Meaning & History
Phaidra is the Greek form of Phaedra. The name is derived from the Greek element phaidros meaning "bright". In Greek mythology, Phaedra (Phaidra in Greek) was the daughter of King Minos of Crete and his wife Pasiphaë, and the wife of the Athenian hero Theseus. She is a tragic figure: the goddess Aphrodite cursed her to fall in love with her stepson Hippolytos. When he rejected her advances, she falsely accused him of rape and then committed suicide.
Historical and Cultural Significance
The myth of Phaedra has been a rich source for literature and art, particularly in classical drama. Euripides' play Hippolytus (428 BC) presents Phaedra as a conflicted character, while later Roman playwright Seneca reworked the story in his Phaedra. The name has been used in various works, such as the fictional character Phaedra in the novel Middlesex (2002) by Jeffrey Eugenides.
Variants and Related Names
The original Greek form Phaidra is used in Greece and Cyprus. The equivalent Latinized form Phaedra is more common in English and other Western languages. Both share the same mythological origin and meaning.
- Meaning: Bright
- Origin: Greek
- Type: Given name
- Usage regions: Greece, Cyprus, Western Europe, Americas