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Elements named after mythological figures

Mythology has been a rich source of element names since at least the 19th century. Greek titans and gods (titanium from the Titans, tantalum from Tantalus, niobium from Niobe, promethium from Prometheus, iridium from Iris), Norse deities (thorium from Thor, vanadium from Vanadis) and figures whose stories echo the element's chemistry (tantalum's resistance to acid mirroring Tantalus' torment) all feature on this page.

Back to name origins

Name source

Mineral Astronomical body Mythology Person Place Properties

Language of origin

Greek Latin Russian English German Swedish Japanese Anglo-Saxon Spanish Norse Arabic
No. Symbol Element Original word Meaning Language Named by
22 Ti Titanium Titanes Titans Greek Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1795)
23 V Vanadium Vanadis Vanadis (Freyja) Norse Nils Gabriel Sefström (1830)
27 Co Cobalt kobold Goblin German
28 Ni Nickel kupfernickel Devil's copper German
41 Nb Niobium Niobe Niobe Greek
61 Pm Promethium Prometheus Prometheus Greek Grace Mary Coryell (1945)
73 Ta Tantalum Tantalos Tantalus Greek
77 Ir Iridium Iris Iris Greek
90 Th Thorium Thor Thor Norse