Of Greek origin.
From the Greek name «Περσεφόνη» (Persephoni).
Means “she who kills the conquerors” or “she who provokes spring growth”.
In Ancient Greece, the name also had the forms of «Περσέφασσα» (Persefassa), «Περσεφόνεια» (Persephoneia).
According to Greek mythology, Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter (Dimitra), both of them Olympian gods. She was kidnapped by god Pluto (also known as Hades) in order to make her his bride in Hades and Queen of the Underworld. Her mother, who searched everywhere for her, asked the help of Zeus and he made an agreement with Pluto so that Persephone would live with him for a period of three months and spent the rest close to her mother.
Persephone and Demeter were the central figures of the Eleusinian mysteries.
Persephone was worshiped as the goddess of spring growth and vegetation.
The name’s meaning is “she who kills the conquerors” from Greek words «πέρθω» (pertho), meaning “plunder”, “destroy” and «φόνος» (phonos), meaning “murder”.
Sources also mention the meaning “she who summons, provokes the growth of vegetation around”, from Greek words «περί» (peri), meaning “around”, “about”, and «φύω» (phyo), meaning “plant”.
Other forms of the name are Persephoni, Persephassa, Persephonia.
Famous bearer is Persephone Swales-Dawson.