The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Pollux!

Comments and insights on the name Pollux: | Edit

Some people have said this sounds like a slightly rude bit of British slang. If you don't live in England, though, it's quite an interesting name.

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Meanings and history of the name Pollux: | Edit

"Very sweet", from Greek.

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Pollux in song, story & screen: | Edit

Pollux was the immortal twin of Castor in Greek mythology. Their mother Leda was seduced by Zeus, who had taken the form of a swan in order to make cheating on Hera easier. Leda gave birth to the twins by laying two eggs, one of which hatched the twins. (The other egg hatched Helen of Troy and her twin, Clytemnestra.)

Pollux was very into boxing (his opponents probably didn't find him "very sweet"), and his brother Castor preferred working with horses. However, the two were very close. They were both involved in several cool Greek adventures. Unfortunately, one of these resulted in Castor's death, and Pollux was so distraught that the gods allowed him to share his brothers mortality. Therefore, every six months they would alternate between the Underworld and Olympus. Together they became the constellation Gemini.

Pollux is apparently also the name of Sirius Black's grandfather in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" novels, though this is never mentioned in the books.