Atreu first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Atreu has been for the last 1 years (from 2011 to 2011) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Atreu

A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "ruler of nobility" or "noble ruler".

Popularity of Atreu by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Atreu is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2011, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Atreu.

Year Male Count Female Count
2011 5 0

The history of the first name Atreu

The name Atreu has its origins in ancient Greek mythology and literature. It is derived from the Greek name Atreus, which was borne by a character in Greek tragedy and myth. Atreus was a son of Pelops and Hippodamia, and the father of Agamemnon and Menelaus, who were prominent figures in the Trojan War.

The name Atreus is believed to have originated from the Greek word "atreus," which means "fearless" or "untiring." This suggests that the name was associated with qualities of courage, perseverance, and resilience in ancient Greek culture.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Atreus can be found in Homer's Iliad, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In this epic poem, Atreus is mentioned as the father of Agamemnon and Menelaus, the leaders of the Achaean forces in the Trojan War.

Another significant historical reference to the name Atreus is in the ancient Greek tragedy "Atreus" by Euripides, which was written in the 5th century BCE. This play explored the tragic story of Atreus and his brother Thyestes, who were engaged in a bitter rivalry that ultimately led to a cycle of violence and revenge.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Atreu or its variants:

  1. Atreu I (c. 1240 – c. 1180 BCE), a legendary king of Mycenae in ancient Greek mythology, who was a son of Pelops and Hippodamia.
  2. Atreu II (c. 1190 – c. 1150 BCE), a legendary king of Mycenae and the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who ruled after the Trojan War.
  3. Atreu of Gortyn (c. 6th century BCE), a Greek philosopher and mathematician from the ancient city of Gortyn on the island of Crete.
  4. Atreu of Alexandria (c. 3rd century BCE), a Greek astronomer and mathematician who lived and worked in Alexandria, Egypt.
  5. Atreu Petri (1622 – 1692), a Swedish philosopher, theologian, and educator who was a professor at Uppsala University and a prominent figure in the Swedish Lutheran Church.

While the name Atreu is not as commonly used today, it remains a significant part of ancient Greek history and mythology, reflecting the enduring legacy of the Greek culture and its influence on literature, philosophy, and the arts.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Atreu was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Atreu, please contact us.

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"Atreu first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 9, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/atreu-meaning-and-history/.

"Atreu first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/atreu-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 9 June, 2025

Atreu first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/atreu-meaning-and-history/.

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