• Odysseus Eskitzoglou (sailor)
• Odysseus Yakoumakis (Greek painter)