Venus

Venus is the name of the Roman goddess of love and beauty, and it is generally connected with a Latin word for love or desire. The planet named after her gives it a second familiar setting in the night sky. Mythology and astronomy therefore meet in one short, recognizable name.

Venus Williams has also given the name a strong sporting association, showing how readily an ancient goddess name can belong to a modern person. Art provides another layer, including Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus. Families drawn to the celestial connection may appreciate that Venus names an actual planet, while those choosing it for the meaning can trace that association directly to the Roman tradition.