Meaning of the word name in greek

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the modern world, Greek names are the personal names among people of Greek language and culture generally consist of a given name and a family name.

History[edit]

Ancient Greeks generally had a single name, often qualified with a patronymic, a clan or tribe, or a place of origin. Married women were identified by the name of their husbands, not their fathers.

Hereditary family names or surnames began to be used by elites in the Byzantine period. Well into the 9th century, they were rare. But by the 11th and 12th centuries, elite families often used family names.^[1][2] Family names came from placenames, nicknames, or occupations.^[3]

During the Ottoman period, surnames with Turkish prefixes such as «Hatzi-«, «Kara-» and suffixes such as «-(i)lis», «-tzis», and «-oglou» became common, especially among Anatolian Greeks. It is not clear when stable family surnames became widely used. Though elite families often had stable family names, many of the «last names» used by Greeks into the 19th century were either patronymics or nicknames. It is also possible that family names were simply not recorded because Ottoman administrative practice preferred patronymics, and did not require surnames.^[4]

In the 19th century, patronymic surnames became common.

For personal names, from the first century CE until the nineteenth century CE, pagan names from antiquity were mostly replaced by names from Christian scriptures and tradition. With the Modern Greek Enlightenment and the development of Greek nationalism, names from antiquity became popular again.^[5]

Family names may be patronymic in origin or else based on occupation, location, or personal characteristic. These origins are often indicated by prefixes or suffixes. Traditionally a woman used a feminine version of her father’s family name, replacing it with a feminine version of her husband’s family name on marriage. In modern Greece, a woman keeps her father’s family name for life but may use a husband’s name.

Given names[edit]

Until the late 18th century, almost all Christian Greeks were named for Orthodox saints from the Old and New Testaments and early Christian tradition. Since then, names of both deities and mortals from antiquity have been popular as well.^[5]

Male names usually end in -ας, -ης, and -ος, but sometimes ancient forms are also used. Female names almost always end in -α and -η, though a few end in -ώ with -ου being possible.

Since antiquity, there has been a strong tradition of naming the first and second sons after the paternal and maternal grandfathers and the first and second daughters after the paternal and maternal grandmothers.^[6]

This results in a continuation of names in the family line, but cousins with the same official name are almost always called by different shortened forms or diminutives. The French and German Wikipedias have detailed lists of Greek given names showing the widespread use of shortened forms and diminutives and shortened forms of diminutives in addition to the rarely used formal forms of the sometimes official Demotic Greek forms. These lists are understandable even if one doesn’t understand German or French. These variants make it possible to differentiate between cousins despite these traditionally having the same official names because they are traditionally named after their grandparents.

There is a strong clustering of first names by locality according to patron saints, famous churches, or monasteries. Examples include:

• Spyridon and Spyridoula in Corfu
• Gerasimos in Kefalonia
• Dionysios and Dionysia in Zakynthos,
• Andreas and Andriani or Androulla in Patras and the rest of Achaea province, as well as Cyprus
• Markos and Markella in Chios
• Savvas for those descended from Asia Minor
• Emmanuel or Manolis, Iosif (Joseph) or Sifis, Manousos, and Minas in Crete
• Tsambikos or Tsampika/Mika in Rhodes.
• Stratis or Stratoula and Taxiarchis or Taxiarchoula in Lesbos.

When Greek names are used in other languages, they are sometimes rendered phonetically, such as Eleni for Ἑλένη, and sometimes by their equivalents, like Helen in English or Hélène in French. The Vasiliki (Βασιλική) is Basilica in Italian or Basilique in French. In the United States, there are also conventional anglicizations based on phonetic similarity rather than etymology, for example James or Jimmy for Δημήτρης/Dimitris (nickname Ντίμης/Dimi, hence Jimmy), despite the English name James and its diminutive Jimmy actually coming from Greek Ἰάκωβος Iakobos, English Jacob (through Vulgar Latin Iacomus from Latin Iacobus, which is the Latinized form of Ἰάκωβος Iakobos in the Vulgar Latin and originally Greek New Testament).

Family names[edit]

Greek family names are most commonly patronymics but may also be based on occupation, personal characteristics or location. The feminine version is usually the genitive of the family name of the woman’s father or husband; so, for example, Mr. Yannatos and Mrs. Yannatou.

As a result of their codification in the Modern Greek state, surnames have Katharevousa forms even though Katharevousa is no longer the official standard. Thus, the Ancient Greek name Eleutherios forms the Modern Greek proper name Lefteris. In the past, people in speaking used the family name followed by the given name, so John Eleutherios was called Leftero-giannis. In modern practice he is called Giannis Eleftheriou, where Giannis is the popular form of the formal Ioannis but Eleftheriou is an archaic genitive. For women, the surname is usually a Katharevousa genitive of a male name, whereas back in Byzantine times there were separate feminine forms of male surnames, such as Palaiologína for Palaiológos which nowadays would be Palaiológou.^[7][8]

In the past, women would change their surname on first marrying to that of their husband in the genitive case, so marking the change of dependence to husband from father. In early Modern Greek society, women were named with -aina as a feminine suffix on the husband’s given name, for example «Giorgaina» signifying «wife of George». Nowadays, a woman’s surname does not change upon marriage but she can use the husband’s surname socially. Children usually receive the paternal surname, though some children receive the maternal surname in addition or exclusively.^[9]

Patronymic and matronymic[edit]

The use of the patronymic as part of a personal name in everyday language is scarce and virtually non-existent, unlike languages with Eastern Slavic naming customs. It is used in lieu of the father’s full name and it is inserted between a person’s given name and surname. The use of the matronymic is even more rare.

In a dated, self-styling practice, if Ioánnis Papadopoulos has a daughter whose first name is María and a son whose first name is Andreas, their full names will be María Ioánnou Papadopoúlou and Andréas Ioánnou Papadópoulos. If María then marries George Demetriádes, she may retain her maiden name or choose to be styled María Geōrgíou Demetriádou. If she is widowed, she will revert to her father’s patronymic but retain her husband’s surname to become María Ioánnou Demetriádou. This largely obsolete styling practice is not reflected in official documents or the spoken language, but could be utilized by, e.g., authors or anyone who uses his/her name for business purposes.

Official documents[edit]

The foremost-and compulsory-identification document in Greece, the Greek identity card, includes name information as follows:

1. Surname (Επώνυμο)
2. Given name(s) (Όνομα)
3. Father’s name (Όνομα Πατέρα)
4. Father’s surname (Επώνυμο Πατέρα)
5. Mother’s name (Όνομα Μητέρας)
6. Mother’s surname (Επώνυμο Μητέρας)

Out of the six fields, only the first three are transliterated in English per ELOT 743/ISO 843. The first two comprise the personal name and the rest is just identity information. The Cypriot identity card also includes father’s and mother’s name and surname in Greek and English; however all fields are transliterated.

In other significant identity documents, like the Greek passport and Greek driving license, compliant to European standards, the mother’s and father’s names are completely omitted. Corresponding documents in Cyprus omit them as well.

In other official documents in Greece, like, exempli gratia, a marriage certificate, names are included accordingly (Surname/Given Names/Father’s Name/Father’s Surname/Mother’s Name/Mother’s Surname).

In education

In report cards and the Apolytirion, the students’ names are displayed as «(student’s full name) of (father’s full name) and (mother’s full name)».

However, in universities and specifically university degrees, the practice varies. For example, university degrees of the Aegean University displays graduates’ names as «(student’s surname and name) of (father’s given name)»,^[10] whilst degrees from the University of West Attica display both the patronymic and the matronymic.^[11]

Examples of given names[edit]

Ancient names[edit]

Biblical and Christian names[edit]

Mixed names[edit]

1. Marina / Ellie (Μαρινέλλη)
2. Marios / Ioannis (Μαριάννος)
3. Maria / Paraskeve (Μαριεύη)
4. Maria / Vasiliki (Μαριβάσια)
5. Maria / Anthi (Μαριάνθη)
6. Maria / Ellie (Μαριέλλη)
7. Maria / Eleni (Μαριλένα / Μαριαλένα)
8. Maria / Anna (Μαριάννα)
9. Eleni / Anna (Ελεάννα)
10. Vasileia / Anna (Βασιλειάννα)
11. Vasiliki / Anna (Βασιλιάννα)
12. Vasileia / Elina (Βασιλείνα)
13. Vasiliki / Elina (Βασιλίνα)
14. Georgia / Anna (Γεωργιάννα)
15. Christina / Anna (Χριστιάννα)
16. Ilia / Anna (Ηλιάννα)
17. Luiza / Anna (Λουιζάννα)
18. Luiza / Ioanna (Λουιζιάννα)
19. Chrysa / Anthi (Χρυσάνθη)

Diminutive names[edit]

• Anastasia (Αναστασούλα, Νατάσσα, Τασούλα, Τασσώ, Τασία, Σία, Σίσσυ)
• Angeliki (Αγγελικό, Αγγελικούλα, Αγγέλλω, Αγγέλα, Άντζελα, Άτζελα, Άντζυ, Γκέλυ)
• Maria (Μαρούλα, Μάρω, Μαράκι, Μαριώ, Μάρα, Μάϊρα, Μαρίκα, Μαίρη)
• Vasiliki (Βασιλικό, Βασιλικούλα, Βάσω, Βασίλω, Βάσια, Βασούλα, Βίκυ.)
• Panayiota (Γιώτα, Πέννυ, Πέγκυ, Νάγια)
• Emmanouella (Εμμανουηλία, Εμμανουέλα, Μανουέλα, Μανώλια, Μανωλία, Μανώλα)
• Konstantina (Ντίνα, Ναντίνα, Νάντια, Κωστούλα)
• Paraskeve (Παρασκευούλα, Εύη, Βιβή, Εβίτα, Βούλα)
• Athena (Νανά, Νίνα)
• Victoria (Βίκο)
• Georgia (Γεωργούλα, Γιωργούλα, Γιωργίτσα, Γιωργία, Γωγώ, Ζέτα, Τζίνα)
• Pagona (Πένυ, Πέγκυ)
• Dionysia (Διώνη, Διόνη, Διονυσούλα, Ντένη, Ντένια)
• Foteini (Φώτω, Φώφη, Φωτούλα, Φαίη, Φωφώ)
• Vasileia (Σίλεια)
• Kyriaki (Κική, Κυριακούλα, Κούλα)
• Dorotheos (Δώρος)
• Dorothea (Δώρα)

Similar names[edit]

• Valeria / Violeta
• Daphne / Danae

Translation name[edit]

• Paulina (Παυλίνα)
• Paula (Πωλίνα)
• Evans (Ευάγγελος)
• Vangel (Βαγγέλης)

Examples of family names[edit]

Common prefixes[edit]

Common suffixes[edit]

^[9]

See also[edit]

• Onomastics

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Lexicon of Greek Personal Names, a Major Research Project of the British Academy, Oxford, contains over 35,000 published Greek names up to the 6th century.

Further reading[edit]

• Matthews, Elaine; Hornblower, Simon; Fraser, Peter Marshall, Greek Personal Names: Their Value as Evidence, Proceedings of the British Academy (104), Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-19-726216-3

There are hundreds of beautiful ancient greek names. If you are bored of the same common names you see in every novel and romantic comedy, then you should browse through ancient greek names to find something unique. Here is a list of ancient greek names you can use for your own child someday.

