Greek names belong to the Hellenic branch of Indo-European, one of the oldest documented languages. This collection contains 21,674 Greek names with their meanings, cultural backgrounds, and pronunciation guides. You'll find 11,975 names traditionally given to boys and 9,416 names for girls, reflecting naming patterns from Greece and the Mediterranean. These names carry the linguistic heritage and cultural values of Greek-speaking communities. Common themes include nature, noble, divine, showing what Greek cultures have valued across generations.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Aléxandros (Ᾰ̓λέξᾰνδρος),” composed of two elements: “aléxō (ἀλέξω)” (keep off, turn aside, guard, protect, defend, help) plus “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός)” (man “adult male,” husband). In turn, the name means “defender of men, protector of men.” This definition is an example of the widespread reason of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing “battle-prowess,” in this case, the ability to resist or push back an enemy battle line. The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine anthroponym (the name of a person) “arekasadara” transcribed as “Alexandra,” written in the Linear B syllabic script. The name was one of the titles or epithets given to the Greek goddess Hera and, as such, usually understood as “one who comes to save warriors.” The most famous connection to this root is Alexander the Great, who created one of the greatest empires in ancient history.
⭐ PopularJade is an ornamental stone, a precious green stone. The English word jade (alternative spelling “jaid”) is derived from the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada,” which means “stone of the colic,” first recorded in 1565.” There was a belief that when jade was placed on the stomach, it could cure colic in babies. Nephrite is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada.” The English form jade began to be used around the year 1970 (according to other sources, since the late 19th-century). The Spanish word “[h]ijada” could have a connection to the Latin “īle” and the Ancient Greek “eileós (εἰλεός),” meaning “colic.”
⭐ PopularJade is an ornamental stone, a precious green stone. The English word jade (alternative spelling “jaid”) is derived from the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada,” which means “stone of the colic,” first recorded in 1565.” There was a belief that when jade was placed on the stomach, it could cure colic in babies. Nephrite is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada.” The English form jade began to be used around the year 1970 (according to other sources, since the late 19th-century). The Spanish word “[h]ijada” could have a connection to the Latin “īle” and the Ancient Greek “eileós (εἰλεός),” meaning “colic.”
⭐ PopularThis name derives from the Ancient Greek “Eugénios (Εὐγένῐος),” composed of two elements: “eû (εὖ)” (well) plus “gen- (γεν-) gígnomai (γίγνομαι)” (to come into being, to be born, to become). In turn, the name means “well-born, well come.” The name was not very common in Western Europe during the middle ages, and its use was intensified later thanks to the fame of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Prince Eugene of Savoy was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest state offices at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV. Blessed Eugenia Smet (1825–1871) founded the Holy Souls’ Helpers’ Society in 1856. Her feast day is 7 February. Pope Eugenius I († 657), also known as Eugene I, was Pope from 10 August 654 to his death in 657 and was originally from Rome.
⭐ PopularJade is an ornamental stone, a precious green stone. The English word jade (alternative spelling “jaid”) is derived from the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada,” which means “stone of the colic,” first recorded in 1565.” There was a belief that when jade was placed on the stomach, it could cure colic in babies. Nephrite is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada.” The English form jade began to be used around the year 1970 (according to other sources, since the late 19th-century). The Spanish word “[h]ijada” could have a connection to the Latin “īle” and the Ancient Greek “eileós (εἰλεός),” meaning “colic.”
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Phereníkē (Φερενίκη) Bereníke (Bερενίκη),” composed of two elements: “phérō (φέρω) phérein (φέρειν)” (to bring, bear, carry) plus “nī́kē (νῑ́κη)” (victory, success). In turn, the name means “she who brings victory.” She who brings victory (influenced by the Church Latin phrase “vera icon” (true image) associated with the legend of Saint Veronica who wiped the face of Jesus on the way to Calvary). Sometimes it was thought that Veronica mistakenly derived from the Latin “vera” (true) and the Greek. Eikóna “εικόνα” (image). Its popularity in medieval and modern times is based mainly on the relevance in Christianity of St. Veronica and her Veil. The ancient Macedonian form of the name has been made famous by its widespread use as a royal name by the ruling dynasties of Alexander the Great states throughout the eastern Mediterranean in the Hellenistic period, in particular by the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Asia.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: A) From the Late Latin “Iūlius,” meaning “youth, youthful, juvenile.” B) A supreme god from the Latin and Proto Indo-European “*djew > iou-pater > Juppĭtĕr.” Jupiter is the King of the Gods and the God of sky and thunder in Roman Religion. C) From the Ancient Greek “Íoulos (ἴουλος),” meaning “haired, bearded, downy-bearded.” The Roman and the standard meaning is “sacred to Jupiter.” The gens Julia or Iulia was one of the most ancient Patrician families in ancient Rome. Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the republic. Iūlius is the fifth month of the Roman calendar. The month was renamed in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar after his death and deification, as he was born in this month. In republican Rome, the month was formally known as Quintilis, “fifth.” 1) Julius Caesar (100–44 BC) was a Roman general, statesman, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. 2) Saint Giulia Salzano (1846–1929) was the founder of the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1905. The feast day is traditionally celebrated on May 17.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek: “Helenē (‘Ελενη) / Helénē (Ἑλένη),” meaning “torch, flambeau, brilliant, shining light, the bright one.” The name could be related to “Hḗlios (Ἥλιος),” the personification of the Sun in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the daughter of Zeus and wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, and considered the most beautiful woman in the world. Early Christians widely used the name through Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine I, who, according to legend, found a piece of the cross of Jesus Christ during his pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Hermione was the only child of King Menelaus of Sparta and his wife, Helen of Troy.
This name derives from Latin “margarīta” (perla) via Ancient Greek “margarī́tēs (μαργᾰρῑ́της),” meaning “pearl,” from the name of a legendary third-century Saint. The word is related to “marg” from “marq” or “marka,” meaning “chicken,” probably because pearls looked like small bird eggs. It became less popular between the 16th-century and 18th-century but became more common again after this period, becoming the second most popular name in the United States in 1903. It may be related to the Sanskrit word “mañjarī” (cluster of flowers, pearl), or it may be associated with the Persian “marvârid” (a pearl or daughter of light). 1) Blessed Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) is an Italian Roman Catholic Church patron of the poor, crippled, and the unwanted. 2) Saint Margaret of Scotland (~1045–1093), also known as Margaret of Wessex and Queen Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess of the House of Wessex. Margaret was sometimes called “The Pearl of Scotland.”
This name derives from the Latin “lyricus,” meaning “of, or relating to a type of poetry, lyrical, of or relating to musical drama and opera” which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek “lurikós (λῠρῐκός)” meaning “of or about the lyre.”
This name means “moor, dark-skinned.” It is a name of ethnic origin, derived from the Latin “Maurus,” meaning “belonging to the people of the Moors,” who lived in the region of Africa called “Mauretania,” which extended from Algeria and came to Morocco and northern Mauritania. Probably the Romans gave them this name because of the dark color of the skin, in fact, amaurós (ἀμαυρός) in Greek means “moor, dark,” also the meaning of amáurosi (αμαύρωση), browning, burnishing (burned or tanned). Saint Maurus was the first disciple of St. Benedict of Nursia (512–584). The Life recounts the long journey of St. Maurus and his companions from Italy to France, accompanied by many adventures and miracles as St. Maurus is transformed from the youthful disciple of Benedict into a powerful, miracle-working holy man in his own right.
Jade is an ornamental stone, a precious green stone. The English word jade (alternative spelling “jaid”) is derived from the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada,” which means “stone of the colic,” first recorded in 1565.” There was a belief that when jade was placed on the stomach, it could cure colic in babies. Nephrite is derived from lapis nephriticus, the Latin version of the Spanish “piedra de la [h]ijada.” The English form jade began to be used around the year 1970 (according to other sources, since the late 19th-century). The Spanish word “[h]ijada” could have a connection to the Latin “īle” and the Ancient Greek “eileós (εἰλεός),” meaning “colic.”
