Spiders are fascinating, divisive creatures, evoking fear in some but heralding good fortune for others. They’re also associated with admirable qualities like intelligence, patience, and cunning.
Spider-inspired baby names are a great way to pay homage to what these intriguing specimens represent. How arachnids are seen across cultures will greatly vary, but know that spider-related baby names will never be plain or boring. Fortunately, parents who appreciate these unorthodox names will have plenty of options to choose from!
Picking a name to christen your little one with is exciting, but finding inspiration for their name can be challenging. If you’re looking for something unique, why not try out baby names with spider symbolism? We’ll start you off with a few spider-related baby names down below.
Standout Spider Baby Names
| 1. | Ariadne | Greek | “most holy”, a Greek mythological figure who helped Theseus on his journey. |
Ariadne is a revered heroine from Greek mythology. The daughter of King Minos, she was best known for aiding Theseus against the Minotaur. She’d given him a blade along with a ball of thread, allowing the hero to slay the beast and escape the labyrinth.
Sadly, her tale ended with her abandoned by the man she’d betrayed her country for. Despite her dour mortal fate, Ariadne is still fondly remembered in lore as a clever, courageous figure.
| 2. | Anansi | Akan | An African trickster god who often takes the form of a spider |
From the Ashanti tribe of Ghana comes the trickster god Anansi, best known for his wit and love for stories of all kinds. He’s a popular figure in African folklore, often outsmarting beasts and deities alike through his cunning trickery. Many of Anansi’s tales are regaled to children in Africa even today and often come bundled with valuable moral lessons.
| 3. | Iktomi | Native American | A trickster deity in Lakota myth, often associated with spiders |
Iktomi is another trickster deity, hailing from Lakota mythos. Some depictions of Iktomi show him as a spider, while others focus on showcasing him as a being with spider-like characteristics.
Iktomi’s stories vary a bit – some portray him as a messenger or even teacher, dispensing wisdom through his tales, while others characterize him as an agent of chaos, gleefully harming others around him through his clever plots. While Iktomi’s true character remains up to interpretation, there’s no debating his significance in Native American folklore.
| 4. | Arachne | Greek | “Spider,” a Greek mythological figure who was turned into a spider by Athena. |
Arachne is another character from Greek mythology, easily recognizable for her exceptional weaving skills. She boasted that her skill could best even the gods, and Athena answered her challenge. Arachne’s work was faultless, portraying a tapestry that mocked the gods themselves.
Outraged by this display, Athena transformed the girl into a spider, where she continued to weave webs until the end of her days. Arachne is yet again a tragic Greek figure, serving as a cautionary tale against the hubris of man.
| 5. | Shelob | English | a fantasy spider monster in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” |
Shelob is a unique entry on this list of spider baby names, being a contemporary fantasy character rather than one hailing from mythos centuries old. She’s a major antagonist in “The Lord of the Rings”, a novel penned by the esteemed author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Within the story, Shelob serves as a significant obstacle to Sam and Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring, nearly dragging the unconscious Frodo away into her lair until Sam’s timely intervention defeats the spider beast.
While Shelob’s sequence was brief, the protagonists’ fateful encounter with her was considered by many to be one of the most thrilling scenes in the entire book!
Adorable Baby Names That Mean Spider
Spider-related names may not be the most conventional choice, but they can still be just as cute, soft, and quirky as other names. So, keep an open mind and explore the options below. Who knows, you might just find the perfect, adorable name for your little one! You might just find the perfect, adorable name fit to welcome your little one into the world.
| 6. | Habutae | Japanese | soft silk |
| 7. | Casey | Irish | perceptive |
| 8. | Weaver | English | one who weaves |
| 9. | Tarakini | Hindi | little spider |
| 10. | Thar | Arabic | to crawl on the ground |
| 11. | Nuzen | Hebrew | silk |
| 12. | Vosem | Russian | eight |
| 13. | Hadaf | Arabic | to crawl |
| 14. | Jóga | Icelandic | to creep |
| 15. | Raksha | Sanskrit | web or to protect |
| 16. | Wawili | Swahili | eight |
| 17. | Spinner | English | one who spins |
| 18. | Fafner | Norse | to move about restlessly |
| 19. | Tarak | Hindi | spider |
| 20. | Ipek | Turkish | silk |
| 21. | Khojasta | Persian | eye-catching |
| 22. | Gatin | Hindi | to crawl |
| 23. | Pari | Persian | fairy or silk |
| 24. | Kausi | Finnish | silk |
| 25. | Mamanu | Native American | spider grandmother (Hopi mythology) |
| 26. | Webber | English | weaver |
| 27. | Nane | Armenian | eight |
Exotic Baby Names That Mean Spider
| 28. | Kael | Irish | keeper of the keys or observer |
| 29. | Po | Maori | to creep |
| 30. | Poqanghoya | Hopi | the one who sees all and is unseen |
| 31. | Delapan | Indonesian | eight |
| 32. | Enyokeni | Zulu | cobweb |
| 33. | Chedva | Hebrew | prisoner |
| 34. | Shesha | Sanskrit | the one with many eyes |
| 35. | Nalagiri | Burmese | spiderweb |
| 36. | Gaol | English | jail |
| 37. | Akshaya | Sanskrit | immortal |
| 38. | Tarantella | Italian | a type of folk dance or dance associated with wolf spider bites |
| 39. | Spinifex | Aboriginal | a kind of Australian grass commonly associated with spiders |
| 40. | Carcela | Spanish | jail |
| 41. | Tám | Vietnamese | eight |
| 42. | Raitea | Polynesian | to crawl |
| 43. | Nuriel | Hebrew | fire of God or observer |
| 44. | Wachira | Swahili | the vigilant one |
| 45. | Magda | Slavic | trapped |
| 46. | Cisil | Turkish | spun silk |
| 47. | Kriecher | German | creepy-crawly |
| 48. | Sereia | Portuguese | to crawl |
| 49. | Durward | Scottish | watchful guardian |
| 50. | Anum | Arabic | blessed observer |
| 51. | Shalabhanjika | Sanskrit | spider woman |
| 52. | Kalfou | Haitian Creole | jail |
Why Should You Consider Spider Baby Names?
Spiders have been the subject of many myths, legends, and folk beliefs throughout history, all around the world. Most people nowadays view spiders with fear or apprehension, so it may come as a surprise to learn that spiders were often portrayed in a positive light in most cultures.
Spiders are occasionally viewed as spiritual guides, courtesy of their ability to weave webs – it’s believed that they may represent the ability to weave the threads of one’s own destiny. That slow, meticulous process also encourages others to be patient as their life gradually unfolds.
Sometimes, they’re believed to take more direct roles as protectors, warding off ill fortunes and malevolent spirits. They’re also readily associated with prosperity and fertility, as a single female spider can lay hundreds of eggs in its lifetime.
In a more objective lens, spiders also play a critical role in the balance of our ecosystem, keeping the population of insects and arthropods in check. While some people do find spiders creepy, the world is a much better place with them in it.
Baby names with spider symbolism aren’t likely to be first picks for parents, as most families usually gravitate to more superficially pleasing sources of inspiration. While that’s understandable, we’d still strongly recommend that you give spider baby names a fair shake!
Final Thoughts
When it comes to choosing a name for your child, remember that it’s meant to be a creative process – you can afford to get a little weird with your choices. Spider-related baby names offer a ton of unique, memorable options that might just be perfect for your little one!
