Ancient Greek Names — Origins, Meanings & History

Artemisia Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Artemisia is a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, derived from the masculine form Artemisios, which itself comes from the name of the Greek goddess Artemis. The name is most famously associated with the 4th-cen...

Artemisios Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Artemisios is an ancient Greek masculine name derived from the name of the goddess Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo and daughter of Zeus and Leto. The name Artemis itself is of uncertain etymology, possibly related to...

Artemius Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Artemius is a Latinized form of Artemios, itself derived from the name of the Greek goddess Artemis. The name was borne by a notable historical figure: Flavius Artemius, a 4th-century Syrian general of the Roman Empire a...

Artemon Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Artemon is an Ancient Greek name, derived from Artemis, the name of the Greek goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, and the moon. The name Artemis itself is of unknown meaning, possibly linked to Greek artemes meaning "sa...

Asclepiades Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyAsclepiades is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek personal name Asklepiades. This name is derived from the name of the Greek god Asklepios (the god of healing and medicine), combined with the patronymic suf...

Asklepiades Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Asklepiades was an ancient Greek personal name, formed by combining the name of the god Asklepios with the patronymic suffix ἴδης, meaning "descendant of Asklepios" or "son of Asklepios." Several notable figures in antiq...

Aspasia Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Aspasia is a female given name of Greek origin, derived from the ancient Greek ἀσπάσιος (aspasios), meaning "welcome, embrace." The name therefore signifies a warm reception or gracious welcome, reflecting its linguistic...

Asterios Masculine Greek Greek +1 Greek Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyAsterios is the Greek form of Asterius, itself a Latinized derivative of the Greek name Asterios. Unsurprisingly, the name hails from the Greek word aster meaning "star", conferring upon the bearer a celestial s...

Asterius Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Asterius is the Latinized form of the Greek name Asterios (Ἀστέριος), derived from aster (ἀστήρ), meaning "star". In Greek mythology, Asterius is an alternate name for the Minotaur, the half-bull, half-man monster confin...

Athanas Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Athanas is an Ancient Greek masculine name, functioning as a short form of Athanasios (or its Latinized counterpart Athanasius). The meaning of Athanasios derives from the Greek elements a-, a negative prefix, and thanat...

Athanasia Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Athanasia is a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin. It functions as the feminine counterpart of Athanasius, specifically deriving from the masculine form Athanasios.The name is composed of two Greek elements: the...

Athanasios Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

OverviewAthanasios is a Greek masculine given name, derived from the ancient Greek name Ἀθανάσιος (Athanasios), meaning "immortal" — a combination of the negative prefix ἀ (a, "not") and θάνατος (thanatos, "death"). In c...

Athanasius Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Athanasius is a masculine given name derived from the Greek name Ἀθανάσιος (Athanasios), meaning "immortal." The name is composed of the Greek negative prefix ἀ (a) combined with θάνατος (thanatos), meaning "death," thus...

Athenais Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Athenais is an ancient Greek feminine personal name derived from the name of the Greek goddess Athena. The goddess Athena, whose own name may originate from the city of Athens, was the deity of wisdom, warfare, and craft...

Athenodoros Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Athenodoros is an ancient Greek masculine name meaning "gift of Athena." It is composed of the name of the goddess Athena and the Greek element δῶρον (doron), meaning "gift." The name thus reflects a dedicatory or honori...

Atticus Masculine Ancient Greek Literature Ancient Greek Literature

Atticus is a masculine given name of Greek origin, Latinized from Ἀττικός (Attikos), meaning "from Attica" — the region surrounding ancient Athens. Originally a Roman cognomen used by families of Greek heritage or those...

Attikos Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Attikos is the original Greek form of Atticus, derived directly from the Greek adjective Ἀττικός (Attikos) meaning "from Attica" or "Attic". Attica is the historical region surrounding Athens, Greece, making the name inh...

Auxentios Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Auxentios is a masculine name of Ancient Greek origin, derived from the Greek verb αὐξάνω (auxano), meaning “to increase, to grow.” This etymology reflects a common pattern in Greek onomastics, where names often convey v...

Auxentius Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Other Languages & Cultures

Berenice Feminine English Italian +1 English Italian Ancient Greek

Berenice is a feminine given name with a rich history in English, Italian, and Ancient Greek. It is the Latinized form of the Ancient Macedonian name Berenike (Βερενίκη), which ultimately derives from the Greek Pherenike...

Berenike Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Berenike is the Ancient Macedonian form of Berenice. It derives from the Greek name Φερενίκη (Pherenike), meaning "bringing victory," from φέρω (phero) "to bring" and νίκη (nike) "victory." The name was especially popula...

