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Where Chemical Element Names Come From

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Named After Mythology

Several elements draw their names from mythological figures β€” titanium comes from the Titans of Greek mythology, and thorium is named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder.

Named After Places

Many elements are named after geographic locations, particularly where they were first discovered β€” californium after the U.S. state of California, and germanium after Germany.

Named After Colors or Appearance

Some element names derive directly from the color of the element itself or a characteristic compound β€” chlorine comes from the Greek word for "greenish-yellow," and iodine comes from the Greek word for "violet."

Named After Scientists

A number of elements honor influential scientists β€” einsteinium after Albert Einstein, curium after Marie and Pierre Curie, and mendelevium after Dmitri Mendeleev, creator of the periodic table.

Named After Celestial Bodies

Several elements take their names from astronomical objects β€” uranium is named after the planet Uranus, and helium comes from "helios," the Greek word for the sun, since it was first identified in the sun's spectrum before being found on Earth.

Named After Physical or Chemical Properties

Some elements are named to describe an inherent property β€” hydrogen literally means "water-forming" in Greek, and oxygen means "acid-forming," reflecting early chemists' (sometimes later-corrected) understanding of the element's role.

A naming tradition regulated by international agreement

While element naming has followed various informal traditions throughout history, today new element names and symbols must be formally approved by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), which maintains specific guidelines on acceptable naming categories, including mythology, minerals, places, properties, and scientists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who actually gets to name a newly discovered element?

The scientists or research team credited with officially discovering (or first successfully synthesizing) a new element are typically given the opportunity to propose its name, though the final choice must still go through formal review and approval by IUPAC before becoming official.

Are there elements named after living people?

Yes, though it is relatively rare and was historically avoided β€” for example, oganesson was named after the still-living nuclear physicist Yuri Oganessian, making it one of the few elements ever named for a scientist during their own lifetime.