Pagan Goddesses

Below is a list of Pagan Goddesses, designed to help you find your way around the multitude of names and pantheons.  While I can't possibly include every Goddess in the pagan world, it is my aim to make this list as comprehensive as possible.  Therefore, if there is one you cannot find here, and feel should be included, please don't hesitate to drop me a line by clicking on the link below...

Aine of Knockaine (Irish)
Pronounced Aw-ne.  Moon Goddess.  Patroness of crops and cattle.  Connected with the Summer Solstice.

Andraste (British)
A moon Goddess worshipped by Queen Boadicea/ Boudicca.

Andromeda (Greek)
Her name translates as 'Ruler of Men' and 'Human Sacrifice'.  She is considered to be a personification of the Moon.

Anna Perenna (Roman)
Two-headed Goddess of time, with one head (Prosrsa) looking forward, and the other head (Postverta) looking backwards; much like the God Janus.  Beginnings, endings, alphabet.

Anu / Anann/ Dana/ Dana-Ana (Irish)
Goddess of plenty, another aspect of the Morrigu: Mother Earth; Great Goddess; greatest of all Goddesses.  Sometimes considered part of a trinity with Badb and Macha.  Maiden aspect of the triple Goddess in Ireland.  Guardian of cattle and health. Goddess of fertility, prosperity, comfort.  Connected with the Summer Solstice.

Aphrodite (Turkish & Cypriot)
Often erroneously thought to be Greek.  Goddess of Passionate sexual love.  Her animal associations are the Dove (sacred), Dolphin, Goat and Swan. Her plant associations are Olive, Cinnamon, Daisy, Iris, Apple and Myrtle.

Arachne (Greek)
Spider Goddess, Weaver of fate.

Aradia (Italian)
Witch Goddess. Queen of the Witches. Daughter of Diana and Diana's brother Lucifer (i.e. of the Sun and the Moon). She came to earth to teach witches the magic of her mother.  Aradia is an extremely powerful entity and a protectress of Witches in general.

Ariadne (Cretan)
Goddess of Vegetation.  Once worshipped exclusively by women.  She was the Goddess of the Underworld and of Germination.  Her name means "High Fruitful Mother"; another form of the Cretan Moon Goddess Britomartis.  Images of her with snakes in her hands represent her oracle priestesses.

Arianrhod (Welsh)
"Silver Wheel"; "High fruitful Mother"; Goddess of the Stars; Goddess of the Sky; Goddess of Reincarnation; Full Moon Goddess.  Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess in Wales.  Honoured at the Full Moon. Beauty, fertility, reincarnation.  Her palace was called Caer Arianrhod (Aurora Borealis).  Keeper of the circling Silver Wheel of Stars, a symbol of time and karma.  This wheel was also known as the Oar Wheel, a ship that carried dead warriors to the Moon-land (Emania).

Artemis (Greek)
Goddess of the Moon. Associated with Ursa Major.  Her animal associations are Bears and Fowl.  Her plant associations are Silver Fir, Amaranth, Cypress, Cedar, Hazel, Myrtle, Willow, Daisy and Mugwort.

Astarte (Greek)
Fertility Goddess.  Her temples had sacred prostitutes; sacred marriages were made by her priestesses with the kings.  Her plant associations are Alder, Pine, Cypress, Myrtle and Juniper.  Also associated with revenge, victory, war, astrology and sexual activities.

Athena (Greco-Roman)
High Lady, Goddess of Wisdom. Warrior Goddess and Protectress, Goddess of the Arts.  She traditionally appears as a strong woman in full armour. Her breastplate symbolizes earned wisdom and her helmet, the protection of knowledge. Goddess of War before Goddess of Wisdom. Her Energies are strong and direct. Her animal associations are Snow Owl, Peacock and Eagle. Her plant associations are Olive and Apple.