1. Achilles — Warrior

2. Aegeus — Protector

3. Aeneas — Praising

4. Aeschylus — Shame

5. Agafya — Good hearted

6. Agammemnon — Resolute

7. Agape — Love and affection

8. Agata — Good hearted

9. Agatha — Good hearted

10. Agda — Good hearted

11. Aggie – Sacred, Chaste

12. Agnes — Sacred, Chaste

13. Agneta — Sacred, Chaste

14. Agnete — Sacred, Chaste

15. Agnetha — Sacred, Chaste

16. Agnieszka — Sacred, Chaste

17. Agot — Good hearted

18. Agota — Good hearted

19. Agueda — Good hearted

20. Aileen — Torch of light

21. Aindrea — Manly

22. Ajax — Powerful eagle

23. Alastair — Defender of the people

24. Ale — Defender of man

25. Alec — Defending men

26. Alecta — Ceaseless

27. Alecto — Ceaseless

28. Aleixo — Defender of man

29. Alejandra — Protector of humanity

30. Alejandro — Defender of man

31. Aleksander — Defender of man

32. Aleksanteri — Defender of man

33. Alena — Torch of light

34. Ales — Defender of man

35. Alessa — Protector of humanity

36. Alessandra — Protector of humanity

37. Alessandro — Protector of humanity

38. Aleta — Truthful

39. Alethea — Truthful

40. Alex – Protector of humanity

41. Alexa – Protector of humanity

42. Alexander — Defender of man

43. Alexandra — Protector of humanity

44. Alexis — Helper

45. Alexius — Helper

46. Anaxagoras — Lord

47. Bakchos — To shout

48. Berenike — Bringer of victory

49. Bion — Life

50. Cadmus — The east

51. Caiaphas — To raise up

52. Calisto — Most beautiful

53. Callidora — Gift of beauty

54. Calligenia– beauty born

55. Callisto– Most beautiful

56. Celandine — A swallow bird

57. Chara — Happiness

58. Charalampos — Shining happiness

59. Chariton — Grace, kindness

60. Charon — Fierce brightness

61. Chloris — Green

62. Chrysanthe — Golden flower

63. Chryseis — Golden

64. Cyanea — Sky blue

65. Cymone — Hearkening

66. Damali — Calf

67. Damalis — Calf

68. Damaris — Calf

69. Damokles — Glory of the people

70. Damon — To tame

71. Danae — Parched

72. Dareia — Wealthy

73. Deimos — Fear, terror

74. Demeter — Of Earth

75. Demetra — Earth mother

76. Desma — Pledge, vow

77. Despoina — Mistress

78. Despoine– Mistress

79. Diantha — G0d flower

80. Dianthe — God flower

81. Diona — The goddess

82. Dione — The goddess

83. Dorcia — Gazelle

84. Dorus — Gift

85. Drakon — Dragon

86. Echo — Sound

87. Efimia — Well spoken

88. Efrosyni — Joy, mirth

89. Efthalia — Flourishing

90. Eileithyia — The ready comer

91. Eirene — Peace

92. Elias — The lord is my God

93. Eleftheria — The liberator

94. Elektra — Bright, shining

95. Elene- Torch

96. Eleni– Torch

97. Elisavet — God is my oath

98. Elissa — Wanderer

99. Elpida — Hope

100. Elpis — Hope

101. Enyo — Horror

102. Eos — Dawn

103. Erato — Lovely

104. Erika — Work power

105. Eris — Strife

106. Euadne– Good and holy

107. Eudokia — To seem well

108. Eudora — Good gift

109. Eudoxia — Good glory

110. Eugenia — Well born

111. Eumelia — Melody

112. Eunike — Good victory

113. Eupheme — Well spoken

114. Euphrosyne — Joy, mirth

115. Eupraxia — Good action

116. Eurybia — Wide, violent force

117. Eurydike — Wide justice

118. Euterpe — Giver of pleasure

119. Euthalia — Well blooming

120. Eutropia — Versatile

121. Evgenia– Well born

122. Fotios — Light

123. Fotis — Light

124. Frona — Self-controlled

125. Gaia — Earth

126. Gennadios — Noble

127. Gerasimos — Old age

128. Gregorios — Watchful

129. Glykeria — Sweet

130. Gorgophone — Murderer

131. Haemon — Bloody

132. Haides — Unseen

133. Halkyone — Kingfisher

134. Harmonia — Harmony

135. Hebe — Young

136. Hecuba — Far off

137. Hekate — Far off

138. Heli — Ascend

139. Helios — Sun

140. Hermes — Of the Earth

141. Hermia — Of the Earth

142. Hermione — Of the Earth

143. Hero — Hero

144. Herodotos — Hero given

145 .Hestia — Fireside

146. Hesiod — To send song

147. Hilarion — Joyful, happy

148. Hippokrates — Horse power

149. Hippolyte — Horse freer

150. Homer — Hostage

151. Horus — The distant one

152. Hyginos — Healthy

253. Hypatios — Supreme

154. Hypatia — Supreme

155. Iantha — Violent flower

156. Ianthe — Violent flower

157. Ioanna — God is gracious

158. Iason — To heal

159. Iduma — Red

160. Iesos — God is salvation

161. Ikaros — Follower

162. Ioannes — God is gracious

163. Iola — Violet

164. Iole — Violet

165. Iphigenia — Strong born

166. Iris — Rainbow

167. Isokrates — Equal power

168. Jonas — Dove

169. Judas — He who is praised

170. Jude — He who is praised

171. Kadmos — The east

172. Kallias — Beauty

173. Kalliope — Beautiful voice

174. Kallisto — Most beautiful

175. Kalypso — Cover, conceal

176. Karpos — Fruit

177. Kastor — Beaver

178. Kephalos — Head

179. Kepheus — Gardener

180. Kerberos — Demon of the pit

181. Khristos — anointed

182. Kleio — Glory

183. Kleitos — Glory

184. Kleopatra — Glory of the father

185. Klotho — Spinner

186. Klymene — Praiseworthy might

187. Klytie — Famous

188. Kore — Maiden

189. Korinna — Maiden

190. Kosmos — Beauty, order

191. Kronos — Horn

192. Kyriake — Of the Lord

193. Lachesis — Apportioner

194. Lazarus — My God has helped

195. Leandros — Lion man

196. Leda — Woman

197. Lefteris — Liberator

198. Leto — The hidden one

199. Ligeia — Shrill voice

200. Lykourgos — Wolf work

201. Lysimachos — Freedom fighter

202. Macedon — The tall one

203. Maeja — Mother

204. Maia — Mother

205. Makarios — Blessed

206. Manasses — Causing to forget

207. Margarites — Pearl

208. Mathias — Gift of God

209. Medeia — Cunning

210. Medousa — Guardian

211. Megaira — To grudge

212. Melaina — Dark

213. Melantha — Dark flower

214. Melina — Honey

215. Melita — Honey bee

216. Melpomene — Choir

217. Mentor — Spirit

218. Methodios — Method

219. Miltiades — Red earth

220. Minta — Defender

221. Mneme — Memory

222. Morpheus — Shape

223. Myron — Myrrh

224. Narkissa — Numbness, sleep

225. Natasa — Resurrection

226. Nemesis — Retribution

227. Nephele — Cloudy

228. Nephthys — Lady of the house

229. Nereus — Water

230. Nestor — Homecoming

231. Nike — Victory

232. Nikephoros — Bearer of victory

233. Nomiki — Relating to the law

234. Nyx — Night

235. Oedipus — Sore feet

236. Oinone — Wine

237. Okeanos — Ocean

238. Olysseus — To hate

239. Onesimos — Beneficial

240. Ophelos — Help

241. Origen — Mountain born

242. Orpheus — Darkness of night

243. Oulixes — To hate

244. Ourania — Heavenly

245. Ouranos — The heavens

246. Paeon — Healer

247. Paris — Wager

248. Pallas — To wield a weapon

249. Pamphilos — Friend of all

250. Pandora — All gift

251. Panos — All holy

252. Pantheras — Panther

253. Paraskeve — Preparation

254. Parthenia — Virgin

255. Parthenope — Virgin voice

256. Pavlos — Small

257. Pelagios — The sea

258. Penelope — Weaver of cunning

259. Persephone — Person slayer

260. Persis — Persian woman

261. Phaidra — Bright

262. Phaidros — Bright

263. Phile — To love

264. Philemon — Affectionate

265. Philomena — Sweet singer

266. Photine — Light

267. Phyllidos — Foliage

268. Phyllis — Foliage

269. Platon — Broad, flat

270. Polydeuces — Sweet

271. Polyxene — Hospitable

272. Poseidon — Distribution lord

273. Psyche — Animated spirit, soul

274. Ptolema — Aggressive

275. Pyrros — Flame like

276. Rhea — Menstruation

277. Rhoda — Rose

278. Roxane — Dawn

279. Sappho — Saphire

280. Sara — Princess

281. Selene — Moon

282. Semele — Of the Earth

283. Sethos — Dazzle

284. Smeme — Knowledge

285. Sofia — Wisdom

286. Solon — Wisdom

287. Sophos — Clever

288. Sophronia — Self-controlled

289. Sostrate — Safe army

290. Sotiria — Salvation

291. Sousanna — Lily

292. Spyridoula — Spirit

293. Spyro — Spirit

294. Stamatia — Stop

295. Stelios — Pillar

296. Straton — Army

297. Syntyche — Common fate

298. Takis — All holy

299. Tanis — Serpent lady

300. Tedora — Gift of God

301. Telamon — Support

302. Teris — Liberator

303. Terpsichore — Enjoying the dance

304. Thais — Bandage

305. Thalia — Flourishing

306. Thales — Blossom

307. Than — Death

308. Thanos — Immortal

309. Thecla — Glory of God

310. Thekla — Glory of God

311. Themis — Law

312. Therapon — Servant

313. Theron — Hunter

314. Thoth — He who balances

315. Timaios — Honor

316. Timo — Honor

317. Tisiphone — Avenging murder

318. Titos — White clay, white earth

319. Tobias — God is good

320. Tryphaina — Delicate, soft

321. Tryphosa — Delicate, soft

322. Tychon — Hitting the mark

323. Urias — God is my light

324. Usiris — Good tidings

325. Vasilis — King

326. Vasiliki — King, queen

327. Xanthe — Yellow

328. Xanthia — Yellow

329. Xanthippe — Yellow

330. Xanthippos — Yellow horse

331. Xene — Stranger

332. Xenophon — Strange voice

333. Xerxes — Ruler over heroes

334. Yanni — God is gracious

335. Yorgos — Farmer

336. Zacharias — God has remembered

337. Zebedee — God has given

338. Zoe — Life

339. Zona — Belt

340. Zephyr — West wind

341. Zopyros — Glowing

342.Zosime — Survivor

343. Zotikos — Full of life 

Guide to using these names

• ‘CH’ is pronounced like ‘kh’, hard ‘h’ from the back of the throat/mouth
• ‘X’ is pronounced like ‘ks’
• ‘D’ is usually a hard ‘th’ like in ‘this’
• ‘R’ is rolled/tapped
• ‘OI’ and ‘EI’ are both an ‘ee’ sound
• ‘AI’ is like a short ‘eh’
• ‘NT’ is pronounced either ‘nd’ or ‘d’
• ‘U’ following ‘e’ or ‘a’ becomes ‘f’ or ‘v’
• ‘G’ is pronounced a bit like ‘CH’ but softer, similar to Spanish soft G (hard to explain into English). Usually pronounced as ‘y’ before i and e
• hard ‘g’ (like in English) or a nasal ‘g’ (‘ng’) is written in Greek as γκ (gk)
• ‘GG’ is ‘ng’

Male Names

Alexandros (Αλεξάνδρος)

• Meaning defender of men.

Alexis (Αλέξης)

• Meaning defender/helper.

Anastasios (Αναστάσιος)

• Meaning ressurection, from the word ανάστασης.

Andreas (Ανδρέας)

• Meaning man, from ανδρός.
• Greek form of Andrew.

Angelos (Άγγελος)

• Meaning angel.
• Pronounced ang-e-los.

Antonis / Andonis (Αντώνης)

• Greek form of Anthony.
• Pronounced an-do-nis.

Apostolos (Απόστολος)

• Meaning messenger/apostle.

Arsenios (Αρσένιος)

• Meaning virile man.

Christoforos (Χριστόφορος)

• Meaning bearer of Christ.
• Pronounced hri-sto-fo-ros.
• Greek form of Christopher.

Christos (Χρίστος)

• Meaning Christ.
• Pronounced hris-tos.

Chrysanthos (Χρυσάνθος)

• Meaning golden flower.
• Pronounced hri-san-thos.

Dimitrios (Δημήτριος)

• Derived from the Greek goddess Demeter.
• Other forms: Δημήτρης (Dimitris)

Eleftherios (Ελευθέριος)

• Meaning free.
• Other forms: Λευτέρης (Lefteris)

Evangelos (Ευάγγελος)

• Meaning good messenger.
• Pronounced ev-ang-e-los.
• Other forms: Βαγγέλης (Vangelis)

Filippos (Φίλιππος)

• Meaning friend of horses.
• Greek form of Phillip.

Fotios (Φώτιος)

• Meaning light.
• Other forms: Φώτης (Fotis)

Gavriel (Γαβριήλ)

• Meaning God is my strong man.
• Pronounced gav-ri-yil.
• Greek form of Gabriel.

Georgios (Γεώργιος)

• Meaning farmer.
• Pronounced yior-yos.
• Other forms: Γεώργος (Georgos/Yiorgos)

Gerasimos (Γεράσιμος)

• Meaning honourable.
• Pronounced ye-ras-i-mos.

Giannis (Γιάννης)

• Meaning God is gracious.
• Pronounced ya-nis
• Modern Greek form of John.
• Other forms: Ιωάννης (Ioannis) / Γιάννη (Gianni)

Grigorios (Γρηγόριος)

• Meaning watchful.
• Greek form of Gregory.

Haris (Χάρης)

• Meaning kind and graceful.
• Pronounced kha-ris / ha-ris.

Iason (Ιάσων)

• Meaning healer.
• Pronounced ya-son.
• Greek form of Jason.

Ilias (Ηλίας)

• Meaning my God is Yahweh.
• Greek form of Elijah.

Konstantinos (Κωνσταντίνος)

• Meaning steadfast.
• Greek form of Constantine.

Kyriakos (Κυριάκος)

• Meaning from the Lord.

Leonidas (Λεωνίδας)

• Meaning lion.

Marios (Μάριος)

• Meaning male.
• Greek form of Marius / sometimes male form of Maria.

Markos (Μάρκος)

• Probably derived from the Roman god Mars.
• Greek form of Mark / Marcus.

Michalis (Μιχάλης)

• Meaning who is like God.
• Pronounced mi-ha-lis.
• Greek form of Michael.
• Other forms: Μιχαήλ (Michail / Mihail)

Nikolas (Νικόλας)

• Meaning victory of the people.
• Greek form of Nicholas.
• Other forms: Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) / Νίκος (Nikos)

Olympos (Όλυμπος)

• From the home of the Greek gods, Mount Olympus.

Panagiotis (Παναγιώτης)

• Meaning all holy.
• Pronounced pa-na-yio-tis.
• Other forms: Πάνος (Panos) / Τάκης (Takis)

Silas (Σίλας)

• Meaning forest.

Sokratis (Σωκράτης)

• Meaning full power.

Sotiris (Σωτήρης)

• Meaning salvation.
• Other forms: Σωτήριος (Sotirios)

Spiros (Σπύρος)

• Meaning basket / spirit.
• Other forms: Σπύρο (Spiro) / Σπυρίδων (Spiridon)

Stavros (Σταυρός)

• Meaning cross.

Stefanos (Στέφανος)

• Meaning crown.
• Greek form of Steven.

Theodoros (Θεόδωρος)

• Meaning gift from God.
• Greek form of Theodore.
• Other forms: Δώρος (Doros)

Vasilis (Βασίλης)

• Meaning king.
• Greek form of Basil.

Female Names

Afroditi (Αφροδίτη)

• Meaning Aphrodite (Greek goddess of love).

Agapi (Αγάπη)

• Meaning love.

Agatha (Αγαθά)

• Meaning good.

Agni (Αγνή)

• Meaning pure / holy.
• Variant of Agnes.

Aikaterini / Ekaterini (Αικατερίνη)

• From the Ancient Greek word καθαρός meaning pure.
• Greek form of Katherine.
• Other forms: Κατερίνα (Katerina) / Κατίνα (Katina) / Καίτη (Keti)

Alexandra (Αλεξάνδρα)

• From the name Alexandros meaning defender of men.

Alexis (Αλέξης)

• Meaning defender/helper.

Anastasia (Αναστάσια)

• Meaning resurrection.
• Female form of Anastasios.
• Other forms: Νατάσα (Natasa) / Τασία (Tasia) / Τασούλα (Tasoula)

Andriana (Ανδριάνα)

• Female form of Andreas.

Angeliki (Αγγελική)

• Meaning angelic.
• Pronounced ang-e-li-ki.
• Greek form of Angelica.

Anna (Άννα)

• Meaning graceful.
• Greek form of Hannah.
• Other forms: Αννούλα (Annoula)

Anthisi (Άνθηση)

• Meaning bloom, blossoming.

Asteri (Αστέρι)

• Meaning star.

Chara (Χαρά)

• Meaning happiness.
• Pronounced ha-ra / ha-ra.

Charavgi (Χαραυγή)

• Meaning dawn.
• Pronounced ha-rav-gi
• Other forms: Αυγή (Avgi)

Christina (Χριστίνα)

• Meaning follower of God
• Pronounced hri-sti-na.
• Greek form of Christine.
• Other forms: Χρυσούλα (Chrisoula), Χρυσά (Chrisa/Chryssa)

Chrysanthi (Χρυσάνθη)

• Meaning golden flower.
• Pronounced hri-san-thi.
• Female form of Chrysanthos.
• Other forms: Χρυσά (Chrysa/Chryssa)

Cleopatra / Kleopatra (Κλεοπάτρα)

• Meaning she who comes from a glorious father.

Despina / Despoina (Δέσποινα)

• Meaning lady.

Dimitra (Δήμητρα)

• Derived from the Greek goddess Demeter.
• Female form of Dimitrios.
• Other forms: Δημή (Dimi/Demi) / Δημήτρια (Dimitria/Demetria)

Dionysia (Διονυσία)

• Derived from Dionysus, Greek god of wine.

Diamanti / Diamandi (Διαμάντι)

• Meaning diamond, from the word διαμάντι.
• Pronounced dya-man-di.
• Other forms: Διαμάντινα (Diamantina) / Διαμάντω (Diamanto)

Dorothea (Δωροθέα)

• Meaning gift from God.
• Other forms: Δώρα (Dora)

Efimia (Ευφημία)

• Meaning well-spoken.

Efthalia (Ευθαλία)

• Meaning flower.

Eirini / Irini (Ειρήνη)

• Meaning peace.
• Greek form of Irene.

Eleftheria (Ελευθερία)

• Meaning free.
• Female form of Eleftherios

Eleni (Ελένη)

• Meaning bright.
• Greek form of Helen.

Elisavet (Ελισάβετ)

• Meaning my God is abundance.
• Greek form of Elizabeth.

Elpida (Ελπίδα)

• Meaning hope.
• Other forms: Ελπίς (Elpis)

Evdokia / Eudocia (Ευδοκία)

• Meaning good thought.

Evgenia / Eugenia (Ευγενία)

• Meaning noble.

Evridiki / Eurydice (Ευριδίκη)

• Meaning wide justice.

Filippa (Φίλιππα)

• Meaning friend of horses.
• Female form of Filippos.

Fotini (Φωτίνι)

• Meaning light.

Georgia (Γεωργία)

• Meaning farmer.
• Pronounced yior-ya.
• Female form of Georgios.

Glykeria (Γλυκερία)

• Meaning sweet.

Haris (Χάρης)

• Meaning kind and graceful.
• Pronounced ha-ris.

Heliotropia / Iliotropia (Ηλιοτρόπια)

• Pronounced ee-lyo-tro-pi-a
• Meaning sunflower(s).

