Greek Names — Origins, Meanings & History

Evanthe Feminine Greek Greek

Evanthe is the Latinized form of Euanthe, an Ancient Greek name. The name Euanthe is derived from the Greek adjective εὐανθής (euanthes), meaning "blooming, flowery", which itself is composed of the prefix eu meaning "go...

Gaea Feminine Greek Greek

Gaea is a Latinized form of Gaia, the primordial Earth goddess in Greek mythology. The name is directly derived from the Greek word gaia (Γαῖα), a poetic variant of gē (Γῆ) meaning "earth". In the Roman pantheon, she was...

Gaia Feminine Italian Greek Italian Greek

Gaia, also spelled Gaea, is a feminine given name of Greek and Italian usage. It derives from the Greek word γαῖα (gaia), a poetic parallel form of γῆ (ge), both meaning "earth". In Greek mythology, Gaia is the primordia...

Galatea Feminine Greek Greek

Galatea is the Latinized form of the Greek name Γαλάτεια (Galateia), which likely derives from the Greek word γάλα (gala), meaning "milk." In Greek mythology, this name belongs to several notable characters. The most fam...

Galateia Feminine Greek Greek

Galateia is a Greek feminine given name, referring to the original Greek form of the Latinized name Galatea. The name derives from the Ancient Greek word gala (γάλα), meaning 'milk', suggesting a connotation of brightnes...

Galene Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyGalene is the feminine form of the Ancient Greek name Galenos, derived from the Greek word γαλήνη (galēnē), meaning "calm" or "serene." The root is also linked to the modern name Galen.Mythological SignificanceI...

Ganymede Masculine Greek Greek

Ganymede is a name of Greek origin, derived from Γανυμήδης (Ganymedes). The name is believed to come from the Greek elements γάνυμαι (ganymai), meaning "to be glad," and μήδεα (medea), meaning "plans, counsel, cunning."...

Ganymedes Masculine Greek Greek

Ganymedes is the Greek form of the name Ganymede, originating from Ancient Greek Γανυμήδης (Ganymēdēs). The name is believed to derive from the elements γάνυμαι (ganymai, “to be glad”) and μήδεα (mēdea, “plans, counsel,...

Glauce Feminine Greek Greek

Glauce is the Latinized form of the ancient Greek name Γλαυκή (Glauke), the feminine counterpart of Glaucus. The name derives from the Greek word γλαυκός (glaukos), meaning "bluish-grey" or "gleaming," and is related to...

Glaucus Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Glaucus is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek name Γλαῦκος (Glaukos), meaning "bluish grey", "shiny", "bright", or "glimmering". In Greek mythology, Glaucus was a prophetic sea god who began life as a mortal fisherm...

Glauke Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Glauke is the Greek form of Glauce, a name rooted in the ancient Greek word glaukos (γλαυκός), meaning "bluish grey" or "gleaming." The name is feminine and was used in both Greek and Ancient Greek contexts, carrying wit...

Glaukos Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Glaukos is the direct Greek form of the name Glaucus, derived from the Greek word glaukos (Γλαῦκος), meaning "bluish-grey" — a color often associated with the sea, olive leaves, or the eyes of the goddess Athena. In Gree...

Hades Masculine Greek Greek

Hades is a masculine name of Greek origin, derived from the Ancient Greek Ἅιδης (Haides), itself from ἀϊδής (aides), meaning "unseen." In Greek mythology, Hades was the god of the underworld, a dark realm that also came...

Haides Masculine Greek Greek

Haides is the original Ancient Greek form of the name Hades, the god of the underworld in Greek mythology. The name in its earliest attested writings, such as in Homer's epics, appears as ᾍδης (Haides). After the classic...

Halcyone Feminine Greek Greek

EtymologyHalcyone is a Latinized form of the Greek name Ἁλκυόνη (Halkyone), a misspelled variant of Ἀλκυόνη (Alkyone), which is the true name of the mythological figure. The spelling variation arose from a false folk ety...

