Danae

Meaning: (She Who Judges, Thirsty, Mythology: Danae was the daughter of King Acrisius of Argos and his wife Queen Eurydice. The mother of Perseus by Zeus. She was sometimes credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium. Disappointed with his lack of male heirs, Acrisius asked an oracle if this would change. The oracle told him that he would be killed by his daughter’s son. She was childless and, meaning to keep her so, he shut her up in a bronze tower or cave. But Zeus came to her in the form of golden rain, and impregnated her. Soon after, their child Perseus was born.

Unwilling to provoke the wrath of the gods by killing his offspring, Acrisius cast Danae and Perseus into the sea in a wooden chest. The sea was calmed by Poseidon and at the request pf Zeus the pair survived. The washed ashore of Seriphos, where they were taken in by Dictys – the brother of King Polydectes- who raised Perseus to manhood.

The King was charmed by Danae but she had no interest in him. Consequently he agreed not to marry her only if her son would travel to the foreign land of the Grey Ladies and slay the hideous Medusa. With the use of Athena’s shield, he was able to evade her gaze and eventually kill her.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation:  (DAN-ay, da-NAY, DAEN-ay, Dah-neigh, DAH-nai, DAH-nai-ay, DAWN-a-ee, DAWN-ie, DAN-ie)

Gender: Female 

I was looking up a name the other day and came upon this one. It’s a name with good meanings and quite a mythology background. It also seems a strong name. The pronunciation variants are what have thrown me off a bit. There are so many different ways to say this or at least I have found sites that say there are many different ways to pronounce it. I like the look of the name though so I have decided to add it to my blog.