Goats might be somewhat humble creatures in a lot of ways, but that hasn’t changed the fact that they have played a huge role in our mythology throughout the millennia.
From Babylon and Sumer through Greece and Rome to China, every corner of our historical myths has included goats in some capacity.
Naming your goats after mythological goats is a perfectly understandable impulse, then.
They make great names and great stories to tell if anyone ever asks.
So, today, we’re going to look at some great mythical names to give to your four-legged friends.
So, let’s get started.
Akerbeltz
Starting off with one of the most directly goat-adjacent gods, we have Akerbeltz, the Basque deity who was the protector of goats and other animals.
Basque goat herders would keep a black buck in their stables in honor of Akerbeltz, which would bring their herd protection from dangers.
Though a bit of a mouthful in itself, you could always shorten it to either of its two component parts—Aker or Beltz.
Either way, it’s a great conversation starter!
Chernobog
Moving east now, we have the Slavic god of the dead.
Worshipped in what is now mostly eastern Germany, the Polabian Slavs would wear goat tattoos to honor this underworld deity.
Most importantly, though, he is said to have ridden a goat and even taken on a goat form on some occasions.
Again, this one could easily be shortened in a few ways.
It’s a great choice of name with a real mythical feeling.
Yang Ching
Even further east now, we move into China.
In many parts of China in the distant past, the goat god Yang Ching was depicted with the head of a goat and dressed in the skin of a goat.
For those who followed him, he provided protection against wild animals—especially important for goat herders.
This one might be a big exotic for everyone’s tastes, but it’s worth noting that goats have been worshipped by cultures throughout the world.
Yang alone would make a great name!
Mari
Another Basque deity, though this a time a goddess, Mari would also take the form of a goat—and was said to be partial to black bucks.
Not much else is known about the worship of this particular deity, except that she may have had strong associations with Akerbeltz.
This name is less ostensibly mythical, and so it might suit your tastes if you were looking for something like that.
Works better for a doe, as well, since she was a goddess!
Marduk
Reaching as far back in time as our history allows, Marduk was the patron deity of magic, and heavily associated with goats, in Babylon and Sumer.
Because of the patronage of this god, goats were widely considered to be uncanny and magical beings.
There’s no better way to impress your friends than with your extensive knowledge of such ancient mythology, and one great way to have it brought up is by naming your goat after this god!
Dazbog
Another Slavic god, Dazbog was the god of the sun—a mainstay of virtually all ancient cultures.
Sun worship is often considered to be the earliest form of religion by many scholars, and it is easy to see why.
It is, apparently, magical and life giving.
Often, Dazbog was perceived as a white goat.
Again, we have the association of goats as beasts of burden—as they carried Chernobog, so too would they be the creatures that moved the sun across the sky.
This makes a great, exotic name for your goat.
Pan
Moving into history that might be more recognizable to some of us, we have Pan, the god of the wild, and of flocks and shepherds, among other things.
Much like the fauns and satyrs of ancient Roman and Greek myth, he is portrayed with the back legs, horns and hindquarters of a goat.
Pan is a short, simple name, that you won’t get tired of yelling out over and over to get its attention.
Artemis
Another Greek god, Artemis is in many ways Pan’s female counterpart.
She is the goddess of animals and the hunt, and a favorite goddess of the rural populace.
She became heavily associated with farming and domestic animals, even though she was a goddess of the wild.
It’s a recognizable name that may not even conjure up myth for many people.
Her Roman counterpart was Diana, if that suits you better!
Agni
Our first Hindu god, Agni, comes from the Sanskrit word for fire, and connotes Hinduism’s fire god.
He plays a huge role in Hindu mythology in many ways, considered the mouth of the gods and goddesses and existing on three levels.
Hindu mythology is complex and difficult to explain in a few words, so the most important thing you need to know about Agni is that he is often depicted riding a red goat.
This goat is his mount and companion, and he rides it on all levels of the universe.
As you can see, goats really have influenced every corner of our own mythos.
Whether they were a servant of a greater being or the greater being themselves, they have clearly captivated the human imagination for untold millennia.
Naming your goat after a mythological being, whether the most obscure or the most well-known, is a great way to get a conversation going with anyone who asks.
It’s also just a lot of fun in its own right!