Antigone

The female first name Antigone (Ἀντιγόνη) comes from ancient Greek mythology. Literally, her name means 'grown against' (not 'against birth'), as Antigone defies the law of the ruler Creon, which states that her brother must not be buried.

What does the name Antigone mean?

The female first name Antigone (Ἀντιγόνη) comes from ancient Greek mythology. Literally, her name means 'grown against' (not 'against birth'), as Antigone defies the law of the ruler Creon in the tragedy, which states that her brother must not be buried. The expression αντι-γοπη 'grown against' indicates that she does not simply submit and is rather 'rebellious' in the sense that she does not let herself be subdued. Its origin lies in Ancient Greek, derived from the two elements antí (ἀντί) meaning 'against', 'compared to', 'like' and génos ‎(γένος) meaning 'to be born', 'descendants', 'lineage', 'ethnicity', 'camp'. In Greek mythology, Antigone was a daughter of Oedipus (Roman Oedipus), the sister of Ismene, Eteocles (Roman Eteocles), and Polyneices (Roman Polyneices); and the fiancée of Haemon (Roman Haemon), the son of King Creon (Roman Creon). When she buried Polyneices, which Creon had previously forbidden, he sentenced Antigone to be entombed in a dark crypt, leading her to die of starvation - after which she hanged herself with her veil. The famous Greek poet Sophocles wrote two plays: 'Antigone' and 'Oedipus at Colonus', in which she primarily rebels against her (social) status. Antigoné is the Czech and Hungarian spelling. Other variants include Antigona and Antigoni.

Where does the name Antigone come from?

Etymology Antigone is a female first name of ancient Greek origin with the meaning 'against birth'. Ancient Greek

How do you pronounce Antigone?

Sound & pronunciation of Antigone: Antigone sounds somewhat tenser and more pronounced than related forms. In German pronunciation, it is often 'An-ti-go-ne' [antiˈɡoːnə], with the name unfolding in clearly separated syllables with a distinct rhythm. The long 'o' and the open final syllable give the name a slightly resonant character. This creates an impression of clarity and structure - calm, but with a certain auditory presence.

When is the name day of Antigone?

The name day of Antigone is September 1.

Popularity

Antigone is a rare first name in Germany. In 2022, it ranked 5,539th in the list of the most common female baby names. Its best ranking was achieved in 2012 at 3,656th place. In the last ten years, Antigone has been given as a first name less than 10 times, placing it at 8,310th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 7,235th.

Nicknames & pet names

Anti / Goni / Gonoula

Famous people

• Antigone Costanda (model from Egypt)
• Antigone Foster (Australian singer)