Greek Names — Origins, Meanings & History

Aristotelis Masculine Greek Greek

Aristotelis is the Modern Greek form of the ancient name Aristotle, renowned for its association with one of the most influential philosophers in Western history.Etymology and OriginThe name derives from the Ancient Gree...

Artemis Feminine Greek Greek Greek Greek

Etymology and OriginsArtemis is a name of uncertain etymology, rooted in ancient Greek. It may derive from the Greek word ἀρτεμής (artemes), meaning "safe" or "unharmed," or alternatively from ἄρταμος (artamos), meaning...

Asimina Feminine Greek Greek

Asimina is a Greek feminine name derived from the word ασήμι (asimi), meaning "silver". While primarily used as a personal name in Greece, the name also appears in a completely different context: it is the scientific nam...

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...

Athan Masculine Greek Greek

Etymology and Meaning Athan is a Greek masculine given name, typically used as a short form of Athanasios or its Latin equivalent Athanasius. The root name derives from the Greek athanatos (a-, "not," + thanatos, "death"...

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...

Athina Feminine Greek Greek

Athina is the modern Greek form of the name Athena. In Greek mythology, Athena is the revered goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicraft, often associated with the city of Athens, whose name is thought to derive from her...

Avra Feminine Greek Greek

EtymologyAvra is the Greek feminine given name, derived from the Latin aura, which in turn comes from the Greek αὔρα meaning 'breeze'. It is thus a direct Greek form of Aura, essentially identical in both spelling and me...

Avraam Masculine Greek Greek

Avraam is the modern Greek form of Abraham. The name Abraham itself derives from the Hebrew ʾAvraham, traditionally interpreted as meaning "father of many" or a contraction of Abram and hamon (“multitude”). According to...

Babis Masculine Greek Greek

Babis is a Greek masculine given name, typically used as a diminutive of Charalampos (also spelled Charalambos). This name bears a rich heritage within Greek language and culture. The root name Charalampos derives from t...

Chara Feminine Greek Greek

Chara is a feminine given name with multiple origins. In Greek, it is derived from the Ancient Greek word khará, meaning "happiness, joy". Chara (Χαρά) is a common modern Greek name often used as a short form of Charalam...

Charalambos Masculine Greek Greek

Charalambos is a Greek masculine given name, an alternate transcription of Charalampos (Greek Χαράλαμπος). The name derives from the Greek elements chara (χαρά) meaning 'happiness' and lampo (λάμπω) meaning 'to shine', t...

Charalampos Masculine Greek Greek

Charalampos is a Greek male given name derived from the elements chara (χαρά), meaning "happiness" or "joy," and lampo (λάμπω), meaning "to shine." Combined, the name signifies "to shine from happiness" or "glowing with...

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...

Chariklia Feminine Greek Greek

Chariklia is a modern Greek transcription of Charikleia, a female given name of ancient origin. The name derives from the Greek elements charis (χάρις), meaning “grace, kindness,” and kleos (κλέος), meaning “glory.” Thus...

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...

Charoula Feminine Greek Greek

Charoula is a diminutive of the Greek name Chara, which means "happiness, joy" in Greek. The suffix -oula is a common diminutive marker in Greek, often used to convey affection or endearment. Thus, Charoula carries the m...

Christakis Masculine Greek Greek

Christakis is a Greek masculine name that began as a diminutive of Christos 2, the Modern Greek form of the ancient name Chrestos (meaning “useful, good”). Over time, the spelling of Christos was conflated with the more...

Christina Feminine Danish Dutch +5 Danish Dutch English German Greek +2

Etymology and OriginChristina is a feminine given name derived from the Latin Christiana, the feminine form of Christian. The name ultimately traces back to the Greek Christos, meaning "anointed one," a reference to Jesu...

Christodoulos Masculine Greek Greek

Etymology and MeaningChristodoulos is a Greek masculine given name that literally means "slave of Christ" or "servant of Christ." It is a theophoric name, combining the Greek Christos (Χριστός), meaning "anointed one"—a...

Christoforos Masculine Greek Greek

Christoforos is a modern Greek male given name, equivalent to Christopher. It derives from the Late Greek name Christophoros (Χριστόφορος), meaning "bearing Christ," from Christos (Χριστός) and phero (φέρω), "to bear." E...

