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The name is from the ancient Greek legends world and means "the vague one" or "dark" Another notation is Kelaino. There are several figures which bear this name, though.
The harpy Celaeno is the best known because of her appearance in the popular animated movie "The Last Unicorn'. In this film the harpy is locked in by a witch.
She and her two sisters Ocypete ("the swift wing") and Aello ("storm swift") were demonic spirits, each of them half a woman and half a predator. After the legend they lived on the flesh of fallen soldiers and little children. Originally the women shall have looked very beautiful. Zeus gave them order to steal a blind prophet (Phineas, who was king of Thrace at the same time, too) all his food right out of his fingers. This prophet had annoyed Zeus because he could foresee the secret plans of the gods - and he let out the plans. The harpies were overwhelmed by Jason and the Argonauts, but in the meantime the stealing of food made them avaricious - just like gluttonous vultures.
There is a further note that the harpies weren't monsters all the time: an old (even older than the legend of the Argonauts) cult of the dead existed on the greek island Crete . During the elebration female priests dressed up as predators. Their outfits should remind of the harpies.
Reference: Hyginus, Fabulae, 14
There also is a bird of prey called harpy: the American Harpy Eagle
The name Celaeno appears in connection with the Meliae nymphs (nymphs of the ash tree) . According to Hesiod they were born by the soil of Mother Earth Gaia when drops of blood spilled at the moment Cronus castrated Uranus. The names of the Meliae nymphs are Helice, Cynosura, Arethusa, Ide, Krime, Britho, Celaeno, Adrastea and Glauce.
Reference: Hesiod, Theogony, 179-187
The Pleiade Celaeno
In addition, there is a Celaeno under the beautiful and skilful nymphs called Pleiades.
They had been daughters of Titan Atlas and his wife , the sea-nymph and Oceanid Pleione . The term Pleiades refers to the name of the mother.
The seven nymphs are called Alcyone, Asterope, Electra, Celaeno, Maia, Merope und Taygete.
Their task was the education of God sons, particularly the education of Dionysus and Zeus.
Celeano gave birth to one of Poseidon's sons.
Later on Zeus put the Pleiades up to the starry sky where they form the star cluster called "Pleiades". Another name for this star cluster is - according to their father Atlas - "Atlantides"..
Reference: Hesiod, Great Works, 382 und Hyginus, Fabulae, 157
It also gives a Celaeno among the fifty daughters of Danaos (Of course he fathered these children with different women  ). Danaos had a twin brother, Aegyptus with whom he fought for estates. To close around peace Aegyptus required the fifty daughters for his own fifty sons. Danaos consented. He secretly gave every daughter a dagger to murder their husbands in the wedding night. All daughters did as he wished except for one who spared her husband because he had remained chaste. It needed some time till Danaos could forgive his daughter but then he gave her the husband back. The husband's name was Lynceus and he later became king of the county (after killing Danaos as revenge for his murderd brothers).
Reference: Apollodorous, Library, II/20 und Hyginus, Fabulae, 170
The Amazon Celaeno was archer and one of the most dangerous fighters under the leadership of the Amazon ruler Hyppolyta. Hyppolyta owned a valuable belt which Heracles required. But the women did not want to give him the belt voluntarily.
So Hercules attacked the women and one after the other one although they were great fighters was defeated. Hyppolyta was protracted as a slave to Athens. The left Amazons allied themselves with further enemies of Greece to practise revenge but they failed in the fight once more.
Reference: Homer, Iliad Book IV
Celaeno, mother of Delphos
This is the last mention of the name Celaeno which I have found. Celaeno, daughter of Hyamos, gave birth to Apollo's son Delphos. Unlike this other references say that the mother of Delpohs was called Melaina or Thyia. Unfortunately I haven't find any other information
Reference: Pausanias, Description of Greece, X/6.3
Remark: Unfortunately, I can only give the mentioned references because I don't know where I found all these information. I've been collecting information about Celaeno for many years. I ask for understanding. Additional information are warmely welcome.
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