" Where did the name "Earth" come from? NASA Jupiter was the mighty chief of the gods in ancient Rome's pre-Christian religion. It was also said that Rome's legendary founders, Romulus and Remus, were the children of the warlike god Mars, himself Jupiter's son. Astronomy has always been popular with those who study the capital "C" Classics. Seven out of the eight planets in our solar system were named after Greek or Roman deities. You're living on the only exception to that rule. Advertisement The word "earth" has roots in the Old English term "eorþe." Eorþe had multiple meanings like "soil," "dirt," "ground," "dry land" and "country."