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “therízein (θήρίζεἰν) therízo (θερίζω) Therasía (Θηρεσία),” arrived in Europe via the Ancient Greek (Latinized) form “Teresia,” meaning “to reap, to harvest, harvester (ancient name of the Greek island Thira).” Its popularity likely increased due to the prominence of several Roman Catholic saints: 1) Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, (Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) (Mother Teresa), was an ethnic Albanian, Indian Roman Catholic nun. She said, “by blood, I am Albanian.” 2) Teresa of Ávila (Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Y Ahumada) was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, writer of the counter-reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer. She was a reformer of the Carmelite order, and she is considered a founder of the Discalced Carmelites and John of the cross.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: A) From the Late Latin “Iūlius,” meaning “youth, youthful, juvenile.” B) A supreme god from the Latin and Proto Indo-European “*djew > iou-pater > Juppĭtĕr.” Jupiter is the King of the Gods and the God of sky and thunder in Roman Religion. C) From the Ancient Greek “Íoulos (ἴουλος),” meaning “haired, bearded, downy-bearded.” The Roman and the standard meaning is “sacred to Jupiter.” The gens Julia or Iulia was one of the most ancient Patrician families in ancient Rome. Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the republic. Iūlius is the fifth month of the Roman calendar. The month was renamed in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar after his death and deification, as he was born in this month. In republican Rome, the month was formally known as Quintilis, “fifth.” 1) Julius Caesar (100–44 BC) was a Roman general, statesman, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. 2) Saint Giulia Salzano (1846–1929) was the founder of the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1905. The feast day is traditionally celebrated on May 17.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Phereníkē (Φερενίκη) Bereníke (Bερενίκη),” composed of two elements: “phérō (φέρω) phérein (φέρειν)” (to bring, bear, carry) plus “nī́kē (νῑ́κη)” (victory, success). In turn, the name means “she who brings victory.” She who brings victory (influenced by the Church Latin phrase “vera icon” (true image) associated with the legend of Saint Veronica who wiped the face of Jesus on the way to Calvary). Sometimes it was thought that Veronica mistakenly derived from the Latin “vera” (true) and the Greek. Eikóna “εικόνα” (image). Its popularity in medieval and modern times is based mainly on the relevance in Christianity of St. Veronica and her Veil. The ancient Macedonian form of the name has been made famous by its widespread use as a royal name by the ruling dynasties of Alexander the Great states throughout the eastern Mediterranean in the Hellenistic period, in particular by the Ptolemies of Egypt and the Seleucids of Asia.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek: “Helenē (‘Ελενη) / Helénē (Ἑλένη),” meaning “torch, flambeau, brilliant, shining light, the bright one.” The name could be related to “Hḗlios (Ἥλιος),” the personification of the Sun in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the daughter of Zeus and wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, and considered the most beautiful woman in the world. Early Christians widely used the name through Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine I, who, according to legend, found a piece of the cross of Jesus Christ during his pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Hermione was the only child of King Menelaus of Sparta and his wife, Helen of Troy.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Andréas (Ἀνδρέας),” which in turn derives from “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός),” meaning “man, adult male, husband.” In turn, the name means “manly and strong, courageous and warrior.” He was the first Apostle in the New Testament. It is traditionally popular because, according to the Christian Bible, Saint Andrew was one of the earliest disciples of Jesus and one of the twelve Apostles. Andrew the Apostle (6 BC–60 AD), called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. Like other Greek names, the name “Andrew” appears to have been common among the Jews, Christians, and other Hellenized people of the region. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him. According to Orthodox tradition, the apostolic successor to Saint Andrew is Patriarch Bartholomew I.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) From the Latin “moneō,” which in turn derives from the Proto-Italic “*moneō,” meaning “warn, advise, remind.” 2) From the Ancient Greek “mónos (μόνος),” meaning “unique, alone, nun, solitary, hermit.” 3) An ancient name of North African origin whose etymology is unknown. The first reference to the name is found in the ancient numerical inscriptions. Numidia (202–46 BC) was an ancient Berber kingdom in modern-day Algeria and a smaller part of western Tunisia in North Africa. The name might include a reference to the ancient Libyan god “mon,” from Egyptian mythology “Amon” king of the gods. Saint Monica (AD 331–387) was the mother of Augustine of Hippo; she is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, which commemorates her on 27 August. Of Berber ethnicity, she was born into a profoundly Christian family with the right economic conditions. She was allowed to study and took advantage of it to read the “Bible” and meditate on it. Famous Christian legends recall Saint Monica weeping every night for her son Augustine.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Aléxandros (Ᾰ̓λέξᾰνδρος),” composed of two elements: “aléxō (ἀλέξω)” (keep off, turn aside, guard, protect, defend, help) plus “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός)” (man “adult male,” husband). In turn, the name means “defender of men, protector of men.” This definition is an example of the widespread reason of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing “battle-prowess,” in this case, the ability to resist or push back an enemy battle line. The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine anthroponym (the name of a person) “arekasadara” transcribed as “Alexandra,” written in the Linear B syllabic script. The name was one of the titles or epithets given to the Greek goddess Hera and, as such, usually understood as “one who comes to save warriors.” The most famous connection to this root is Alexander the Great, who created one of the greatest empires in ancient history.
This name comes from the ancient Greek “Aikaterī́nē (Αἰκατερῑ́νη),” which comes from “katharós (καθαρός),” meaning “clean, clear, pure.” In turn, the name means “pure, clear of dirt, clean of shame or guilt, purified.” The name is linked to “Hekátē (Ἑκάτη),” an ancient goddess who is most often shown with two torches or a key and in later periods depicted in triple form. Hekate is associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, fire, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, necromancy, and sorcery. All the names related to this root are popular in historically Christian countries; in fact, Catherine was the name of one of the first Christian saints. According to tradition, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Christian saint and virgin who was martyred in the early 4th-century at the pagan emperor Maxentius’s hands.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “azaléos (ἀζαλέος),” meaning “dry, dry earth.” Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron: the Tsutsuji (evergreen) and Pentanthera (deciduous). Azaleas bloom in summer, their flowers often lasting several weeks. Shade tolerant, they prefer living near or under trees.
This name comes from the ancient Greek “Aikaterī́nē (Αἰκατερῑ́νη),” which comes from “katharós (καθαρός),” meaning “clean, clear, pure.” In turn, the name means “pure, clear of dirt, clean of shame or guilt, purified.” The name is linked to “Hekátē (Ἑκάτη),” an ancient goddess who is most often shown with two torches or a key and in later periods depicted in triple form. Hekate is associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, fire, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, necromancy, and sorcery. All the names related to this root are popular in historically Christian countries; in fact, Catherine was the name of one of the first Christian saints. According to tradition, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Christian saint and virgin who was martyred in the early 4th-century at the pagan emperor Maxentius’s hands.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Xoúthos (Ξοῦθος).” In Greek mythology, Xuthus was a son of Hellen and Orseis and founder of the Achaean and Ionian nations. He had two sons by Creusa: Ion and Achaeus and a daughter named Diomede. According to the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women on the origin of the Greeks, Hellen’s three sons Dorus, Xuthus (with his sons Ion and Achaeus), and Aeolus, comprised the set of progenitors of the significant ancient tribes that formed the Greek nation.
This name derives from Latin “margarīta” (perla) via Ancient Greek “margarī́tēs (μαργᾰρῑ́της),” meaning “pearl,” from the name of a legendary third-century Saint. The word is related to “marg” from “marq” or “marka,” meaning “chicken,” probably because pearls looked like small bird eggs. It became less popular between the 16th-century and 18th-century but became more common again after this period, becoming the second most popular name in the United States in 1903. It may be related to the Sanskrit word “mañjarī” (cluster of flowers, pearl), or it may be associated with the Persian “marvârid” (a pearl or daughter of light). 1) Blessed Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) is an Italian Roman Catholic Church patron of the poor, crippled, and the unwanted. 2) Saint Margaret of Scotland (~1045–1093), also known as Margaret of Wessex and Queen Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess of the House of Wessex. Margaret was sometimes called “The Pearl of Scotland.”
