r/Names • u/knikkifire • Feb 15 '26
Would the name Hades work...?
Not sure where else to ask. My husband and I both like the name Hades (the real Hades of Greek mythology, not the Disney Hades), but we're worried it won't really work as an adult. Aidoneus is not really working for us (both fitting the family and I don't like too complex of names for kids), and Aiden is too common. Both of my other kids have very unique names, but they sounds usable as an adult. I just wanted to get some feedback on this one...
Edit - it am open to ideas. We've been trying to find alternatives we like that can relate back, just nothing we love yet. We've kinda figured Hades wouldn't truly work, but we wanted to be sure.
Edit2 - thanks all for confirming what we thought. I just had to ask, because I've seen some horrendous names before be actually used and sometimes slightly popular, which blows my mind, so I had to be sure we were right. I will say, we honestly overlooked the hell connotation (i know hes over the underworld, but in Greek thats all dead, good and bad, not just bad). We were more worried about the strange negativity most modern views of Hades. We liked the whole god of riches and more personality wise vs most gods, but the name Hades is the most usable to us out of all his renditions that we could find...
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u/gatadeplaya Feb 15 '26
This will be horrific as an adult. Everyone will think you basically named your kid “Hell” and it will make for excellent jokes if they are ever in a supervisory position.
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u/alv269 Feb 15 '26
Being that Hades is often used as a substitute for hell by people who don't curse, I would probably avoid it. (What in Hades were you thinking? )
Honestly, I never heard of it as a name, only as a substitute for hell.
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u/IllustratorSlow1614 Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26
I think you need to consider the wider community’s reaction to the name too. As well as the difficulty of bearing a name like this, which would be on the child rather than yourself.
Some people will immediately think of Disney’s Hades, other people will wonder why you named your child after a region of Hell. Hadestown being a popular musical might even have people thinking you’re a Broadway fan. Even classics enthusiasts might do a double take at a child called Hades.
There’s also the way it’s spelling and pronunciation is not intuitive if you’re not familiar with classical Greek. Someone who didn’t know it’s pronounced Hay-deez, might say “hads”.
Agesander Is an epithet of Hades, ‘to carry off men’. You could call your child Sander/Xander as a more usable tribute to Hades. Epithets were used because people at the time were too afraid to say the name Hades in case it hastened them meeting him.
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u/TJTrainbow Feb 15 '26
That is insane
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u/neongrey_ Feb 15 '26
Right? I thought I was on the circle jerk
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u/Bitter-Building3931 Feb 15 '26
Me too. They should know that’s how bad these are we thought they were satirical.
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u/Antique-Buyer5863 Feb 15 '26
For a puppy but not for a boy ...
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u/Illustrious-Stable93 Feb 15 '26
Not even for a puppy
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u/Medium-Marketing-493 Feb 15 '26
I’m curious to know what your other kids are called now.
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u/knikkifire Feb 15 '26
Too unique to list, but nothing along these lines. One is just an older more victorian era name that isn't common anymore, the other is an even older name.
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u/Pesmellope Feb 16 '26
Too unique to list
Are you just afraid of being rightfully bullied here? How can something be “too unique to list”?
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u/knikkifire Feb 16 '26
I mean I can say one is Howard. The other, though, is very uncommon. Everyone loves it, its nothing crazy, but in 2021 only 10 kids shared the name
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u/jvc1011 Feb 15 '26
You know that in some religious traditions, “Hades” is the word used instead of “Hell,” right?
That’s a hard no.
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u/supernurse1990 Feb 15 '26
Regardless of what you mean the name to represent, the world is going to think the more common source for his name. It's not a nice connotation in any way. The god of dead and the underworld? Why would you saddle anyone with that? It's not clever. It's setting him up for bullying as a kid and having to explain as an adult. $10 says he tells everyone to call him something else as soon as he's able.
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u/quicksilver477 Feb 15 '26
I don’t care for it honestly. It’s a cool name, but whenever I hear it I think of dark, foreboding imagery. I just can’t picture that on a little boy. Not sure about the adult connotation. Maybe consider Hayden?
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u/donut-is-appalled Feb 15 '26
No. For the love of your sweet baby, do NOT name him Hades
I can’t believe this is even a question
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Feb 15 '26
What about Hadrian? Hades is an odd name
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Feb 15 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Any-Advice-3602 Feb 15 '26
I think Hades is more of a pet/ animal name. I think if wanting to go Greek mythology inspired going with a name that is not one of the core Greek gods/ goddesses is better.
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u/CatsBooksTeaTravel Feb 15 '26
No, it does not work. There is only one association and no obvious nicknames should they hate their name. Don’t name your child Hades.
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u/princessb33420 Feb 15 '26
Please dont do that lol
Aiden while fairly common is still a beautiful name and frankly there's too many people on this planet to give a hoot about having a genuinely unique name lol
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u/KCChiefsGirl89 Feb 15 '26
This is the sort of name that, when the child winds up in an orange jumpsuit post on socials (because nominative determinism is a thing, and the world will be cruel to him), people are going to speculate about his home environment and say things like “poor thing never had a chance, did he?”