Iliana (Ηλιάνα)

• Meaning my God is Yahweh.
• Female form of Ilias.

Ioanna (Ιωάννα)

• Meaning God is gracious.
• Pronounced yo-an-na
• Greek form of Joanna.
• Other forms: Γιάννα (Gianna / Yianna) / Νανά (Nana)

Kardia (Καρδιά)

• Meaning heart, core.

Kiki (Κική)

• A diminutive of any name beginning with K.

Konstantina (Κωνσταντίνα)

• Meaning steadfast.
• Female form of Konstantinos.

Koralia (Κοραλία)

• Meaning coral.

Korina (Κόριννα)

• Meaning maiden.

Krystallia / Crystallia (Κρυσταλλία)

• Meaning crystal.
• Other forms: Κρύσταλ (Krystal/Crystal)

Laskarina (Λασκαρίνα)

• Heroine of the Greek War of Independence.

Liakada (Λιακάδα)

• Meaning sunlight.
• Other forms: Λία (Lia)

Louloudi (Λουλούδι)

• Meaning flower.

Maria (Μαρία)

• Meaning beloved / wished-for child / star of the sea.
• Other forms: Μαρίκα (Marika)

Marianna (Μαριάννα)

• Combined name of Maria and Anna.

Marina (Μαρίνα)

• Meaning from the sea.

Martha (Μάρθα)

• Meaning lady.

Melina (Μελίνα)

• Meaning honey.

Melissa (Μέλισσα)

• Meaning bee.

Mesanichta / Mesanychta (Μεσάνυχτα)

• Meaning midnight.
• Pronounced me-sa-nih-ta.

Nefeli (Νεφέλη)

• Meaning cloud.

Nikoleta (Νικολέτα)

• Meaning victory of the people.
• Female form of Nikolas.
• Other forms: Νίκι (Niki)

Okeania (Ωκεάνια)

• Meaning ocean.

Olympia (Ολυμπία)

• From the mountain home of the Greek gods.
• Female form of Olympos.
• Other forms: Λία (Lia)

Ourania (Ουράνια)

• Pronounced oo-ran-ya
• Meaning heaven(s) or sky.

Pandora (Πανδώρα)

• From the Greek mythological equivalent of Eve from the Bible.
• Means all-giving, from πᾶν (all) and δῶρον (gift)

Peristeri (Περιστέρι)

• Meaning dove.
• Other forms: Περιστέρα (Peristera), Περιστέρια (Peristeria)

Sara (Σάρα)

• Meaning lady / princess.
• Greek form of Sarah.

Selini (Σελήνη)

• Meaning moon.

Sofia (Σοφία)

• Meaning wisdom.
• Greek form of Sophie.
• Other forms: Σοφούλα (Sofoula)

Sotiria (Σωτηρία)

• Meaning salvation.
• Female form of Sotiris.

Spiridoula (Σπυριδούλα)

• Meaning basket / spirit.
• Female form of Spiros.

Stavroula (Σταυρούλα)

• Meaning cross.
• Female form of Stavros.

Tatiana (Τατιάνα)

• From the name of a saint.

Theodora (Θεοδώρα)

• Meaning gift from God.
• Other forms: Δώρα (Dora)
• Female form of Theodoros.

Vasiliki (Βασιλική)

• Meaning king.
• Female form of Vasilis.

Xenia / Ksenia (Ξένια)

• Meaning hospitality.
• Other forms: Ξένα (Xena / Ksena)

Zoi / Zoe (Ζωή)

• Meaning life.

Zenovia / Zinovia (Ζηνοβία)

• Meaning life of Zeus.

Greeks have a very impressive culture, and most Greeks are proud of it. But it was not until the 15th century that Greeks started giving importance to a surname. Most ancient Greek surnames are influenced by family names and parents’ names. Most Greek last names are inherited from the paternal side i.e. father’s first name or the family name. Their last names can easily identify someone of Greek ancestry. Most unique greek last names and surnames come with a lot of meaning to them. Most names have an origin and trace back to time.

115 Greek Surnames or Last Names or Family Names With Meanings

Greek names are either of Latin, Hebrew or Greek origin. Some names are original Greek words and some have been modified. The modified ones imply the origin of the name. Popular Greek last names come with suffixes. These suffixes give the history or the origin of the place to where the family belongs. Some Greek surnames have prefixes too. These prefixes reveal about the identity of the person or their origin. Greek surnames are therefore interesting as they speak volumes about the tradition and ancestry of the person. A surname beginning with “Kara” reveals that the person is from the East and in Turkish “kara” means black. “Konto” the prefix means short and “papa” means a person who is a descendant of priests.

Read on to find a compilation of 100 Greek last names or surnames:

1. Adamos

The name means “Son of Adam”. Derived from a first name, the surname goes well with any first name too.

2. Andeno

The name means “manly and brave”.

3. Aetos

The surname means “eagle” in Greek.

4. Agathangelou

One among the long Greek last names, Agathangelos is a patronymic name that has descended from the historical figure with the same moniker. It is given to descendants of this historical figure.

5. Andino

The surname is Greek for “manly”. It probably originated from someone who displayed a lot of masculinity.

6. Ariti

The name sounds more like a first name but in Greek, it means someone who is “approachable”, “generous” and “friendly”.

7. Argyros

The name comes from the first name Argyrios. It also comes from Argyroglou or Argyropoulos and is another patronymic name. The adjective argyros means “silvery”.

8. Bakirtzis

The name traces its origin to the Turkish language and means “coppersmith”.

9. Balaska

The meaning of the name is “drawer of lots” in Greek.

10. Baros

Derived from Portuguese or Spanish from the places called Barros. Barro means “loam” or “clay”. In Greek, it is a nickname from Albanian word ‘mbare’ which means “happy” or “lucky”.

11. Balaskas

Used by Greeks and Slavic Jews, Balaska is the feminine form. Balaskas is the masculine form of the name.

12. Bouras

In Greek it is Booras and the word is of Latin origin. It means “a woollen cloth, coarse and reddish-brown with long hair”.  It belongs to someone who worked in the wool trade.

13. Castellanos

Also spelt as Kastellanos, it is derived from the word “kastello”. The name is an adjective form and means “castle”.

14. Chaconas

The name is an Americanized version of Tsakonas or Tsakonian which means “an inhabitant of the eastern side of Peloponnese”. It is an archaic kind of Greek last name.

15. Christodoulopoulos

Greek’s have a deep connection with Christianity and this name has a strong religious influence. It means the “descendants of the servants of Christ”.

16. Christoforou

Another variant of the name beginning with Christ, it means “one who is bearing Christ”.

17. Chronis

In Greek, the name means a short form of the personal name Polychronis is an omen or well-wishing name meaning ‘(may he be) long-lived.’

18. Chloros

The word in Greek means “green” and symbolizes the essence of the country.

19. Condos

Kontos in Greek means “short”. It could also be combined with a personal name to make a longer surname like Kondogiannis which means “Short John” or Kondopavlos which means “Short Paul”.

20. Cirillo

This Greek surname is actually of Italian origin and means “lord” or “masterful”.

21. Danielopoulos

The name speaks for itself and means “son of Daniel”.

22. Danielos

Daniels means God is my judgement in the Hebrew. 

23. Diakos

The name means “deacon” in Greek. Deacon is a member of the clergy and the name signifies the occupation of a person.

24. Diamandis

A surname for someone who deals with diamonds, the name means “diamonds”.

25. Dougenis

The name is a combination of the word “doulos” that means “slave or servant” and “genes” that means “born”.

26. Doukas

During medieval times, the name was for someone in the imperial rank. It originates from the Greek word “doukas” that means “Duke” or “Lord”.

27. Drakos

In Greek, the name means “Dragon or ogre”. One of the common Greek last names, it sounds authentic.

28. Drivas

Greek variant of Slavic word drvo which means “tree”. It could also mean a Greek variant of Grivas.

29. Economos

The name relates to occupation and is derived from “oikonomos” that means a “steward”. It also means someone who manages a property.

30. Eliades

The ‘ides’ surname was revived by the Greeks for descendants from the Black Sea in the early 19th and 20th century. The name is also a patronymic derivative of the biblical name Elais.

31. Elias

A Greek form of Hebrew, it is derived from Eliyahu. It means “Jehovah of God” or “Lord of God”.

32. Eliopoulos

Derived from “Elias” the first name and the suffix poulos that is derived from the Latin word “nestling”. The suffix is also given to people originating from Peloponnese.

33. Filo

Short and sweet, it is a Greek derivative of the first name Filip. Filip, in turn, is derived from the English name ‘Phillip’ which means “the horses friend”.

34. Florakis

There are two parts to this name- “Flor” which means flower, blossom or virginity. The other part “akis” that means originating from Crete.

35. Franopoulos

The name means “descendant of a Frank”. Franks was a group of people in Europe.

36. Fotos

Derived from the Greek word “phos” which means light, it is also a shortened version of the patronymic name Fotopoulos.

37. Fountas

Historically, this surname is evolved as a way to sort people into groups- by occupation, place of origin.

38. Gabris

It is a Greek derivative of the English name Gabriel.

39. Galanis

A surname that describes a person with “pale blue eyes”. The name originates from “galanos” in Greek that means “pale blue” or “azure”.

40. Galatas

In Greek “gala” means milk and the surname is an occupational one for someone who sells milk.

41. Ganas

The meaning of the name is an occupational name for a coppersmith.

42. Georgiades

Spelling variant of Georgiadis, it could be a patronymic name modified from first name “George” with “-ades” as a suffix.

43. Georgiou

The name is Greek and means “wife or kin” of Georgios.

44. Gataki

Simple and sweet, this name means “kitten” in Greek.

45. Halkias

The name is a classic Greek name derived from khalkeus. It is another occupational name and means “coppersmith”.

46. Hasapi

Spelt with an “H” it is derived from a Greek word “chasapi”. The word means “butcher “ and often used by people of the same profession.

47. Hasapis

The meaning of the name is Leader, Visionary, Powerful.

48. Hatzis

Khatzis means pilgrim to Jerusalem and the name is also used as a prefix to relate to the ancestry of Hatzimarkou who performed the pilgrimage.

49. Hondros

The surname is a nickname for the word “fat”. In Greek “khondros” means fat. Hondros is a prefix and added to any first name.

50. Ioannou

Pronounced as I-o –nou, it means “child of John”.

51. Iordanou

The name is Hebrew variant of the name of the Jordan river. It means “flow down” or “descend”.

52. Iraklidis

The name means “son of Herakles”.

53. Kallis

Kallistos is a Greek name that means “best” and reduced to form a patronymic.

54. Kappas

Kappas is the shortened version of the surname that begins with the prefix ‘Kapa’ that in Turkish means “large”.

55. Katopodis

The name is Greek for “the guy who ran away”.

56. Konstantinopolites

A popular place in Greece, people originating from Constantinople usually bear this surname.

57. Kouris

It is a topographic name in Greek for someone who resided in a forest, derived from either the Aromanian curie or the northern Greek kouri, which means “little woodland.”

58. Lambros

In classical Greek “lampros” means “radiant”; ”luminous” and “brilliant”. The name was coined to commemorate Easter which is known as Lanbri “the bright day”. It could also become a patronymics surname and added as a prefix.

59. Laskaris

Greeks have a rich history of fighting battles and Laskaris as a name is a tribute to it. In Greek, it means “a kind of soldier”.

60. Lekas

The name is of Albanian origin and Leka is an Albanian personal name. In Albanian, it means “Alexander”.

61. Leos

It originates from the personal name Leos which means “lion” and a short form of Leon.

62. Leventis

Of Italian origin, Leventis is derived from Levantine which means “people from the East”. It refers to armed sailor or pirates from the Middle Ages. In Greek, the name has a positive connotation and means “fearless and gallantry”.

63. Louis

The name means “Famed warrior” or “loot bringer”

64. Lykaios

An original Greek name derived from a Greek word that means “wolf”.

65. Makris

It is a nickname for the Greek word “makros” meaning tall. Popular in ancient Greek, it is combined with many personal names.

66. Mallas

The surname is an occupational one and comes from “mallas” which means a “trowel”. The surname is an occupational name for a bricklayer.

67. Mandrapilias

Common in the Spartan region of Greece, the name means “a stonewall” or “made of stone”.

68. Μarkis

Marks means the day on which a person is christened

69. Mavros

Mavros in Greek means “black” and is a descriptive name for someone with a dark complexion. It is used popularly as a prefix with personal names.

70. Marsalis

A form of Marcellus, which means ‘little soldier’ or ‘warlike.’

71. Mikos

A surname which is the equivalent of Nicholas in Greek. It is also considered to be an altered or short form of Demetrios.

72. Nanos

A short form of Giavanni in Italian, the name is also derived from the Greek word “nanos” which means a “dwarf”.

73. Nephus

In Greek, Nephus means “son of God who will eventually become God”. A very religious surname it has a deep meaning to it.

74. Nicolaides

Another variant of the name Nicholas, the name is patronymic and originates from Nikolaos.

75. Nicoli

This surname is a variant of Nikolis, a pet form of Nicholas in Greek.

76. Nikolaou

In Greek, Nikolaou or Nicolaou is a surname. It is a relatively popular Greek Cypriot surname and is of Greek origin. The Greek word Nicolaou means “Victor of the People.”

77. Nomikos

The name means “relating to the law”.

78. Onasis

The name is rare and means “lover”.

79. Othonos

Another Greek surname derived from “Otto”, it means “fortune” or “wealth”.

80. Pagonis

A beautiful surname, it is derived from “pagoni” which means “peacock”. It is also a nickname for “vain or showy man”.

81. Pallas

It is another name for Athena, the Goddess of Arts and Wisdom. It is also a nickname for Palac in Greek which means “thumb”.

82. Panagos

The name is very ancient and has a deep significance to it. It means “all holy” and is symbolic of the Greek way of life.

83. Pantazis

A surname that is full of vibrancy, it means “always alive” or ”full of life”.

84. Papachristodoulopoulos

A really long one, this one is ancient and unique. It means “someone who is a descendant of the Priest and a Servant of the Lord Christ”.

85. Papatonis

It means “a very badass man”.

86. Pavlis

A derivative of the personal name of Paul and its Greek equivalent Pavlos.

87. Petrakis

The name means Descendant of little Petros (rock).

88. Raptis

The surname is an occupational name and means “a tailor”. In Greek, it is spelt as raptis (pronounced as raftis) and derived from the classical Greek word “raptein” which means to sew.

89. Regas

The name is a variant of Riga and refers to a habitation. It refers to the numerous places called Reags which means “an irrigational channel”.

90. Rella

It is a shortened form of Rellakis and is an occupational surname. It is mostly adopted by embroiders and derived from “reli” which means “hem” or “border”.

91. Rellakis

The name means an occupational name for an embroiderer.

92. Remis

The last name originating from the medieval times, this surname originates from “Remigius”.

93. Rousopoulos

A Greek surname, it actually means “someone of Russian descent”.

94. Sagona

A classic, it is a Greek name for someone with a protruding jaw. “Sagona” in Greek means jaw. In Classic Greek it is spelt as “Siagon”.

95. Samaras

The surname is ideal for a lover of horses. It means “saddler” or a “saddle maker”.

96. Selinofoto

In Greek, the name means “moonlight”.  It probably originates from one who lives by the sea and enjoyed the moonlight.

97. Sideris

A powerful surname it means “may the child grow up to be as strong as iron”. Actually a first name, it is a patronymic name that has been adopted to a surname.

98. Sotiropoulos

Ending in poulos, it belongs to someone from Peloponnese and is actually derived from Latin. It means “nestling” or “chick”.

99. Tavoularis

The name belongs to the medieval times and means “secretary”; “literary” and “assistant”. It is an ancient surname and is passed on from generations.

