Jupiter got its name from the chief god of Roman mythology, Jupiter, who was considered the king of the gods and ruler of the heavens
. The planet, being the largest in the solar system, was named after this supreme deity to reflect its prominence and majesty in the night sky
. This naming tradition follows the ancient practice of associating visible planets with important gods, a custom inherited from the Greeks who called the planet Zeus, the equivalent chief god in their pantheon
. The name "Jupiter" derives from the Latin Iuppiter (or Iovis in the genitive case), which itself traces back to the Proto-Indo-European compound Dyēus-pətēr , meaning "Sky Father"
. This etymology links Jupiter to a broader Indo-European tradition of sky gods, including the Greek Zeus and the Vedic Dyaus Pita
. The English form "Jupiter" evolved through anglicization of the Latin name, with related terms like "Jove" also referring to the same deity
. In summary, Jupiter was named after the Roman king of the gods to symbolize the planet's size, brightness, and dominance in the sky, continuing a mythological and linguistic heritage dating back to ancient Indo-European cultures
