"to carry, to endure"
Atlas
Pronunciation: [ ATL-uhs ]
The strength to carry worlds — a mythic name for a mighty girl
Meaning & Origin
"the one who holds up the heavens"
The Story of Atlas
Atlas comes from the Greek Titan of mythology, whose name derives from the proto-Greek root meaning 'to carry' or 'to endure.' In Greek mythology, Atlas was condemned by Zeus to hold up the celestial heavens on his shoulders for eternity — a punishment for leading the Titans against the Olympians. His association with maps and geography came later, when Renaissance cartographers began placing images of Atlas holding the world on the frontispieces of map books, eventually leading to the word 'atlas' for a book of maps. As a girl's name, Atlas carries an extraordinary sense of strength and capacity.
Atlas has been rising rapidly as a given name for both boys and girls in the United States through the 2010s and 2020s. The mythological name trend (Orion, Athena, Titan, Phoenix) has driven much of this growth. Atlas is particularly notable as a gender-neutral name that has been embraced for girls, with high-profile parents including Shay Mitchell choosing it for their daughters.
Atlas represents endurance, strength, and the capacity to bear great burdens — qualities many parents wish to impart to their children. The name also evokes exploration and world-spanning ambition. Shay Mitchell and Matte Babel named their daughter Atlas in 2019, significantly boosting the name's visibility for girls.
Fun Facts
- The word 'atlas' for a book of maps comes from the image of Atlas holding the world that appeared in early map collections
- Shay Mitchell named her daughter Atlas in 2019, significantly raising the name's profile for girls
- In Greek mythology, Atlas was the brother of Prometheus — both were Titans punished by Zeus for their rebellion
Atlas in Other Languages
Famous People Named Atlas
Atlas Mitchell
Other
2019
Daughter of Canadian actress and model Shay Mitchell and partner Matte Babel, whose birth brought the name to wide atten...
Daughter of Canadian actress and model Shay Mitchell and partner Matte Babel, whose birth brought the name to wide attention for girls
Atlas (Greek Titan) Fictional
Other
In Greek mythology, the Titan condemned by Zeus to hold the celestial heavens on his shoulders for eternity
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,422
- Total SSA Count
- 157
- Cultural Origins
- American English European
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Atlas is also used as a boy name, ranked #101.
View Atlas as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Atlas
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About the Name Atlas
Atlas is a girl name with American, English, and European origins . The name means "to carry, to endure" in Greek .
Is Atlas a boy or girl name? Atlas is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #1,422 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #101. Atlas is more commonly used as a boy name.
Atlas is currently ranked #1,422 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Atlas has 2 syllables and is pronounced ATL-uhs, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Atlas include Atty and Ali. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.