Ariadne

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Origin: Greek

Meaning: a Greek feminine name meaning "most holy" from Cretan Greek elements ari (most) and adnos (holy).

In Greek mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos of Crete, who had the Athenians send him seven young men and women every seven years to Crete as a tribute, either as vengeance for the death of his son, or because he had won a successful war against Athens. Either way, he would send the tributes into the labyrinth of the Minotaur (the product of his wife's affair with a bull) in which they would be eaten by it. Theseus, the son of the king of Athens, volunteers, and manages to kill the beast thanks to the help of Ariadne, who had fallen in love with him, by giving him a ball of thread so he could find his way out. Afterward, Ariadne left with Theseus. When they stopped at an island for some rest, Theseus left her behind when she was asleep. Dionysos finds her and makes her his bride.


Variants:

• Ariadni (Modern Greek)

• Ariadna (Spanish, Catalan, Russian, Polish, English)

• Arijana (Croatian)

• Ariane (French, German, Dutch)

• Arianne

• Arianna (Italian)

• Ariana  

• Aryana 

• Aryanna 

• Arienne