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Ariadne

Girl name · 19 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ariadne: 19 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2023.

Ariadne has its roots in ancient Greek mythology, where the name likely derives from the Cretan Greek elements *ari* (most) and *adnos* (holy), meaning "most holy" or "utterly pure." In legend, Ariadne was the Cretan princess who gave Theseus the ball of thread to navigate the labyrinth and slay the Minotaur, then fled with him to Naxos. The name appears in modern culture through Agatha Christie’s fictional detective novelist Ariadne Oliver and Spanish model Ariadne Artiles. While no prominent places share the exact name, the mythic association with the labyrinth has made Ariadne a symbol of guidance and cleverness. A more familiar variant is Ariana, which shares the same root and has enjoyed greater popularity in Scotland since the 1990s.