Christos 2 Masculine Greek Greek

Etymology and MeaningChristos 2 is a Modern Greek name that represents a confluence of two ancient Greek roots. It is the modern form of Chrestos, derived from the Ancient Greek χρηστός (chrestos) meaning "useful, good."...

Christos 1 Masculine Greek Greek

Christos 1 is a Modern Greek male name derived from the Greek word Χριστός (Christos), meaning "anointed". This term originates from χρίω (chrio), meaning "to anoint". It was applied to Jesus by early Greek-speaking Chri...

Chrysa Feminine Greek Greek

Chrysa is a Greek feminine given name, serving as a variant of Chrysi. Both names ultimately derive from the Greek element chrysos, meaning "golden." Chrysa shares its root with the mythological figure Chryse, a name bor...

Chrysanthi Feminine Greek Greek

Chrysanthi is a modern Greek feminine given name, derived as the feminine form of the ancient Greek name Chrysanthos. The name Chrysanthos itself means "golden flower" — from the Greek elements χρύσεος (chryseos) "golden...

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...

Chrysi Feminine Greek Greek

Chrysi is the modern Greek feminine name derived from Chryse, which itself means "golden" in Greek. The name appears in Greek mythology for several minor figures, most notably a nymph who became the mother of Phlegyas by...

Chrysostomos Masculine Greek Greek

Chrysostomos is a Greek masculine given name derived from the epithet Chrysostomos (χρυσόστομος), meaning “golden mouth.” It combines the Greek elements chrysos (χρυσός, “gold”) and stoma (στόμα, “mouth”). The name origi...

Chrysoula Feminine Greek Greek

Chrysoula is a Greek female name, functioning as a diminutive form of names such as Chrysi and Chrysanthi. The core element of these names is chrysos, meaning “gold” in Greek, symbolizing value and preciousness. The suff...

Chryssa Feminine Greek Greek

Chryssa is an alternate transcription of Greek Chrysa (Χρύσα), which is itself a variant of Chrysi, a modern Greek form of Chryse. The name ultimately derives from the Greek word chrysos (χρυσός), meaning “gold.” Chryssa...

Costas Masculine Greek Greek

Costas is a common Greek given name and surname, functioning as an alternate transcription of the Greek Κώστας (Kostas). As a short form of Konstantinos, it is the Greek equivalent of Constantine. The name ultimately der...

Dafni Feminine Greek Greek

Dafni is the modern Greek form of the name Daphne (Δάφνη), which means "laurel" in Greek. In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree by her father, the river god Peneus, to escape the p...

Danai 1 Feminine Greek Greek

Danai (Δανάη) is a modern Greek transcription of Danaë, the name of a figure from Greek mythology. In modern usage it has become a popular feminine given name in Greece, retaining its classical roots while adapting to co...

Daniil Masculine Belarusian Greek +1 Belarusian Greek Russian

Daniil is a Russian, Belarusian, and Greek form of the biblical name Daniel.EtymologyThe name ultimately derives from the Hebrew Daniyyel (דָּנִיֵּאל), meaning 'God is my judge', from the roots din ('to judge') and el ('...

Dareia Feminine Greek Greek

Dareia is the Greek form of Daria, the feminine form of the Persian name Darius. In Greek, the name is spelled Δαρεία (Dareía) and was used in ancient and Byzantine times.EtymologyThe root, Darius, comes from the Old Per...

Demetra Feminine Greek Italian +1 Greek Italian Romanian

Demetra is the Italian and Romanian form of Demeter, as well as an alternate transcription of the Greek name Δήμητρα (see Dimitra). In Greek mythology, Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, grain, and fertility, whose...

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...

Demi Feminine English Greek English Greek

Demi is a feminine given name used in English and Greek. In English, it is predominantly a short form of Demetria, the feminine form of Demetrius, which derives from the Greek Demetrios meaning "follower of Demeter" (Dem...

Despina Feminine Greek Greek

Despina is a modern Greek feminine given name, derived from the ancient Greek Despoina, meaning "mistress, lady". In Greek mythology, Despoina was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon, worshipped in the Eleusinian Myster...

Despoina Feminine Greek Greek Greek Greek

EtymologyDespoina (Greek: Δέσποινα, Déspoina) is a Greek feminine name meaning "mistress, lady". It derives from the Greek word despoina, which is the feminine form of despotēs ("master, lord"). The first element of the...