100. Teresi

The name is associated with the Goddess of Hunting-“Artemis” and is a metronymic for the feminine personal name Teresa.

101. Theodoropoulos

Theodoros in Greek means “God-given” or a “Gift of God”. The surname means “son of Theodoros”.

102. Thanos

Thanos is a boy’s name of Greek origin, meaning “immortal”.

103. Tsaoussis

The surname in Greek means “peacock” and could well be adapted from the father’s first name.

104. Vasilakis

A Greek word for “basil”, the name is derived from Vasilikos.

105. Vassos

The last name means “from Vasos” and is a short form of the name Vasilis.

106. Vitalis

The surname means what the word would mean in spoken English. In Greek, it means “alive” or “vital”.

107. Voulgaropoulos

This name probably belongs to someone who adopted Greece but originally came from Bulgaria. It means “descendant of a Bulgarian”.

108. Vouvali

The name in Greek means “buffalo”.

109. Xenakis

Xenos in Greek means “stranger” or a “newcomer”. The surname again is a patronymic.

110. Xiphias

Pronounced as ‘Zi- fias’, the name means “swordfish.”

111. Yiannopoulos

Another surname with a suffix, it means “son of Yianni”.

112. Zafeiriou

The gemstone “sapphire” in Greek is called Zafeiri. As a surname it means “son of Zaferiris” and is another patronymic name.

113. Zervas

It is a last name derived from the nickname that means “left-handed”.

114. Zika

A short form of the first name “Zikmund”, as a surname it is also derived from a Greek phrase. A wishful phrase, it means “to live” or “may he live”.

115. Zografos

It is a combination of two names zographos- zoe which means “life” and graphein that means “write”. The surname is also an occupational name which means painter or miniaturist.

Surnames, family name or last names bridge the gap between the past and present of families. Greece is a country with an elaborate history, culture and rich heritage. This has remained unchanged for generations. Some names stem from Greek mythology whilst others display the influence of emergence and prevalence of Christianity in Greece. Names in Greece also derive their origin from Latin, Hebrew and Italian.

Ancient Greek names are suddenly being used for modern babies. The revival of Greek mythology as a fresh naming influence has led to thousands of babies being born with once-unusual names like Penelope, Atlas, and Calliope.

Along with Penelope, Ancient Greek girl names ranking in the US Top 1000 include Athena, Alexandra, Chloe, Paris, Sophia, and Zoe.

For boys, the Ancient Greek name influence is even stronger. Along with Atlas, Ancient Greek boy names ranking in the Top 1000 include Alexander, Theodore, Orion, Leon, and Sebastian. More unusual Ancient Greek male names include Erastus, Tryphone, and Zeno.

Now we are moving beyond solely mythological names and considering names that were used in Ancient Greek culture. There is some crossover between these categories, although Greek children were usually given variations of the names of gods and goddesses, rather than the actual divine name.

Along with Alexandra and Zoe, Greek girl names in the US Top 700 include Anastasia, Chloe, and Irene. Boy baby names ranking highly include Alexander, Damon, Leonidas, Orion, and Theodore. In Greece, popular names include Athanasios, Eirene, Nicholas, and Sophia. Along with familiar choices like Jason, Gregory, and Melissa, you’ll find many intriguing names from Ancient Greece that are waiting to be discovered.

To explore further, take a look at our list of Greek Goddess Names and check out our full complement of Greek names.

Ancient Greek names are suddenly being used for modern babies. The revival of Greek mythology as a fresh naming influence has led to thousands of babies being born with once-unusual names like Penelope, Atlas, and Calliope.

Along with Penelope, Ancient Greek girl names ranking in the US Top 1000 include Athena, Alexandra, Chloe, Paris, Sophia, and Zoe.

For boys, the Ancient Greek name influence is even stronger. Along with Atlas, Ancient Greek boy names ranking in the Top 1000 include Alexander, Theodore, Orion, Leon, and Sebastian.

Now we are moving beyond names from solely mythology and considering names that were used in Ancient Greek culture. There is some crossover between these categories, although Greek children were usually given variations of the names of gods and goddesses, rather than the actual divine name.

Along with Alexandra and Zoe, Greek girl names in the US Top 700 include Anastasia, Chloe, and Irene. Boy baby names ranking highly include Alexander, Damon, Leonidas, Orion, and Theodore. In Greece, popular names include Athanasios, Eirene, Nicholas, and Sophia. Along with familiar choices like Jason, Gregory, and Melissa, you’ll find many intriguing names from Ancient Greece that are waiting to be discovered.

For more Greek names, take a look at our lists of Greek gods and goddess names and Greek Baby Names for Modern Kids.

ACACIUS Ἀκάκιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of AKAKIOS.

ACHAIKOS Ἀχαϊκός m Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of ACHAICUS.

ACHILLES Ἀχιλλεύς m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek Ἀχιλλεύς (Achilleus), which is of unknown meaning, perhaps derived from Greek ἄχος (achos) meaning «pain» or else from the name of the Achelous River. This was the name of a warrior in Greek legend, one of the central characters in Homer‘s Iliad. The bravest of the Greek heroes in the war against the Trojans, he was eventually killed by an arrow to his heel, the only vulnerable part of his body.

ACHILLEUS Ἀχιλλεύς m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of ACHILLES.

AESCHYLUS Αἰσχύλος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Αἰσχύλος (Aischylos), derived from αἶσχος (aischos) meaning «shame». This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian tragedian.

AESOP Αἴσωπος m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek Αἴσωπος (Aisopos), which is of unknown meaning. This was the name of a Greek fabulist of the 6th century BC, famous for such tales as The Tortoise and the Hare. Though his existence is uncertain, he was later said to have been a slave on the island of Samos.

AGAPE Ἀγάπη f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἀγάπη (agape) meaning «love». This name was borne by at least two early saints.

AGAPETOS Ἀγαπητός m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of AGAPITO.

AGAPETUS Ἀγαπητός m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Agapetos (see AGAPITO).

AGAPIOS Ἀγάπιος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Masculine form of AGAPE. This was the name of a saint from Caesarea who was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century.

AGATHA Ἀγαθή f English, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀγαθή (Agathe), derived from Greek ἀγαθός (agathos) meaning «good». Saint Agatha was a 3rd-century martyr from Sicily who was tortured and killed after spurning the advances of a Roman official. The saint was widely revered in the Middle Ages, and her name has been used throughout Christian Europe (in various spellings). The mystery writer Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was a famous modern bearer of this name.

AGATHE Ἀγαθή f French, German, Norwegian, Danish, Ancient Greek
Form of AGATHA in several languages.

AGATHINOS Ἀγαθίνος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of AGATHINUS.

AGATHINUS Ἀγαθίνος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀγαθίνος (Agathinos), derived from ἀγαθός (agathos) meaning «good».

AGATHON Ἀγάθων m Ancient Greek
Greek masculine form of AGATHA.

AGNES Ἁγνή f English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἁγνή (Hagne), derived from Greek ἁγνός (hagnos) meaning «chaste». Saint Agnes was a virgin martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The name became associated with Latin agnus «lamb», resulting in the saint’s frequent depiction with a lamb by her side. Due to her renown, the name became common in Christian Europe.

AIKATERINE Αἰκατερίνη f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of KATHERINE.

AISOPOS Αἴσωπος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of AESOP.

AKAKIOS Ἀκάκιος m Greek, Ancient Greek
From a Greek word meaning «innocent, not evil», derived from ἀ (a), a negative prefix, combined with κάκη (kake) meaning «evil». This was the name of three early saints, two of whom were martyred.

ALCAEUS Ἀλκαῖος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλκαῖος (Alkaios), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning «strength». This was the name of a 7th-century BC lyric poet from the island of Lesbos.

ALCIBIADES Ἀλκιβιάδης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλκιβιάδης (Alkibiades), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning «strength» and βία (bia) meaning «force» with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a notable Greek statesman and general during the Peloponnesian War. He changed allegiance from Athens to Sparta and back again during the course of the war.

ALEXANDER Ἀλέξανδρος m English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Hungarian, Slovak, Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλέξανδρος (Alexandros), which meant «defending men» from Greek ἀλέξω (alexo) meaning «to defend, help» and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning «man» (genitive ἀνδρός). In Greek mythology this was another name of the hero Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the New Testament. However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, king of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.

ALEXANDRA Ἀλεξάνδρα f English, German, Dutch, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Greek, Portuguese, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Catalan, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Feminine form of ALEXANDER. In Greek mythology this was a Mycenaean epithet of the goddess Hera, and an alternate name of Cassandra. It was borne by several early Christian saints, and also by the wife of Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia. She was from Germany and had the birth name Alix, but was renamed Александра (Aleksandra) upon joining the Russian Church.

ALEXANDROS Ἀλέξανδρος m Greek, Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek, Greek Mythology
Greek form of ALEXANDER.

ALEXIOS Ἀλέξιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ALEXIUS.

ALEXIS Ἄλεξις m & f German, French, English, Greek, Ancient Greek
From the Greek name Ἄλεξις (Alexis) meaning «helper» or «defender», derived from Greek ἀλέξω (alexo) meaning «to defend, to help». This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek comic poet, and also of several saints. It is used somewhat interchangeably with the related name Ἀλέξιος or Alexius, borne by five Byzantine emperors. In the English-speaking world it is more commonly used as a feminine name.

ALEXIUS Ἀλέξιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλέξιος (Alexios), a derivative of Ἄλεξις (see ALEXIS). This was the name of five Byzantine emperors. It was also borne by a 5th-century Syrian saint who is especially venerated in the Eastern Church.

ALKAIOS Ἀλκαῖος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ALCAEUS.

ALKIBIADES Ἀλκιβιάδης m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ALCIBIADES.

AMBROSIA Ἀμβροσία f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Ambrosios (see AMBROSE).

AMBROSIOS Ἀμβρόσιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of AMBROSE.

AMBROSIUS Ἀμβρόσιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of AMBROSIOS.

AMPELIOS Ἀμπέλιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of AMPELIO.

AMPELIUS Ἀμπέλιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ampelios (see AMPELIO).

AMYNTAS Ἀμύντας m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἀμύντωρ (amyntor) meaning «defender». This was the name of several kings of Macedon.

ANACLETUS Ἀνάκλητος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀνάκλητος (Anakletos), derived from ἀνάκλητος (anakletos) meaning «invoked». This was the name of the third pope.

ANAKLETOS Ἀνάκλητος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANACLETUS.

ANASTASIA Ἀναστασία f Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, English, Spanish, Italian, Georgian, Ancient Greek
Feminine form of ANASTASIUS. This was the name of a 4th-century Dalmatian saint who was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian. Due to her, the name has been common in Eastern Orthodox Christianity (in various spellings). As an English name it has been in use since the Middle Ages. A famous bearer was the youngest daughter of the last Russian tsar Nicholas II, who was rumoured to have escaped the execution of her family in 1918.

ANASTASIOS Ἀναστάσιος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANASTASIUS.

ANASTASIUS Ἀναστάσιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀναστάσιος (Anastasios), which meant «resurrection» from Greek ἀνάστασις (anastasis) (composed of the elements ἀνά (ana) meaning «up» and στάσις (stasis) meaning «standing»). This was the name of numerous early saints and martyrs, including a 7th-century monk and writer from Alexandria who is especially venerated in the Eastern Church.

ANATOLIOS Ἀνατόλιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANATOLIUS.

ANATOLIUS Ἀνατόλιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek Ἀνατόλιος (Anatolios), derived from ἀνατολή (anatole) meaning «sunrise». Saint Anatolius was a 3rd-century philosopher from Alexandria.

ANAXAGORAS Ἀναξαγόρας m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἄναξ (anax) meaning «master, lord» and ἀγορά (agora) meaning «assembly, marketplace». This name was borne by a 5th-century BC Greek philosopher.

ANDREAS Ἀνδρέας m German, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Welsh, Ancient Greek, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Ancient Greek and Latin form of ANDREW. It is also the form used in Modern Greek, German and Welsh.

ANDROCLES Ἀνδροκλῆς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Ἀνδροκλῆς (Androkles) meaning «glory of a man», derived from ἀνήρ (aner) meaning «man» (genitive ἀνδρός) and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory». This was the name of a man who pulled a thorn from a lion’s paw in one of Aesop’s fables.

ANDROKLES Ἀνδροκλῆς m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANDROCLES.

ANDRONICUS Ἀνδρόνικος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀνδρόνικος (Andronikos) meaning «victory of a man», from ἀνήρ (aner) meaning «man» (genitive ἀνδρός) and νίκη (nike) meaning «victory». Shakespeare used this name in his play Titus Andronicus (1593).

ANDRONIKOS Ἀνδρόνικος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANDRONICUS.

ANICETUS Ἀνίκητος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀνίκητος (Aniketos) meaning «unconquerable». This was the name of an early pope.

ANIKETOS Ἀνίκητος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANICETUS.

ANTHOUSA Ἀνθοῦσα f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of ANFISA.

ANTIGONOS Ἀντίγονος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANTIGONUS.

ANTIGONUS Ἀντίγονος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίγονος (Antigonos), derived from ἀντί (anti) meaning «against, compared to, like» and γονεύς (goneus) meaning «ancestor». This was the name of one of Alexander the Great’s generals. After Alexander died, he took control of most of Asia Minor.

ANTIOCHOS Ἀντίοχος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANTIOCHUS.

ANTIOCHUS Ἀντίοχος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίοχος (Antiochos), derived from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning «against, compared to, like» and ὀχή (oche) meaning «support». This was the name of several rulers of the Seleucid Empire. It was also borne by a 2nd-century Christian martyr, the patron saint of Sardinia.

ANTIPATER Ἀντίπατρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίπατρος (Antipatros), which meant «like the father» from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning «against, compared to, like» and πατήρ (pater) meaning «father» (genitive πατρός). This was the name of an officer of Alexander the Great who became the regent of Macedon during Alexander’s absence.

ANTIPATROS Ἀντίπατρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ANTIPATER.

APHRODISIA Ἀφροδισία f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of APHRODISIOS.

APHRODISIOS Ἀφροδίσιος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek goddess APHRODITE.

APOLLINARIS Ἀπολλινάρις m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from the name of the god APOLLO. This was the name of several early saints and martyrs, including a bishop of Ravenna and a bishop of Hierapolis.

APOLLODOROS Ἀπολλόδωρος m Ancient Greek
Means «gift of Apollo» from the name of the god APOLLO combined with Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift».

APOLLONIA Ἀπολλωνία f Ancient Greek, Italian
Feminine form of APOLLONIOS. This was the name of a 3rd-century saint and martyr from Alexandria.

APOLLONIOS Ἀπολλώνιος m Ancient Greek
From an ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek god APOLLO. It was borne by a Greek poet of the 3rd century BC. Several saints have also had this name.

ARCADIUS Ἀρκάδιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of ARKADIOS.

ARCHELAOS Ἀρχέλαος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of ARCHELAUS.

ARCHELAUS Ἀρχέλαος m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀρχέλαος (Archelaos), which meant «master of the people» from ἀρχός (archos) meaning «master» and λαός (laos) meaning «people». This was the name of a son of Herod the Great. He ruled over Judea, Samaria and Idumea.

ARCHIMEDES Ἀρχιμήδης m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἀρχός (archos) meaning «master» and μήδομαι (medomai) meaning «to think, to plan». This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician, astronomer and inventor.

ARCHIPPOS Ἄρχιππος m Ancient Greek
Means «master of horses» from the Greek elements ἀρχός (archos) meaning «master» and ἵππος (hippos) meaning «horse».