This name derives from the Ancient Greek: “Helenē (‘Ελενη) / Helénē (Ἑλένη),” meaning “torch, flambeau, brilliant, shining light, the bright one.” The name could be related to “Hḗlios (Ἥλιος),” the personification of the Sun in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the daughter of Zeus and wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, and considered the most beautiful woman in the world. Early Christians widely used the name through Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine I, who, according to legend, found a piece of the cross of Jesus Christ during his pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Hermione was the only child of King Menelaus of Sparta and his wife, Helen of Troy.
This name is a combination (composed, blended name) of “Jay” and the popular suffix “-lyn / -leen / -lene,” including its variants. The name Jay, however, represents a short form of “James, Jason, and Jensen.” It is of Greek and Hebrew origin and comes from the following roots: (IÁSŌN) and (YAʿAKOV).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “ēléktōr (ἠλέκτωρ) ḗlektron (ἤλεκτρον) Ēléktrā (Ἠλέκτρᾱ),” meaning “amber, shining,” “incandescent.” In Greek mythology, Electra was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, and thus a princess of Argos. She and her brother Orestes plotted revenge against their mother Clytemnestra and stepfather Aegisthus for the murder of their father, Agamemnon. Electra is the main character in two Greek tragedies, Electra by Sophocles and Electra by Euripides, and has inspired other works. In psychology, the Electra complex is also named after her. Electra’s parents were King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. Her sisters were Iphigeneia and Chrysothemis, and her brother was Orestes. In the Iliad, Homer is understood to be referring to Electra in mentioning “Laodice” as a daughter of Agamemnon.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “gennádas (γεννάδας) Gennádios (Γεννάδιος),” meaning “noble, generous,” and shares part of the Eugene name element “gen- (γεν-) gígnomai (γίγνομαι)” (to come into being, to be born, to become); thus, the name also means “of noble birth.” In fact, the Russian diminutive “Zhenya (Женя)” is shared for both “Gennadiy” and “Yevgeniy.” 1) Saint Gennadius was the twenty-first Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (458–471). Gennadius is seen to have been a learned writer and followed the School of Antioch of literal exegesis, although little writings have been left about him. He is celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church on November 17 but is not listed in the Roman Martyrology. 2) Gennadius († 1505) was Archbishop of Novgorod the Great and Pskov from 1484 to 1504. He was most instrumental in fighting the Heresy of the Judaizers and is famous for compiling the first complete codex of the Bible in Slavic in 1499, known as the Gennady Bible. Gennady is a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Grēgórios (Γρηγόριος),” which in turn derives from “grígora (γρήγορα) grḗgoros (γρήγορος)” meaning “watchful, alert, cautious, awake, quickly, quick, fast, swift, brisk.” The name enjoyed wide popularity among the early Christians, thanks to the devotion to the saints, monks, and popes who brought it. It remained popular throughout Christendom through the Middle Ages and into modern times. A notable exception is the United Kingdom, where it began to be used only after the Norman Conquest, becoming common there and Scotland around the twelfth century. There have been 16 popes with the name, starting with Pope Gregory I (Gregory the Great). It is the second-most popular name for a pope, along with Benedict, after John. Because of this background, it is also a popular name for saints.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Aléxandros (Ᾰ̓λέξᾰνδρος),” composed of two elements: “aléxō (ἀλέξω)” (keep off, turn aside, guard, protect, defend, help) plus “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός)” (man “adult male,” husband). In turn, the name means “defender of men, protector of men.” This definition is an example of the widespread reason of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing “battle-prowess,” in this case, the ability to resist or push back an enemy battle line. The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine anthroponym (the name of a person) “arekasadara” transcribed as “Alexandra,” written in the Linear B syllabic script. The name was one of the titles or epithets given to the Greek goddess Hera and, as such, usually understood as “one who comes to save warriors.” The most famous connection to this root is Alexander the Great, who created one of the greatest empires in ancient history.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: A) From the Late Latin “Iūlius,” meaning “youth, youthful, juvenile.” B) A supreme god from the Latin and Proto Indo-European “*djew > iou-pater > Juppĭtĕr.” Jupiter is the King of the Gods and the God of sky and thunder in Roman Religion. C) From the Ancient Greek “Íoulos (ἴουλος),” meaning “haired, bearded, downy-bearded.” The Roman and the standard meaning is “sacred to Jupiter.” The gens Julia or Iulia was one of the most ancient Patrician families in ancient Rome. Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the republic. Iūlius is the fifth month of the Roman calendar. The month was renamed in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar after his death and deification, as he was born in this month. In republican Rome, the month was formally known as Quintilis, “fifth.” 1) Julius Caesar (100–44 BC) was a Roman general, statesman, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. 2) Saint Giulia Salzano (1846–1929) was the founder of the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1905. The feast day is traditionally celebrated on May 17.
This name derives from the Greek “kynthos (Κύνθος) kynthia (Κυνθία),” meaning “woman from Kynthos.” Cynthia was originally an epithet of the Greek goddess of the moon, Artemis, who according to legend, was born on Mount “kynthios,” a mountain on the island of Delos. Selene, the Greek personification of the moon, and the Roman Diana (by way of their identification with Artemis) were also sometimes called “Cynthia.” The English diminutive form “Cindy” also had success as a proper name, making it among the top 100 new-born Americans between 1953 and 1973.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek name “Dōrothéa (Δωροθέα),” composed of two elements: “dôron (δῶρον)” (gift) plus “theós (θεός)” (divine, a deity, a god, God). In turn, the name means “given to God, the gift of God.” Dorothea was the name of two early saints, notably the 4th-century martyr Dorothea of Caesarea. Dorothy was a less common variant of Dorothea until it became one of the most popular girl’s names in the United States between 1904 and 1940. It was used by parents who had waited a long time for a child. The name Theodore derives from the same Greek root, in reverse order.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “prochoró (προχωρώ),” meaning “move, forward, advance, progress, proceed,” composed of two elements: “pró (πρό)” (before) plus “choráo (χωράω)” (contain, fit (in), take, hold). In Greek mythology, Procris was the daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens and his wife, Praxithea. She married Cephalus, the son of Deioneus. Procris had at least two sisters, Creusa and Orithyia. Sophocles wrote a tragedy called “Procris,” which has been lost, as has a version contained in the Greek Cycle, but at least six different accounts of her story still exist.
This name derives from a Scottish surname, originally from the name of a town. This name is of uncertain origin; some sources suggest a derivation either from the Brythonic word “pasgill” (pasture), or more likely “passeleg” (basilica “major church”), itself derived from the Greek “βασιλική” (basilica). However, some Scottish place-name books suggest “Pæssa’s wood/clearing,” from the Old English personal name “Pæssa,” “clearing,” and leāh, “wood.” Pasilege (1182) and Paslie (1214) are recorded previous spellings of the name. The Gaelic spelling is Pàislig. Paisley pattern, which involves a Persian inspired tear-shaped design, comes from the town.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Stéfanos / Stéphanos (Στέφανος),” meaning “crown, garland, wreath, honor, reward, any prize or honor,” which in turn derives from “stéphō (στέφω),” meaning “to put round, to surround.” In ancient Greece, a crown was given to a contest winner (hence the crown, the symbol of rulers). The use of the noun was first recorded in Homer’s Iliad. The use of the noun was first recorded in Homer’s Iliad. The name is significant to Christians: according to the Book of Acts in the New Testament, Saint Stephen was a deacon who was stoned to death and is regarded as the first Christian martyr. In the United Kingdom, the name Stephen peaked in the 1950s and 1960s as one of the top ten male names (third in 1954), but dropped to 20th in 1984 and dropped out of the top 100 in 2002.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) From the Latin “moneō,” which in turn derives from the Proto-Italic “*moneō,” meaning “warn, advise, remind.” 2) From the Ancient Greek “mónos (μόνος),” meaning “unique, alone, nun, solitary, hermit.” 3) An ancient name of North African origin whose etymology is unknown. The first reference to the name is found in the ancient numerical inscriptions. Numidia (202–46 BC) was an ancient Berber kingdom in modern-day Algeria and a smaller part of western Tunisia in North Africa. The name might include a reference to the ancient Libyan god “mon,” from Egyptian mythology “Amon” king of the gods. Saint Monica (AD 331–387) was the mother of Augustine of Hippo; she is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, which commemorates her on 27 August. Of Berber ethnicity, she was born into a profoundly Christian family with the right economic conditions. She was allowed to study and took advantage of it to read the “Bible” and meditate on it. Famous Christian legends recall Saint Monica weeping every night for her son Augustine.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “aléxō (ἀλέξω) Álexis (Ἄλεξις),” meaning “keep off, turn aside, guard, protect, defend, help.” It was the name of several saints venerated by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, including Saint Alexis of Rome, and a Russian tsar, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of Russia. Aleksi, A Finnish variant, was the third most popular name for boys born in Finland in 2007. Alessia, an Italian feminine variant, was the second most common name for girls born in Italy in 2006.