Diamantina Feminine Greek Greek

Diamantina is a feminine given name derived as a variant of Diamanto, which itself comes from the Greek word διαμάντι (diamanti) meaning "diamond." The name thus carries connotations of brilliance, value, and durability.

Diamantis Masculine Greek Greek

Diamantis is a Greek masculine given name derived from the Greek word diamanti (διαμάντι), meaning "diamond." The name thus symbolizes hardness, brilliance, and value, qualities traditionally associated with the gemstone...

Diamanto Feminine Greek Greek

Diamanto is a Greek feminine given name derived from the Greek word διαμάντι (diamanti), meaning "diamond". The name reflects the hardness, brilliance, and enduring value of the gemstone, often symbolizing strength and b...

Dimi Feminine Greek Greek

Dimi is a feminine Greek short form of Dimitra, which itself is the modern Greek form of Demeter. Demeter, the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture, derives her name from elements meaning "earth mother" (da meaning "eart...

Dimitra Feminine Greek Greek

Dimitra is a modern Greek female given name, derived from Demeter 1, the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture. The name Demeter itself is thought to mean "earth mother," from the Greek word δᾶ (da) meaning "earth" and μή...

Dimitrios Masculine Greek Greek

Dimitrios is the modern Greek transcription of Demetrios, itself the original Greek form of the Latinized Demetrius. The name ultimately derives from the ancient Greek Dēmḗtrios (Δημήτριος), meaning “devoted to the godde...

Dimitris Masculine Greek Greek

Dimitris (Δημήτρης) is the Modern Greek vernacular form of the older Demetrios or Dimitrios, ultimately deriving from the ancient Greek name Demetrius (Δημήτριος). Common in Greece and Cyprus, Dimitris is widely used as...

Dimos Masculine Greek Greek

Dimosthenis and Dimitrios origins Dimos is a short form of either Dimitrios or Dimosthenis — two names with distinct etymologies—and is widely used as a given name or nickname in modern Greece, rarely as a surname. Dimos...

Dimosthenis Masculine Greek Greek

Dimosthenis is a modern Greek transcription of the ancient name Demosthenes (Δημοσθένης). It is a masculine given name still used in Greece today.EtymologyDemosthenes is derived from the Greek elements δῆμος (demos), mea...

Diomidis Masculine Greek Greek

Diomidis is the modern Greek transcription of the ancient name Diomedes, one of the most celebrated heroes in Greek mythology. The name Diomedes is derived from the Greek elements Dios (Διός), meaning "of Zeus", and mede...

Dionysia Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Dionysia is a feminine given name derived from Dionysius, the Latin form of the Greek name Dionysios. The name ultimately traces back to Dionysos, the Greek god of wine, revelry, fertility, and dance, whose name is compo...

Dionysios Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Dionysios is a Greek personal name derived from the name of the Greek god Dionysos. Etymologically, it is a nominalized adjective formed with a -ios suffix from the stem Dionys-, paralleling patterns like Apollon-ios fro...

Domna Feminine Greek Medieval Latin Greek Medieval Latin

Domna is a feminine name with two distinct historical threads. As a name of Saint Domna of Nicomedia, it is considered the feminine form of Domnus, itself derived from Vulgar Latin domnus (Latin dominus) meaning "lord, m...

Dora Feminine Bulgarian Croatian +8 Bulgarian Croatian Dutch English German +5

Dora is a female given name of Greek origin, commonly used as a short form of such names as Dorothy, Theodora, or Isidora. It is used across many European languages, including Bulgarian, Croatian, Dutch, English, German,...

Dorotheos Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Dorotheos is the Greek masculine form of Dorothea, meaning "gift of god" from Greek δῶρον (doron) "gift" and θεός (theos) "god". The name is the male counterpart of Dorothea and a cognate of Theodore, which reverses the...

Effimia Feminine Greek Greek

Effimia is the modern Greek form of the ancient name Euphemia, combining the Greek elements eu (“good”) and phemi (“to speak, to declare”), thus meaning “to use words of good omen” or simply “well-spoken.” History and Or...

Effrosyni Feminine Greek Greek

Effrosyni is a modern Greek female given name, derived from the ancient Greek name Euphrosyne.EtymologyEuphrosyne means "mirth, merriment, cheerfulness" in Greek, stemming from the words eu (eu) meaning "good" and phren...