ARETE Ἀρετή f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Means «virtue» in Greek. In Greek mythology Arete was the personification of virtue and excellence.

ARGYROS Ἄργυρος m Ancient Greek
Means «silver» in Greek.

ARISTARCHOS Ἀρίσταρχος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ARISTARCHUS.

ARISTARCHUS Ἀρίσταρχος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀρίσταρχος (Aristarchos), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «best» and ἀρχός (archos) meaning «master». This name was borne by Aristarchus of Samos, a 3rd-century BC Greek astronomer and mathematician.

ARISTEIDES Ἀριστείδης m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of ARISTIDES.

ARISTIDES Ἀριστείδης m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Portuguese
From the Greek name Ἀριστείδης (Aristeides), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «best» and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This name was borne by the 5th-century BC Athenian statesman Aristides the Just, who was renowned for his integrity. It was also the name of a 2nd-century saint.

ARISTOCLES Ἀριστοκλῆς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀριστοκλῆς (Aristokles) meaning «the best glory», derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «best» and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory». This was the real name of the philosopher Plato.

ARISTODEMOS Ἀριστόδημος m Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «best» and δῆμος (demos) meaning «the people». This was the name of a descendant of Herakles in Greek legend.

ARISTOKLES Ἀριστοκλῆς m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ARISTOCLES.

ARISTOMACHE Ἀριστομάχη f Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «best» and μάχη (mache) meaning «battle».

ARISTON Ἀρίστων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «the best».

ARISTOPHANES Ἀριστοφάνης m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «best» and φανής (phanes) meaning «appearing». This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian playwright.

ARISTOTELES Ἀριστοτέλης m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of ARISTOTLE.

ARISTOTLE Ἀριστοτέλης m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Ἀριστοτέλης (Aristoteles) meaning «the best purpose», derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning «best» and τέλος (telos) meaning «purpose, aim». This was the name of a Greek philosopher of the 4th century BC who made lasting contributions to Western thought, including the fields of logic, metaphysics, ethics and biology.

ARKADIOS Ἀρκάδιος m Ancient Greek
From an ancient Greek name meaning «of Arcadia». Arcadia was a region in Greece, its name deriving from ἄρκτος (arktos) meaning «bear». This was the name of a 3rd-century saint and martyr.

ARSENIOS Ἀρσένιος m Ancient Greek
Means «virile» in Greek. Saint Arsenius was a 5th-century deacon who was tutor to the two sons of the Roman emperor Theodosius. The two sons, Arcadius and Honorius, divided the empire into eastern and western halves upon their father’s death.

ARSENIUS Ἀρσένιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of ARSENIOS.

ARTEMIDOROS Ἀρτεμίδωρος m Ancient Greek
Means «gift of Artemis» from the name of the goddess ARTEMIS combined with Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift». This was the name of a Greek author of the 2nd century who wrote about the interpretation of dreams.

ARTEMIOS Ἀρτέμιος m Ancient Greek
From an ancient Greek name that was derived from the name of the Greek goddess ARTEMIS. This was the name of a 4th-century general in the Roman army who is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church.

ARTEMISIA Ἀρτεμισία f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of ARTEMISIOS. This was the name of the 4th-century BC builder of the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. She built it in memory of her husband, the Carian prince Mausolus.

ARTEMISIOS Ἀρτεμίσιος m Ancient Greek
From an ancient Greek name that was derived from the name of the Greek goddess ARTEMIS.

ARTEMIUS Ἀρτέμιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of ARTEMIOS.

ARTEMON Ἀρτέμων m Ancient Greek
From an ancient Greek name that was derived from the name of the Greek goddess ARTEMIS.

ASCLEPIADES Ἀσκληπιάδης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of ASKLEPIADES.

ASKLEPIADES Ἀσκληπιάδης m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek god ASKLEPIOS combined with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). It was borne by several Greek physicians.

ASPASIA Ἀσπασία f Ancient Greek, Greek
Derived from Greek ἀσπάσιος (aspasios) meaning «welcome, embrace». This was the name of the lover of Pericles (5th century BC).

ATHANAS Ἀθανᾶς m Ancient Greek
Short form of Athanasios (see ATHANASIUS).

ATHANASIA Ἀθανασία f Greek, Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Athanasios (see ATHANASIUS).

ATHANASIOS Ἀθανάσιος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of ATHANASIUS.

ATHANASIUS Ἀθανάσιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀθανάσιος (Athanasios) meaning «immortal», from Greek ἀ (a), a negative prefix, combined with θάνατος (thanatos) meaning «death». Saint Athanasius was a 4th-century bishop of Alexandria who strongly opposed Arianism.

ATHENAIS Ἀθηναΐς f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek goddess ATHENA.

ATTICUS Ἀττικός m Literature, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀττικός (Attikos) meaning «from Attica», referring to the region surrounding Athens in Greece. This name was borne by a few notable Greeks from the Roman period (or Romans of Greek background). The author Harper Lee used the name in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) for an Alabama lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman.

ATTIKOS Ἀττικός m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ATTICUS.

AUXENTIOS Αὐξέντιος m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek αὐξάνω (auxano) meaning «to increase, to grow». This name was borne by a few early saints.

AUXENTIUS Αὐξέντιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of AUXENTIOS.

BASILEIOS Βασίλειος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of BASIL (1).

BASILIUS Βασίλειος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Basileios (see BASIL (1)).

BERENICE Βερενίκη f English, Italian, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Βερενίκη (Berenike), the Macedonian form of the Greek name Φερενίκη (Pherenike), which meant «bringing victory» from φέρω (phero) meaning «to bring» and νίκη (nike) meaning «victory». This name was common among the Ptolemy ruling family of Egypt, a dynasty that was originally from Macedon. It occurs briefly in Acts in the New Testament (in most English Bibles it is spelled Bernice) belonging to a sister of King Herod Agrippa II. As an English name, Berenice came into use after the Protestant Reformation.

BERENIKE Βερενίκη f Ancient Greek
Ancient Macedonian form of BERENICE.

BION Βίων m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from βίος (bios) meaning «life».

CALLIAS Καλλίας m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of KALLIAS.

CASSANDER Κάσσανδρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Κάσσανδρος (Kassandros), the masculine form of CASSANDRA. This was the name of a 3rd-century BC king of Macedon.

CHARES Χάρης m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning «grace, kindness». This was the name of a 4th-century BC Athenian general. It was also borne by the sculptor who crafted the Colossus of Rhodes.

CHARIKLEIA Χαρίκλεια f Greek, Ancient Greek
From Greek χάρις (charis) meaning «grace, kindness» and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory». This is the name of the heroine of the 3rd-century novel Aethiopica by Heliodorus of Emesa, about the love between Chariclea and Theagenes.

CHARIS Χάρις f Ancient Greek, English (Rare)
Feminine form of CHARES. It came into use as an English given name in the 17th century.

CHARITON Χαρίτων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek χάρις (charis) meaning «grace, kindness». This was the name of a 1st-century Greek novelist.

CHARMION Χάρμιον f Ancient Greek
Greek name derived from χάρμα (charma) meaning «delight». This was the name of one of Cleopatra’s servants, as recorded by Plutarch.

CHLOE Χλόη f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means «green shoot» in Greek, referring to new plant growth in the spring. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter. The name is also mentioned by Paul in one of his epistles in the New Testament. As an English name, Chloe has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.

CHRYSANTHE Χρυσάνθη f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of CHRYSANTHOS.

CHRYSANTHOS Χρύσανθος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Means «golden flower» from Greek χρύσεος (chryseos) meaning «golden» combined with ἄνθος (anthos) meaning «flower». This name was borne by a semi-legendary 3rd-century Egyptian saint.

CLEISTHENES Κλεισθένης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Κλεισθένης (Kleisthenes), derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory» and σθένος (sthenos) meaning «strength». This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian statesman and reformer. He helped establish democracy in Athens.

CLEITUS Κλεῖτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of KLEITOS.

CLEON Κλέων m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Κλέων (Kleon), a Greek name derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory».

CLEOPATRA Κλεοπάτρα f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κλεοπάτρα (Kleopatra) meaning «glory of the father», derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory» combined with πατήρ (pater) meaning «father» (genitive πατρός). This was the name of queens of Egypt from the Ptolemaic royal family, including Cleopatra VII, the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp. Shakespeare’s tragedy Antony and Cleopatra (1606) tells the story of her life.

CLÉOPÂTRE f Ancient Greek (French)
French form of CLEOPATRA.

CLISTHENES Κλεισθένης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Variant of CLEISTHENES.

CLITUS Κλεῖτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of KLEITOS.

CORINNA Κορίννα f German, Italian, English, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Κορίννα (Korinna), which was derived from κόρη (kore) meaning «maiden». This was the name of a Greek lyric poet of the 5th century BC. The Roman poet Ovid used it for the main female character in his book Amores. In the modern era it has been in use since the 17th century, when Robert Herrick used it in his poem Corinna’s going a-Maying.

COSMAS Κοσμᾶς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κοσμᾶς (Kosmas), which was derived from κόσμος (kosmos) meaning «order, decency». Saint Cosmas was martyred with his twin brother Damian in the 4th century. They are the patron saints of physicians.

CYRILLUS Κύριλλος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of KYRILLOS.

CYRUS Κῦρος m English, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From Κῦρος (Kyros), the Greek form of the Persian name Kūrush, which may mean «far sighted» or «young». The name is sometimes associated with Greek κύριος (kyrios) meaning «lord». It was borne by several kings of Persia, including Cyrus the Great, who conquered Babylon. He is famous in the Old Testament for freeing the captive Jews and allowing them to return to Israel. As an English name, it first came into use among the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation.

DAMIANOS Δαμιανός m Ancient Greek
Greek form of DAMIAN.

DAMIANUS Δαμιανός m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of DAMIANOS.

DAREIOS Δαρεῖος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of DARIUS.

DEMETRIA Δημητρία f Ancient Greek, English
Feminine form of DEMETRIUS.

DEMETRIOS Δημήτριος m Ancient Greek, Greek
Ancient Greek form of DEMETRIUS, as well as an alternate transcription of the Modern Greek form Dimitrios.

DEMETRIUS Δημήτριος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Δημήτριος (Demetrios), which was derived from the name of the Greek goddess DEMETER (1). Kings of Macedon and the Seleucid kingdom have had this name. This was also the name of several early saints including a Saint Demetrius who was martyred in the 4th century.

DEMOCRITUS Δημόκριτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Δημόκριτος (Demokritos), a Greek name meaning «judge of the people» from the elements δῆμος (demos) meaning «the people» and κριτής (krites) meaning «judge, critic». This was the name of a Greek philosopher, the creator of the atomic theory.

DEMOKRITOS Δημόκριτος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of DEMOCRITUS.

DEMON Δήμων m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from δῆμος (demos) meaning «the people».

DEMOSTHENES Δημοσθένης m Ancient Greek
Means «vigour of the people» from Greek δῆμος (demos) meaning «the people» and σθένος (sthenos) meaning «vigour, strength». This was the name of both an Athenian general of the 5th century and an Athenian orator of the 4th century.

DEMOSTRATE Δημοστράτη f Ancient Greek
Means «army of the people», derived from the Greek elements δῆμος (demos) meaning «the people» and στρατός (stratos) meaning «army».

DIOCLES Διοκλῆς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of DIOKLES.

DIODOROS Διόδωρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of DIODORUS.

DIODORUS Διόδωρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Διόδωρος (Diodoros) meaning «gift of Zeus», derived from the elements Διός (Dios) meaning «of ZEUS» and δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift». This was the name of a 1st-century BC Greek historian.

DIODOTOS Διόδοτος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of DIODOTUS.

DIODOTUS Διόδοτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Διόδοτος (Diodotos), a Greek name meaning «given by Zeus» from Διός (Dios) meaning «of ZEUS» and δοτός (dotos) meaning «given».

DIOGENES Διογένης m Ancient Greek
Means «born of Zeus» from Greek Διός (Dios) meaning «of ZEUS» and γενής (genes) meaning «born». This was the name of a Greek Cynic philosopher.

DIOKLES Διοκλῆς m Ancient Greek
Means «glory of Zeus» from Greek Διός (Dios) meaning «of ZEUS» and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory».

DION Δίων m Ancient Greek, English
Short form of DIONYSIOS and other Greek names beginning with the Greek element Διός (Dios) meaning «of ZEUS«. This was the name of a 4th-century BC tyrant of Syracuse. It has been used as an American given name since the middle of the 20th century.

DIONYSIOS Διονύσιος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek personal name derived from the name of the Greek god DIONYSOS. Famous bearers include two early tyrants of Syracuse and a 1st-century BC Greek rhetorician.

DIONYSIUS Διονύσιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical
Latin form of DIONYSIOS. Dionysius the Areopagite, who is mentioned in the New Testament, was a judge converted to Christianity by Saint Paul. This was also the name of many other early saints, including a 3rd-century pope.

DIONYSODOROS Διονυσόδωρος m Ancient Greek
Means «gift of Dionysos» from the name of the god DIONYSOS combined with Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift».

DORIS Δωρίς f English, German, Croatian, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
From the Greek name Δωρίς (Doris), which meant «Dorian woman». The Dorians were a Greek tribe who occupied the Peloponnese starting in the 12th century BC. In Greek mythology Doris was a sea nymph, one of the many children of Oceanus and Tethys. It began to be used as an English name in the 19th century. A famous bearer is the American actress Doris Day (1924-2019).

DRACO Δράκων m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Δράκων (Drakon), which meant «dragon, serpent». This was the name of a 7th-century BC Athenian legislator. This is also the name of a constellation in the northern sky.

DRAKON Δράκων m Ancient Greek
Greek form of DRACO.

EIRENAIOS Εἰρηναῖος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of IRENAEUS.

EIRENE Εἰρήνη f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of IRENE.

ELPIS Ἐλπίς f Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means «hope» in Greek. In Greek mythology Elpis was the personification of hope. She was the last spirit to remain in the jar after Pandora unleashed the evils that were in it.

EPAPHRAS Ἐπαφράς m Biblical, Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Derived from Greek ἔπαφρος (epaphros) meaning «foamy». In the New Testament this is the name of one of Paul‘s co-workers.

EPAPHRODITOS Ἐπαφρόδιτος m Ancient Greek
Means «lovely, charming», derived from Greek ἐπι (epi) meaning «on» combined with the name of the Greek love goddess APHRODITE.

EPIKTETOS Ἐπίκτητος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name meaning «newly acquired». This was the name of a 1st-century Greek stoic philosopher.

EPIPHANES Ἐπιφανής m Ancient Greek
Means «appearing, manifesting» in Greek. This was an epithet of two 2nd-century BC Hellenistic rulers: the Seleucid king Antiochus IV and the Ptolemaic king Ptolemy V.

EPIPHANIOS Ἐπιφάνιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of EPIFANIO.

EPIPHANIUS Ἐπιφάνιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Epiphanios (see EPIFANIO).

ERASMOS Ἔρασμος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ERASMUS.

ERASTOS Ἔραστος m Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of ERASTUS.

EUANTHE Εὐάνθη f Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek εὐανθής (euanthes) meaning «blooming, flowery», a derivative of εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning «flower». According to some sources, this was the name of the mother of the three Graces or Χάριτες (Charites) in Greek mythology.

EUARISTOS Εὐάριστος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of EVARISTUS.

EUCLID Εὐκλείδης m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Εὐκλείδης (Eukleides), derived from Greek εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory» with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician from Alexandria who made numerous contributions to geometry.

EUCLIDES Εὐκλείδης m Portuguese, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of EUCLID.

