Mentor
Etymology
From Mentor, a character in Homer’s "Odyssey" — the old friend to whom Odysseus entrusted his son. The goddess Athena repeatedly took Mentor’s form to counsel young Telemachus, so the name came to mean a wise adviser. It entered common use after a popular 1699 French novel drew on the figure.
noun · /MEN-tor/
An experienced, trusted person who guides and advises someone less experienced.
What it names
A personal guide invested in your growth — more sustained and relational than a mere teacher or coach.
Example
A good mentor doesn’t hand you answers so much as better questions.
Related idea
A mentor guides a whole person’s development over time; a coach targets specific skills or performance — a narrower and often shorter engagement.