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.
Peisistratos
“An ancient Greek compound name meaning”
Peisistratos (Πεισίστρατος) is a compound Greek name formed from peitho (πείθω), meaning 'to persuade,' 'to convince,' or 'to win over,' and stratos (στρατός), meaning 'army' or 'military force.' Together the name means 'one who persuades the army' or 'he who wins the army over,' a meaning that reflects the ancient Greek understanding of military and political leadership as requiring both force and rhetorical skill. The name is most famously borne by Peisistratos of Athens, the 6th-century BCE tyrant who ruled Athens and whose cultural patronage helped shape classical Athenian civilization.
Pelagia
“From the ancient Greek word for 'sea”
Pelagia (Πελαγία) derives from the ancient Greek word pelagos (πέλαγος), meaning 'the open sea,' 'the deep sea,' or 'the sea far from shore,' as distinct from the coastal waters. The word pelagos was used specifically to denote the vast, deep, open ocean, emphasizing its boundlessness and power, and it gives us the modern scientific terms 'pelagic' (of the open ocean) and 'archipelago' (a sea full of islands, from archi- + pelagos). As a personal name, Pelagia means 'sea-woman' or 'one belonging to the sea,' evoking the deep connection between Greek civilization and the Mediterranean world that surrounded it.
Peleus
“muddy or of clay”
Peleus derives from the Greek root relating to mud or clay, suggesting an earthly, grounded quality in contrast to his divine connections. In Greek mythology, Peleus was a celebrated Argonaut and king of Phthia in Thessaly, renowned for his virtue and heroic deeds. His most enduring legacy is as the mortal father of Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, making Peleus a symbol of paternal legacy and heroic lineage.
Penelope
“Weaver”
Penelope most likely derives from the Greek 'pene' (weft, the thread woven across the loom) and 'ops' (face or eye), though interpretations vary. It is a name synonymous with faithfulness, patience, and quiet ingenuity.
Penthesilea
“Compelling grief”
Penthesilea is an ancient Greek name most commonly interpreted as compelling grief or causing men to mourn, from penthos meaning grief or mourning, and a root related to laos meaning people. In Greek mythology, Penthesilea was a queen of the Amazons, daughter of Ares the god of war, who led her warrior women to Troy to fight alongside the Trojans after the death of Hector. She was slain by Achilles, who then fell in love with her beauty as she died. The name embodies the full tragedy and glory of the warrior woman archetype.
Peri
“fairy or supernatural being”
In its Greek dimension, Peri comes from the prefix 'peri-' meaning around, beyond, or encompassing, evoking a sense of something that transcends ordinary boundaries. The name also has rich resonance in Persian mythology, where a Peri is a beautiful, benevolent fairy-like spirit descended from fallen angels. In modern usage, Peri blends these associations into a name that feels both delicate and otherworldly, suggesting brightness and grace.
Pericles
“Exceedingly famous”
Pericles is composed of the Greek prefix peri, meaning around, beyond, or exceedingly, and kleos, meaning fame or glory. Together they convey the sense of one who is surrounded by fame or renowned above all others. The name was borne by the greatest statesman of ancient Athens, whose leadership defined the classical golden age of Greek civilisation.
Perikles
“surrounded by glory or far-famed”
Perikles is a compound of the Greek 'peri-' (around, beyond) and 'kleos' (glory, fame, renown), yielding the meaning 'surrounded by glory' or 'of wide renown'. The element 'kleos' was one of the most prized concepts in ancient Greek culture, representing the lasting fame one earned through great deeds. The name thus carries an implicit aspiration for its bearer to achieve enduring greatness known far and wide.
Persephone
“Bringer of destruction”
Persephone likely derives from the Greek 'pertho' (to destroy) and 'phone' (voice or sound), suggesting a bringer or voice of destruction, reflecting her fearsome role as Queen of the Underworld.
Perseus
“Destroyer”
Perseus is one of the great names of Greek mythology, thought to derive from the Greek word pertho, meaning to destroy or to sack. He was the legendary hero who slew the Gorgon Medusa and rescued Andromeda from a sea monster. The name evokes courage, divine favour and the triumph of the hero against impossible odds.