EUDOCIA Εὐδοκία f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Εὐδοκία (Eudokia), derived from the word εὐδοκέω (eudokeo) meaning «to be well pleased, to be satisfied», itself derived from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and δοκέω (dokeo) meaning «to think, to imagine, to suppose». This name was common among Byzantine royalty. Saint Eudocia was the wife of the 5th-century emperor Theodosius II.

EUDOKIA Εὐδοκία f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of EUDOCIA.

EUDOXIA Εὐδοξία f Ancient Greek
From Greek εὐδοξία (eudoxia) meaning «good repute, good judgement», itself from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and δόξα (doxa) meaning «notion, reputation, honour».

EUDOXOS Εὔδοξος m Ancient Greek
From Greek εὔδοξος (eudoxos) meaning «of good repute, honoured», itself from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and δόξα (doxa) meaning «notion, reputation, honour». This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek mathematician and astronomer.

EUGENEIA Εὐγένεια f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek feminine form of EUGENE.

EUGENIA Εὐγένεια f Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Polish, English, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Feminine form of Eugenius (see EUGENE). It was borne by a semi-legendary 3rd-century saint who escaped persecution by disguising herself as a man. The name was occasionally found in England during the Middle Ages, but it was not regularly used until the 19th century.

EUGENIOS Εὐγένιος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of EUGENE.

EUGENIUS Εὐγένιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Eugenios (see EUGENE).

EUKLEIDES Εὐκλείδης m Ancient Greek
Greek form of EUCLID.

EULALIA Εὐλαλία f Spanish, Italian, English, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek εὔλαλος (eulalos) meaning «sweetly-speaking», itself from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and λαλέω (laleo) meaning «to talk». This was the name of an early 4th-century saint and martyr from Merida in Spain. She is a patron saint of Barcelona.

EUMELIA Εὐμελία f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek εὐμέλεια (eumeleia) meaning «melody».

EUNIKE Εὐνίκη f Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of EUNICE.

EUPHEMIA Εὐφημία f Ancient Greek, English (Archaic)
Means «to use words of good omen» from Greek εὐφημέω (euphemeo), a derivative of εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and φημί (phemi) meaning «to speak, to declare». Saint Euphemia was an early martyr from Chalcedon.

EUPHEMIOS Εὐφήμιος m Ancient Greek
Masculine form of EUPHEMIA.

EUPHRANOR Εὐφράνωρ m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek εὐφραίνω (euphraino) meaning «to delight». This was the name of a 4th-century BC Athenian artist.

EUPHRASIA Εὐπρασία f Ancient Greek
Means «good cheer» in Greek.

EUPRAXIA Εὐπραξία f Ancient Greek
From a Greek word meaning «good conduct», derived from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and πρᾶξις (praxis) meaning «action, exercise».

EURIPIDES Εὐριπίδης m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek Εὔριπος (Euripos), referring to the strait between Euboea and Boeotia, combined with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek tragic poet.

EUSEBIOS Εὐσέβιος m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek εὐσεβής (eusebes) meaning «pious», itself derived from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and σέβω (sebo) meaning «to worship, to honour». This was the name of several saints.

EUSEBIUS Εὐσέβιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of EUSEBIOS. This was the name of a 4th-century historian of the Christian church.

EUSTACHYS Εὔσταχυς m Ancient Greek
Means «fruitful» in Greek. It is ultimately from the elements εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and στάχυς (stachys) meaning «ear of corn».

EUSTATHIOS Εὐστάθιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of EUSTATHIUS.

EUSTATHIUS Εὐστάθιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Εὐστάθιος (Eustathios), derived from the Greek word εὐσταθής (eustathes) meaning «well-built, stable». It is ultimately from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and ἵστημι (histemi) meaning «to stand, to set up». This was the name of a few early saints, including the 2nd-century martyr also known as Eustachius (see EUSTACE).

EUSTORGIOS Εὐστόργιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of EUSTORGIO.

EUSTORGIUS Εὐστόργιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Eustorgios (see EUSTORGIO).

EUTHALIA Εὐθαλία f Ancient Greek
Means «flower, bloom» from the Greek word εὐθάλεια (euthaleia), itself derived from εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and θάλλω (thallo) meaning «to blossom».

EUTHYMIA Εὐθυμία f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of EUTHYMIUS.

EUTHYMIOS Εὐθύμιος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of EUTHYMIUS.

EUTHYMIUS Εὐθύμιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Εὐθύμιος (Euthymios) meaning «in good spirits, generous», derived from the word εὔθυμος (euthymos), which was composed of the elements εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and θυμός (thymos) meaning «soul, spirit». This was the name of several early saints.

EUTROPIA Εὐτροπία f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Eutropios (see EUTROPIUS).

EUTROPIOS Εὐτρόπιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of EUTROPIUS.

EUTROPIUS Εὐτρόπιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Εὐτρόπιος (Eutropios), which was derived from the word εὔτροπος (eutropos) meaning «versatile», formed of the elements εὖ (eu) meaning «good» and τρόπος (tropos) meaning «direction, manner, fashion».

EUTYCHIA Εὐτυχία f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Eutychios (see EUTYCHIUS).

EUTYCHIOS Εὐτύχιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of EUTYCHIUS.

EUTYCHIUS Εὐτύχιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Εὐτύχιος (Eutychios), a variant of Eutychos (see EUTYCHUS). This was the name of several early saints and martyrs.

EUTYCHOS Εὔτυχος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of EUTYCHUS.

EVARISTUS Εὐάριστος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Εὐάριστος (Euaristos) meaning «well pleasing» from the Greek word εὐάρεστος (euarestos), derived from εὖ (eu) meaning «good, well» and ἀρεστός (arestos) meaning «pleasing». This was the name of the fifth pope, supposedly martyred under Emperor Hadrian.

GAIANA Γαϊανή f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Γαϊανή (Gaiane), a derivative of GAIA. This was the name of a (perhaps fictional) martyr who was killed in Armenia during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century.

GAIANE Γαϊανή f Ancient Greek
Greek form of GAIANA.

GAIOS Γάϊος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of GAIUS.

GALENE Γαλήνη f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek feminine form of GALEN.

GALENOS Γαληνός m Ancient Greek
Greek form of GALEN.

GENNADIOS Γεννάδιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of GENNADIUS.

GENNADIUS Γεννάδιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Γεννάδιος (Gennadios), which was derived from Greek γεννάδας (gennadas) meaning «noble, generous». Saint Gennadius was an early martyr from North Africa.

GEORGIOS Γεώργιος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of GEORGE.

GEORGIUS Γεώργιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of GEORGIOS.

GLAPHYRA Γλαφύρα f Ancient Greek
From Greek γλαφυρός (glaphyros) meaning «polished, subtle».

HAGNE Ἁγνή f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of AGNES.

HELENA Ἑλένη f German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Portuguese, Catalan, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Finnish, Estonian, Slovene, Croatian, Sorbian, English, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinate form of HELEN.

HELENE Ἑλένη f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Ancient Greek form of HELEN, as well as the modern Scandinavian and German form.

HELIODOROS Ἡλιόδωρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of HELIODORO.

HERACLEITUS Ἡράκλειτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Variant of HERACLITUS.

HERACLIDES Ἡρακλείδης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of HERAKLEIDES.

HERACLITUS Ἡράκλειτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἡράκλειτος (Herakleitos) meaning «glory of Hera», derived from the name of the goddess HERA combined with κλειτός (kleitos) meaning «glory». This was the name of a 6th-century BC Greek philosopher from Ephesus.

HERACLIUS Ἡράκλειος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek personal name Ἡράκλειος (Herakleios), which was derived from the name of the Greek hero HERAKLES. This was the name of a 7th-century Byzantine emperor, known for his victories over the Sassanid Persian Empire. This name was also borne by two early saints.

HERAIS Ἡραΐς f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek personal name that was probably derived from the name of the Greek goddess HERA.

HERAKLEIDES Ἡρακλείδης m Ancient Greek
Means «son of Herakles» in Greek, derived from the name of the mythic hero HERAKLES combined with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides).

HERAKLEIOS Ἡράκλειος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of HERACLIUS.

HERAKLEITOS Ἡράκλειτος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of HERACLITUS.

HERMAGORAS Ἑρμαγόρας m Ancient Greek
From the name of the messenger god HERMES combined with Greek ἀγορά (agora) meaning «assembly, marketplace». Saint Hermagoras (3rd century) was the first bishop of Aquileia in Italy.

HERMES Ἑρμῆς m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Probably from Greek ἕρμα (herma) meaning «cairn, pile of stones, boundary marker». Hermes was a Greek god associated with speed and good luck, who served as a messenger to Zeus and the other gods. He was also the patron of travellers, writers, athletes, merchants, thieves and orators…. [more]

HERMOGENES Ἑρμογένης m Ancient Greek
Means «born of Hermes» from the name of the messenger god HERMES combined with Greek γενής (genes) meaning «born».

HERMOKRATES Ἑρμοκράτης m Ancient Greek
Means «power of Hermes» from the name of the messenger god HERMES combined with Greek κράτος (kratos) meaning «power».

HERMOLAOS Ἑρμόλαος m Ancient Greek
Means «the people of Hermes» from the name of the messenger god HERMES combined with Greek λαός (laos) meaning «people».

HERO (2) Ἥρων m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of HERON.

HERODOTOS Ἡρόδοτος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of HERODOTUS.

HERODOTUS Ἡρόδοτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἡρόδοτος (Herodotos), derived from the name of the goddess HERA combined with δοτός (dotos) meaning «given, granted». Herodotus was a Greek historian of the 5th century BC who wrote the Histories, a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars. He is known as the Father of History.

HEROIDES Ἡρώιδης m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of HEROD.

HEROIDIAS Ἡρωιδιάς f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of HERODIAS.

HEROIDION Ἡρωιδίων m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of HERODION.

HERON Ἥρων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἥρως (heros) meaning «hero». This was the name of a 1st-century Greek inventor (also known as Hero) from Alexandria.

HESIOD Ἡσίοδος m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Ἡσίοδος (Hesiodos), which probably meant «to throw song» from ἵημι (hiemi) meaning «to throw, to speak» and ᾠδή (ode) meaning «song, ode». This was the name of an 8th-century BC Greek poet.

HESIODOS Ἡσίοδος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of HESIOD.

HESPEROS Ἕσπερος m Ancient Greek
Means «evening» in Greek. This was the name of the personification of the Evening Star (the planet Venus) in Greek mythology.

HIERONYMOS Ἱερώνυμος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of JEROME.

HIERONYMUS Ἱερώνυμος m Ancient Greek (Latinized), German (Archaic), Dutch (Archaic)
Latin form of JEROME, formerly common in Germany and the Netherlands. Hieronymus Bosch was a 15th-century Dutch painter known for his depictions of the torments of hell.

HILARION Ἱλαρίων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἱλαρός (hilaros) meaning «cheerful». This was the name of a 4th-century saint, a disciple of Saint Anthony.

HIPPOCRATES Ἱπποκράτης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἱπποκράτης (Hippokrates) meaning «horse power», derived from the elements ἵππος (hippos) meaning «horse» and κράτος (kratos) meaning «power». This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek doctor who is known as the Father of Medicine.

HIPPOKRATES Ἱπποκράτης m Ancient Greek
Greek form of HIPPOCRATES.

HIPPOLYTOS Ἱππόλυτος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Means «freer of horses» from Greek ἵππος (hippos) meaning «horse» and λύω (luo) meaning «to loosen». In Greek legend he was the son of Theseus who was tragically loved by his stepmother Phaedra. This was also the name of a 3rd-century theologian, saint and martyr.

HOMER Ὅμηρος m English, Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Ὅμηρος (Homeros), derived from ὅμηρος (homeros) meaning «hostage, pledge». Homer was the Greek epic poet who wrote the Iliad, about the Trojan War, and the Odyssey, about Odysseus‘s journey home after the war. There is some debate about when he lived, or if he was even a real person, though most scholars place him in the 8th century BC. In the modern era, Homer has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world (chiefly in America) since the 18th century. This name is borne by the cartoon father on the television series The Simpsons.

HOMEROS Ὅμηρος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of HOMER.

HYACINTHUS Ὑάκινθος m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ὑάκινθος (Hyakinthos), which was derived from the name of the hyacinth flower. In Greek legend Hyakinthos was accidentally killed by the god Apollo, who mournfully caused this flower to arise from his blood. The name was also borne by several early saints, notably a 3rd-century martyr who was killed with his brother Protus.

HYAKINTHOS Ὑάκινθος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of HYACINTHUS.

HYGINOS Ὑγῖνος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of HYGINUS.

HYGINUS Ὑγῖνος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ὑγῖνος (Hyginos), a Greek name derived from ὑγιεινός (hygieinos) meaning «healthy». This was the name of the ninth pope.

HYPATIA Ὑπατία f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ὕπατος (hypatos) meaning «highest, supreme». Hypatia of Alexandria was a 5th-century philosopher and mathematician, daughter of the mathematician Theon.

HYPATOS Ὕπατος m Ancient Greek
Masculine form of HYPATIA.

IASON Ἰάσων m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Greek, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Greek form of JASON.

IRENAEUS Εἰρηναῖος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Εἰρηναῖος (Eirenaios), which meant «peaceful». Saint Irenaeus was an early bishop of Lyons for whom the Greek island of Santorini is named.

IRENE Εἰρήνη f English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, German, Dutch, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirene), derived from a word meaning «peace». This was the name of the Greek goddess who personified peace, one of the Ὥραι (Horai). It was also borne by several early Christian saints. The name was common in the Byzantine Empire, notably being borne by an 8th-century empress, who was the first woman to lead the empire. She originally served as regent for her son, but later had him killed and ruled alone…. [more]

IRENEUS Εἰρηναῖος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Variant of IRENAEUS.

ISIDORA Ἰσιδώρα f Spanish, Portuguese, Serbian, Russian (Rare), Italian (Rare), English (Rare), Ancient Greek
Feminine form of ISIDORE. This was the name of a 4th-century Egyptian saint and hermitess.

ISIDOROS Ἰσίδωρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ISIDORE.

ISOCRATES Ἰσοκράτης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἰσοκράτης (Isokrates) meaning «equal power», derived from ἴσος (isos) meaning «equal» and κράτος (kratos) meaning «power». This was the name of a 4th-century BC Athenian orator.

ISOKRATES Ἰσοκράτης m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ISOCRATES.

KALLIAS Καλλίας m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek κάλλος (kallos) meaning «beauty». This was the name of an Athenian who fought at Marathon who later became an ambassador to the Persians.

KALLIKRATES Καλλικράτης m Ancient Greek
Means «beautiful power», derived from the Greek elements κάλλος (kallos) meaning «beauty» and κράτος (kratos) meaning «power».

KALLISTO Καλλιστώ f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek κάλλιστος (kallistos) meaning «most beautiful», a derivative of καλός (kalos) meaning «beautiful». In Greek mythology Kallisto was a nymph who was loved by Zeus. She was changed into a she-bear by Hera, and subsequently became the Great Bear constellation. This was also an ancient Greek personal name.

KALLISTOS Κάλλιστος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of CALLISTUS.

KALLISTRATE Καλλιστράτη f Ancient Greek
Means «beautiful army» from the Greek elements κάλλος (kallos) meaning «beauty» and στρατός (stratos) meaning «army».

KARPOS Καρπός m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of CARPUS.

KASSANDRA Κασσάνδρα f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, English (Modern)
Greek form of CASSANDRA, as well as a modern English variant.

KASSANDROS Κάσσανδρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of CASSANDER.

KLEISTHENES Κλεισθένης m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of CLEISTHENES.

KLEITOS Κλεῖτος m Ancient Greek
Means «splendid, famous» in Greek. This was the name of one of the generals of Alexander the Great. He was killed by Alexander in a dispute.

