Patroclus as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Patroclus

What is the meaning of the name Patroclus ?

The baby name Patroclus is a Male name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced IPA: /ˈpætrəkləs/; respelling: PAT-ruh-kluss. Classical Greek: /ˈpátrokloːs/ (PAH-tro-klohs).

Patroclus is Greek in Origin.

From Ancient Greek Pátroklos (Πάτροκλος), Patroclus joins patr-/patēr “father” with kleos “glory, renown,” conveying “father’s glory” or “glory of the father.” Best known as the intimate companion of Achilles in Homer’s Iliad, the name was borne by several figures in classical Greece and circulated into the Hellenistic and Roman eras. It entered Christian onomastics through saints including Patroclus of Troyes (3rd century) and the 5th-century bishop Patroclus of Arles, preserving the name in medieval Gaul and German lands.

Variants include Greek Pátroklos, Latin Patroclus, French Patrocle, Italian/Spanish Patroclo, and Portuguese Patróclo; German often shows Patroklus, and Russian Patrokl. While extremely rare in English today, it appeals to parents seeking a storied, antique choice associated with loyalty, valor, and tragic heroism. Literary afterlives - from Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida to modern retellings like The Song of Achilles - have renewed awareness of this resonant, masculine classic.

⚙ Patroclus is extremely rare. Across 1 country, we found just 1 recorded use of it.