Atlas

Associated with Greek mythology and the figure Atlas.

Atlas is a masculine given name that draws directly on Greek mythology, where Atlas is a Titan in classical sources. In modern naming, it’s also strongly associated with the common noun atlas, meaning a collection of maps, which gives it an immediate “world and travel” association in everyday English. From an etymology standpoint, the name comes through the mythological figure and then became widely recognizable through later book and cartography usage. Because that map meaning is so prominent in modern English, many people choose Atlas for the exploration association even when their primary reference isn’t mythology. Pronunciation in English is usually AT-luhs. A practical tip is that it’s short and hard to misspell, but it can feel very bold in formal contexts, so pairing with a more conventional middle name is common.

Etymology: From Greek mythological tradition; Atlas is the name of a Titan in classical sources and later a word for a map collection.