Electra is a Latinized form of the Greek name Ἠλέκτρα (Elektra), which derives from ἤλεκτρον (elektron), meaning "amber". In Greek mythology, Electra is best known as the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra of Mycenae, and the sister of Orestes. She played a pivotal role in the myth of vengeance for her father's murder: after Agamemnon was killed by Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus, Electra helped Orestes kill their mother and Aegisthus in retribution. This story was famously dramatized by the ancient Greek tragedians Aeschylus (in The Libation Bearers), Sophocles, and Euripides, each writing a play titled Electra. Etymology and Linguistic Origin The Greek word ἤλεκτρον (elektron) originally meant "amber", the fossilized tree resin. The name likely references amber's glowing, golden color. In the nineteenth century, this same root was borrowed into modern science to name the electron—and thus electricity—giving Electra an unexpected association with electric charge. Mythological Figures Two distinct figures named Electra appear in Greek mythology. The first and most famous is the princess of Mycenae, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. The second is a mortal Oceanid (sea-nymph) or Pleiad, one of the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione; as a constellation, the Pleiades were said to be sisters, and Electra is one of the named stars in the distinct h star cluster (specifically 17 Tauri). Notable Bearers in Culture The Electra myth has fascinated writers and artists for millennia. In addition to the classical Greeks, modern playwrights such as Jean-Paul Sartre (The Flies) and Eugene O'Neill (Mourning Becomes Electra) have reinterpreted the story. In psychology, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung coined the term "Electra complex" to describe a girl's psychosexual competition with her mother for her father's affection—a parallel to the Oedipus complex for boys. Related Forms Elektra (variant) Ilektra (Modern Greek) Elettra (Italian) Meaning: Amber Origin: Greek Type: First name Usage regions: Greece, Italy, and Western culture generally