Save Type Surname (from given name) Usage Literature Pronounced Pron. /ə.ˈtreɪ.ɪ.diːz/ [key·simplify] Meaning & History Used by Frank Herbert for the main character of first two novels of Dune, Paul Atreides, the heir of house Atreides. He probably based it on Ancient Greek Ἀτρείδης (Atreídēs), meaning "child of Atreus".