This name derives from a Scottish surname, originally from the name of a town. This name is of uncertain origin; some sources suggest a derivation either from the Brythonic word “pasgill” (pasture), or more likely “passeleg” (basilica “major church”), itself derived from the Greek “βασιλική” (basilica). However, some Scottish place-name books suggest “Pæssa’s wood/clearing,” from the Old English personal name “Pæssa,” “clearing,” and leāh, “wood.” Pasilege (1182) and Paslie (1214) are recorded previous spellings of the name. The Gaelic spelling is Pàislig. Paisley pattern, which involves a Persian inspired tear-shaped design, comes from the town.
It’s a feminine name derived from “sophíā / sofía (σοφῐ́ᾱ),” the Greek word for “wisdom, knowledge, teaching, skill related to everyday life, sound judgment, prudence.” In turn, the name is closely connected to the term “sophós (σοφός),” meaning “clever, skillful, cunning, able, intelligent, wise, prudent.” Sophia, and other variants such as Sonia and Sonja, is a feminine given name in many areas of the world, including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Sonja and Sonya are Russian variations of Sophia. The name was widespread by a 1917 bestselling novel “Sonia” by Stephen McKenna. It was used to represent the personification of wisdom and is also the name of an early Christian martyr. Sophia is one of the most popular names in the world and the most popular given name for girls in the US for 2012.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Andréas (Ἀνδρέας),” which in turn derives from “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός),” meaning “man, adult male, husband.” In turn, the name means “manly and strong, courageous and warrior.” He was the first Apostle in the New Testament. It is traditionally popular because, according to the Christian Bible, Saint Andrew was one of the earliest disciples of Jesus and one of the twelve Apostles. Andrew the Apostle (6 BC–60 AD), called in the Orthodox tradition Prōtoklētos, or the First-called, is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. Like other Greek names, the name “Andrew” appears to have been common among the Jews, Christians, and other Hellenized people of the region. No Hebrew or Aramaic name is recorded for him. According to Orthodox tradition, the apostolic successor to Saint Andrew is Patriarch Bartholomew I.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “khlóē (χλόη),” meaning “blooming, young green shoot, green foliage or shoots of plants,” (an epithet of goddess Demeter). The name appears once in the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 1:11, in the context of “the house of Chloe.” In Northern Ireland, Chloe was one of the most popular names for newborns from 1997 to 2002, followed by Emma in 2003. It was also one of the most popular girl’s names throughout the UK for the seven years preceding 2002. In 2013 Chloe was the fourth most popular name for girls in Australia. Thargelia (Greek: Θαργήλια), a spring festival “Chloeia” was one of the chief Athenian festivals in honor of the Delian Apollo and Artemis, held on their birthdays, the 6th and 7th of the month Thargelion (about May 6 and May 7). On the 6th, a sheep was sacrificed to Demeter Chloe on the Acropolis, and perhaps a swine to the Fates, but the most important ritual was the following.
It’s a feminine name derived from “sophíā / sofía (σοφῐ́ᾱ),” the Greek word for “wisdom, knowledge, teaching, skill related to everyday life, sound judgment, prudence.” In turn, the name is closely connected to the term “sophós (σοφός),” meaning “clever, skillful, cunning, able, intelligent, wise, prudent.” Sophia, and other variants such as Sonia and Sonja, is a feminine given name in many areas of the world, including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Sonja and Sonya are Russian variations of Sophia. The name was widespread by a 1917 bestselling novel “Sonia” by Stephen McKenna. It was used to represent the personification of wisdom and is also the name of an early Christian martyr. Sophia is one of the most popular names in the world and the most popular given name for girls in the US for 2012.
Ella is a diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen, Helena, Elizabeth, Ariel and a short form of Ariella. It is of Germanic, French (Provençal), Greek and Hebrew origin and comes from the following roots: (ALIÉNOR) (HELÉNĒ) (ELISHEVA) and (ARIĒL) The name also represents the short form of any name beginning with the element “el-” and the short form of any name ending in “-ela / -ella / -ele / -elle.”
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Loukâs (Λουκᾶς),” which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek leukós (Λευκός), meaning “bright, shining, gleaming, light in color, white, pale-skinned, weakly.” Finally, the name derives from the proto-Indo-European root “*leuk-,” which means “light, brightness.” Another theory is from the Latin “Lucas,” an abbreviation of “Lucanus,” from the Ancient Greek “Loukanós (Λουκανός),” meaning “the man from Lucania.” Luke the Evangelist is one of the four evangelists or authors of canonical Gospels of Jesus Christ. He was a native of the Hellenistic city of Antioch in Syria. According to Luke and the book of Acts of the Apostles, the early church fathers ascribed to him the authorship of both the Gospel, which originally formed a single literary work.
This name derives from the Mycenaean Greek and Ancient Greek “(qa-si-re-u > gwasileus) > basileús (βᾰσῐλεύς) basíleios (βασίλειος),” meaning “chief, master, king, lord, patron, kingly, royal.” Basiléus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine emperors, but it also has a more extended history of use for people in authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of modern Greece. Basil II was a Byzantine Emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025. He was known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his supposed ancestor, Basil I the Macedonian. Saint Basil the Great was the Greek bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor. He was an influential theologian who supported the Nicene Creed and opposed the early Christian church’s heresies, fighting against both Arianism and the followers of Apollinaris of Laodicea.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Khrīstóphoros (Χρῑστόφορος),” composed of two elements: “khrī́ō (χρῑ́ω) -tos (-τος) khrīstós (χρῑστός)” (Messiah or Christ, an epithet of Jesus of Nazareth, to be rubbed on, used as ointment or salve) plus “phérō (φέρω) férein (φέρειν)” (bring, bear, carry). In turn, the name means “Christ-bearer, the one who bears Christ (in his soul).” The name originates in the Christian legend of St. Christopher. As a first name, Christopher has been in use since the 15th-century. The meaning of the name suggested the legend of St. Christopher carrying the Christ child across the water. The name, frequently cited as religious and even zealous, has found modern popularity in part due to historical figures. With the European exploration of the Americas following the navigation of Christopher Columbus, the name retained its reverent stature but allowed for its removal from purely religious uses and distinction.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) From the name “Shyla,” an anglicized form of the Irish name “Síle” plus the popular suffix “leen/lyn/lene.” This name derives from the Proto-Italic and Proto-Indo-European Adjective “*káykos/*kaikos,” via Latin “caecus > Caecilius,” meaning “blind, without eyes.” 2) From the Hebrew name “Shay” plus the popular suffix “leen/lyn/lene.” The name “shay,” meaning “gift, present, a gift offered as an homage.” 3) From the Irish name “Shay” plus the popular suffix “leen/lyn/lene.” It is an Irish Gaelic name, an anglicized form of “Séaghdha,” meaning “stately, majestic, courteous; also learned, scientific, ingenious or hawk-like,” although Séaghdha is exclusively male. Séaghdha derives from the surname “Ó Séaghdha,” the name of a family of Corca Dhuibhne in West Kerry, who, until about the period of the Anglo-Norman invasion, were lords of Ui Rathach, now the barony of Iveragh.