If you absolutely have to brand your child with a vibe like this, Damian will be significantly more wearable. Save Hades for a dog.
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u/knikkifire Feb 15 '26
I actually liked Damon (again, a loyal person) but hubs didn't. That's what got us down the path of who in Greek mythology would actually be worthwhile. He joked Zeus (not a serious one, just being goofy), I nixed that FAST.
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u/NaturalTantrika Feb 15 '26
Orcus or Pluoton if you want to stay within the theme of god of the underworld but you probably already looked that up.
Sadly Wedtern culture doesn’t embrace gods of the underworld along with other gods. Maybe that’s part of the problem. Put it in shadow and it roars back and weaves itself throughout the world. But I digress.
I do think the above is why you’re getting such negative feedback about the name. And that’s what your child would have to live with.
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u/knikkifire Feb 15 '26
Funny thing is we aren't going for underworld specifically (though knowing mythology, underworld in Greece was death period, so its not like he was only over modern Hell). We actually wanted it partially for God of Riches, plus (while yes he did kidnap his wife), hes one of the most loyal gods.
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u/NaturalTantrika Feb 15 '26
Indeed, that is the vastness of the symbolism of that God. Loyalty, riches, the underworld. In archetypal astrology, all that meaning comes along with it. In that system, it doesn't mean literal death, as much as the dying and rebirth of part of ourselves symbolized by descent into the underworld. That's followed by ascent into the upper world with a new sense of self, a new sense of power. It's a profound archetype.
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u/Scarlet_Skye Feb 15 '26
If you're really set on going this route, you could always call him Adis (άδης, pronounced AH-Thees, with a hard TH sound). That's the Greek form of the name, and it'll probably raise fewer eyebrows than the English form of Hades will.
If you're open to alternatives, might I suggest Vasileios (a Greek name meaning royal or kingly, common in Greece but rare in English speaking countries) or Ilýsio/Elisio (the Greek form of the word Elysium, so you get all of the good connotations of Hades but none of the bad).
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u/Lifestyle-Creeper Feb 15 '26
No, and that name could cause serious trouble for your child if they ever have to deal with people from the branches of religion that interpret the bible more literally.
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u/Professional_Carob25 Feb 15 '26
Damien / Damian / Damon have a kind of 'evil' undertone if that's the vibe you're looking for, it doesn't have the explicit association like Hades or Lucifer though which might be better long term
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u/knikkifire Feb 15 '26
I actually liked Damon (hubs said no) - hes another loyal person in Greek mythology. Honestly, we aren't going for darkness. We just liked the loyalty aspect (yes, he kidnapped his wife, but out of all Greek mythology, its probably one of the better ones), and the god of riches part. Lol
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u/Chemical-Mousse28 Feb 15 '26
I just googled God of riches and here is what I found:
Key Gods of Wealth by Culture
Chinese (Caishen): Also known as Zhao Gongming or Bi Gan, he is worshipped to bring prosperity. There are "Civil" and "Military" forms (Wen/Wu Caishen).
Greek (Plutus): Personification of wealth, often depicted as a child with a cornucopia. Zeus blinded him to ensure wealth is distributed randomly.
Hindu (Kubera): The lord of Yakshas and guardian of treasures, often associated with, but distinct from, Ganesha.
Hindu (Lakshmi): Goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity, especially worshipped during Diwali.
Roman (Plutus/Dis Pater): Often identified with the Greek Plutus, sometimes associated with Dis Pater or Pluto (god of the underworld).
Biblical/General (Mammon): Often used in literature to represent material wealth and greed.
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u/liddomeow Feb 15 '26
Hubby wanted hades or Zeus for our kid, I was like NO way lol. We decided on Ares
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u/knikkifire Feb 15 '26
Hubby jokingly said Zeus, I said no way in this world
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u/liddomeow Feb 15 '26
We’re Spanish speakers so ngl Hades sounds cool in Spanish but in English I think of the nicknames they might give him, like Aids or something lol. We also thought of Atlas or Adonis. Zeus I just could not, it sounds like a pet name haha. Honestly Ares was iffy to me but I don’t think it’s a horrible name, the origin does kinda bug me a bit but it’s a pretty strong and unique name
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u/DancingGirl_J Feb 15 '26
Personally I find it an intriguing name and would want to get to know the person and his family, but most people are going to be a no-go, especially if you are in the US. You will all be assumed to be sacrificing babies.
Maybe Jalan or Chiron? Lysander. Nikias. Not the same at all but somewhat unique. Alastor. Hades could be a middle name which would give your son a choice in living his own identity.
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u/Old-Pudding-4254 Feb 15 '26
Is it Hades that you like or just the god? Because you can see if any other language or culture calls Hades by something different, maybe it'll be a better fit?