Halimede Feminine Greek Greek

Halimede is a Greek mythological name, primarily known as one of the Nereids, the fifty sea nymphs who accompanied the god Poseidon. The name is derived from the Greek elements ἅλς (hals), meaning "sea, brine, salt," and...

Halkyone Feminine Greek Greek

Halkyone is a Greek variant or misspelling of Halcyone. The name itself is derived from the Latinized form of the ancient Greek name Alkyone (Ἀλκυόνη), which comes from the Greek word alkyōn (ἀλκυών) meaning "kingfisher....

Harmonia Feminine Greek Greek

Harmonia (Ἁρμονία) is a Greek name meaning "harmony, agreement". In Greek mythology, she was the goddess of harmony and concord, the opposite of Eris (discord). Her Roman counterpart is Concordia. Harmonia is best known...

Hebe Feminine Greek Greek

Etymology Hebe is a name derived from the Greek word ἥβη (hebe) meaning "youth." In Greek mythology, Hebe was the goddess of youth, and her name directly reflects her domain over the vitality and vigor of youth. Mytholog...

Hecate Feminine Greek Greek

Hecate (pronounced HEK-ə-tee) is a name of Greek origin, representing the ancient goddess Hekate (Ἑκάτη). The name is often linked to the Greek word ἑκάς (hekas), meaning "far off," though the etymology remains somewhat...

Hector Masculine English French +2 English French Greek Arthurian Cycle

Hector is a masculine given name used in English, French, Greek, and in the context of the Arthurian Cycle. It is the Latinized form of the Greek name Ἕκτωρ (Hektor), which is derived from the Greek word ἕκτωρ (hektor),...

Hecuba Feminine Greek Greek

Hecuba is a Latinized form of the Greek name Ἑκάβη (Hekabe), whose meaning remains uncertain. In Greek mythology, she was the wife of King Priam of Troy and the mother of many children, including Hector, Paris, Cassandra...

Hekabe Feminine Greek Greek

Hekabe is the Greek form of Hecuba, the name of the queen of Troy in Greek mythology. The name Hecuba (Ancient Greek: Ἑκάβη) is of uncertain meaning, though it may be related to words meaning “far-off” or “to sound.” In...

Hekate Feminine Greek Greek

Hekate is the Greek form of the name Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, and the underworld in ancient Greek religion and mythology. The name derives from the Ancient Greek Ἑκάτη (Hekate), which is possibly li...

Hektor Masculine Greek Greek

Hektor is the Greek form of Hector, a name derived from the Greek word ἕκτωρ (hektor), meaning "holding fast" or "holder," ultimately from the verb ἔχω (echo), meaning "to hold" or "to possess." The name is most famous i...

Helen Feminine Danish English +4 Danish English Estonian Norwegian Swedish +1

Helen is a feminine given name derived from the Ancient Greek Ἑλένη (Helene). Its etymology is uncertain, but it is often associated with Greek helene meaning "torch" or "corposant", or possibly linked to selene (moon)....

Helena Feminine Catalan Croatian +17 Catalan Croatian Czech Danish Dutch +14

Etymology and OriginsHelena is the Latinate form of Helen, derived from the Greek name Ἑλένη (Helene). The meaning of the name is uncertain, but it is often associated with the Greek word ἑλένη (helene) meaning "torch" o...

Helene Feminine Danish German +4 Danish German Norwegian Swedish Greek +1

Helene is the Ancient Greek form of Helen, as well as the modern Scandinavian and German form of the name. In Greek, it is written as Ἑλένη, and it was borne in mythology by the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose abduction...

Helios Masculine Greek Greek

Helios is the personification of the Sun in ancient Greek religion and mythology. His name means "sun" in Greek (Ancient Greek: Ἥλιος, pronounced [hɛ̌ːlios]). As a Titan, he is the son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, a...

