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.
Polytimi
“Precious, highly valued”
Polytimi is a traditional Greek feminine name composed of two elements: 'poly', meaning much or many, and 'timi', meaning value, honour, or worth. Together they convey the sense of something or someone who is precious or held in very high esteem. The name belongs to a family of Greek compound names that express abundance of a particular virtue, a naming convention with ancient roots in classical Greek culture.
Polyxena
“very hospitable or offering many gifts to strangers”
Polyxena is a classical Greek compound name formed from polys, meaning many or much, and xenos, meaning stranger, foreigner, or guest-friend, yielding the meaning of one who is very hospitable or one who welcomes many strangers. In Greek culture, xenia (hospitality to strangers) was a sacred obligation, making Polyxena a name that invoked one of the most fundamental Hellenic virtues. She appears in Greek mythology as a beloved daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy, whose tragic fate after Troy's fall became the subject of multiple ancient literary treatments.
Polyxeni
“Very hospitable”
Polyxeni is a classical Greek name composed of 'poly' (much, many) and 'xenia' (hospitality, guest-friendship), meaning 'very hospitable' or 'of great hospitality'. Xenia was one of the most sacred values in ancient Greek society, a divine obligation of host to guest enforced by Zeus Xenios, the protector of strangers. The name thus carries a profound ethical charge, invoking an ancient moral code. In mythology, Polyxena was a Trojan princess, daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, whose story is one of beauty, tragedy, and sacrifice.
Popi
“preparation or eve of the Sabbath”
Popi is a beloved Greek given name that originated as a diminutive of Paraskevi, the Greek feminine name meaning preparation or Friday (literally 'the day of preparation' before the Sabbath), derived from the Greek paraskeue meaning preparation or readiness. Over generations of use in Greek-speaking communities, Popi evolved from a pet name into an independent given name with its own identity and affection. It carries the warmth, familiarity, and approachability characteristic of Greek diminutive names that have become full names in their own right.
Priam
“ransomed or he who was redeemed”
Priam is the English and Latin form of the ancient Greek name Priamos, which carries the meaning of one who is ransomed or redeemed, derived from a root connected to the act of purchase or ransom in the Greek language. The name's meaning is richly ironic in the context of its most famous bearer: Priam of Troy was indeed ransomed as a child (his birth name may have been Podarkes) before becoming a king whose city would ultimately not be ransomed but destroyed. His portrayal in Homer's Iliad as a dignified elderly king who crosses enemy lines to beg Achilles for his son's body is one of antiquity's most moving scenes.
Prodromos
“forerunner or precursor”
Prodromos is a deeply meaningful Greek name derived from the compound of pro, meaning before or in front of, and dromos, meaning running, course, or race. Together they form the word prodromos, meaning forerunner or precursor, someone who runs ahead to prepare the way. In the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition, Prodromos is a standard epithet for Saint John the Baptist, who is venerated as the Prodromos (Forerunner) of Jesus Christ, making this a name with profound liturgical and theological resonance in Greek and Byzantine Christian culture.
Prokopis
“Progress, advancement”
Prokopis derives from the Greek word 'prokopi', meaning progress, advancement, or forward movement. The name captures the idea of moving ahead, making gains, and achieving growth. It has been used in Greece since the Byzantine era and carries strong cultural resonance in the Greek Orthodox tradition, where Saint Prokopios was an early Christian martyr venerated across the Eastern Church.
Prometheus
“Forethought”
Prometheus is composed of the Greek prefix pro, meaning before or in advance, and the root methos, from manthano, meaning to think or learn. The name therefore means forethought or one who thinks ahead. In Greek mythology, Prometheus was the Titan who defied the Olympian gods by stealing fire and giving it to humanity, enabling civilisation, the arts, and technology. His name defines his role: he is the one who foresees consequences and acts accordingly, even at great personal cost. The name has become synonymous with bold, transgressive creativity.
Pythagoras
“A Greek name meaning 'he who”
Pythagoras is composed of two Greek elements: Pytho, the ancient name for the site of Delphi and the serpent Python slain by Apollo, giving its name to the Pythia (the Delphic oracle), and agoreuein or agora-related roots suggesting public speech or proclamation. The name thus suggests one proclaimed by the Pythian oracle or one who speaks with oracular authority. It is immortalized by Pythagoras of Samos, the 6th-century BC philosopher, mathematician, and mystic who founded a religious community that produced foundational contributions to mathematics, music theory, and philosophy.
