What does Ariadne mean?
Ariadne means “most holy” in Greek; she guides Theseus from the labyrinth.
What does Persephone mean?
Persephone is the Greek goddess of spring and the underworld; the meaning of her name is debated.
Ariadne vs Persephone
Which is more popular?
Persephone is more popular than Ariadne today: about 372 US babies were given the name Persephone in 2025, compared with 115 named Ariadne.
| Ariadne | Persephone | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Most holy | Of debated meaning |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | ar-ee-AD-nee | per-SEF-uh-nee |
| Syllables | 4 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1960 | 1962 |
| Peak year | 2016 (389) | 2022 (429) |
| In 2025 | 115 | 372 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Ariadne
Persephone
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Ariadne | Persephone |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,126 | 2,261 |
| 2010s | 2,589 | 1,887 |
| 2000s | 621 | 465 |
| 1990s | 255 | 141 |
| 1980s | 100 | 71 |
| 1970s | 63 | 97 |
| 1960s | 70 | 38 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariadne or Persephone more popular?
Persephone is more popular than Ariadne today: about 372 US babies were given the name Persephone in 2025, compared with 115 named Ariadne.
What is the difference between Ariadne and Persephone?
Ariadne means Most holy (Greek origin), while Persephone means Of debated meaning (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Ariadne or Persephone?
In US records, Ariadne first appears in 1960 and Persephone in 1962, so Ariadne has the longer recorded history.