Bion Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Bion is a name of Ancient Greek origin, derived from the word bios, meaning “life.” Its most direct etymological root is the Greek noun βίος (bios), which refers to the course or manner of life, often contrasted with zōē...

Callias Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Callias is the Latinized form of Kallias, an Ancient Greek name derived from κάλλος (kallos), meaning "beauty". Etymology and Historical Context The name Kallias originates from the Greek word kallos, which denotes physi...

Callinicus Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Callinicus is the Latinized form of the Greek name Kallinikos, derived from kallos (kallos) meaning "beauty" and nike (nike) meaning "victory," thus signifying "beautiful victory." The feminine equivalent is Callinice or...

Cassander Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cassander is the Latinized form of the Greek name Κάσσανδρος (Kassandros), which serves as the masculine counterpart of Cassandra. The name Cassander is of Ancient Greek origin and is most famously associated with a 3rd-...

Chares Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyChares is an Ancient Greek name derived from χάρις (charis), meaning “grace, kindness.” It belongs to a family of names rooted in the same concept, including the feminine Charis and the variant Chariton. In Gree...

Chariclea Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Chariclea is the Latinized form of the Greek name Charikleia and shares its meaning: "grace" and "glory," composed from the Greek elements charis meaning "grace, kindness" and kleos meaning "glory." The name is most famo...

Charikleia Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Charikleia (Greek: Χαρίκλεια) is a feminine given name of ancient Greek origin, composed of the elements χάρις (charis), meaning “grace, kindness,” and κλέος (kleos), meaning “glory.” Thus, the name can be interpreted as...

Charilaos Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Charilaos is a Greek male given name that combines two meaningful elements: charis, meaning "grace" or "kindness," and laos, meaning "people." The full meaning is thus "grace of the people." The name is rendered in Latin...

Charis Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Charis is an Ancient Greek feminine name derived from the word χάρις (charis), meaning "grace, kindness." It is the feminine form of the masculine name Chares, which was borne by a 4th-century BC Athenian general and by...

Chariton Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Chariton is an Ancient Greek masculine name derived from χάρις (charis), meaning "grace, kindness." The name is best known as that of Chariton of Aphrodisias, a 1st-century Greek novelist who authored one of the earliest...

Charmion Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Charmion is a name of Ancient Greek origin, derived from χάρμα (charma), meaning "delight." It is best known from Plutarch's account of Cleopatra's servant, a loyal attendant present at the queen's suicide. The name is a...

Chloe Feminine English Greek +4 English Greek English Bible Greek Bible Latin Bible +1

Chloe is a feminine given name of Greek origin, meaning "green shoot" (from Greek χλόη, referring to new plant growth in spring). It was used as an epithet of the Greek goddess Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fer...

Chreste Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Chreste is a feminine Ancient Greek name, derived from the masculine Chrestos. The root name comes from the Greek word χρηστός (chrestos), meaning "useful" or "good."

Chrestos Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Chrestos is an Ancient Greek masculine given name, derived from the Greek word χρηστός (chrestos), meaning "useful" or "good." The name belongs to a broader classical onomastic tradition emphasizing virtuous qualities, a...

Chrysanthe Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Chrysanthe is a feminine given name of Ancient Greek origin, forming the feminine counterpart of Chrysanthos. The name directly translates to "golden flower," deriving from the Greek elements chryseos (χρύσεος) meaning "...

Chrysanthos Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Chrysanthos is a masculine name of Greek origin meaning "golden flower." It derives from the Greek elements chryseos ("golden") and anthos ("flower"), an evocative compound that reflects the practice of creating ornament...

Cleis Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cleis is a Latinized form of the ancient Greek name Κλεΐς (Kleis), which is derived from the Greek word κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory." This etymological root links Cleis to concepts of fame and renown, common in many Gre...

Cleisthenes Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cleisthenes is the Latinized form of the Greek name Κλεισθένης (Kleisthenes), which is derived from the Greek elements κλέος (kleos) meaning “glory” and σθένος (sthenos) meaning “strength”. Thus, the name can be interpre...

Cleitus Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyCleitus is the Latinized form of the Greek name Kleitos, which derives from the Greek word κλειτός (kleitos) meaning "splendid" or "famous". This etymological root is shared with many other Greek names incorpora...

Cleon Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cleon is the Latinized form of the Greek name Κλέων (Kleon), derived from κλέος (kleos), meaning "glory."EtymologyThe name Κλέων is formed from the Greek noun κλέος, which signifies "fame" or "glory." It shares its root...