This name comes from the ancient Greek “Aikaterī́nē (Αἰκατερῑ́νη),” which comes from “katharós (καθαρός),” meaning “clean, clear, pure.” In turn, the name means “pure, clear of dirt, clean of shame or guilt, purified.” The name is linked to “Hekátē (Ἑκάτη),” an ancient goddess who is most often shown with two torches or a key and in later periods depicted in triple form. Hekate is associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, fire, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, necromancy, and sorcery. All the names related to this root are popular in historically Christian countries; in fact, Catherine was the name of one of the first Christian saints. According to tradition, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Christian saint and virgin who was martyred in the early 4th-century at the pagan emperor Maxentius’s hands.
This name means “angel, messenger, the messenger of God.” Saint Angelus (Italian: Sant’Angelo) (1185–1220) was one of the Carmelite Order’s early members, who suffered martyrdom for the Faith at Leocata, Sicily. The story of his life, as it has come down, is not very reliable. It may be summarized as follows: His parents were Jews of Jerusalem who were converted to Christianity by a vision of our Lady. In Greek mythology, Angelos was a daughter of Zeus, and Hera turned deity of the underworld. Her story only survives in Scholia on Theocritus’ Idyll 2 and is as follows. English names linked to the root Ángelos are in use since the 18th-century. An angel is a supernatural being or spirit, often depicted in humanoid form with feathered wings on their backs and halos around their heads, found in various religions and mythologies. The theological study of angels is known as “angelology.” In the Zoroastrianism and Abrahamic religions, they are represented as heavenly and benevolent beings who act as intermediaries between Heaven and Earth or as guardian spirits as a guiding influence.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “gennádas (γεννάδας) Gennádios (Γεννάδιος),” meaning “noble, generous,” and shares part of the Eugene name element “gen- (γεν-) gígnomai (γίγνομαι)” (to come into being, to be born, to become); thus, the name also means “of noble birth.” In fact, the Russian diminutive “Zhenya (Женя)” is shared for both “Gennadiy” and “Yevgeniy.” 1) Saint Gennadius was the twenty-first Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (458–471). Gennadius is seen to have been a learned writer and followed the School of Antioch of literal exegesis, although little writings have been left about him. He is celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church on November 17 but is not listed in the Roman Martyrology. 2) Gennadius († 1505) was Archbishop of Novgorod the Great and Pskov from 1484 to 1504. He was most instrumental in fighting the Heresy of the Judaizers and is famous for compiling the first complete codex of the Bible in Slavic in 1499, known as the Gennady Bible. Gennady is a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Aléxandros (Ᾰ̓λέξᾰνδρος),” composed of two elements: “aléxō (ἀλέξω)” (keep off, turn aside, guard, protect, defend, help) plus “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός)” (man “adult male,” husband). In turn, the name means “defender of men, protector of men.” This definition is an example of the widespread reason of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing “battle-prowess,” in this case, the ability to resist or push back an enemy battle line. The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine anthroponym (the name of a person) “arekasadara” transcribed as “Alexandra,” written in the Linear B syllabic script. The name was one of the titles or epithets given to the Greek goddess Hera and, as such, usually understood as “one who comes to save warriors.” The most famous connection to this root is Alexander the Great, who created one of the greatest empires in ancient history.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek name “Kassándrā (Κασσάνδρᾱ),” composed of two elements: “kaínumi (Καίνυμι) kékasmai (κέκασμαι)” (excel, surpass, transcend) plus “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός)” (man “adult male). In turn, the name means “the one who shines and excels over a man (a person who makes predictions which are never believed but turn out to be true).” In Greek mythology, Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Her beauty caused Apollo to grant her the gift of prophecy. Kassandros son of Antipatros; (350–297 BC), was a Greek Hellenistic king of Ancient Macedon (305–297 BC), son of Antipater, and founder of the Antipatrid dynasty. He was the namesake of his paternal uncle, Cassander.
Ty is a short form of Tyler, Tyson, Tyrone, and Tyron. It is of French, Irish and Greek origin and comes from the following roots: (TILER) (TYSON) (TÍR EOGHAIN) and (EUGÉNIOS).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “therízein (θήρίζεἰν) therízo (θερίζω) Therasía (Θηρεσία),” arrived in Europe via the Ancient Greek (Latinized) form “Teresia,” meaning “to reap, to harvest, harvester (ancient name of the Greek island Thira).” Its popularity likely increased due to the prominence of several Roman Catholic saints: 1) Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, (Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) (Mother Teresa), was an ethnic Albanian, Indian Roman Catholic nun. She said, “by blood, I am Albanian.” 2) Teresa of Ávila (Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Y Ahumada) was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, writer of the counter-reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer. She was a reformer of the Carmelite order, and she is considered a founder of the Discalced Carmelites and John of the cross.
Vi is a short form of Violet and Vivian. It is Greek and Latin origin and comes from the following roots: (VIOLA) and (VIVIANUS).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Ēōs (Ἠώς / Ἠώς),” meaning “down.” In Greek mythology, Eos is a Titaness and the goddess of the dawn, who rose each morning from her home at the Oceanus’s edge. Eos is cognate to Vedic Sanskrit “Ushas” and Latin “Aurora,” both goddesses of dawn. Eos is cognate to Vedic Sanskrit Ushas and Latin Aurora, both goddesses of dawn, and all three considered derivatives of a PIE (Proto Indo-European) stem “*h2ewsṓs” (later *Ausṓs), “dawn,” a stem that also gave rise to the Proto-Germanic “*Austrō,” Old Germanic “Ôstara” and Old English “Ēostre / Ēastre.” According to Pseudo-Apollodorus, Eos consorted with the war god Ares and was thereupon cursed with unsatisfiable sexual desire by the jealous Aphrodite. This caused her to abduct several handsome young men, most notably Cephalus, Tithonus, Orion, and Cleitus.
Io (Ancient Greek: Ἰώ) was, in Greek mythology, a priestess of Hera in Argos, a nymph who was seduced by Zeus, who changed her into a heifer to escape detection. His wife Hera sent ever-watchful Argus Panoptes, with 100 eyes, to watch her, but Hermes was sent to distract the guardian and slay him. Heifer Io was loosed to roam the world, stung by a maddening gadfly sent by Hera, and wandered to Egypt, thus placing her descendant Belus in Egypt; his sons Cadmus (Cadmus was also named as a son of Belus' brother Agenor) and Danaus would then "return" to mainland Greece. In the 2010 film Clash of the Titans, Io was portrayed by British actress Gemma Arterton. The meaning of the name is unknown.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “hagnós (ἁγνός) agní (αγνή),” meaning “pure, chaste, holy, sacred, purifying.” It was the name of a popular Christian saint, Saint Agnes of Rome, a fact which encouraged the extensive use of the name. Agnes was the third most popular name for women in the English speaking world for more than 400 years. Its medieval pronunciation was “Annis,” and its usage and many of its forms coincided with the equally popular English name Anne. 1) Agnes of Rome (~291–304) is a virgin-martyr venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism. She is one of seven women, who along with the Blessed Virgin, are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape victims, and virgins. 2) Agnes of Germany (1072–1143), also known as Agnes of Waiblingen, was a member of the Salian imperial family. Through her first marriage, she was a Duchess consort of Swabia; through her second marriage, she was a Margravine consort of Austria.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “bárbaros (βάρβαρος),” meaning “foreign, brutal, ignorant, stutterer, who cannot speak.” It is made to imitate the sounds’ βαρ-βαρ-βαρ-βαρ’ spoken by foreigners, hence the Greek idiom “πᾶς μὴ Ἕλλην βάρβαρος” (pas mē Hellēn bárbaros) which literally means “whoever is not Greek is a barbarian.” Should also be noted that the Ancient Greek term” bambaínō (βαμβαίνω) bambalúzdō (βαμβαλύζδω)” and the Sanskrit “balbalā,” meaning “stammering, stuttering.” In Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox tradition, Santa Barbara was an early Christian saint and martyr. The testimonies place her in the 3rd-century to Nicomedia, Turkey’s current seat or Heliopolis of Phoenicia, now Lebanon. Santa Barbara is often portrayed with small chains and a tower. Santa Barbara is the patron saint of gunners. She is also traditionally the patron saint of gunsmiths, military engineers, miners, and anyone else who works with guns and explosives. She is called upon against thunder and lightning and all accidents resulting from gunpowder explosions, whose existence is probably a legend.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek name “Diónūsos (Διόνῡσος) > Diónysos (Διόνυσος)”, composed of two elements: “Zeús (Ζεύς) Días (Δίας)” (Zeus, heavenly, divine) plus “Nûsa (Νῦσᾰ) Nýsa (Νύσα)” (mountainous land where the Hyades raised the infant god Dionysus). In Greek mythology, the mountainous district of Nysa, variously associated with Ethiopia, Libya, Tribalia, India or Arabia by Greek mythographers, was the traditional place where the rain-nymphs, the Hyades, raised the infant god Dionysus, the “Zeus of Nysa.” This name is linked to the Thracian Olympian deity Dionysus, the god of wine, parties, and festivals, madness, chaos, drunkenness, and pleasure of eternal youth. He was depicted in art as either an older bearded god or a pretty effeminate, long-haired youth. His symbols include the thyrsus (a pinecone-tipped staff), a drinking cup, a grapevine, and a crown of ivy.