KLEON Κλέων m Ancient Greek
Greek form of CLEON.

KLEOPATRA Κλεοπάτρα f Ancient Greek
Greek form of CLEOPATRA.

KLEOPATROS Κλεόπατρος m Ancient Greek
Greek masculine form of CLEOPATRA.

KORINNA Κορίννα f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of CORINNA.

KOSMAS Κοσμᾶς m Ancient Greek
Greek form of COSMAS.

KYRIAKOS Κυριακός m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of CYRIACUS.

KYRILLOS Κύριλλος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of CYRIL.

KYROS Κῦρος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of CYRUS.

LEON Λέων m English, German, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Dutch, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek λέων (leon) meaning «lion». During the Christian era this Greek name was merged with the Latin cognate Leo, with the result that the two forms are used somewhat interchangeably across European languages. In England during the Middle Ages this was a common name among Jews. A famous bearer was Leon Trotsky (1879-1940), a Russian Communist revolutionary.

LEONIDAS Λεωνίδας m Greek, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek λέων (leon) meaning «lion» combined with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). Leonidas was a Spartan king of the 5th century BC who sacrificed his life and his army defending the pass of Thermopylae from the Persians. This was also the name of a 3rd-century saint and martyr, the father of Origen, from Alexandria.

LEONTIOS Λεόντιος m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek λέων (leon) meaning «lion». This was the name of various early saints and martyrs. It was also borne by a 7th-century Byzantine emperor.

LEONTIUS Λεόντιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of LEONTIOS.

LIGEIA Λιγεία f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek λιγύς (ligys) meaning «clear-voiced, shrill, whistling». This was the name of one of the Sirens in Greek legend. It was also used by Edgar Allan Poe in his story Ligeia (1838).

LINOS Λίνος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of LINUS.

LINUS Λίνος m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized), German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Greek name Λίνος (Linos) meaning «flax». In Greek legend he was the son of the god Apollo, who accidentally killed him in a contest. Another son of Apollo by this name was the music teacher of Herakles. The name was also borne by the second pope, serving after Saint Peter in the 1st century. In modern times this was the name of a character in Charles Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts.

LOUKIANOS Λουκιανός m Ancient Greek
Greek form of LUCIANUS.

LYCURGUS Λυκοῦργος m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Λυκοῦργος (Lykourgos), derived from λύκος (lykos) meaning «wolf» and ἔργον (ergon) meaning «work, deed». In Greek legend this was the name of a king who was driven mad by the gods because of his impiety. This was also the name of a Spartan legislator of the 9th century BC.

LYCUS Λύκος m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Λύκος (Lykos) meaning «wolf». This name was borne by several characters in Greek mythology including a legendary ruler of Thebes.

LYDOS Λυδός m Ancient Greek
Meaning unknown. This was the name of the semi-legendary king who gave his name to the region of Lydia in Asia Minor.

LYKOS Λύκος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of LYCUS.

LYKOURGOS Λυκοῦργος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of LYCURGUS.

LYSANDER Λύσανδρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Λύσανδρος (Lysandros), derived from Greek λύσις (lysis) meaning «a release» and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning «man» (genitive ἀνδρός). This was the name of a notable 5th-century BC Spartan general and naval commander.

LYSANDRA Λυσάνδρα f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Lysandros (see LYSANDER).

LYSANDROS Λύσανδρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of LYSANDER.

LYSIMACHOS Λυσίμαχος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of LYSIMACHUS.

 LYSIMACHUS Λυσίμαχος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Λυσίμαχος (Lysimachos), derived from λύσις (lysis) meaning «a release, loosening» and μάχη (mache) meaning «battle». This was the name of one of the generals under Alexander the Great. After Alexander’s death Lysimachus took control of Thrace.

LYSISTRATA Λυσιστράτη f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of LYSISTRATE.

LYSISTRATE Λυσιστράτη f Ancient Greek
Derived from λύσις (lysis) meaning «a release, loosening» and στρατός (stratos) meaning «army». This is the name of a comedy by the Greek playwright Aristophanes.

MARKOS Μᾶρκος m Greek, Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Marcus (see MARK).

MELANTHIOS Μελάνθιος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μέλας (melas) meaning «black, dark» and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning «flower». In Homer‘s epic the Odyssey this is the name of an insolent goatherd killed by Odysseus.

MELISSA Μέλισσα f English, Dutch, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means «bee» in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a daughter of Procles, as well as an epithet of various Greek nymphs and priestesses. According to the early Christian writer Lactantius this was the name of the sister of the nymph Amalthea, with whom she cared for the young Zeus. Later it appears in Ludovico Ariosto’s 1516 poem Orlando Furioso belonging to the fairy who helps Ruggiero escape from the witch Alcina. As an English given name, Melissa has been used since the 18th century.

MELITON Μελίτων m Ancient Greek, Georgian
Derived from Greek μέλι (meli) meaning «honey» (genitive μέλιτος). This was the name of a 2nd-century bishop of Sardis who is regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church.

MELITTA Μέλιττα f Ancient Greek, German
Ancient Attic Greek variant of MELISSA.

MENODORA Μηνοδώρα f Ancient Greek
Means «gift of the moon», derived from Greek μήνη (mene) meaning «moon» and δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift». This was the name of a 4th-century saint who was martyred with her sisters Metrodora and Nymphodora.

METRODORA Μητροδώρα f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μήτηρ (meter) meaning «mother» (genitive μητρός) and δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift». This was the name of a 4th-century saint and martyr who was killed with her sisters Menodora and Nymphodora.

METROPHANES Μητροφάνης m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μήτηρ (meter) meaning «mother» (genitive μητρός) and φανής (phanes) meaning «appearing». Saint Metrophanes was the first bishop of Byzantium (4th century).

MILTIADES Μιλτιάδης m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μίλτος (miltos) meaning «red earth» and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of the general who led the Greek forces to victory against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon.

MNASON Μνάσων m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Possibly means «reminding» in Greek. In Acts in the New Testament Paul stays in Jerusalem with a man named Mnason, a Jew who was originally from Cyprus.

MYRON Μύρων m English, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μύρον (myron) meaning «sweet oil, perfume». Myron was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek sculptor. Saints bearing this name include a 3rd-century bishop of Crete and a 4th-century martyr from Cyzicus who was killed by a mob. These saints are more widely revered in the Eastern Church, and the name has generally been more common among Eastern Christians. As an English name, it has been used since the 19th century.

MYRRHINE Μυρρίνη f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μύρρα (myrrha) meaning «myrrh».

MYRTO Μυρτώ f Greek, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
From Greek μύρτος (myrtos) meaning «myrtle». This was the name of a few characters from Greek mythology, including one of the Maenads.

NEON Νέων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νέος (neos) meaning «new».

NEOPHYTOS Νεόφυτος m Ancient Greek
Greek name meaning «newly planted», from a word that was derived from νέος (neos) meaning «new» and φυτόν (phyton) meaning «plant».

NEREUS Νηρεύς m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Derived from Greek νηρός (neros) meaning «water». In Greek myth this was the name of a god of the sea, the father of the Nereids. It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament, belonging to a Christian in Rome. This was also the name of a Roman saint of the 1st century, a member of the army, who was martyred with his companion Achilleus because they refused to execute Christians.

NICANDER Νίκανδρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of NIKANDROS.

NICANOR Νικάνωρ m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Spanish
From the Greek name Νικάνωρ (Nikanor), which was derived from νίκη (nike) meaning «victory» and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning «man». This name was borne by several notable officers from ancient Macedon.

NICOLAUS Νικόλαος m German, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Nikolaos (see NICHOLAS). This form is also used in Germany as a variant of NIKOLAUS.

NICOMEDES Νικομήδης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of NIKOMEDES.

NICOSTRATUS Νικόστρατος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of NIKOSTRATOS.

NIKANDROS Νίκανδρος m Ancient Greek
Means «victory of a man» from the Greek elements νίκη (nike) meaning «victory» and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning «man» (genitive ἀνδρός). This was the name of a 2nd-century BC Greek poet and grammarian from Colophon.

NIKANOR Νικάνωρ m Ancient Greek
Greek form of NICANOR.

NIKE Νίκη f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Means «victory» in Greek. Nike was the Greek goddess of victory.

NIKEPHOROS Νικηφόρος m & f Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means «carrying victory» from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning «victory» and φέρω (phero) meaning «to carry, to bear». This name was borne by several Byzantine emperors, including the 10th-century Nikephoros II Phokas. Besides being a masculine personal name, it was also a title borne by the goddess Athena.

NIKETAS Νικήτας m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νικητής (niketes) meaning «winner, victor». Saint Niketas was a 4th-century bishop of Remesiana in Serbia. He is a patron saint of Romania.

NIKIAS Νικίας m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning «victory». This was the name of an Athenian general who fought in the Peloponnesian war.

NIKODEMOS Νικόδημος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Ancient Greek form of NICODEMUS.

NIKOLAOS Νικόλαος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of NICHOLAS.

NIKOMACHOS Νικόμαχος m Ancient Greek
Means «battle of victory» from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning «victory» and μάχη (mache) meaning «battle».

NIKOMEDES Νικομήδης m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning «victory» and μήδομαι (medomai) meaning «to think, to plan». This was the name of a 1st-century saint, a priest beaten to death for refusing to worship the Roman gods.

NIKON Νίκων m Ancient Greek, Russian
Derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning «victory».

NIKOSTRATOS Νικόστρατος m Ancient Greek
Means «army of victory» from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning «victory» and στρατός (stratos) meaning «army». This was the name of a Roman saint martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd century.

NYMPHODORA Νυμφοδώρα f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νύμφη (nymphe) meaning «bride, nymph» and δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift». This was the name of a 4th-century saint who was martyred with her sisters Menodora and Metrodora.

OLYMPIAS Ὀλυμπιάς f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of OLYMPOS. This was the name of the mother of Alexander the Great. It was also borne by a 4th-century saint.

OLYMPIODOROS Ὀλυμπιόδωρος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name meaning «gift of Olympus», derived from OLYMPOS, the name of the mountain home of the Greek gods, combined with δῶρον (doron) meaning «gift».

OLYMPOS Ὄλυμπος m Ancient Greek
From a Greek personal name that was derived from the place name OLYMPOS, the name of the mountain home of the Greek gods.

ONESIMOS Ὀνήσιμος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of ONESIMUS.

ONESIPHOROS Ὀνησίφορος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Ancient Greek form of ONESIPHORUS.

ORIGENES Ὠριγένης m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ORIGEN.

PAMPHILOS Πάμφιλος m Ancient Greek
Means «friend of all» from Greek πᾶν (pan) meaning «all» and φίλος (philos) meaning «friend».

PANCRATIUS Παγκράτιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Παγκράτιος (Pankratios), derived from the Greek word παγκρατής (pankrates) meaning «all-powerful», from the roots πᾶν (pan) meaning «all» and κράτος (kratos) meaning «power». Early Byzantine Christians used this as a title of Christ. It was borne by two saints, a 1st-century Sicilian martyr and a semi-legendary 4th-century Roman martyr.

PANKRATIOS Παγκράτιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of PANCRATIUS.

PANTALEON Πανταλέων m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements πᾶν (pan) meaning «all» (genitive παντός) and λέων (leon) meaning «lion». This was the name of a 2nd-century BC king of Bactria. It was also borne by Saint Pantaleon (also called Panteleimon), a doctor from Asia Minor who was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century. He is a patron saint of doctors and midwives.

PANTHER Πάνθηρ m Ancient Greek
Means «panther» in Greek.

PANTHERAS Πανθήρας m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek πάνθηρ (panther) meaning «panther», a word ultimately of Sanskrit origin, though folk etymology connects it to Greek πᾶν (pan) meaning «all» and θηράω (therao) meaning «to hunt». According to some legends a Roman soldier named Panthera was the father of Jesus.

PARAMONOS Παράμονος m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek παραμονή (paramone) meaning «endurance, constancy».

PELAGIA Πελαγία f Ancient Greek, Greek, Polish
Feminine form of PELAGIUS. This was the name of a few early saints, including a young 4th-century martyr who threw herself from a rooftop in Antioch rather than lose her virginity.

PELAGIOS Πελάγιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of PELAGIUS.

PELAGIUS Πελάγιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Πελάγιος (Pelagios), which was derived from πέλαγος (pelagos) meaning «the sea». This was the name of several saints and two popes.

PERICLES Περικλῆς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Περικλῆς (Perikles), which was derived from the Greek elements περί (peri) meaning «around, exceedingly» and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory». This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian statesman and general.

PERIKLES Περικλῆς m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of PERICLES.

PHAEDRUS Φαῖδρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φαῖδρος (Phaidros), which meant «bright». This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek philosopher, and also of a 1st-century Roman fabulist who was originally a slave from Thrace.

PHAIDROS Φαῖδρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of PHAEDRUS.

PHERENIKE Φερενίκη f Ancient Greek
Ancient Attic Greek form of BERENICE.

PHILANDROS Φίλανδρος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of PHILANDER.

PHILE Φίλη f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Philon (see PHILO).

PHILIPPOS Φίλιππος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of PHILIP.

PHILO Φίλων m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Φίλων (Philon), which was derived from φίλος (philos) meaning «lover, friend». This was the name of a 1st-century Hellenistic Jewish philosopher and theologian from Alexandria.

PHILOKRATES Φιλοκράτης m Ancient Greek
Means «friend of power» from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning «lover, friend» and κράτος (kratos) meaning «power».

PHILON Φίλων m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of PHILO.

PHILOTHEOS Φιλόθεος m Ancient Greek
Means «friend of god» from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning «lover, friend» and θεός (theos) meaning «god».

PHOCAS Φωκᾶς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φωκᾶς (Phokas), which meant «seal (animal)» from Greek φώκη (phoke). This was the name of an early saint and martyr from Asia Minor. Sentenced to death for being a Christian, he is said to have given his killers lodging and then dug his own grave before he was executed.

PHOIBE Φοίβη f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of PHOEBE.

PHOIBOS Φοῖβος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of PHOEBUS.

PHOKAS Φωκᾶς m Ancient Greek
Greek form of PHOCAS.

PHOTINA Φωτίνη f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of PHOTINE.

PHOTINE Φωτίνη f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek φῶς (phos) meaning «light» (genitive φωτός (photos)). This is the name traditionally given to the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well (see John 4:7). She is venerated as a saint by the Eastern Church.

PHOTIOS Φώτιος m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek φῶς (phos) meaning «light» (genitive φωτός (photos)).

PLATO Πλάτων m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Πλάτων (Platon), which was derived from Greek πλατύς (platys) meaning «broad-shouldered». Plato was one of the most important of the Greek philosophers. He was a pupil of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle. He constructed the theory of Forms and wrote several works, including the Republic.

PLATON Πλάτων m Ancient Greek, Greek, Russian
Greek form of PLATO.

PLOUTARCHOS Πλούταρχος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of PLUTARCH.

POLYCARP Πολύκαρπος m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Πολύκαρπος (Polykarpos) meaning «fruitful, rich in fruit», ultimately from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning «much» and καρπός (karpos) meaning «fruit». Saint Polycarp was a 2nd-century bishop of Smyrna who was martyred by being burned at the stake and then stabbed.

POLYKARPOS Πολύκαρπος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of POLYCARP.

PORPHYRIOS Πορφύριος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of PORFIRIO.

PRAXITELES Πραξιτέλης m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements πρᾶξις (praxis) meaning «action, exercise» and τέλος (telos) meaning «aim, goal». This was the name of a 4th-century BC sculptor from Athens.

PROCHOROS Πρόχορος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of PROCHORUS.