Petros
“Rock, stone”
Petros comes from the ancient Greek word petra meaning rock or stone, and it was the name given by Jesus to his apostle Simon, with the declaration that upon this rock he would build his church. The name therefore carries associations of foundational strength, steadfastness, and unshakeable reliability. It is the original Greek form of the name that became Peter across European languages.
Phaedra
“Bright, radiant”
Phaedra derives from the Greek word phaidros, meaning bright or radiant. In ancient mythology, she was a Cretan princess and daughter of King Minos who married the hero Theseus. Her story, one of the most compelling tragedies of the ancient world, has inspired masterworks by Euripides, Seneca, and Racine.
Phanes
“one who brings light or the manifest one”
Phanes derives from the Greek verb 'phainein' (φαίνειν), meaning to shine, to appear, or to make manifest, giving the name the significance of one who brings things to light or makes the unseen visible. In Orphic theology, Phanes was the first-born deity who emerged from the cosmic egg at the dawn of creation, embodying light, life, and the generative power of the universe. The name thus carries profound cosmological weight as a symbol of primal illumination and creative emergence.
Phanis
“shining or luminous”
Phanis shares its etymology with Phanes, both descending from the Greek verb 'phainein' (to shine, to make apparent), but Phanis functions as a more accessible given name used in Greek-speaking communities rather than the cosmological deity form. The name suggests brightness, clarity, and the quality of making things visible or evident. In modern Greece, Phanis is an affectionate and familiar-sounding name that retains classical luminous meaning while feeling approachable and warm.
Philaretos
“lover of virtue or friend of excellence”
Philaretos is composed of 'philos' (φίλος), meaning loving or friend of, and 'arete' (ἀρετή), the central Greek concept of virtue, excellence, and moral goodness. 'Arete' was perhaps the most important ethical concept in ancient Greek philosophy, encompassing not merely goodness but the full realization of one's potential and the habitual practice of virtue. To be Philaretos, a lover of virtue, was to embody the Aristotelian ideal of the excellent human being striving constantly toward moral and intellectual perfection.
Philippos
“lover of horses”
Philippos is formed from 'philos' (φίλος), meaning loving or friend of, and 'hippos' (ἵππος), meaning horse, a prestigious animal in ancient Greek culture associated with aristocracy, warfare, and divine power. The combination yields 'lover of horses' or 'horse-friend', a name that in antiquity signaled noble birth and martial valor. The name was borne by multiple Macedonian kings, including the father of Alexander the Great, as well as one of the twelve apostles, giving it both royal and sacred resonance.
Philomena
“Lover of strength”
Philomena is formed from the Greek elements philos, meaning loving or dear, and menos, meaning strength, might, or spirit. The name therefore suggests someone who loves strength or who is beloved for her spirit. It has also been interpreted as meaning friend of strength or one who is loved by force, reflecting the range of meanings carried by menos. In Ireland and Catholic communities the name has strong associations with Saint Philomena, a venerated early Christian martyr. It is currently experiencing a quiet revival as part of a broader interest in longer, vintage names.
Philothei
“lover of God or friend of the divine”
Philothei is composed of 'philos' (φίλος), meaning loving or friend of, and 'theos' (θεός), meaning God, yielding the profound meaning of 'lover of God' or 'one who loves the divine'. The name belongs to a family of Greek theophoric names that express devotion to God, alongside Theophilos, Theodosia, and Theodoros. It is the name of Saint Philothei of Athens, a sixteenth-century nun who ran a shelter for oppressed Greek women during the Ottoman period and was martyred for her faith.
Phoebe
“Bright, radiant”
Phoebe comes from the Greek 'phoibos', meaning 'bright' or 'radiant'. In mythology, Phoebe was a Titan associated with the moon and prophetic wisdom, making this a name that shines with celestial beauty and intellect.
Phoebus
“Bright, pure”
Phoebus derives from the ancient Greek word 'phoibos', meaning bright, radiant, or pure. It was one of the most celebrated epithets of Apollo, the god of the sun, light, poetry, and music. The name evokes brilliance and clarity, connecting its bearer to one of the most powerful and beloved figures in Greek mythology.
