Apollo Overview
- Meaning: Apollo means “destroyer,” “sun god,” and “prophecy.”
- Gender: Apollo is intended as a first name for boys.
- Origin: Apollo is a Greco-Roman name originally based on Apollo, the Greek god of the sun.
- Pronunciation: “uh-PAUW-loh”
- Popularity: Currently, Apollo is very popular and ranked 73rd among boys’ names in the U.S.
- Nicknames: Apo, Appie, Appy, Lo, LoLo, Marco, Olly, Paolo, Paul, Paulie, Pollo, Polo.
- Variations: Apollon, Apollinaris, Apollonios, Apolinar, Apolleaux, Apollinario, Apolline, Apollos, Apolo, Apolonio, Appollo, Appolo, Appolonio.
- Namesakes: Apollo M. O. Smith, aerodynamics pioneer at Douglas Aircraft from 1938 to 1975. Apollo Kironde, first ambassador to the UN from Uganda.
- What Does Apollo Mean?
- What Is the Origin of the Name Apollo?
- How Popular Is the Name Apollo?
- How Do I Pronounce Apollo?
- Is Apollo a Boy or Girl Name?
- Variations of Apollo
- Nicknames for Apollo
- Similar Names to Apollo
- Middle Names for Apollo
- Sibling Names for Apollo
- Famous People Named Apollo
- Apollo In Popular Culture
- Apollo FAQs
What Does Apollo Mean?
The name Apollo means “god of sunlight” and “prophecy” in Greek, referring to the Greek god of the sun, also known as “the god of everything.” It also refers to a type of asteroid that reaches beyond the orbit of the Earth.
Apollo means “destroyer,” when derived from the Greek “apollymi,” which means “to destroy.” Apollo more loosely refers to any “handsome young man.”
Apollo traces back to the Indo-European “apelo,” meaning “strength.” It’s linked to Apellaios, a festival celebrated over a month in honor of the Greek god Apollo. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato associated Apollo with the Greek “apolysis,” which means “redemption.”
What Is the Origin of the Name Apollo?
The name Apollo derives from Greek and Roman mythology, where it is associated with the sun god Apollo. Apollo is the god of archery, music, poetry, dance, truth, prophecy, healing, and diseases. For this reason, he’s known as “the god of everything” and is also called the “father of light” in Greece.
Apollo is the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin brother of Artemis. Apollo was once known as the ancient Apulana, “god of the gate” and “protector patron.”
How Popular Is the Name Apollo?
Apollo has become very popular in the last few years, when it ranked 388th among boys in the U.S. It’s appeared on the name list in the U.S. since 2012. It’s also in the top 1,000 names in England and is often used for dogs and cats. Apollo ranked within the top 40 U.S. pet names only a few years ago.
How Do I Pronounce Apollo?
Apollo is pronounced “uh-PAA-Low.”
Is Apollo a Boy or Girl Name?
Apollo is primarily used for boys as a first name.
Variations of Apollo
Some other variants for Apollo appear as follows:
- Apolinar (Latin)
- Apolleaux (French)
- Apollinario (Spanish, Portuguese)
- Apollinaris (German)
- Apolline (Greek)
- Apollon (Greek)
- Apollonios (Greek)
- Apollonius (German)
- Apollos (Greek)
- Apolo (Italian)
- Apolonio (Italian)
- Appollo (Greek)
- Appolo (Greek)
- Appolonio (Spanish, Portuguese)
Nicknames for Apollo
There are plenty of cool options when you’re looking for the best nicknames for Apollo.
- Apo
- Appie
- Appy
- Lo
- LoLo
- Marco
- Olly
- Paolo
- Paul
- Paulie
- Pollo
- Polo
Similar Names to Apollo
You can find many similar names to Apollo, whether they’re Greek gods or not.
- Adolfo
- Adonis
- Alonzo
- Alphonso
- Archer
- Asher
- Atlas
- Atticus
- Augusto
- Axel
- Lazaro
- Orion
- Paolo
- Phoenix
- River
Middle Names for Apollo
Apollo fits beautifully when paired with these cute middle names.
- Andreas
- Caspian
- Felix
- Gabriel
- Georges
- Gregory
- Jacob
- Jasper
- Kai
- Lucian
- Rex
- Tristan
- Valentine
- Wilder
- Zephyr
Sibling Names for Apollo
The ideal pair of brothers or brother and sister will adore these Apollo-approved sibling names.
- Alistair
- Athena
- Cynthia
- Daphne
- Delia
- Delphinia
- Edmund
- Hector
- Icarus
- Justin
- Leo
- Lyric
- Phoebe
- Rocco
- Saint
Famous People Named Apollo
These Apollos made their mark in history among entertainers, athletes, and political figures.
- Apollo Crews: American WWE wrestler.
- Apollo Korzeniowski: Polish poet and father of novelist Joseph Conrad.
- Apollo Papathanasiou: Greek-Swedish heavy metal vocalist.
- Apollo Quiboloy: Filipino pastor and church leader.
- Apollo Robbins: American sleight-of-hand artist.
- Apollo Soucek: Vice Admiral in the United States Navy.
- Apollo the Shepherd: Egyptian Christian monk.
Apollo In Popular Culture
Apollo isn’t just for boys since it has appeared in pop culture, science, and the animal world.
- Apollo: Album by the group Nebula.
- Apollo: Alien in the “Star Trek” episode “Who Mourns for Adonais?”.
- Apollo: 1970s American R&B group with Motown Records.
- Apollo: British arts magazine.
- Apollo: Marvel comic book character.
- Apollo: Marble sculpture by Michaelangelo.
- Apollo: Character in “Saint Seiya,” Masami Kurumada’s manga.
- Apollo: Character in the “Zatch Bell!” anime/manga series.
- Apollo: Character in the kids TV series “Pajanimals.”
- Apollo: Song title for Switzerland’s entry into the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.
- Apollo Candy: Fictional candy bar in the “Lost” TV series.
- Apollo Creed: Character in the “Rocky” film franchise played by Carl Weathers.
- Apollo Gauntlet: American animated series on Adult Swim.
- Apollo Justice: Video game character in Capcom’s Ace Attorney.
- Apollo Records: American music label.
- Captain Apollo: Character in the first “Battlestar Galactica” series.
- Project Apollo: U.S. NASA space program in charge of the moon mission from 1968 to 1972.
- The Apollo Theater: Iconic performance space in Harlem, New York City.
Apollo FAQs
Find out more facts about the boy’s name, Apollo, here.