Phaedra
/ˈfiːdrə/noun
A feminine given name, originating from Phaedra, the tragic queen in Greek mythology and wife of Theseus.
Did you know?Phaedra’s story was dramatized by Euripides and later Seneca, helping establish her as one of antiquity’s most enduring figures of forbidden desire and tragic fate.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰeh₂-
“to shine or appear bright”
Ancient Greek
Greek
φαίνω (phaínō)
“to bring to light, make visible, or appear”
Ancient Greek
Greek
φαιδρός (phaidros)
“bright, shining, radiant, or cheerful”
5th Century BCE
Greek
Φαίδρα (Phaídra)
“Phaedra, literally associated with brightness or radiance”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Phaedra
“The mythological name preserved in Roman literary tradition”
Modern English
English
Phaedra
“A feminine given name and the tragic queen of Greek mythology”
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