Badb / Badhbh / Badb Catha (Irish)
"Battle Raven"; "Scald-crow"; the cauldron of ever-producing life; War Goddess. Sister of Macha, the Morrigu and Anu. Mother Aspect in Ireland. Associated with the cauldron, crows and ravens. Life, wisdom, inspiration, enlightenment.

Banba (Irish)
Part of a triad with Fotia and Eriu. They used magic to repel invaders.

Bast (Egyptian)
Intuition and Magic.  Goddess of Protection and Cats. She has the head of a cat. She sees both the future and the past. She is the keeper of secrets and hidden things.

Binah (Hebrew)
"Understanding"  The Supernal Mother. The Third Sephiroth of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.  She gives form to the raw, directionless energy of Chokmah, the Supernal Father (the second sephiroth), and gives it form and manifestation.

Blodeuwedd / Blodwin / Blancheflor (Welsh)
"Flower Face"; "White Flower". Lily maid of Celtic initiation ceremonies. Also known as the Ninefold Goddess of the Western Isles of Paradise. Created by Math and Gwydion as a wife for Lleu. She was changed into an owl for her adultery and plotting Lleu's death. The Maiden form of the Triple Goddess; her symbol was the owl; goddess of the Earth in bloom. Flowers, wisdom, lunar mysteries, initiations.

Boann / Boannan / Boyne (Irish)
Goddess of the river Boyne; mother of Angus mac Og by the Dagda.

Branwen (Irish)
Sister of Bran the Blessed and wife of the Irish king of Matholwch. Venus of the Northern Seas; daughter of Llyr (Lir); one of the three matriarchs of Britain; Lady of the Lake (cauldron). Goddess of love and beauty.

Brigit / Brid / Brigid / Brighid / Bridget (Irish, Welsh, Spanish and French)
"High One". Daughter of Dagda.  Goddess of Healing, Poetry and Smithcraft in Ireland.  Brigid is also a Triple Goddess.  High Lady Goddess of the inner flame of life, nature and creation.  Appears young (maiden), middle-aged (mother) or old (crone) to represent all of the continuing cycles of life. Represents spiralling wheels of Nature, Life and Renewal.  Another aspect of Danu. Associated with Imbolc.  Warrior Goddess and Protectress. Goddess of fire, fertility, the hearth and all feminine arts and crafts, and martial arts. Healing, physicians, agriculture, inspiration, learning, poetry, divination, prophecy, smithcraft, animal husbandry, love, witchcraft, occult knowledge.  She is strong and wise.  Her plant association is Blackberry.  Her animal associations are Oxen and Ram.

Calleach / Caillech Beine Bric (Scottish)
Great Goddess in her Destroyer aspect; called the Veiled One.  Disease, plague, cursing. Wheat.  She is al so known as Scota, from which Scotland comes.  Originally Scotland was called Caledonia, or land given by Caillech.

Ceres (Roman)
Goddess of the Harvest.  Moon and grain Goddess; identified with the Greek Demeter.  Her daughter was Proserpina.

Cerridwen / Caridwen / Ceridwen (Welsh)
Moon Goddess; Great Mother; Harvest Goddess; Goddess of Nature, Lady of Inspiration. Goddess of Wisdom, Poetry and Grain.  Her symbol is a white sow. Also associated with the Dark Mother aspect of the Crone.  Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magic, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge.  Her plant associations are Vervain and Acorns.

Ch'ang-O / Heng-O (Chinese)
Goddess of the Moon.  Her palace there is called the Great Cold on the Moon.  At the Full Moon of the Autumn Equinox there was a female only celebration where women offered the Goddess crescent Moon cakes (called Yue-ping) and statues of little hares.

Circa (Greek)
"She-Falcon".  Dark Moon Goddess; Fate-Spinner.  As the circle, or cirque, she was the fate-spinner, weaver of destinies.  Ancient Greek writers spoke of her as Circe of the Braided Tresses because she could manipulate the forces of creation and destruction by knots and braids in her hair.  Goddess of physical love, sorcery, enchantments, precognitive dreams, evil spells, vengeance, dark magic, witchcraft and cauldrons.