This name is a short form of Elisa, Elisabet, Elina, and Helena. It is of Hebrew and Greek origin and comes from the following roots: (ELISHA) (ELISHEVA) and (HELÉNĒ�).
Cy is a short form of Cyrus, Cyprianus, and Cyril. The name is of Greek and Persian (Fārsi) origin and comes from the following roots: (KŪRUŠ) (KÝPRIOS) and (KÝRILLOS).
Mo is a short form of Maureen, Maurice, Morris, Monica, and Mónica. It is of Greek, Hebrew and African origin and comes from the following roots: (MAURUS) (MIRIAM) (MON) (MONEŌ) and (MÓNOS).
This name is related etymologically to the names Leontius and Leonidas and derives from the Ancient Greek “leōn (λεων),” meaning “lion.” Pope Leo I (Leone Magno), was the head of the Catholic Church from 29 September 440 to his death in 461. Léonie Aviat, in religion “Sister Françoise de Sales,” was a French nun and founder of the Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales. John Paul II canonized her in 2001. Leonidas was a Greek hero-king of Sparta, the 17th of the Agiad line Leonidas I (490–480 BCE), third son of King Anaxandridas II of Sparta.
Esme is a variant of Esmé and Esmée and is a rare short form of Esmeralda. It is of Greek, Latin and Old French origin and comes from the following roots: (SMÁRAGDOS) and (ESMER).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Día (Δῐ́ᾰ),” accusative of Zeús (Ζεύς), from the root “*di̯ēus > zefs > zeús.” In Greek mythology, Dia was the daughter of Deioneo and nephew of Magnes. She was the earthly wife of Issione, son of Flegias, and brother of Coronis (the mother of Asclepius by Apollo). After his marriage to Issione, he begat Piritoo. However, Dia raised Piritoo from both her husband and Zeus, who had turned into a horse to approach her and of whom she was a lover.
This name derives from Latin “petra” (Petrus), from the Ancient Greek “pétrā (πέτρᾱ) Pétros (Πέτρος),” from the Aramaic word “kephas,” which in turn derives from the Syriac “kefa,” all words meaning “stone, rock” (figurative meaning: reliable, stable and resolute). Saint Peter, according to ancient tradition, was a prominent early Christian leader, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament. He is venerated as a saint and considered by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodoxy to be the first bishop of Rome and the first Pope. Roman Catholics believe him to have been the first Pope and all subsequent popes to have been his successors, and therefore sometimes refer to the Pope or the Papacy itself as Peter.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek: “Helenē (‘Ελενη) / Helénē (Ἑλένη),” meaning “torch, flambeau, brilliant, shining light, the bright one.” The name could be related to “Hḗlios (Ἥλιος),” the personification of the Sun in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the daughter of Zeus and wife of Menelaus, King of Sparta, and considered the most beautiful woman in the world. Early Christians widely used the name through Saint Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine I, who, according to legend, found a piece of the cross of Jesus Christ during his pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Hermione was the only child of King Menelaus of Sparta and his wife, Helen of Troy.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek name “Phílippos (Φῐ́λῐππος),” composed of two elements: “philéō (φιλέω)” (love, like, kindly, welcome) plus “híppos (ῐ̔́ππος)” (horse, cavalry, horseman). In turn, the name means “horse-loving, fond of horses.” In Ancient Greece, the ownership of horses was available only to those rich enough to afford them. Thus, “lover of horses” can also be considered as “noble.” Prominent Philips, who popularized the name includes Kings of Macedon “Philippos” and one of the apostles of early Christianity. The name was also an epithet of Alexander the Great. It should be noted for clarity; the word “horse” is frequently found in ancient Greek names (for example, Hipparchus, Hippocrates, Hippolytus, and Xanthippe).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Geṓrgios (Γεώργῐος),” from the element: “geōrgós (γεωργός)” (tilling the ground, fertilizing), which in turn derives from “gê (γῆ)” (land, earth, country, soil) plus “érgon (ἔργον)” (deed, doing, action, labor, work, task). In turn, the name means “land-worker, farmer.” In the West, the name is known from the 11th-century as a result of the Crusades. The name’s use was extended due to the popularity of St. George and the Golden Legend, widespread in the European courts of the thirteenth century. In Germany, the name has been popular since the Middle Ages, declining in later use. In Britain, despite there being St. George, the patron of England since the fourteenth century, the name did not become popular until the eighteenth century following George I of England’s accession. In the United States, statistics from the mid-19th-century placed him among the five most popular baby names.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Geṓrgios (Γεώργῐος),” from the element: “geōrgós (γεωργός)” (tilling the ground, fertilizing), which in turn derives from “gê (γῆ)” (land, earth, country, soil) plus “érgon (ἔργον)” (deed, doing, action, labor, work, task). In turn, the name means “land-worker, farmer.” In the West, the name is known from the 11th-century as a result of the Crusades. The name’s use was extended due to the popularity of St. George and the Golden Legend, widespread in the European courts of the thirteenth century. In Germany, the name has been popular since the Middle Ages, declining in later use. In Britain, despite there being St. George, the patron of England since the fourteenth century, the name did not become popular until the eighteenth century following George I of England’s accession. In the United States, statistics from the mid-19th-century placed him among the five most popular baby names.
Tia is a short form of Tatiana, Tatyana, Letitia, Antonia, Cynthia, Patricia, and Tiara. It is of Italic (Sabine), Latin, Etruscan, Greek, and Persian (Fārsi) origin and comes from the following roots: (TATIANUS) (LÆTĬTĬA) (ANTŌNIUS) (KYNTHIA) (PĂTRĬCĬUS) and (TIARA).
This name derives from the Greek “línos (λῖνος),” meaning “flax, linen, linen fabric, net.” In Greek mythology, Linus refers to the musical son of Oeagrus, nominally Apollo, and the Muse Calliope. As Apollo’s son and a Muse, either Calliope or Terpsichore, he is considered the inventor of melody and rhythm. Linus taught music to his brother Orpheus and then to Heracles. Pope Linus († 76) was, according to several early sources, the second Bishop of Rome and is listed by the Roman Catholic church as the second pope. However, this position is thought by historians to have not represented the unique role it later acquired. Linus van Pelt is a character in Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts. The best friend of Charlie Brown, Linus, is also the younger brother of Lucy van Pelt and older brother of Rerun van Pelt.
Dea is a short form of Medea, Floridea, Amedea, and Taddea. It is of Greek, Latin and Syriac-Aramaic origin and comes from the roots: (MĒDEIA) (FLŌRA) (AMADEUS) and (THADDAÍOS).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Koîos (Κόιος),” a titan of intellect and the axis of heaven around which the constellations revolved. In Greek mythology, Coeus (Ancient Greek: Koios) was one of the Titans, the giant sons and daughters of Uranus (heaven) and Gaia (earth). Though he scarcely makes an appearance in Roman mythology, his equivalent in Latin poetry was Polus, the embodiment of the celestial axis around which the heavens revolve.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: A) From the Late Latin “Iūlius,” meaning “youth, youthful, juvenile.” B) A supreme god from the Latin and Proto Indo-European “*djew > iou-pater > Juppĭtĕr.” Jupiter is the King of the Gods and the God of sky and thunder in Roman Religion. C) From the Ancient Greek “Íoulos (ἴουλος),” meaning “haired, bearded, downy-bearded.” The Roman and the standard meaning is “sacred to Jupiter.” The gens Julia or Iulia was one of the most ancient Patrician families in ancient Rome. Members of the gens attained the highest dignities of the state in the earliest times of the republic. Iūlius is the fifth month of the Roman calendar. The month was renamed in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar after his death and deification, as he was born in this month. In republican Rome, the month was formally known as Quintilis, “fifth.” 1) Julius Caesar (100–44 BC) was a Roman general, statesman, Consul, and notable author of Latin prose. 2) Saint Giulia Salzano (1846–1929) was the founder of the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1905. The feast day is traditionally celebrated on May 17.