Helius Masculine Greek Greek

Helius is the Latinized form of Helios. In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Helios is the god who personifies the Sun, often depicted with a radiant crown and driving a horse-drawn chariot across the sky. The name i...

Helle 2 Feminine Greek Greek

Helle is a name of uncertain meaning, primarily known from Greek mythology. According to legend, Helle was the daughter of King Athamas and Nephele, a cloud nymph. She and her twin brother Phrixus were threatened with sa...

Hemera Feminine Greek Greek

Hemera is the Greek goddess who personified the daytime. Her name directly translates to "day" in Greek, reflecting her role as the bringer of daylight. In Greek mythology, according to Hesiod's Theogony, she was the dau...

Hephaestus Masculine Greek Greek

Hephaestus is the Latinized form of the Greek name Ἥφαιστος (Hephaistos), whose meaning remains unknown. It likely shares its origin with the Minoan city of Φαιστός (Phaistos), suggesting a Pre-Greek source. In Greek myt...

Hephaistos Masculine Greek Greek

Hephaistos is the original Greek form of the name Hephaestus, the god of fire, metalworking, and craftsmanship in ancient Greek mythology. The name is of uncertain etymology, but it likely shares its origin with the Mino...

Hera Feminine Greek Greek

Hera is the Greek goddess of marriage, women, and family, and the queen of the twelve Olympians in Greek mythology. She is the sister and wife of Zeus, the king of the gods, and the daughter of the Titans Cronus and Rhea...

Heracles Masculine Greek Greek

Heracles is the Greek name of a divine hero from Greek and Roman mythology, best known for his extraordinary strength and his twelve labours. The name derives from Greek Ἡρακλῆς (Herakles), meaning "glory of Hera," compo...

Herakles Masculine Greek Greek

Herakles is the original Greek form of the name Heracles, derived from Ἡρακλῆς (Heraklēs), meaning "glory of Hera". It combines the name of the goddess Hera with ᾽κλέος (kleos), meaning "glory" or "fame". In Greek mythol...

Hermes Masculine Spanish Greek +1 Spanish Greek Ancient Greek

Hermes is a name of Greek origin, derived from the ancient Greek word ἕρμα (herma) meaning "cairn, pile of stones, boundary marker." In ancient Greece, hermae were stone piles or pillars used as boundary markers and late...

Hermione Feminine Greek Greek

Hermione is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the name of the messenger god Hermes. In Greek mythology, Hermione was the daughter of Menelaus and Helen of Troy. The name was also borne by an early Chris...

Hero 1 Feminine Greek Greek

Hero 1 is a feminine first name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word ἥρως (heros) meaning "hero." In Greek mythology, Hero was a priestess of Aphrodite and the lover of Leander. According to legend, Leander would...

Herse Feminine Greek Greek

Herse is a name from Greek mythology meaning "dew, raindrops" in Greek. It refers to both a personification and a mortal figure. Etymology The name Herse is derived from the Ancient Greek word ἕρση (hérsē), meaning "dew....

Hestia Feminine Greek Greek

Hestia is the Greek goddess of the hearth, home, and domestic life, whose name derives from the Ancient Greek word ἑστία (hestia), meaning "hearth, fireplace, altar." In mythology, she is the firstborn child of the Titan...

Hippolyta Feminine Greek Greek

Hippolyta is the Latinized form of Hippolyte 1. In Greek mythology, Hippolyta was a daughter of Ares and Otrera, queen of the Amazons, a race of warrior women. Her name translates as "she who unleashes the horses," deriv...

Hippolyte 1 Feminine Greek Greek

Hippolyte is the feminine form of Hippolytos, a Greek name meaning “freer of horses,” from Greek hippos (“horse”) and luo (“to loosen”). In Greek mythology, Hippolyte was the daughter of Ares and the queen of the Amazons...