Cleonice Feminine Portuguese Ancient Greek Portuguese Ancient Greek

Cleonice is a Latinized feminine given name with roots in Ancient Greek. It is derived from Kleonike, itself composed of the Greek elements kleos meaning "glory" and nike meaning "victory," thus signifying "glorious vict...

Cleopatra Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cleopatra is the Latinized form of the Greek name Kleopatra, meaning "glory of the father", from Greek kleos (kleos) "glory" and pater (pater) "father". This name was particularly prominent in the Ptolemaic dynasty of Eg...

Cléopâtre Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cléopâtre is the French form of the Ancient Greek name Cleopatra, which derives from the Greek elements kleos meaning "glory" and pater meaning "father" (genitive patros), thus "glory of the father."Etymology and Origins...

Clisthenes Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyClisthenes is a variant of Cleisthenes, the Latinized form of the Greek name Kleisthenes. The name derives from the Greek elements κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory" and σθένος (sthenos) meaning "strength", thus conv...

Clitus Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Clitus is a Latinized form of the Ancient Greek name Kleitos, derived from the Greek word κλειτός (kleitós), meaning "splendid, famous." As a masculine given name, it has ancient roots, originating in the Classical Greek...

Corinna Feminine English German +2 English German Italian Ancient Greek

Corinna is a feminine name with deep roots in Ancient Greek language and literature. It is the Latinized form of the Greek Κόριννα (Korinna), which derives from κόρη (kore), the Attic Greek word for "maiden." This etymol...

Corinthia Feminine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Corinthia is a Latinized feminine name derived from the Greek Korinthia (Κορινθία), a demonym meaning "woman from Corinth". Corinth was one of the most powerful city-states in ancient Greece, known for its wealth, commer...

Cosmas Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cosmas is a masculine given name of Ancient Greek origin, derived from the name Κοσμᾶς (Kosmas), which comes from the Greek word κόσμος (kosmos) meaning "order, world, universe." The name is closely associated with Saint...

Cyrillus Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Cyrillus is the Latinized form of the Greek name Kyrillos, which ultimately derives from the Greek root Cyril. The root name Cyril comes from the Greek κύριος (kyrios), meaning "lord," a term used in the Greek Bible to r...

Damasos Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Damasos is an Ancient Greek name, the original Hellenic form of the Latinized Damasus. Damasos derives from the Greek verb δαμάζω (damazo), meaning "to tame" or "to subdue." Its literal sense thus evokes themes of master...

Damasus Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyDamasus is a Latinized form of the Greek name Damasos (Δάμασος), which derives from the verb δαμάζω (damazo), meaning "to tame." The name thus carries connotations of subdual or mastery.Notable BearersThe most p...

Damianos Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Damianos is the Ancient Greek form of the name Damian, borne most famously by the 4th-century Christian martyr Saint Damian. The name is derived from the Greek verb δαμάζω (damazo), meaning "to tame," via the intermediat...

Damianus Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Damianus is a Latinized form of the Greek name Damianos, which itself derives from the root Damian. The name Damian comes from the Greek word δαμάζω (damazō), meaning "to tame." This etymology reflects a quality of maste...

Demeas Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyDemeas is an Ancient Greek masculine name derived from the Greek word δῆμος (demos), meaning "the people." The name reflects a common practice in Greek onomastics of using social or political concepts as persona...

Demetria Feminine English Ancient Greek English Ancient Greek

Demetria is a feminine given name, the female form of Demetrius. It originates from Ancient Greek Δημητρία (Demetria), literally meaning "follower of Demeter" — the Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility. Etymology a...

Demetrios Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Demetrios is the Ancient Greek form of Demetrius, as well as an alternate transcription of the Modern Greek Dimitrios. The name derives from the Greek goddess Demeter 1, the goddess of agriculture and fertility, and mean...

Demetrius Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Demetrius is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male given name Demetrios, which itself is derived from the name of the Greek goddess Demeter. Demeter was the goddess of harvest, grain, and fertility in ancient Gree...

Democritus Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Democritus (c. 460 – c. 370 BC) is the Latinized form of the Greek name Demokritos (Δημόκριτος), which derives from the elements δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people" and κριτής (krites) meaning "judge, critic". The name th...

Demokritos Masculine Ancient Greek Ancient Greek

Demokritos is the Ancient Greek form of the name Democritus, which was Latinized from Δημόκριτος (Dēmókritos). The name is derived from the Greek elements δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people" and κριτής (krites) meaning "j...