From the Greek name
Νεοπτολεμος (Neoptolemos) meaning "new war", derived from
νεος (neos) "new" and
πολεμος (polemos) "war". In Greek legend this was the name of the son of
Achilles, brought into the Trojan War because it was prophesied the Greeks could not win it unless he was present. After the war he was slain by
Orestes fighting over
Hermione.