Persephone

At a Glance

Origin

Ancient Greek

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

per-SEF-uh-neeListen

Persephone is a girl's name with Ancient Greek origins. You may have come across a popular claim that it means 'bringer of destruction' or 'she who brings death' — that meaning isn't backed by a reliable source, so it's best treated as unconfirmed. It's pronounced per-SEF-uh-nee.

Meaning & Origin of Persephone

Origin: Ancient Greek.

A common claim: Persephone is popularly said to mean 'bringer of destruction' or 'she who brings death.' Actually: Persephone's root is considered obscure and pre-Greek by scholars, with no reliable etymological breakdown — 'bringer of destruction' isn't supported.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Persephone

Popularity of Persephone

Persephone reached its highest point in 2022, ranking #685 with 428 babies given the name, and in 2024 it sat at #737 with 381.

Names Like Persephone

These names share Persephone’s style, era or origin.

• Nixie
• Thalassa
• Agnes
• Althea
• Amaryllis
• Anastasiya

FAQ

What does the name Persephone mean?

Persephone is popularly said to mean ‘bringer of destruction’ or ‘she who brings death.’ Persephone’s root is considered obscure and pre-Greek by scholars, with no reliable etymological breakdown — ‘bringer of destruction’ isn’t supported.

How do you pronounce Persephone?

Persephone is pronounced per-SEF-uh-nee (IPA: /pərˈsɛfəni/).

Is Persephone a popular name right now?

Persephone is near its all-time peak (#685 in 2022), ranked #737 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1962–2024.)

Make Persephone Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Persephone, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.