From the Greek name Αιας (Aias), perhaps deriving from Greek αιαστης (aiastes) "mourner". In Greek mythology this was the name of two of the heroes who fought for the Greeks in the Trojan War, the son of Telamon and the son of Oileus. When the armor of the slain hero Achilles was not given to Ajax Telamonian, he became mad with jealousy and killed himself.