Cyrene, deriving from the Greek word 'kyrena', meaning 'of the lord', is a unique and captivating female given name of ancient origin. It is primarily associated with the ancient city of Cyrene in Libya, which was founded by Greeks around 631 BC and served as the capital of the Kingdom of Cyrenaica.
In Greek mythology, Cyrene was also the nymph who gave her name to this city. According to legend, she was a daughter of Hypseus, king of the Lapiths, a tribe of centaurs' descendants. The myth narrates that while hunting in Mount Pelion, Cyrene encountered Apollo, with whom she had two sons, Amphissos and Phoenix.
Throughout history, this name has been infrequently used but notable instances include Cyrenaica, a region in Libya named after the ancient city, and Cyrenius, a Roman governor during the time of Jesus' birth, mentioned in the New Testament. Despite its rare usage today, Cyrene maintains an aura of timeless elegance and connection to rich historical and mythological roots.
"The name Cyrene appears to have seen a resurgence in popularity since the late 20th century, with notable spikes in births recorded each decade from the 1980s onwards. However, it's worth noting that there are some years where no births were recorded for this name."