Hippolytos Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Hippolytos is a name of Ancient Greek origin, deriving from the elements ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse" and λύω (luo) meaning "to loosen," thus giving the meaning "freer of horses." The Latinized form Hippolytus is more...

Hippolytus Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Hippolytus is the Latinized form of the Greek name Hippolytos, which signifies "freer of horses." The name derives from the Greek elements hippos (horse) and luo (to loosen), evoking an image of a horse-tamer or liberato...

Homonoia Feminine Greek Greek

Homonoia means "agreement, oneness of mind" in Greek. In Greek mythology, Homonoia was a minor goddess who personified concord, unity, and harmony—both among individuals and within the state. The word itself comes from t...

Hyacinth 1 Masculine Greek Greek

Hyacinth is the English form of the Latinized name Hyacinthus, which itself derives from the ancient Greek Hyakinthos (Ὑάκινθος). The name is intimately tied to both classical mythology and Christian hagiography.Etymolog...

Hyacinthus Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Etymology and OriginHyacinthus is the Latinized form of the Greek name Hyakinthos (Ὑάκινθος), which is derived from the name of the hyacinth flower. In Greek mythology, Hyacinthus was a beautiful Spartan prince and lover...

Hyakinthos Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Hyakinthos is the Greek form of Hyacinthus, a name deeply rooted in ancient Greek mythology and religion. The name derives from the Greek word Ὑάκινθος (Hyakinthos), which originally referred to the hyacinth flower, thou...

Hydra Feminine Greek Astronomy Greek Astronomy

Hydra is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word ὕδωρ (hydor), meaning "water", and thus carries the sense of "water serpent". The name is most famously associated with the Lernaean Hydra, a ma...

Hygia Feminine Greek Greek

Hygia is the Latinized form of Hygieia, with its roots in the Greek word for "health." In Greek mythology, Hygieia was the goddess of health, cleanliness, and hygiene, often depicted as a daughter of Asclepius, the god o...

Hygieia Feminine Greek Greek

Hygieia is the Greek goddess of health, cleanliness, and hygiene, whose name directly means "health" in Greek. Her name is the etymological root of the modern word "hygiene." In Greek mythology, Hygieia is most commonly...

Hyperion Masculine Greek Greek

EtymologyHyperion is derived from the Ancient Greek name Ὑπερίων (Huperíōn), which itself comes from the Greek ὑπέρ (hyper) meaning "over". The name thus carries the sense of "one who goes above" or "the high one", fitti...

Hypermnestra Feminine Greek Greek

Hypermnestra is a figure from Greek mythology whose name means "much-wooed" or "exceedingly memorable." The name derives from the Greek elements hyper ("over") and mnester ("courter, wooer"), reflecting her key role in t...

Hypnos Masculine Greek Greek

EtymologyHypnos is the Greek word for "sleep", derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *sup-no- meaning "sleep". In Greek mythology, Hypnos is the personification of sleep, and his name ultimately gave rise to the mode...

Iacchus Masculine Greek Greek

Iacchus is a minor deity from ancient Greek religion and mythology, primarily worshipped in connection with the Eleusinian Mysteries at Athens and Eleusis. The name is derived from the Greek Ἴακχος (Iakchos), which in tu...

Iakchos Masculine Greek Greek

Iakchos is the original Greek form of Iacchus, derived from the Greek verb iacho meaning "to shout." In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Iakchos was a minor but significant deity associated with the Eleusinian Myste...

Ianeira Feminine Greek Greek

Ianeira (also spelled Ianira or Janira) is a feminine name of Greek origin. Its etymology is debated, but it is most likely derived from the Greek name Ian, a variant of Ion, meaning "Ionian," referring to the Ionian tri...

Ianthe Feminine Greek Greek

Ianthe is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the elements ἴον (ion), meaning "violet," and ἄνθος (anthos), meaning "flower." Thus, the name literally means "violet flower." Mythology In Greek mythology,...