Rea
“Flowing”
Rea is a streamlined modern variant of Rhea, the ancient Greek Titaness and mother of the Olympian gods. The name's meaning of flowing evokes the constant, nurturing movement of water and the natural rhythm of life. In myth, Rhea was the great mother goddess, wife of Cronus and mother of Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades. The simplified spelling Rea gives the name a clean, contemporary feel while preserving its mythological depth. It suggests grace, elemental power, and a quietly enduring strength.
Rhea
“Flowing, ease”
Rhea carries the sense of something flowing freely and naturally, evoking rivers, movement, and effortless grace. In Greek mythology, Rhea was a Titan goddess and the great mother of the Olympian gods, including Zeus, Poseidon, and Hera. Her name is often associated with the earth itself and with the nurturing, life-giving power of nature.
Rhodopi
“Rhodopi means 'rose-faced' or 'rosy-cheeked' in Greek”
The name Rhodopi is composed of two Greek elements: 'rhodon,' meaning rose, and 'ops' or 'opis,' meaning face or eye. Together they create an image of a rosy-cheeked, radiant girl whose beauty is as vivid as the flower itself. The name is closely tied to the Rhodope Mountains in Thrace, a dramatic range on the border of modern Greece and Bulgaria whose ancient association with myth and legend gives the name additional depth.
Rodoula
“little rose or dear little rose”
Rodoula (Ροδούλα) is the Greek diminutive form of Rodo or Rhoda, adding the endearing suffix '-oula' which in Greek functions similarly to 'little' or 'dear little' in English. The result is a name that means 'little rose' or 'dear rose,' carrying all the floral beauty of the rhodon root while wrapping it in warmth and affection. It is a distinctly Greek form, rarely found outside Greek-speaking communities, and carries an unmistakable cultural intimacy.
Roza
“Roza is the Greek and Eastern”
Roza is a widely used variant of Rose found across Greek, Slavic, and broader Eastern European naming traditions, all stemming from the Latin 'rosa' which derived from the Greek 'rhodon.' In Greece, Roza functions as the more Latinized or vernacular form alongside the older Rhoda. The name carries the universal symbolism of the rose: beauty, love, purity, and the transient perfection of nature in bloom.
Sappho
“Lapis lazuli”
Sappho is the name of the great lyric poet of ancient Lesbos, born around 630 BCE, whose verses on love, loss, and longing are among the most beautiful surviving texts of antiquity. The etymology of her name is debated: one tradition connects it to the Greek sappheiros, meaning lapis lazuli or sapphire, suggesting a connection to the brilliant blue stone prized in the ancient Mediterranean world. The name is charged with literary and cultural significance far beyond its etymology: Sappho was called the Tenth Muse by Plato, and fragments of her poetry continue to move readers nearly three thousand years after she wrote them. Choosing this name is an act of bold literary homage.
Savvas
“Elder and wise man”
Savvas derives from the Aramaic 'sabba', meaning elder or old man, which passed into Greek usage through early Christianity. The name carries deep spiritual resonance in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, associated with wisdom, contemplation, and monastic devotion. Saint Savvas, who founded the Mar Saba monastery in the Judean Desert in the fifth century, gave the name an enduring sacred dimension. Savvas is a name that speaks of reverence for knowledge and the passage of wisdom across generations.
Savvina
“Sabine woman”
Savvina (Σαββίνα) is the Greek adaptation of the Latin name Sabina, which referred to a woman of the Sabine tribe, an ancient Italic people who inhabited the hills of central Italy and whose history was deeply entwined with the founding of Rome. The name entered Greek usage through early Christian veneration of Saint Sabina, a Roman martyr of the second century, and has been used in Greek Orthodox communities ever since. It carries connotations of strength, antiquity, and spiritual devotion.
Selene
“Moon”
Selene derives from the ancient Greek word for the moon and was the name of the Greek goddess who personified it. It carries a sense of luminous beauty and celestial grace.
Semele
“Of the earth”
Semele is believed to derive from a pre-Greek or Phrygian word possibly meaning earth or ground, suggesting a connection to the earth goddess tradition that predates the Olympian pantheon. In Greek mythology, Semele was a mortal princess of Thebes, the daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, and the beloved of Zeus. She is most famous as the mother of Dionysus, the god of wine, festivity, and transformation. Her story is one of mortal ambition and divine tragedy, but also of divine birth and the elevation of the mortal to the immortal through sacrifice.
