Achilles - Name Meaning and Origin

The boy's name Achilles \ach(il)-les\ is pronounced a-KILL-eez. It is of Greek origin. From Achilleus. Mythology: name of the hero of the Trojan War, celebrated in Homer's "Iliad", famous for his valor and manly beauty. He was all but invulnerable, having been dipped in the River Styx by his mother, the nymph Thetis. She held him, however, by the heel, which was thus his one weak point: hence "Achilles' heel". Also a saint's name.

Achilles has 15 variant forms: Achill, Achille, Achillea, Achilleo, Achilleus, Achillios, Achillius, Akil, Akilles, Akillios, Akillius, Aquil, Aquiles, Aquilles and Quilo.

Achilles is a very rare male first name and a popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy's name Achilles. Click here to compare Achilles with related baby names.