Phoivos
“bright or shining”
Phoivos (the Greek form of Phoebus) derives from 'phoibos' (φοῖβος), an ancient Greek adjective meaning bright, shining, or pure, used as a standing epithet of the god Apollo in his capacity as a deity of the sun, light, music, and prophecy. The name captures the quality of blazing solar radiance and the clear light of prophetic vision. Apollo Phoibos was the archer-god whose golden arrows of sunlight both gave life and brought death, whose oracle at Delphi was the most authoritative voice in the ancient world.
Photini
“luminous one or woman of light”
Photini derives from the Greek 'phos' (φῶς), meaning light, which also generates 'photon', 'photography', and 'phosphorus' in English. The name means 'the luminous one' or 'light-bearer', a radiant and spiritually charged meaning. In Eastern Christian tradition, Photini is the name given to the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel of John, who recognized Jesus as the Messiah and became one of the earliest and most zealous Christian missionaries, described as 'equal to the apostles' in Orthodox hagiography.
Phroso
“Prudent, of the mind”
Phroso is a traditional Greek feminine name with roots in ancient Hellenic naming traditions, likely connected to words associated with the mind and wisdom. It carries an archaic elegance that connects its bearer to the classical world of ancient Greece. The name has been preserved in Greek communities across centuries, maintaining a sense of cultural heritage and timeless femininity.
Phryne
“toad”
Phryne derives from the ancient Greek word phryne, meaning toad, a name likely given originally as a reference to a yellowish-brown skin tone rather than any unflattering association. The name achieved lasting fame through Mnesarete of Thespiae, known as Phryne, who became the most celebrated hetaira of 4th-century Athens and the model for Praxiteles' renowned Aphrodite of Knidos. Her legendary beauty and dramatic legal acquittal have made Phryne a symbol of feminine allure and wit across Western history.
Pindaros
“of Mount Pindus”
Pindaros is the original Greek form of the name known in English as Pindar, most likely derived from a connection to the Pindus mountain range of northern Greece, a significant geographical feature of the ancient Hellenic world. The name achieved immortality through Pindaros of Thebes, the 5th-century BC lyric poet whose Epinician Odes celebrating athletic victors at the great Panhellenic games are among the most technically accomplished poems surviving from antiquity. His name became synonymous with poetic elevation and the celebratory power of language to immortalize human achievement.
Plato
“Broad-shouldered”
Plato derives from the Greek word 'platos', meaning broad or wide, and was originally a nickname referring to a broad-shouldered physique. The name became immortalised through the Athenian philosopher whose works on justice, beauty and equality have shaped Western thought for over two millennia. Choosing Plato signals both intellectual depth and classical strength.
Polixeni
“Many guests”
Polixeni is the modern Greek form of the ancient name Polyxena, composed of the Greek elements polys, meaning many or much, and xenos, meaning guest, stranger, or foreigner. Together they yield a name that evokes the virtue of hospitality, one of the most sacred obligations in ancient Greek culture known as xenia. In Greek mythology, Polyxena was a Trojan princess, daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, renowned for her beauty and nobility. The modern Greek spelling Polixeni preserves the name in living use across Greece and the Greek diaspora.
Polydoros
“many gifts or giver of many gifts”
Polydoros is a classical Greek compound name built from the elements polys, meaning many or much, and doron, meaning gift, yielding the graceful meaning of one who has many gifts or one who bestows great gifts. The name appears in Greek mythology as that of a son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy, whose tragic fate is recounted in Euripides' play Hecuba. Several historical figures also bore the name, attesting to its genuine use in the ancient Hellenic world beyond mythology.
Polyhymnia
“the one of many hymns”
Polyhymnia is the name of one of the nine Muses in ancient Greek religion and mythology, the divine patron of sacred poetry, sacred hymn, eloquence, and later of mime, dance, and agriculture in some traditions. Her name literally translates as 'she of many hymns', constructed from the Greek polys meaning many and hymnos meaning hymn or song. She was typically depicted veiled and in a pensive or oratorical pose, representing the contemplative and devotional nature of sacred verse.
Polykarpos
“Much fruit”
From the Greek elements 'polys' meaning much or many, and 'karpos' meaning fruit. The name suggests abundance, fruitfulness, and generosity of spirit. It was borne most famously by Saint Polycarp of Smyrna, a revered early Church father and martyr whose life bridged the apostolic age.
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