Seraphim
“Burning ones”
Seraphim is the plural form of seraph, from the Hebrew saraph meaning burning or fiery one. In both Jewish and Christian theology, the seraphim are the highest order of angels, described in the Book of Isaiah as six-winged beings who stand before God and cry out his holiness. Their fire represents divine love and purification. In the Greek Orthodox tradition, Seraphim became a monastic and personal name, most famously borne by Saint Seraphim of Sarov, one of the most beloved saints of the Russian church.
Sibylla
“Sibylla derives from the ancient Greek 'sibylla”
Sibylla is the Latinized Greek form of 'sibylla' (σίβυλλα), the ancient word for a prophetess or oracle who delivered divine pronouncements, often in a state of ecstatic trance. The Sibyls were among the most revered figures in Greco-Roman religious life, with famous oracles at Cumae, Delphi, and other sacred sites. The name thus carries extraordinary weight, evoking wisdom, foresight, divine inspiration, and the mysterious power of those who stand between the human and the sacred.
Simonides
“he who hears or God has heard”
Simonides is a classical Greek name formed by adding the patronymic suffix '-ides' (meaning son of, or descendant of) to Simon, giving the full meaning of 'son of Simon.' Simon derives from the Hebrew 'Shimon,' meaning 'he who hears' or 'God has heard,' a name of deep biblical resonance. In practice, Simonides is best known as the name of one of the greatest lyric poets of ancient Greece, making it a name inseparable from literary genius and the flowering of classical culture.
Smaragda
“Smaragda means 'emerald' in Greek”
Smaragda (Σμαράγδα) comes directly from the ancient Greek 'smaragdos' (σμάραγδος), meaning emerald, the brilliant green gemstone that was among the most valued in the ancient world. Emeralds were mined in Egypt as far back as 1500 BC, and their intense green color was associated with spring, fertility, eternal youth, and the goddess Venus. In Greek Orthodox tradition, Smaragda became a given name for girls, embedding the beauty and preciousness of the emerald directly into a personal identity.
Smaragdi
“Emerald”
Smaragdi comes directly from the Greek word 'smaragdos,' meaning emerald, the brilliant green gemstone prized throughout antiquity. The name carries connotations of preciousness, natural beauty, and the vivid green of the Mediterranean landscape. It has been used in Greece as a given name reflecting a mother's wish for a daughter as rare and treasured as a jewel.
Socrates
“Whole power”
Socrates derives from the Greek elements 'sos' (whole, safe) and 'kratos' (power, strength), meaning 'whole power' or 'unbroken strength'. It is one of the most intellectually charged names in existence, forever linked to the founder of Western philosophy. The name carries an unmistakable sense of wisdom and inquiry.
Sofi
“A streamlined”
Sofi is a contemporary spelling variant of the ancient Greek name Sophia, derived from 'sophos,' meaning wise or skilled. The name has been adopted widely across cultures, from Scandinavia to Latin America, as an accessible international form of one of the world's most beloved names. Its gender-neutral quality in modern usage reflects contemporary naming trends that favor short, open-vowel names that work across multiple languages.
Sofia
“Wisdom”
Sofia is the Italian and Spanish form of the Greek name Sophia, rooted in the word 'sophia,' meaning wisdom or knowledge. In ancient Greek philosophy, sophia was the highest form of understanding, a divine wisdom that encompassed both intellect and virtue, and the name has carried this elevated meaning throughout its long history. In Italy, Sofia has been one of the most consistently beloved feminine names, evoking both quiet intelligence and warm, radiant character in a single syllable-rich package.
Sofronis
“A Greek masculine name meaning sound-minded or prudent”
Sofronis comes from the ancient Greek 'sophrosyne,' a compound of 'sophos' (wise) and 'phren' (mind or spirit), together meaning soundness of mind, prudence, or temperance. This concept was one of the four cardinal virtues in ancient Greek philosophy alongside justice, courage, and wisdom. The name thus carries an explicitly philosophical and ethical meaning, wishing upon its bearer a balanced and rational character.
Sokratis
“Whole power”
Sokratis is the modern Greek form of Socrates, from the ancient Greek elements sozo meaning whole or safe, and kratos meaning power or strength. The name therefore carries the meaning of whole power or sound strength. It is inseparable from the legacy of Socrates, the Athenian philosopher whose method of questioning became the foundation of Western philosophical tradition, and whose martyrdom for the pursuit of truth remains one of history's defining stories.
Solon
“Wisdom”
Solon is an ancient Greek name associated with wisdom and sagacity. It is most famously borne by Solon of Athens, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, whose constitutional reforms in the sixth century BC laid the groundwork for Athenian democracy. The name carries the weight of philosophical gravitas and civic virtue, suggesting a person of exceptional intelligence and moral clarity.
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