PROKOPIOS Προκόπιος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek προκοπή (prokope) meaning «progress, advance». Saint Prokopios was an early Christian martyr who was beheaded in Palestine during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

PTOLEMAIOS Πτολεμαῖος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of PTOLEMY.

PTOLEMAIS Πτολεμαΐς f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Ptolemaios (see PTOLEMY).

PYRRHOS Πύρρος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of PYRRHUS.

PYRRHUS Πύρρος m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Πύρρος (Pyrrhos) meaning «flame-coloured, red», related to πῦρ (pyr) meaning «fire». This was another name of Neoptolemus the son of Achilles. This was also the name of a 3rd-century BC king of Epirus who was famed for his victorious yet costly battles against Rome.

PYTHAGORAS Πυθαγόρας m Ancient Greek
Derived from PYTHIOS, a name of Apollo, combined with Greek ἀγορά (agora) meaning «assembly, marketplace». This was the name of a 6th-century BC Greek philosopher and mathematician from Samos. He was the founder of a school of philosophy whose members believed that numbers described the universe.

RHODE Ῥόδη f Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Greek form of RHODA.

RHODOPIS Ῥοδῶπις f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ῥόδον (rhodon) meaning «rose» and ὄψ (ops) meaning «face, eye». According to Herodotus this was the name of a prostitute who was a slave with Aesop on Samos. The same figure appears in the 1st-century BC writings of Strabo, which recount the tale of a slave named Rhodopis who marries the Egyptian pharaoh after he finds her sandal and has his men locate the owner. Some sources spell her name as Rhodope.

RHOXANE Ῥωξάνη f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of ROXANA.

ROXANA Ῥωξάνη f English, Spanish, Romanian, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latin form of Ῥωξάνη (Rhoxane), the Greek form of the Persian or Bactrian name روشنک (Roshanak), which meant «bright» or «dawn». This was the name of Alexander the Great’s first wife, a daughter of the Bactrian nobleman Oxyartes. In the modern era it came into use during the 17th century. In the English-speaking world it was popularized by Daniel Defoe, who used it in his novel Roxana (1724).

SAPPHO Σαπφώ f Ancient Greek
Possibly from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros) meaning «sapphire» or «lapis lazuli». This was the name of a 7th-century BC Greek poetess from Lesbos.

SELEUCUS Σέλευκος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Σέλευκος (Seleukos), of unknown meaning. It is possibly related to λευκός (leukos) meaning «bright, white». This was the name of one of Alexander the Great’s generals, who established the Seleucid Empire in Western Asia after Alexander’s death.

SELEUKOS Σέλευκος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of SELEUCUS.

SIMON (2) Σίμων m Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek σιμός (simos) meaning «flat-nosed». In Greek mythology this was the name of one of the Telchines, demigods who were the original inhabitants of Rhodes.

SIMONIDES Σιμωνίδης m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek σιμός (simos) meaning «flat-nosed» and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This name was borne by the 7th-century BC iambic poet Simonides of Amorgos and the 6th-century BC lyric poet Simonides of Ceos.

SOCRATES Σωκράτης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Σωκράτης (Sokrates), which was derived from σῶς (sos) meaning «whole, unwounded, safe» and κράτος (kratos) meaning «power». This was the name of an important Greek philosopher. He left no writings of his own; virtually everything that we know of his beliefs comes from his pupil Plato. He was sentenced to death for impiety.

SOKRATES Σωκράτης m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of SOCRATES.

SOLON Σόλων m Ancient Greek
Possibly from Greek σόλος (solos) meaning «lump of iron». This was the name of an Athenian statesman who reformed the laws and government of the city.

SOPHIA Σοφία f English, Greek, German, Ancient Greek
Means «wisdom» in Greek. This was the name of an early, probably mythical, saint who died of grief after her three daughters were martyred during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. Legends about her probably arose as a result of a medieval misunderstanding of the phrase Hagia Sophia «Holy Wisdom», which is the name of a large basilica in Constantinople…. [more]

SOPHOCLES Σοφοκλῆς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Σοφοκλῆς (Sophokles), which was derived from Greek σοφός (sophos) meaning «skilled, clever» and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory». Sophocles was a 5th-century BC Greek tragic poet.

SOPHOKLES Σοφοκλῆς m Ancient Greek
Greek form of SOPHOCLES.

SOPHOS Σόφος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of SOPHUS.

SOPHUS Σόφος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Σόφος (Sophos) meaning «skilled, clever».

SOSIGENES Σωσιγένης m Ancient Greek
Means «born safely» from Greek σῶς (sos) meaning «safe, whole, unwounded» and γενής (genes) meaning «born». This was the name of an astronomer from Alexandria employed by Julius Caesar to correct the Roman calendar.

SOSTRATE Σωστράτη f Ancient Greek
Means «safe army» from Greek σῶς (sos) meaning «safe, whole, unwounded» and στρατός (stratos) meaning «army».

STEPHANOS Στέφανος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek, Greek
Greek form of STEPHEN. In Modern Greek it is usually transcribed Stefanos.

STRATON Στράτων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek στρατός (stratos) meaning «army». This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek philosopher.

SYNTYCHE Συντύχη f Biblical, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from συντυχία (syntychia) meaning «occurrence, event». This is the name of a woman mentioned in Paul‘s epistle to the Philippians in the New Testament.

TELESPHOROS Τελεσφόρος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of TÉLESPHORE.

TELESPHORUS Τελεσφόρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Telesphoros (see TÉLESPHORE).

THAÏS Θαΐς f Ancient Greek
Possibly means «bandage» in Greek. This was the name of a companion of Alexander the Great. It was also borne by a 4th-century saint from Alexandria, a wealthy socialite who became a Christian convert, though in her case the name may have had a distinct Coptic origin. She has been a popular subject of art and literature, including an 1891 novel by Anatole France and an 1894 opera by Jules Massenet.

THAIS Θαΐς f Ancient Greek
Alternate transcription of Ancient Greek Θαΐς (see THAÏS).

THALES Θαλῆς m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek θάλλω (thallo) meaning «to blossom». This was the name of a 6th-century BC Greek philosopher and mathematician.

THEMISTOCLES Θεμιστοκλῆς m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεμιστοκλῆς (Themistokles) meaning «glory of the law», from θέμις (themis) meaning «law of nature, divine law» (genitive θέμιστος) and κλέος (kleos) meaning «glory». This was the name of an Athenian statesman and general who was victorious over the Persians in the Battle of Salamis.

THEMISTOKLES Θεμιστοκλῆς m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of THEMISTOCLES.

THEOCRITUS Θεόκριτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Θεόκριτος (Theokritos), a Greek name meaning «judge of god» from θεός (theos) meaning «god» and κριτής (krites) meaning «judge, critic». This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek poet.

THEODORA Θεοδώρα f English, Greek, Ancient Greek
Feminine form of THEODORE. This name was common in the Byzantine Empire, being borne by several empresses including the influential wife of Justinian in the 6th century.

THEODOROS Θεόδωρος m Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of THEODORE.

THEODORUS Θεόδωρος m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Dutch
Latinized form of the Greek name Theodoros (see THEODORE).

THEODOSIA Θεοδοσία f Ancient Greek, Greek
Feminine form of THEODOSIUS.

THEODOSIOS Θεοδόσιος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of THEODOSIUS.

THEODOSIUS Θεοδόσιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεοδόσιος (Theodosios) meaning «giving to god», derived from θεός (theos) meaning «god» and δόσις (dosis) meaning «giving». Saint Theodosius of Palestine was a monk who founded a monastery near Bethlehem in the 5th century. This also was the name of emperors of the Eastern Roman and Byzantine Empires.

THEODOTOS Θεόδοτος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of THEODOTUS.

THEODOTUS Θεόδοτος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόδοτος (Theodotos) meaning «given to god», derived from θεός (theos) meaning «god» and δοτός (dotos) meaning «given». This name belonged to several early saints and martyrs.

THEODOULOS Θεόδουλος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of THEODULUS.

THEODULUS Θεόδουλος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόδουλος (Theodoulos) meaning «slave of god», derived from θεός (theos) meaning «god» and δοῦλος (doulos) meaning «slave». This name was borne by several early saints.

THEOKLEIA Θεόκλεια f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of THEKLA.

THEOKRITOS Θεόκριτος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of THEOCRITUS.

THEOPHANES Θεοφάνης m Ancient Greek
Means «manifestation of God» from Greek θεός (theos) meaning «god» and φανής (phanes) meaning «appearing». This name was borne by a few saints, including an 8th-century chronicler from Constantinople and a 19th-century Russian Orthodox saint, Theophanes the Recluse, who is Феофан (Feofan) in Russian. Another famous bearer was a 14th-century Byzantine icon painter active in Moscow.

THEOPHANIA Θεοφάνια f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of THEOPHANES.

THEOPHILA Θεοφίλα f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of THEOPHILUS.

THEOPHILOS Θεόφιλος m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of THEOPHILUS.

THEOPHILUS Θεόφιλος m Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόφιλος (Theophilos) meaning «friend of god», derived from θεός (theos) meaning «god» and φίλος (philos) meaning «friend». In the New Testament the evangelist Luke addresses his gospel and the Book of Acts to a man named Theophilus.

THEOPHYLAKTOS Θεοφύλακτος m Ancient Greek
Means «watched by god» from Greek θεός (theos) meaning «god» and φυλακτέος (phylakteos) meaning «to be watched». Saint Theophylaktos was a 9th-century bishop of Nicomedia who was banished to Caria.

THEOTIMOS Θεότιμος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of THEOTIMUS.

THEOTIMUS Θεότιμος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεότιμος (Theotimos) meaning «honouring god», derived from the elements θεός (theos) meaning «god» and τιμάω (timao) meaning «to honour». Saint Theotimus was a 4th-century bishop of Tomi in Scythia.

THERON Θήρων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek θηράω (therao) meaning «to hunt».

THOUKYDIDES Θουκυδίδης m Ancient Greek
Greek form of THUCYDIDES.

THUCYDIDES Θουκυδίδης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Means «glory of god», from the Greek name Θουκυδίδης (Thoukydides), derived from θεός (theos) meaning «god» (genitive θεοῦ) and κῦδος (kydos) meaning «glory» with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian historian.

TIMAEUS Τίμαιος m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Τίμαιος (Timaios), derived from τιμάω (timao) meaning «to honour». This is the name of one of Plato‘s dialogues, featuring Timaeus and Socrates. Timaeus is also the name of a person mentioned briefly in the New Testament (Mark 10:46).

TIMAIOS Τίμαιος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of TIMAEUS.

TIMO (3) Τιμώ f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of TIMON.

TIMON Τίμων m Ancient Greek, Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Dutch
Derived from Greek τιμάω (timao) meaning «to honour, to esteem». It appears briefly in the New Testament. This is also the name of the main character in Shakespeare’s tragedy Timon of Athens (1607).

TIMOTEUS Τιμόθεος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Variant of TIMOTHEUS.

TIMOTHEA Τιμοθέα f Ancient Greek, Greek
Feminine form of TIMOTHY.

TIMOTHEOS Τιμόθεος m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of TIMOTHY.

TRYPHAINA Τρύφαινα f Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Greek form of TRYPHENA.

TRYPHON Τρύφων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek τρυφή (tryphe) meaning «softness, delicacy». Saint Tryphon, a gooseherder from Syria, was martyred in the 3rd century.

TRYPHOSA Τρυφῶσα f Biblical, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek τρυφή (tryphe) meaning «softness, delicacy». In the New Testament this name is mentioned briefly as belonging to a companion of Tryphena.

TYCHON Τύχων m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
From Greek τυγχάνω (tynchano) meaning «hit the mark, succeed». This was the name of a minor deity associated with Priapus in Greek mythology. It was also borne by a 5th-century saint from Cyprus.

XANTHE Ξανθή f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning «yellow» or «fair hair». This was the name of a few minor figures in Greek mythology.

XANTHIPPE Ξανθίππη f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of XANTHIPPOS. This was the name of the wife of Socrates. Because of her supposedly argumentative nature, the name has been adopted (in the modern era) as a word for a scolding, ill-tempered woman.

XANTHIPPOS Ξάνθιππος m Ancient Greek
From the Greek elements ξανθός (xanthos) meaning «yellow» and ἵππος (hippos) meaning «horse». This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian general.

XANTHOS Ξάνθος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
From Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning «yellow». This is the name of several figures, mostly minor, in Greek mythology.

XENAGORAS Ξεναγόρας m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning «foreign, strange» and ἀγορά (agora) meaning «assembly, marketplace». This was the name of a 2nd-century BC Greek historian.

XENIA Ξενία f Greek, Ancient Greek
Means «hospitality» in Greek, a derivative of ξένος (xenos) meaning «foreigner, guest». This was the name of a 5th-century saint who is venerated in the Eastern Church.

XENO Ξενώ f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of XENON.

XENOCRATES Ξενοκράτης m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ξενοκράτης (Xenokrates), which was derived from ξένος (xenos) meaning «foreigner, guest» and κράτος (kratos) meaning «power». This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek philosopher.

XENOKRATES Ξενοκράτης m Ancient Greek
Greek form of XENOCRATES.

XENON Ξένων m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning «foreigner, guest».

XENOPHON Ξενοφῶν m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning «foreign, strange» and φωνή (phone) meaning «voice». This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek historian.

ZENAIS Ζηναΐς f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek variant of ZENAIDA.

ZENO Ζήνων m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Italian
From the Greek name Ζήνων (Zenon), which was derived from the name of the Greek god ZEUS (the poetic form of his name being Ζήν). Zeno was the name of two famous Greek philosophers: Zeno of Elea and Zeno of Citium, the founder of the Stoic school in Athens.

ZENOBIA Ζηνοβία f Ancient Greek
Means «life of Zeus», derived from Greek Ζηνός (Zenos) meaning «of ZEUS» and βίος (bios) meaning «life». This was the name of a 3rd-century queen of Palmyra. After claiming the title Queen of the East and expanding her realm into Roman territory she was defeated by Emperor Aurelian. Her Greek name was used as an approximation of her native Aramaic name.

ZENOBIOS Ζηνόβιος m Ancient Greek
Masculine form of ZENOBIA.

ZENON Ζήνων m Ancient Greek, Polish
Ancient Greek form of ZENO, as well as the modern Polish form.

ZEPHYROS Ζέφυρος m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of ZEPHYR.

ZOE Ζωή f English, Italian, German, Ancient Greek
Means «life» in Greek. From early times it was adopted by Hellenized Jews as a translation of EVE. It was borne by two early Christian saints, one martyred under Emperor Hadrian, the other martyred under Diocletian. The name was common in the Byzantine Empire, being borne by a ruling empress of the 11th century…. [more]

ZOPYROS Ζώπυρος m Ancient Greek
Means «glowing» in Greek. This was the name of a Persian nobleman who aided his king Darius in the capture of Babylon. He did this by mutilating himself and then going to the Babylonians claiming that it had been Darius who did it to him. After gaining their trust he betrayed them.

ZOSIME Ζωσίμη f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Zosimos (see ZOSIMUS).

ZOSIMOS Ζώσιμος m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ZOSIMUS.

ZOSIMUS Ζώσιμος m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ζώσιμος (Zosimos), a Greek name derived from ζώσιμος (zosimos) meaning «viable» or «likely to survive». This was the name of several early saints and a pope.

ZOTICUS Ζωτικός m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ζωτικός (Zotikos), derived from ζωτικός (zotikos) meaning «full of life». This was the name of several early saints.

ZOTIKOS Ζωτικός m Ancient Greek
Greek form of ZOTICUS.

 Source: https://nameberry.com/list/691/ancient-greek-names — https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/ancient-greek