One of the seven Pleiades in Greek mythology, the daughters of Atlas; also, the brightest star in the Pleiades star cluster.
From Greek Alkyone, meaning 'kingfisher.' In Greek myth, Alcyone was transformed into a kingfisher, and the seven Pleiades sisters were placed in the sky as stars. The word passed through Latin into European languages.
Ancient sailors navigated by the Pleiades at night, and Alcyone was their guide star—it's so bright you can spot it with the naked eye, and it's actually made of super-hot blue-white gases hotter than our sun!
Alcyone is a figure from Greek mythology—one of the Pleiades, daughter of Atlas. Mythological references often embed historical gender roles (nymphs, maidens in need of rescue) that persist in modern naming and cultural memory.
Use the mythological reference openly when discussing astronomy or classics; avoid diminishing gendered interpretations of the mythological figure. If naming after the star, neutrality is built-in.
Alcyone represents one of the few female figures consistently named in classical astronomy. The Pleiades sisters' prominence in the stellar catalogue is a historical exception to broader erasure of women in ancient science.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.