Greek Baby Names
Explore 514 greek names, each with its own meaning, history, and pronunciation. Find one that carries the stories you want your child to grow up with.
Greek names carry the weight of antiquity and the warmth of the Mediterranean. Many are mythological; many are saintly. Greek has given English more given names than any language except Hebrew.
A short history
Greek naming spans 3,000 years. The mythological names (Helena, Penelope, Theseus, Alexander) come from Homeric and classical sources. The saintly names (Georgios, Nikolaos, Katerina) come from Byzantine Christianity. The philosophical names (Sophia, Eugenia, Theophilus) draw on classical Greek virtue vocabulary.
Naming traditions
Greek families traditionally named the first grandchild on each side after the respective grandparent, producing dense family naming recurrence. Many Greek saints have specific name-days, which are celebrated rather than (or alongside) birthdays in Greek Orthodox tradition.
Sound and style
Greek names are vocalic and balanced, usually three or four syllables with stress on the penultimate. Alexander, Theodora, Elena, Nikolaos, and Sofia all demonstrate the characteristic rhythm.
Litsa
“A Greek diminutive of names ending”
Litsa functions primarily as an affectionate diminutive in Greek naming culture, most commonly short for Eleftheria (meaning freedom) or Vasilissa (meaning queen). As a standalone name, it radiates the warmth and informality characteristic of Greek pet names that have graduated to full given-name status. The name is deeply tied to Greek domestic culture, where diminutives signal closeness, love, and familial belonging.
Loukas
“From Lucania”
Loukas is the Greek form of Luke, derived from the Latin Lucanus, meaning a man from Lucania, a region of southern Italy. Saint Luke was one of the four Evangelists and the author of the third Gospel, as well as the Acts of the Apostles. He is venerated as the patron saint of physicians and artists, giving the name a dual heritage of healing and creativity.
Lydia
“From Lydia”
Lydia is a name of Greek origin referring to the ancient kingdom of Lydia in Asia Minor, a region famed for its wealth and credited with inventing coinage. In the New Testament, Lydia of Thyatira was a merchant of purple cloth and one of the earliest European converts to Christianity. The name carries connotations of enterprise, independence and quiet strength.
Lykourgos
“wolf-worker or he who works with wolves”
Lykourgos combines the ancient Greek words lykos, meaning wolf, and ergon, meaning work or deed, producing a compound name that evokes the fierce, disciplined energy of the wolf applied to purposeful action. The name is indelibly associated with the historical and semi-legendary Lykourgos of Sparta, whose constitutional reforms in the 9th or 8th century BCE transformed Sparta into a militarized society that became a byword for discipline, equality, and martial virtue. The name carries immense weight in Hellenic cultural memory as a symbol of lawgiving, civic duty, and strength.
Lysandros
“Liberator of men”
Lysandros is composed of the Greek elements 'lysis', meaning release or liberation, and 'aner' (genitive 'andros'), meaning man. Together the name carries the powerful sense of one who frees mankind. The Spartan admiral Lysander, who defeated Athens at the Battle of Aegospotami in 405 BC, is its most celebrated bearer, lending the name a martial and triumphant quality.
Lysimachos
“Meaning he who releases from battle”
Lysimachos is composed of the ancient Greek verb λύειν (lyein), meaning to loosen, release, or end, and μάχη (mache), meaning battle or combat. Together they produce a name meaning one who ends battles or releases from strife, a name befitting a warrior-king who brings peace through victory. The name is historically significant as that of one of Alexander the Great's most powerful successors, who ruled Thrace and eventually Asia Minor after the Macedonian empire fragmented.
Magdalini
“Woman from Magdala”
Magdalini is the distinctively Greek form of Magdalene, a name that identifies its bearer by her place of origin: Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. The town's name likely derives from the Aramaic migdal, meaning tower. Magdalini thus carries the layered meaning of a towering presence in faith, as well as the enduring association with Mary Magdalene, one of the most significant women in the New Testament narrative.
Maia
“Mother, nurse”
In Greek mythology, Maia was the eldest and most beautiful of the seven Pleiades, the daughters of the Titan Atlas and the ocean nymph Pleione. She was the mother of Hermes, the messenger god, conceived with Zeus in a cave on Mount Cyllene. The name is thought to derive from a root meaning mother or nurse, reflecting her nurturing role. The month of May takes its name from Maia, as the Romans honoured her with sacrifices on the first day of that month.
