Theseus

Theseus is best known as the Athenian hero of Greek mythology. His name is sometimes connected with the Greek verb tithemi, meaning to put or set, although the derivation is uncertain. The myths surrounding him are far more securely established than a simple translation of the name itself.

His most familiar adventure is the defeat of the Minotaur, the creature held within the Cretan labyrinth. Theseus also appears as a ruler of Athens in later literature, including works by Chaucer and Shakespeare. That long literary afterlife gives the name several layers: ancient myth, medieval storytelling, and English theater. Parents drawn to Theseus may be choosing the hero's place in those stories rather than a literal word meaning.