Cotys (Thracian)
Goddess of Sexuality.

Creiddylad / Creudylad /Cordelia (Welsh)
Daughter of the sea god Llyr. Connected with Beltane and often called the May Queen. Goddess of summer flowers. Love and flowers.

The Crone (Universal)
One aspect of the Triple Goddess. She represents old age or death, Winter, the end of all things, the waning Moon, post-menstrual phases of women's lives, all destruction that precedes regeneration through her cauldron of rebirth. Crows and other black creatures are sacred to her. Dogs often accompanied her and guarded the gates of her after-world, helping her receive the dead. In Celtic myth, the gatekeeper-dog was named Dormarth (Death's Door). The Irish Celts maintained that true curses could be cast with the aid of a dog. Therefore, they used the word cainte (dog) for a satiric Bard with the magic power to speak curses that came true.

Cybele / Kybele (Greek)
Great Mother of Gods. Leading deity of mystery and religions. Goddess of the Earth and caverns.  Goddess of the natural world and its formation; wild beasts, especially lions; dominion over wild animals; dark magic, revenge.  Symbolic Associations: Bees, crescent Moon, sickle, lions and pomegranates.

Danu / Danann / Dana (Irish)
Mother of the gods; Great Mother; Moon Goddess. Another aspect of the Morrigu.  Patroness of wizards, rivers, water, prosperity & plenty, magic, and wisdom.

Demeter (Greek)
Earth Mother Archetype. Goddess of flourishing earth. Animal association is Lion. Plant association is wheat, barley, myrrh, rose, pomegranate, bean and poppy.

Diana (Roman)
Moon Goddess. Goddess of the Hunt. Diana is multi-faceted as a seductress (she enchanted her brother Lucifer to beget Aradia in the form of a cat) and as a mother figure for Witches.

Don / Domnu / Donn (Irish, Welsh)
"Deep sea"; "Abyss". Queen of the Heavens; Goddess of sea and air. Sometimes called a Goddess, sometimes a God. The equivalent of the Irish Danu. In Ireland, Don ruled over the Land of the Dead. Entrances to this Otherworld were always in a sidhe (shee) or burial mound. Control of the elements, eloquence.

Druantia (British)
Queen of the Druids.  Fir Goddess.  Fertility, passion, sexual activities, trees, protection, knowledge and creativity.

Dryad (Greek)
Feminine spirit of the trees.

Elaine (Welsh)
Maiden aspect of the Goddess.

Eos (Greek)
Goddess of Dawn.

Epona (Celtic)
Divine Horse/The Great She. Goddess of Horses, Asses, Mules, Oxen and, to some degree, of Springs and Rivers.  Goddess of fertility and maternity.  Protective of horses, horse breeding, prosperity, dogs, healing, springs, crops. She was especially popular with Roman soldiers. Animal associations Horses and dogs.

Eriu / Erin (Irish)
One of the three queens of the Tuatha De Danann and a daughter of the Dagda.

The Fates / The Moerae (Greek)
Their name means "portions, shares".  During the Middle Ages these Goddesses were known as the Parcae.  They were the daughters of Nyx, or Night.  Clotho spun the life thread; Lachesis measured it, assigned the destiny, and added a portion of luck; and Atropos cut the threat with her shears at any time without warning.

Fleachta of Meath (Irish)
Moon queen of Ireland.

Flidais (Irish)
Goddess of forests, woodlands, and wild things; ruler of wild beasts. She rode in a chariot drawn by deer. Shape-shifter.

Flora (Roman)
Goddess of Spring, Goddess of Birth.  Call on her for beautiful gardens/flowers, healthy babies, and all the bounties of Earth Mother.

Fortuna (Roman)
Goddess of Fate.

Freya (Norse)
Moon Goddess and wife/lover of Odin.  Mistress of cats, leader of the Valkyries, a shape shifter, the Sage or "sayer" who inspires all sacred poetry.  Thirteen is her number, and Friday her day.