Makarios
“Blessed, happy”
Makarios comes from the ancient Greek word makarios, meaning blessed, fortunate, or supremely happy. The word carries a spiritual weight beyond ordinary happiness, indicating a state of divine favour or beatitude. It is the very word used at the opening of each of the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, makarioi, meaning blessed are. The name thus carries within it the entire tradition of Christian beatitude and the Greek philosophical concept of eudaimonia, the flourishing life.
Makis
“Happy, blessed”
Makis is a common Greek diminutive, typically used as a short form of Makarios, which means blessed or happy in Greek. The root makarios appears in the Beatitudes of the New Testament, the passages beginning with Blessed are. The name therefore has both an everyday familiarity in Greek culture and a deep scriptural resonance. Makis is warm, informal, and distinctly Greek in character, carrying the easy friendliness of a well-loved nickname name.
Manolis
“God is with us”
Manolis is a diminutive of Emmanouil, the Greek form of Emmanuel, meaning 'God is with us.' It is a name that carries warmth, familiarity, and deep spiritual resonance. Particularly beloved in Crete, it blends everyday friendliness with profound theological meaning.
Manos
“God is with us”
Manos is a warm and characteristically Greek familiar form of Emmanouil, the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Emmanuel, meaning 'God is with us'. The name appears in the Old Testament as a messianic title and was applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. In Greece, Emmanouil was Hellenised and shortened to Manos as an everyday term of affection. The name carries a gentle, artistic connotation, particularly through its most celebrated bearer, the composer Manos Hadjidakis.
Margarita
“pearl”
Margarita derives from the ancient Greek μαργαρίτης (margarites), meaning pearl, a word believed to have entered Greek from Persian or Sanskrit origins referring to the lustrous gem formed within oysters. The pearl was among the most prized jewels in the ancient world, symbolizing purity, rarity, and hidden beauty discovered through patience and depth, all qualities the name has carried through its long history. Through the Latin Margarita and its French form Marguerite, the name became one of the most widespread feminine names in European history.
Maria
“Beloved, wished-for child of the sea”
Maria is one of the most enduring and widely used names in history, carrying meanings that include "beloved," "wished-for child," and "sea of bitterness." Its rich layers of interpretation reflect its ancient origins and the depth of feeling it evokes. Maria is a name that speaks to both love and resilience.
Marianna
“blending Maria (of Hebrew origin”
Marianna is a blend of two names of profound religious significance: Maria, derived from the Hebrew Miriam and associated with the Virgin Mary, and Anna, from the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. Together the name can be understood as meaning full of grace and divine favor, reflecting the combined sanctity of both source names. The name has been used across Greek, Italian, Eastern European, and Latin American cultures, always carrying an air of classical feminine beauty and spiritual depth.
Marilena
“Maria (beloved”
Marilena is a 20th-century Greek compound name formed by joining Maria and Eleni (Helen), two of the most historically significant feminine names in Greek culture. Maria carries both Hebrew roots (Miriam, meaning beloved or sea of bitterness) and its Christian identity as the name of the Virgin Mary, while Eleni comes from the ancient Greek Helene, derived from the word for torch or bright light. Together Marilena creates a name of layered beauty and warmth, honoring both Christian and classical Hellenic traditions simultaneously.
Marina
“Of the sea”
Marina comes from the Latin and Greek adjective marinus, meaning 'of the sea'. The name evokes the beauty and expansiveness of the ocean, making it particularly beloved in coastal Mediterranean cultures. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, Saint Marina is one of the most popular female saints, venerated for her extraordinary courage and martyrdom. The name has spread across Europe and Latin America, maintaining a timeless, lyrical quality wherever it is used.
Marios
“Warlike”
Marios is the Greek form of the Latin name Marius, which is associated with Mars, the Roman god of war. Popular throughout Greece and Cyprus, it carries a strong and masculine character. The name connects the bearer to both classical antiquity and the vibrant traditions of modern Greek culture.
Markos
“Of Mars, warlike”
Markos is the Greek form of the Latin name Marcus, which derives from Mars, the Roman god of war. The name carries connotations of strength, courage, and martial prowess. In the Christian tradition, Saint Mark the Evangelist, known in Greek as Markos, authored the second Gospel and is traditionally regarded as the founder of the Church of Alexandria. His symbol, the winged lion, remains one of the most iconic in Christian iconography.