This name comes from the ancient Greek “Aikaterī́nē (Αἰκατερῑ́νη),” which comes from “katharós (καθαρός),” meaning “clean, clear, pure.” In turn, the name means “pure, clear of dirt, clean of shame or guilt, purified.” The name is linked to “Hekátē (Ἑκάτη),” an ancient goddess who is most often shown with two torches or a key and in later periods depicted in triple form. Hekate is associated with crossroads, entrance-ways, fire, light, the moon, magic, witchcraft, knowledge of herbs and poisonous plants, necromancy, and sorcery. All the names related to this root are popular in historically Christian countries; in fact, Catherine was the name of one of the first Christian saints. According to tradition, Saint Catherine of Alexandria is a Christian saint and virgin who was martyred in the early 4th-century at the pagan emperor Maxentius’s hands.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Aléxandros (Ᾰ̓λέξᾰνδρος),” composed of two elements: “aléxō (ἀλέξω)” (keep off, turn aside, guard, protect, defend, help) plus “anḗr (ἀνήρ) andrós (ἀνδρός)” (man “adult male,” husband). In turn, the name means “defender of men, protector of men.” This definition is an example of the widespread reason of Greek (or Indo-European more generally) names expressing “battle-prowess,” in this case, the ability to resist or push back an enemy battle line. The earliest attested form of the name is the Mycenaean Greek feminine anthroponym (the name of a person) “arekasadara” transcribed as “Alexandra,” written in the Linear B syllabic script. The name was one of the titles or epithets given to the Greek goddess Hera and, as such, usually understood as “one who comes to save warriors.” The most famous connection to this root is Alexander the Great, who created one of the greatest empires in ancient history.
Ary is a short form of Arystoteles, Arystarch, Arystydes, and Arystofanes. The name is of Greek origin and comes from the following roots: (ARISTOTÉLĒS) (ARÍSTARKHOS) (ARISTEÍDĒS) and (ARISTOPHÁNES).
Cyd is a short form of Cydney and Cydippe. The name is of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) and Greek origin and comes from the following roots: (SIDNEY) (KYDÍPPE / CYDIPPE). Cydney comes from an English surname. It is probably derived from an Anglo-Saxon place name (æt þǣre) “sīdan īege,” meaning “wide island.” Cydippe derives from the Ancient Greek “Kydíppe / Cydippe (Κυδίππη).”
Deianira (Ancient Greek: Deïaneira ‘Δηϊάνειρα’ Dēiáneira ‘Δηϊάνειρα’) is a figure in Greek mythology whose name translates as “man-destroyer” or “destroyer of her husband.” The better-known Deianira was Heracles’s second wife and, in late Classical accounts, his unwitting murderer, killing him with the poisoned shirt of Nessus. She is the main character in the play Women of Trachis by Sophocles. Deianira is also the name of the second character in Greek mythology, an Amazon killed by Heracles during his ninth labor, the quest for Hippolyta’s girdle.
Elo is a tiny and short form of Helen, Helena, and Eliisabet. It is of Greek and Hebrew origin and comes from the following roots: (HELÉNĒ) and (ELISHEVA).
This name derives from Latin “petra” (Petrus), from the Ancient Greek “pétrā (πέτρᾱ) Pétros (Πέτρος),” from the Aramaic word “kephas,” which in turn derives from the Syriac “kefa,” all words meaning “stone, rock” (figurative meaning: reliable, stable and resolute). Saint Peter, according to ancient tradition, was a prominent early Christian leader, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament. He is venerated as a saint and considered by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodoxy to be the first bishop of Rome and the first Pope. Roman Catholics believe him to have been the first Pope and all subsequent popes to have been his successors, and therefore sometimes refer to the Pope or the Papacy itself as Peter.
It’s a feminine name derived from “sophíā / sofía (σοφῐ́ᾱ),” the Greek word for “wisdom, knowledge, teaching, skill related to everyday life, sound judgment, prudence.” In turn, the name is closely connected to the term “sophós (σοφός),” meaning “clever, skillful, cunning, able, intelligent, wise, prudent.” Sophia, and other variants such as Sonia and Sonja, is a feminine given name in many areas of the world, including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and India. Sonja and Sonya are Russian variations of Sophia. The name was widespread by a 1917 bestselling novel “Sonia” by Stephen McKenna. It was used to represent the personification of wisdom and is also the name of an early Christian martyr. Sophia is one of the most popular names in the world and the most popular given name for girls in the US for 2012.
This name derives from Latin “margarīta” (perla) via Ancient Greek “margarī́tēs (μαργᾰρῑ́της),” meaning “pearl,” from the name of a legendary third-century Saint. The word is related to “marg” from “marq” or “marka,” meaning “chicken,” probably because pearls looked like small bird eggs. It became less popular between the 16th-century and 18th-century but became more common again after this period, becoming the second most popular name in the United States in 1903. It may be related to the Sanskrit word “mañjarī” (cluster of flowers, pearl), or it may be associated with the Persian “marvârid” (a pearl or daughter of light). 1) Blessed Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) is an Italian Roman Catholic Church patron of the poor, crippled, and the unwanted. 2) Saint Margaret of Scotland (~1045–1093), also known as Margaret of Wessex and Queen Margaret of Scotland, was an English princess of the House of Wessex. Margaret was sometimes called “The Pearl of Scotland.”
This name derives from the Old French and Norman nickname “paon,” from the Old English “pēa,” a by-form of Old English “pāwa,” Middle English “po,” from the Latin “pāvō > pāvōnis,” which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek “taṓs (ταώς),” meaning “plumage, peacock,” a bird associated with Argus and sacred to Hera; eaten as a delicacy. The name is also used for a vainglorious person. The name might be connected to Tamil “tōkai,” with the same meaning.
This name derives from the Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Greek root “Îsis (Ἶσις) Ísida (Ίσιδα) dôron (δῶρον),” meaning “gift of Isis.” Isis was the goddess of magic, and she is the most powerful of goddesses in Ancient Egyptian religion, and whose worship also spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. She was worshipped as the ideal mother and wife as well as the patron of nature and magic. Saint Isidore of Seville (Spanish: San Isidro or San Isidoro de Sevilla, Latin: Isidorus Hispalensis) (~560–636) served as Archbishop of Seville for more than three decades and is considered, as the historian Montalembert put it in an oft-quoted phrase, “the last scholar of the ancient world.”
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “órthros (ὄρθρος),” meaning “morning light, early dawn, early morning, day-break.” In Greek mythology, Orthrus was, according to the mythographer Apollodorus, a two-headed dog who guarded Geryon’s cattle and was killed by Heracles. According to Hesiod, Orthrus was the Sphinx father and the Nemean Lion, though who Hesiod meant as the mother, whether Echidna, the Chimera, or Ceto, is unclear. In the Byzantine Rite of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches, Orthros is the last of the four-night offices, including vespers, compline, and midnight office.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Paíōn (Παίων) Paiónios (Παιώνιος)” meaning “healthy, life and prosperity.” 1) In Greek mythology, Paean was the physician of the gods. The name Paean is believed to be first attested in Mycenaean Greek as an alternative name of Apollo. A god of healing named “Παιήων” is mentioned twice in the Iliad. In book 5, the Olympian god of war, Ares is wounded by mortal hero Diomedes, assisted by Athena. 2) The peony is a flowering plant in the genus Paeonia, the only genus in the family Paeoniaceae. They are native to Asia, Europe, and Western North America. 3) Paeonius of Mende, Chalkidiki, was a Greek sculptor of the late 5th century BC.
