Entry № 3023 · Greek origin

Ismene Ismene — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ iss-MEH-neh /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Greek
Meaning
"Sophocles's Antigone sister (Greek + Theban play)"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Greek)

A name that means "sophocles's antigone sister (greek + theban play)".

Ismene is from the Greek Ἰσμήνη (Isménēknowledgeable, wise). A modern American baby name in the broader Greek-mythological heritage aesthetic. Ismene is one of the foundational Greek feminine names — central to traditional Greek tragic heritage. The foundational name connects to foundational Ismene — foundational legendary foundational Theban princess + foundational daughter of foundational Oedipus + Jocasta + foundational sister of foundational Antigone + Eteocles + Polynices + foundational central to foundational *Sophocles's Antigone (~441 BCE) + foundational Oedipus at Colonus (~406 BCE) + foundational Seven Against Thebes + foundational central to foundational pan-Greek tragic heritage + foundational central to foundational cautious sister contrasted with foundational bold Antigone + foundational central to foundational debate on foundational civil disobedience vs. obedience to state law + foundational central to foundational philosophical-political heritage spanning foundational Aristotle + Hegel + Kierkegaard; foundational also foundational central to foundational Aeschylus's Seven Against Thebes (467 BCE) + foundational central to foundational Theban Cycle foundational epic narrative spanning foundational Thebaid + Epigoni + Oedipodea + foundational central to foundational pan-Greek epic heritage; foundational also foundational Ismenian Apollo foundational sacred precinct at foundational Thebes + foundational central to foundational Greek religious heritage; foundational also foundational River Ismenus* foundational Theban river. Foundational Greek feminine name reflecting Greek tragic heritage.

Featured throughout Greek heritage.

Sophocles's Antigone sister (Greek). Foundational Greek-mythological feminine + foundational Greek Isménē knowledgeable + wise + foundational Ismene foundational legendary Theban princess + foundational daughter of Oedipus + Jocasta + foundational sister of Antigone + Eteocles + Polynices + foundational Sophocles's Antigone ~441 BCE + foundational Oedipus at Colonus ~406 BCE + foundational Seven Against Thebes + foundational pan-Greek tragic heritage + foundational cautious sister contrasted with bold Antigone + foundational debate on civil disobedience vs. obedience to state law + foundational philosophical-political heritage + foundational Aristotle + Hegel + Kierkegaard + foundational Aeschylus's Seven Against Thebes 467 BCE + foundational Theban Cycle foundational epic narrative + foundational Thebaid + Epigoni + Oedipodea + foundational pan-Greek epic heritage + foundational Ismenian Apollo foundational sacred precinct at Thebes + foundational Greek religious heritage + foundational River Ismenus foundational Theban river.

The name in its native script.

Ἰσμήνη
Transliteration
Isménē
Pronunciation
/ ɪsˈmɛ.nɛ /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Ismene stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Ismene · last year
88 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Ismenes before her.

Real people

In fiction
Ismene
Theban princess + daughter of Oedipus + Jocasta + sister of Antigone + Sophocles's Antigone ~441 BCE + Oedipus at Colonus + Seven Against Thebes + civil disobedience debate.
Greek tragedy

Names connected to Ismene.

The number behind Ismene.

6

The Nurturer

Ismene reduces to six.

Why families chose this name.

"Greek Theban princess. Six letters. Ismene."
Helene · Mother of one · Thebes