Narcissus

The word "narcissism" is extended in meaning.

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Narcissus did fall in love with himself but because he mistook his reflection as another person. His fate was predicted, so his parents never let him see his look. Echo the goddess faded away because she cannot get his love. So he was punished to see himself in the lake.

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Echo was used to repeating others' words from the beginning and Narcissus cannot see her. Narcissus did not do anything wrong.

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You can say Narcissus embodies beauty but not egoism.

That's not true. In the myth he offended Echo, he wasn't innocent. He got mad that she kept repeating his words so he left her. When Aphrodite, the goddess of love saw Narcissus reject Echo's true love, she sent Eros to purposely make Narcissus fall in love with himself as a punishment so that he could see what it was like not to have love returned. And he fell in love with himself, stared at his own reflection all day and night. That's why a narcissist is a person who is in love with themselves. And it's not exaggerated or misunderstood.

It's an issue of versions, dear. My description is correct according to Ovid.

It's terrible how the character is so misunderstood. Narcissus was punished because he thought he was too good for a lover. There's nothing wrong with that- better than losing your own self-respect to a lover, which is so common today. However, this pissed off Aphrodite, who needed to find a lover for everyone. The gods in Greek Mythology punished mortals for not obeying them, not necessarily for their bad morality.
Also, Echo (an unanimously good character in Greek Mythology) fell in love with Narcissus. So he must have had some at least likable qualities.
Like an above poster said, Narcissus was all too human.

The way I remember it, Narcissus stared at his reflection for so long, he fell in love with himself. He finally noticed that his reflection was a reflection and not a real person when he tried to kiss it. In pain, knowing he would never actually meet the boy in the water, he killed himself with a sword, leaving his corpse to bloom into a flower: the Narcissus flower.

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Because of this story, many believe the name means "vain".

Narcissus is the name of the handsome man in the Greek myth Narcissus. He thought he was so beautiful and handsome that he saw himself in the lake and stared at his reflection unable to tear away. A nymph who was watching fell in love with him, her name was Echo, since he did not return her love she eventually faded away leaving behind only what was repeated. It explains about 'echos', but Narcissus died in the end too.

I always thought it meant "vain" or "vanity". I guess because of the fable.