A Greek mythological name meaning ruler of men, borne by the princess later placed among the stars.
Andromeda is a name of ancient Greek origin, compounded from 'aner/andros,' meaning man, and 'medein,' to rule or to protect, yielding the majestic meaning 'ruler of men' or 'she who guards warriors.' In Greek mythology, Andromeda was an Ethiopian princess, daughter of King Cepheus and the vain Queen Cassiopeia, who boasted her daughter's beauty surpassed that of the sea nymphs, the Nereids. Poseidon, enraged, sent the sea monster Cetus to ravage the coast, and only the sacrifice of Andromeda, chained to a rock, could appease him.
She was rescued by the hero Perseus, who slew the monster and made her his bride. 5 million light-years' distance. It is the most distant object the human eye can see unaided, a detail that gives the name an almost vertiginous sense of scale.
In literature, Andromeda has appeared in works from Ovid's Metamorphoses to John Keats's poetry to modern science fiction. Once considered an unusually bold choice for a child, Andromeda has gained considerable momentum in recent decades as parents have embraced mythological and astronomical names. It offers natural nicknames — Andi, Romy, Meda — while projecting a rare grandeur. It is a name built for the vast.