How many characters from the “Odyssey“ live in Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz — The release of Christopher Nolan's "Odyssey" has sparked renewed interest in the names of heroes and gods from Greek mythology. Tengrinews reached out to the Bureau of National Statistics to find out how many people named Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, Dionysus, and Athena live in Kazakhstan, and whether parents are still choosing these names for newborns in 2026.
Which classical names are parents choosing?
Despite the unusual sound of many names from Ancient Greek myths, some are quite common among modern Kazakhstanis.
According to the Bureau of National Statistics, the following births have been registered in Kazakhstan since the beginning of 2026:

52 girls named Athena (goddess of wisdom and war);4 named Hades (god of the underworld);4 named Dionysus (god of wine, festivities, and theatre);1 named Hector (Trojan prince and a central figure of the Trojan War);1 named Zeus (supreme god of Olympus);1 named Perseus (the hero who defeated Medusa the Gorgon).

Athena has emerged as the clear leader by a wide margin.
Notably, some names on the list are found primarily among children and teenagers. For instance, out of 83 people named Dionysus registered in Kazakhstan, 53 are minors. Among the 33 Hectors, 32 are under the age of 18, and all five Perseuses are minors.
Table provided by the Bureau of National StatisticsThe most popular classical name in KazakhstanThere are 1,322 people named Athena living in the country. While nearly all are female, statistics show one man with the name residing in the Karaganda region.
Almaty has the highest concentration of Athenas with 348 people, followed by 158 in the Karaganda region and 119 in the Almaty region.
Atlas follows with 124 people. Interestingly, this name is used for both men and women (108 and 16, respectively). The highest number of people named Atlas is registered in the Aktobe region.
Third place goes to Dionysus with 83 people, 53 of whom are under 18. Most reside in Almaty, as well as the Karaganda and Zhambyl regions.
The list of the most common classical names is as follows:

Athena — 1,322;
Atlas — 124;
Dionysus — 83;
Hera — 37;
Nestor — 40;
Hector — 33;
Odysseus — 30;
Cassandra — 25;
Apollo — 20;
Achilles — 16;
Hades — 13;
Artemis — 13;
Jason — 10;
Achilles (Alt. spelling) — 8;
Aphrodite — 7;
Zeus — 5;
Perseus — 5;
Aeneas — 4;
Andromeda — 3;
Hermes — 3.

How many "Odyssey" characters live in Kazakhstan?
We separately analyzed the prevalence of names associated with Homer's famous epic:

Odysseus (30 people): 4 each in Almaty and the Almaty region, and 3 each in Shymkent and the Akmola region.
Penelope (1 person): The only namesake of the faithful Queen of Ithaca is over 60 years old and lives in the Akmola region.
Hector (33 people): 9 in Almaty, and 4 each in the Almaty and Karaganda regions.
Paris (1 person): This Trojan name isn't just for men—the only bearer (aged 18–29) is a woman living in the Kostanay region.
Nestor (40 people): 9 in Almaty, 6 in Shymkent, and 4 in the Pavlodar region.
Jason (10 people): 3 each in the Mangistau region and Almaty, 2 in Shymkent, and 1 each in the Almaty and Karaganda regions.
Aeneas (4 people): 3 in Almaty and 1 in the Zhambyl region.
Theseus (1 person): The country's only namesake of the Minotaur's slayer is a minor registered in the Zhetysu region.

How many Kazakhstanis share names with ancient gods?
Kazakhstanis are also not afraid to name their children after the supreme inhabitants of Olympus:

Hera — 37 people (most common in the Kostanay and Zhetysu regions, with 6 each);Apollo — 20 people (7 in Almaty, 3 in Astana);Artemis — 13 people (3 each in Zhetysu, East Kazakhstan regions, and Almaty);Hades — 13 people (3 each in Kyzylorda and Almaty regions);Aphrodite — 7 people (2 in Atyrau region);
Zeus — 5 people (one each in Abai, Aktobe, Karaganda, North Kazakhstan, and East Kazakhstan regions);Andromeda — 3 people (one each in Akmola, Karaganda, and East Kazakhstan regions);Hermes — 3 people (one each in Aktobe region, East Kazakhstan region, and Almaty).

The Success of "Odyssey"
Christopher Nolan's "Odyssey" was released a month ago. At the time, audiences praised the film's scale, acting, visual effects, and sound. Many noted that the adaptation exceeded their expectations.
Meanwhile, critics specifically highlighted the visuals, Hoyte van Hoytema's cinematography, Ludwig Göransson's score, and the sheer scale of the production.
The film stars Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Matt Damon, and Robert Pattinson.
According to data from the Box Office Mojo reports that in its first month of release, "Odyssey" grossed $1.29 billion worldwide. During its opening weeks, the film ranked first in global box office receipts, maintaining its lead until the release of "Spider-Man: A New Day."