Frigg / Frigga / Frija (Norse)
"Well-Beloved Spouse or Lady"; Aesir Mother Goddess; queen of the Goddesses; a shape-shifter; knower of all things.  Daughter of Nott (Night).

Furies (Greek)
The daughters of Nyx; Children of Eternal Night.  They were Alecto (Neverending, the Unnameable), Tisiphone (Retaliation-Destruction), and Magaera (Envious Anger, Grudge).

Gaea / Gaia (Greek)
Earth Mother or Mother Earth.

Galatea (Greek)
A minor Sea-Goddess.

Graces / Charities (Greek)
Triad of Moon Goddesses who were Aphrodite's companions.  Usually portrayed nude and dancing.  They were Aglaia (the shining one, glorious), Thalia (the flowering one, abundance), and Euphrosyne (the one who makes glad, joy).

Great Mother (Universal)
The Lady; female principal of creation. Goddess of fertility, the Moon, Summer, flowers, love, healing, the seas, water. The index finger was considered the "mother finger, " the most magical which guided, beckoned, blessed and cursed.

Harmonia (Greek)
Daughter of Aphrodite (love) and Ares (war).

Hathor (Egyptian)
Goddess of Pleasure, Joy, Jove, Music, and Dancing.  Protectress of women and embodiment of the finest female qualities. Protector of Women in Business Affairs. Protection, Sustenance, Motherhood. She is the wife of Horus. Her name means "House of Hours". She is depicted with the head of a cow as she is the eternal mother and guardian of  mothers. A Hathor's Mirror is very important for the Witch. Hathor was cunning as well as beautiful.

Hecate (Greek)
Moon Goddess as in Crone or Dark Mother, Keeper of Mysteries. Moon Goddess in her Dark form. She is the Queen of death and rules the magical powers of regeneration. Often pictured as having the head of a dog, horse or boar. Plant associations are Yew, Mandrake, Oak, Mint, Cypress, Sesame, Dandelion, Garlic and Willow.

Hel (Norse)
Ruler of Niflheim; Nether, or Dark, Moon.  Goddess who ruled over the land of the dead; her realm was not necessarily a place of punishment as there were separate areas for the good who died peacefully and those who were evil.

Hera (Greek)
The Goddess of Women and their Sexuality.  Goddess of Marriage.  She also has a vindictive side. Plant Associations are Apple, Willow, Orris, Pomegranate and Myrrh. 'Hera' is the true feminine form of the word 'hero'.

Hestia (Greek)
Goddess symbolizing family unity. Goddess of Home and Hearth. Building a house, remodelling or apartment hunting, Safety in the home and the family unit.

Holda (Germanic/Norse)
North Germanic name for Hel.  Goddess of winter and witchcraft; the Crone aspect of the Moon.  Among the North Germanic tribes, it was said she rose with Odhinn on the Wild Hunt.  Even as late as the tenth century, tracts said that Pagan women rode under her leadership in wild night rides.  Holly was sacred to her.

Iaso (Greek)
Goddess of Healing.

Ida (?)
Goddess of Nurturing Energy.

Idunn / Iduna (Norse)
Goddess of eternal youth who kept the golden apples (sometimes a symbol of the Moon).

Irene (?)
Goddess of Peace.

Isis (Egyptian)
Triple Goddess connotation in one being.  Manifestation, nature, law, ethics, love, magic. Isis governs the forces of Creation. Her name means 'throne'. She is the source of all creative power.  She gives form to the formless.

Juno (Roman)
Moon Goddess; Queen of Heaven.  Great Mother and protectress of women in general.  As Juno Lucetia and June Lucina, she was the celestial light.  Sometimes she held a sceptre, thunderbolt, veil, or spear and shield.  Protectress of marriage, the home, and childbirth.

Kali (Hindu)
Creative/Destructive Goddess. Protectress of abused women, and should be called upon if a woman is in fear of physical danger.  Her power is truly awesome.

Kore (Greek, Roman)
Persephone before she descended into the Underworld.  Daughter of Demeter.  A crescent New Moon Goddess.

