From Greek mythology, King Midas of Phrygia whose touch turned everything to gold; the name is of pre-Greek origin.
Midas is one of antiquity's most enduring names, rooted in the myths of ancient Phrygia — a kingdom in what is now central Turkey. The historical King Midas of Phrygia ruled in the eighth century BCE and was a real figure, mentioned in Assyrian records as 'Mita of Mushki.' His legendary counterpart, immortalized by the Greeks, was granted a wish by the god Dionysus: that everything he touch turn to gold.
The myth is one of antiquity's most pointed parables about greed — the king nearly starves, unable to eat food transformed instantly to metal, and must beg the god to reverse the curse by bathing in the river Pactolus. The name itself may derive from the Phrygian word for 'seed' or possibly from a royal dynastic title, though its exact etymology remains debated among classical scholars. Ovid treated the Midas myth at length in the Metamorphoses, cementing it in Western literary tradition.
A secondary legend attached to Midas — the 'ass's ears' tale, where the king is given donkey ears by Apollo for preferring Pan's music — further enriched the mythological portrait. In contemporary usage, Midas carries an almost unavoidable metaphorical charge. The phrase 'Midas touch' is embedded in business culture and everyday speech as shorthand for uncanny success.
As a given name, it is rare but striking — chosen by parents who want a name with classical weight, mythological drama, and a built-in narrative. It ages confidently because it belongs to no single era.