This name is related etymologically to the names Leontius and Leonidas and derives from the Ancient Greek “leōn (λεων),” meaning “lion.” Pope Leo I (Leone Magno), was the head of the Catholic Church from 29 September 440 to his death in 461. Léonie Aviat, in religion “Sister Françoise de Sales,” was a French nun and founder of the Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales. John Paul II canonized her in 2001. Leonidas was a Greek hero-king of Sparta, the 17th of the Agiad line Leonidas I (490–480 BCE), third son of King Anaxandridas II of Sparta.
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) From the Ancient Greek “Zèn (Ζήν),” another name of Zeus (as in Zeno and Zenobia), even if a Persian origin is not excluded. Saints Abdon and Sennen, variously written in early calendars and martyrologies Abdo, Abdus, and Sennes, Sennis, Zennen, are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as Christian Martyrs, with a feast day on 30 July.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “Íphis (Ἶφις),” from “îphi (ἶφι) Ī́phidos (Ἴφιδος),” meaning “strong, might.” Iphis was a name attributed to eight individuals in Greek mythology. Some of them were: 1) According to the Roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Iphis (or Iphys) was the daughter of Telethusa and Ligdus in Crete. 2) One of the daughters of Thespius and Megamede. She bore Heracles a son, Celeustanor. 3) Daughter of Peneus, mother of Salmoneus by Aeolus, the son of Hellen.
Fem is a short form of Femke, Femme, and Eufemia. It is of Greek, Germanic and Old English (Anglo-Saxon) origin and comes from the following roots: (EUPHḖMIOS) (FRIDUMAR) (FRIDUMAN) (FRITHURIC) (*FRIÞUZ LINDI / LINTA) and (ÆLFÞRYÐ).
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “zô (ζῶ) zōḗ (ζωή),” meaning “to live, a living, property, life.” Zōḗ is a Hellenization of the Hebrew name “Eve,” which means “To live” (Latin: vita qua vivimus). Zoe and its variants are used a lot since 1980 and especially amongst Christians of Eastern Europe. In fact is a calque of the classical Hebrew name (khavá, ‘Eve’). It was the name of a third-century martyr venerated in the Orthodox Church. Saint Zoe of Rome († ~286) was a noblewoman, married to Nicostratus, a high Roman court official.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek “pûr (πῦρ) (Greek; pyr ‘πυρ’ / Old English; fȳr / English; fire),” meaning “fire, blaze.” In Greek mythology, Pyrrhus is the nickname given to the hero Neoptolemus, while Pyrrha was the wife of Deucalion, who, with her husband, helped to repopulate the earth after the Flood. Pyrrhus was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic period. He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house (from ~297 BC), and later he became king of Epirus (~306–302, 297–272 BC).
The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) Maybe from Yuri a diminutive form of “Georgiy, Yegor,” from the Ancient Greek name “Geṓrgios (Γεώργιος),” from the element: “geōrgós (γεωργός)” (tilling the ground, fertilizing), which in turn derives from “gê (γῆ)” (land, earth, country, soil) plus “érgon (ἔργον)” (deed, doing, action, labor, work, task). In turn, the name means “land worker, farmer.” 2) It may be of Persian origin. Saint Gurias, Archbishop of Kazan (Russian: Guriy, secular name Grigory Grigorievich Rougotin), died the 5 of December of 1563, was the first archbishop of the Kazan diocese, established in 1555. He was born in the town of Radonezh outside Moscow into the family of a courtier. His parents were not wealthy, and so from his early years, he had to serve Prince Ivan Penkov as the steward of his estates.
This name derives from the Ancient Greek name “Apollōníā (Ἀπολλωνίᾱ), which in turn derives from “Apóllōn (Ᾰ̓πόλλων).” Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in ancient Greek and Roman religion and mythology. 1) Apollonia was an ancient Greek city in Illyria, located on the right bank of the Aous river (modern-day Vjosë). Its ruins are situated in the Fier region, near the village of Pojani, in modern-day Albania. 2) Saint Apollonia was one of a group of virgin martyrs who suffered in Alexandria during a local uprising against the Christians before the persecution of Decius.
Mae is a diminutive form of Mary, Margaret, and Mabel. It is of Hebrew and Greek origin and comes from the following roots: (MIRIAM) (MARGARĪ́TĒS) and (ĂMĀBĬLIS / BELLUS).
Mel is a short form of Melvyn, Melvin, Melanie, Melina, Melinda, Melissa, Melody, Melitta, and Melville. It is of Latin, Old French, and Greek origin and comes from the roots: (MALLEVILLE) (MELANÍA) (MÈLISSA) and (MĔLŌDĬA). Melissa is Bee-nymph in Greek mythology.
Greek names developed within the Hellenic branch of Indo-European, one of the oldest documented languages. The naming traditions from Greece and the Mediterranean have evolved over centuries, shaped by migration, trade, religion, and cultural exchange. Today's Greek names carry this history.
Ancient Greek names honored the Olympian gods, celebrated military victories, and marked philosophical ideals. Names like Alexander ("defender of men") and Sophia ("wisdom") spread far beyond Greece through Hellenistic culture and later Christian tradition. Many English words and names trace back to Greek roots.
Today, Greek names appear far beyond Greece and the Mediterranean. Immigration, global media, and cultural exchange have made many Greek names familiar worldwide. Parents choose these names to honor heritage, appreciate their meanings, or simply because they like how they sound. The 21,674 names in this collection range from ancient choices still popular today to names that have fallen out of use but retain historical interest.
Greek names often honor ancient gods, heroes, and philosophical concepts. Compound names combining two meaningful elements were favored in antiquity. Many names carry meanings related to victory, wisdom, or divine qualities.
The Greek Orthodox tradition of naming children after saints, with name days celebrated like birthdays, continues today.
These traditional patterns still matter, but modern parents also mix things up. Some combine traditional and contemporary elements, pick names from other cultures, or create unique variations of classic names.
This collection breaks down to 55% masculine names (11,975) and 43% feminine names (9,416).
Greek pronunciation follows patterns that may differ from English. Here are key points for English speakers:
Modern Greek pronunciation differs from ancient Greek. The "ch" represents a guttural sound, not "ch" as in "church". Stress is marked with an accent in modern Greek spelling.
When in doubt about pronunciation, listening to native speakers helps more than reading transliterations. Each name page has a pronunciation guide. If you're considering a Greek name for your child, say it out loud and think about how others in your community will pronounce it.
With 21,674 names in our database, Greek is one of our bigger origin categories. These names appear on birth certificates worldwide, from Greece and the Mediterranean to immigrant communities on every continent.
The collection offers balanced options for both genders, with 11,975 names for boys and 9,416 for girls.
Current naming trends show renewed interest in heritage names, with parents seeking meaningful connections to cultural roots. Some Greek names have crossed over to mainstream use, while others remain specific to Greek-speaking communities.
Popular Greek names for boys include Alexander, Jade, Jada, Owen, Jayda. Our database contains 11,975 Greek names traditionally given to boys, ranging from classic choices to unique options.
Our collection includes 9,416 Greek names for girls. Popular choices blend traditional sounds with meaningful origins. Use the feminine tab to explore options organized by popularity.
Greek names carry meanings from the Hellenic branch of Indo-European, one of the oldest documented languages. Common themes in Greek names include nature, noble, divine, new. Each name in our database includes its specific meaning and cultural context.
Greek pronunciation follows specific patterns. Modern Greek pronunciation differs from ancient Greek. Each name page includes a pronunciation guide to help English speakers say the name correctly.
This database contains 21,674 Greek names: 11,975 for boys and 9,416 for girls. This represents documented names that have been used historically or are in current use. The actual number of Greek names ever used is certainly higher.
Spelling difficulty depends on the specific name and your familiarity with Greek phonetics. Some Greek names have been adapted to English spelling conventions, making them straightforward. Others retain original spellings that may be unfamiliar. Consider how important easy spelling is to you when choosing a name.