The Greek water god Proteus appears and is referenced often in popular culture.
The German–American scientist Carl August Rudolph Steinmetz, who had several physical disabilities, changed his name to Charles Proteus Steinmetz. This name reflected his identification with a figure that could easily alter its outward form.
A cave-dwelling aquatic salamander in Europe is called Proteus anguinus (referred simply as proteus or olm), and is the only species in the genus Proteus of the family Proteidae.
Proteus Lake in Antarctica is named after the deity.
Progress Wrestling has a belt named after Proteus, the Proteus Championship.