Lilith (Hebrew)
Goddess of Intellect. Adam's first wife, who would not subordinate herself to him, and is said to have been turned into a demoness. However, if you have ever read any of Zecharia Sitchins, you may change your mind. In Silver RavenWolf's opinion, Lilith was a Star Woman bred with Adam. This would make her a Goddess of Higher Intelligence or a representation of the Star People.

Luna (Roman)
The second aspect of the Moon; the Full Moon as lover and bride; giver of visions.  Daughter of Hyperion and sister of the Sun.  Enchantments, love, spells.

Maat (Egyptian)
Goddess of Justice and Divine Order. She is the true balance of any situation. She does not play favourites, will dispense justice to all parties involved. Be sure your own slate is clean in the situation before you call her.

Macha (Irish)
"Crow".  Mother of Life and Death. War Goddess.  She serves as one of the aspects of the triple Morrigan. Also called Mania, Mana, Mene, Minne. Associated with ravens and crows. She is honoured at Lughnassadh. After a battle, the Irish would cut off the heads of the losers and called them Macha's acorn crop. Protectress in war as in peace; Cunning, sheer physical force, sexuality, fertility, and dominance over males.

Maia (Greek)
Full Moon Goddess connected with May, the Hare Moon.

The Maiden (Universal)
The Maiden signifies youth, the excitement of the chase, and the newness of life and magic. In human age she could be likened unto someone in her twenties. She has not chosen a mate. Colours associated with her are soft pastel pink and yellow, and white. Also known as the virgin, although this refers to her independence from marriage, not her physical status.

Margawse (Welsh, British)
Mother aspect of the Goddess.

Mari, Lady Justice (Basque)
Goddess of Rain and Drought. Via the latter, She punishes those guilty of lying, stealing and pride.

Medb (Celtic)
"Drunk Woman".  A Goddess of war, not one of the Morrigan.  Where the Morrigan use magic, Medb wields a weapon herself.  The sight of Medb blinds enemies, and she runs faster than the fastest horse.  A bawdy girl, Medb needs thirty men a day to satisfy her sexual appetite.

Minerva (Roman)
Virgin; Maiden Goddess; goddess of women's rights and freedom.  She wore a breastplate and helmet and carried a spear.  Her sacred bird was the owl.  Patroness of craftsmen.

The Morrigu / Morrigan / Morgaine / Morganna (Irish, British)
Celtic Goddess of Water and Magic. Supreme War Goddess, Shape-shifter. Reigned over the battlefields, helping with her magic but did not join in the battles.  She is the Crone aspect of the Goddess. Great Mother; Moon Goddess; Queen of the fairies. In her dark aspect, her symbol is then the raven or crow.  She is the Goddess of war, fate, death; she went fully armed & carried two spears. Goddess of rivers, lakes & fresh water. Patroness of priestesses & witches. Revenge, night, magic, prophecy. A Triple Goddess made of three largely autonomous Goddesses. Their names vary, but they are usually called Macha, Badb and Nemain. Morgan was said to be married to Merlin, and it was from him she learned her magic. She was also doubled with The Lady of the Lake.

The Mother (Universal)
The Mother stands for a being who is in the prime of her life, and at the peak of her power. She is the symbol nurturing, caring, and fertility. She is a protector, and will ensure justice is served. She has chosen a mate. In human age, she can be likened unto a woman in her thirties and forties. Colours associated with her are warmer than the Maiden, such as green, copper, red, purple and blue.

Muses (Greek)
Goddesses of inspiration who vary in number depending upon the pantheon used.

Nanna / Nana / Anna / Inanna (Norse)
Aesir Goddess; The Moon; Great Mother; Earth Goddess. Love, gentleness.

Nemain (Celtic)
"Panic".  A war Goddess.

Nemesis (Greek)
Dark Moon Goddess of karmic retribution.

