Ancient history

What are ancient Mesopotamian names?

Ancient Mesopotamian names were often theophoric, meaning they incorporated the names of gods or goddesses. Some examples of ancient Mesopotamian names include:

Male Names:

- Abba - "father"

- Adad - god of storms and rain

- An - god of the heavens

- Ea - god of wisdom and water

- Enki - another name for Ea

- Enlil - god of the air and wind

- Gilgamesh - legendary hero of Uruk

- Inanna - goddess of love, war, and fertility

- Ishtar - another name for Inanna

- Marduk - patron god of Babylon

- Nabu - god of writing and wisdom

- Nergal - god of the underworld

- Ninurta - god of war and hunting

- Sin - god of the moon

- Tammuz - god of vegetation and fertility

- Utu - god of the sun

Female Names:

- Amat-Ninurta - "servant of Ninurta"

- Belili - "lady" or "mistress"

- Enheduanna - high priestess of Inanna

- Geshtinanna - goddess of wine and brewing

- Ninlil - wife of Enlil

- Ninsun - mother of Gilgamesh

- Siduri - legendary tavern keeper

- Utnapishtim - survivor of the great flood