Demi-god or brave defender
Derived from the Greek word 'heros', the name originally referred to a demi-god or a person of great courage. In Greek mythology, Hero was a priestess of Aphrodite, while in literature, it is famously used by Shakespeare for a female character in 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Though historically feminine in mythology, it is used as a bold, virtue-adjacent unisex name today.
Less common today
Hero isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #2,095 in 2021.
US births per 5-year period, 1990βpresent (SSA data).
The virtuous daughter of Leonato Β· Much Ado About Nothing
English actor known for the After film series
A priestess of Aphrodite in the tragic myth of Hero and Leander Β· Greek Mythology
Greek mathematician and engineer