Medousa
“guardian or she who rules”
Medousa derives from the ancient Greek verb μέδειν (medein), meaning to guard, protect, or rule, making it a name of authority and power rather than, as its later reputation might suggest, purely of monstrosity. In Greek mythology, Medousa was one of three Gorgon sisters, the only mortal one among them, whose gaze turned onlookers to stone. Her story was later interpreted as a myth of female power punished and transformed, and she has become one of the most analyzed and reclaimed figures in feminist classical scholarship.
Melanios
“dark one or swarthy”
Melanios derives from the ancient Greek adjective μέλας (melas), meaning black or dark, combined with the common masculine name suffix -ios. The root melas appears across many Greek compounds in medicine, botany, and mythology, from melancholy (black bile) to melatonin (related to darkness and the night cycle). As a personal name, Melanios was used to describe someone of notably dark coloring, which in the ancient Mediterranean world was a neutral or even admirable descriptor of Mediterranean appearance.
Melanthe
“dark flower or black blossom”
Melanthe combines two ancient Greek words: μέλας (melas), meaning black or dark, and ἄνθος (anthos), meaning flower or blossom. Together they create the image of a dark flower, not a forbidding or negative image in ancient Greek thought, but rather an evocation of the rare beauty of dark-petaled flowers such as the violet, iris, or dark anemone that were prized across the ancient Mediterranean. The name suggests depth, mystery, and a beauty that is found in shadow rather than in obvious brightness.
Melanthia
“Dark flower”
From the Greek elements melas (dark or black) and anthos (flower), Melanthia evokes the beauty found in shadow and contrast. It is a rare and poetic name that appears in ancient Greek literature and mythology, combining natural imagery with a sense of mystery and depth. The name has never been commonplace, making it a genuinely distinctive choice.
Meletios
“Careful, diligent”
Meletios derives from the ancient Greek word 'melete', meaning care, study, practice, or diligent attention. The name implies someone who approaches life with thoroughness and thoughtfulness, taking pains over what matters. It was borne by several important figures in early Christian history, including patriarchs of Antioch and Constantinople, lending the name both scholarly and ecclesiastical gravity. It is a name that rewards those willing to carry its distinguished weight.
Meletis
“Derived from the Greek verb 'meletao”
Meletis carries the root meaning of careful study and devoted practice, rooted in the ancient Greek intellectual tradition of cultivating skill through repetition and dedication. The name evokes the image of a thoughtful scholar or craftsman who takes his work seriously. It was borne by early Christian figures who embodied ascetic discipline and spiritual devotion.
Melitta
“Derived from the ancient Greek word for honeybee”
Melitta is an ancient variant of the name Melissa, both rooted in the Greek word 'meli' meaning honey and 'melissa' meaning honeybee. The name carries associations with sweetness, tireless work, and the natural abundance symbolized by honey in the ancient world. In Greek mythology, a nymph named Melitta was said to have cared for the infant Zeus, making the name one of great mythological prestige.
Melpo
“Derived from the ancient Greek 'melpo”
Melpo is a shortened, colloquial form of Melpomene, the ancient Greek Muse of tragedy, whose name means 'to celebrate with song.' The root verb 'melpo' referred to the act of singing hymns and performing ritual songs in honor of the gods. As a standalone name, Melpo carries all the dramatic grandeur associated with theatrical art, poetic lament, and the musical honoring of the divine.
Melpomene
“Songstress”
Melpomene derives from the Greek verb melpein, meaning to sing or to celebrate with song and dance. In classical mythology she was one of the nine Muses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne who presided over the arts. Melpomene was the Muse of tragedy, and she is typically depicted wearing a tragic mask and the buskins worn by tragic actors. Her name therefore carries a dual resonance: the beauty of song and the solemnity of tragedy, making it one of the most dramatically charged names in the classical canon.
Menandros
“to endure”
Menandros combines the Greek root 'menein' (to remain, to endure) with 'andros' (man), producing the meaning of a steadfast, enduring man or one who maintains his ground. The name was borne by the greatest playwright of Athenian New Comedy, whose sophisticated portrayals of ordinary human relationships influenced playwrights for centuries. It represents the intersection of masculine strength with the quality of perseverance.
Menelaos
“Withstanding the people”
Menelaos is the original Ancient Greek form of Menelaus, composed of the elements menos (force, wrath, courage) and laos (people). The name therefore means one who withstands the people or force of the people, a fitting name for a warrior king. In Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, Menelaus is the king of Sparta whose abducted wife Helen ignites the Trojan War. The name remains in use in Greece today, carrying the full weight of Homeric legend.
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