Nephthys (Egyptian)
Goddess of Surprises, Sisters and Midwives.  Dark moon Goddess.  Sister of Isis and mother of Anubis by her brother Osiris.  Her symbols were the cup and the lotus.  Rebirth, reincarnation, building good upon the ashes of hopelessness.  The great revealer and giver of dreams.  Understanding the Mysteries.

Niamh (Irish)
"Brightness"; "Beauty". A form of Badhbh who helps heroes at death.

Nike (Greek)
Goddess of Victory. Animal Association is Lynx.

Norns (Norse)
The three sisters of the Wyrd.  Very similar to the Greek Fates.  Responsible for weaving fate - past, present and future.  They were named Urd (the Past), Verthandi or Verdandi (the Present), and Skuld (the Future).  The water from their well turned everything white, thus connecting them with the three phases of the Moon.

Nuit (Egyptian)
Sky Mother. Often seen depicted in circular fashion cradling the stars. It was believed that she swallowed the sun every night, and gave birth to it anew each morning.

Ostara / Ostarra / Eostre / Eostra (North European)
A Moon Goddess whose name survives in the word Easter.  As a fertility Goddess of the Spring Equinox, she was associated with hares, rabbits and eggs.

Pandora (Greek)
The earth in female form, endlessly producing food for people and animals. The 'All-Giver'.

Persephone (Greek)
Goddess of the Underworld, Goddess of the Harvest. Daughter of Demeter, Wife of Hades who abducted Her. Plant Associations are parsley, narcissus, willow, pomegranate.

Rhea (Greek)
Supreme Queen of Heaven; Great Goddess; The Mother. Goddess of plant life and fertility; inventor of the arts and magic. Plant Association is Myrrh. Tree Association is Oak.

Rhiannon (Welsh)
"The Great Queen" Goddess of Birds and Horses.
Enchantments, fertility, and the Underworld. She rides a swift white horse.

Samhain/Samen (Irish, Celtic)
Although the name of the festival we now celebrate at Hallowe'en, also at one time a Moon Goddess.  An old Irish saying to wish a friend happiness was "The blessings of Samen (Moon) and Bel (Sun) be with you."

Scathach / Scota / Scatha / Scath (Irish, Scottish)
"Shadow, shade"; "The Shadowy One"; "She Who Strikes Fear". Underworld goddess of the Land of Scath; Dark Goddess; goddess in the Destroyer aspect. Also a warrior woman and prophetess who lived in Albion (Scotland), probably on the Isle of Skye, and taught the martial arts. Patroness of blacksmiths, healing, magic, prophecy, martial arts.

Selene / Selena (Greek)
Goddess of the Full Moon. Goddess of Solutions.  Appears as a mature, maternal woman, quite gentle in her power. She wears robes made of silver fabric reflecting moonbeam lights and also wears a silver crescent, point upturned, on her forehead.

Skadi (Norse)
"Harm"; daughter of the Giant Thjasi and wife of Njord.  Rightful retribution, mountains, Winter, revenge, dark magic.

Tephi (Irish)
Goddess of Tara and co-founder with Tea.

Thea (Pre-Hellenic)
Goddess of Light, Mother of Dawn.

Triple Goddess (Universal)
A trinity of Goddesses, or a Goddess having three aspects.  Known around the world in various forms (most commonly Maiden, Mother and Crone).  Almost always connected with the three phases of the Moon.

Valkyries (Scandinavian)
Women warriors who carried the souls of men slain in battle to heaven.

Venus (Roman)
Moon Goddess; patroness of vegetation and flowers.  She was strong, proud and loving.  She was also called virginal, meaning that she remained independent; her priestesses were not physical virgins.  Goddess of love, beauty, the joy of physical love, fertility, continued creation, renewal, herbal magic and romance.

Vesta (Roman)
Goddess of Fire.

White Lady (Celtic)
Dryad of death; identified with Macha; Queen of the Dead; the Crone form of the Goddess. Death, Destruction, annihilation.

Zobiana (Unknown)
A medieval Witch Goddess name.