Achilles
/AH-K-IH-L-IY-Z/
The hero of Homer's Iliad, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, dipped as an infant in the river Styx by his mother Thetis to make him invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him.
See Achilles scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Achilles:
Yes — Achilles is a Pagan boy name of Greek origin, meaning “The hero of Homer's Iliad, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, dipped as an infant in the river Styx by his mother Thetis to make him invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him.”. It also appears in Christian tradition.
How well does Achilles fit your family?
This page tells you what Achilles means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Achilles's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Achilles is a boy's name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Pagan families. The name means "The hero of Homer's Iliad, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, dipped as an infant in the river Styx by his mother Thetis to make him invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him." and belongs to the Courage cluster — names for children who will grow into bold, fearless hearts.
Beyond its Pagan heritage, Achilles is also used in Christian traditions, reflecting how this name has traveled across cultures.
Common among European, American, Greek families, Achilles carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Achilles look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like Achilles carries. No two are alike.
See Achilles's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Achilles's baby portrait →What does Achilles's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Achilles resonates in either tradition.
Achilles's destiny number is 33 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Achilles's full reading →
Does Achilles go with your family's names?
Achilles breaks into 6 sounds: /AH-K-IH-L-IY-Z/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Achilles sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Achilles beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Achilles — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Achilles
If Achilles resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Pagan boy names, common in European families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Pagan boy names from the Courage cluster
Names that sound similar
Pagan boy names that open with the same syllables as Achilles
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Achilles — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Achilles
What does the name Achilles mean?
Achilles means "The hero of Homer's Iliad, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, dipped as an infant in the river Styx by his mother Thetis to make him invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him.." It is a boy name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Pagan families.
Is Achilles a boy or girl name?
Achilles is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Achilles?
Achilles is of Greek origin, used in Pagan, Christian traditions, commonly among European, American, Greek families.
Is Achilles a Pagan name?
Yes. Achilles is a boy name traditionally used in Pagan families, of Greek origin. It also appears in Christian tradition.
What does Achilles mean in Greek?
Achilles originates from Greek, where it means "The hero of Homer's Iliad, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, dipped as an infant in the river Styx by his mother Thetis to make him invulnerable except for the heel by which she held him.."
What are common nicknames for Achilles?
Common short forms of Achilles include Achi, Killy.
What is the numerology of Achilles?
Achilles has a Pythagorean destiny number of 33 — the master teacher — unconditional love in action.
See how Achilles scores for your family
NameRoot is the only baby-name app that scores every name across 6 signals against your specific family context. Download free — Achilles is waiting.
Get NameRoot — free