Scylla as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Scylla

What is the meaning of the name Scylla ?

The baby name Scylla is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈsɪlə/ (SIL-ə); alt. /ˈskɪlə/ (SKIL-uh).

Scylla is Greek in Origin.

Scylla derives from Ancient Greek Σκύλλα/Σκύλλη (Skýlla/Skýllē), the name of the rock-dwelling sea monster who threatened sailors opposite Charybdis. Its etymology is debated: many connect it to the verb σκύλλω (skýllō) “to tear, mangle,” yielding the sense “the rending one,” while others relate it to σκύλαξ (skýlax) “puppy, young dog,” echoing depictions of canine heads encircling her waist. Either way, the meaning evokes a destructive, perilous force.

As a given name Scylla is extraordinarily rare: classical Greeks did not use it for persons, and later appearances surface mainly in Renaissance and Romantic literature and art. In Italy the variant Scilla functions as a place-name (Calabria’s Scilla) and as a modern feminine name also associated with the blue squill flower (genus Scilla). Contemporary variants include Skylla (direct transliteration) and Scilla; Scylla in English remains uncommon but may appeal to parents seeking a dramatic mythic choice.