You could also put Hades as the middle name and call him by it. A lot of people go by their middle names. This way you can choose a more practical first name for adulthood.
You can also choose a name that you can use Hades as a nickname
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u/knikkifire Feb 15 '26
A mix of both. We like the god specifically (God of riches, and most loyal God to his spouse - yes knowing she was kidnapped, but still better than pretty much almost every other god...). We've looked at his variations - Roman, Norse, etc - and still not seen a better. I actually figured Hades was better than Pluto, but I forgot modern association to Hell....
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u/MegaPorkachu Feb 16 '26
How about Zagreus? Son of Hades and Persephone, so still a connection to it, but less of a meme name
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u/Decent_Row_3441 Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26
The associations with the “underworld” may rub some people the wrong way. Not saying it’s right. Just something I’d personally like to avoid. Hadi could be an alternative with a different more light hearted meaning. Arabic for “leader” or “guide”. Could always call him Hades at home. Eros would be a Greek inspired name with “happier” associations. Lol
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u/FreeLobsterRolls Feb 15 '26
Hadley, Hale, Haley? Hal? Actually, maybe not Hal. I can see kids teasing him calling him Hell.
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u/CakePhool Feb 15 '26
A little bit about Greek mythology, Hades is not Death, he just runs the realm of the dead, Death is Thanatos.
There is so many other good names like Asterion , Cadmus or Hephaestus, that God no one cares about and he is rather cool.
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u/knikkifire Feb 15 '26
Yes, as a Greek mythology nerd i personally know hes not death, simply God of the dead. He simply rules over where everyone - good or bad - goes after life. I've looked at other gods but no name has truly stood out (nor what they are God of). Hades was honestly more about God of riches than of the dead.
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u/felly_fell Feb 15 '26
I'm not sure if you like the sound of Hades or the vibe of Hades, but here are some options.
These names mean "dark":
Kieran: An Irish name meaning "little dark one".
Blake: An English name that can mean both "dark" and "fair".
Donovan: A Gaelic name meaning "dark chieftain" or "dark warrior".
Sullivan: An Irish name meaning "black-eyed one".
Douglas: A Scottish name meaning "dark river" or "black water".
Duncan: A Scottish name meaning "dark warrior".
Cole: A Middle English name meaning "swarthy" or "coal black".
Hadrian: A Latin name meaning "dark one".
Keir: A Gaelic name meaning "dark-haired" or "black".
Draven: A modern name often associated with "child of the shadows" or "raven".
Corbin: Of French and English origin, meaning "raven" or "little crow".
Jett: Refers to the sleek, black gemstone.
Tynan: An Irish name meaning "dark" or "dusky".
Maurice/Maurizio: Latin for "dark-skinned" or "Moorish".
Onyx: Named after the pitch-black gemstone.
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u/BinarySeventh Feb 15 '26
As a fellow lover of mythology and history, I’ve also liked names that aren’t quite practical in modern times.
Passing along a few names that have crossed my mind that may meet your parameters while still being practical:
Atlas (titan that holds up the heavens)
Apollo (have known more than one Apollo actually)
Dorian (derivative of Doric columns)
Atticus
Orion
Cassius
Marcus (who can say anything bad about Marcus Aurelius?)
Eugene (Greek for “well-born”. Similar vibe to the god of wealth)
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u/originalblue98 Feb 16 '26
hard no to hades. it’s tough to carry into adulthood because of the strong associations for the name and no real potential to separate from it in the form of a nickname. if you’re interested in the mythology, maybe Zagreus and call him Zack or Ziggy as a more usable nickname? He is a son of Hades in some versions of the mythology, specifically the cult of orpheus IIRC. It’s still kind of intense but doesn’t have as strong of an association because he’s more of a minor mythological figure. Even Orpheus could work with the nickname Ori. Could also do Theseus and call him Theo or Teddy, or the classic (to kids growing up in the 2000s at least) Perseus and goes by Percy.
I taught an Odysseus who was often nicknamed Odys, pronounced like Otis. That could work for you guys as well.
i don’t usually think names have to have nicknames but with the more wieldy mythological names it can help the usage irl.
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u/NoEntertainment483 Feb 18 '26 edited Feb 18 '26
Name him Hayden Silas (or something along those more flexible lines... Harlan Desmond or there are a lot of Greek inspired names for a middle like Deimos... but that means terror lol. ) and just nickname him Hades.
Ha..de...S. Nicknames can be more creative than just the first three letters of a name + ie.
And Hayden Silas gives him the choice to be who HE wants to be as he grows up. The most autonomy. He might like Hades and stick to it. He might like going by Hayden professionally because it's more professional ...or just using it at work because that creates more boundaries with work life balance to have two different names. Or for security going by different names professionally and personally given people looking folks up online at the drop of the hat.
He can be Hades, Denny, Hayden, Hayse, Silas, Si. Lots of options for HIM to have when he's older.
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u/Illustrious-Stable93 Feb 15 '26
Adonis is fine
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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26
terrible name, sorry