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.
Epiktetos
“additionally acquired or gained on top”
Epiktetos is composed of the Greek prefix 'epi' (upon, additionally) and 'ktetos' (acquired, gained from ktaomai, to acquire). The name literally means 'additionally acquired' or 'obtained besides', a name type common in antiquity for enslaved persons or those brought into a household. Ironically, the most famous bearer, Epictetus the philosopher, was born into slavery yet became one of the greatest teachers of Stoic philosophy in the ancient world.
Epiphanios
“appearance”
Epiphanios derives from 'epiphainein', meaning to appear or manifest, composed of 'epi' (upon) and 'phainein' (to show, to shine). The name conveys the idea of a divine or glorious appearing, a revelation. It is closely related to the Christian feast of Epiphany (the manifestation of Christ to the Magi), and was borne by several important early church fathers, most notably Epiphanius of Salamis.
Erasmia
“Beloved”
Erasmia derives from the Greek 'erasmios', meaning beloved, loveable, or worthy of love. It belongs to the same root as Erasmus, the celebrated humanist scholar, and carries within it the ancient Greek concept of eros, the deep force of desire and love. As a feminine form, Erasmia is warm, rare, and deeply classical. It has been used in Greece for centuries, particularly in communities that cherish traditional Orthodox Christian names, where its association with beloved saints gives it spiritual resonance.
Erato
“Lovely”
Erato derives from the ancient Greek word 'eratos', meaning lovely, desired, or beloved. In Greek mythology, Erato was one of the nine Muses, the divine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne who presided over the arts. Erato held dominion over lyric and love poetry, often depicted holding a lyre or a small bow, symbolising the connection between music and romantic verse. The name carries an aura of artistic inspiration and romantic beauty, making it an exceptionally rare and cultured choice for a daughter.
Eros
“The ancient Greek god of love and desire”
Eros is the name of the ancient Greek god of love and desire, equivalent to the Roman god Cupid. In Greek mythology, Eros was depicted as both a primordial force of attraction and a winged youth with a bow, capable of inspiring passionate love in gods and mortals alike. As a given name, Eros is used in Italy and Greece, carrying a romantic, passionate connotation. The Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti has made it internationally familiar, giving it a warm Mediterranean identity with an artistic, musical association.
Ersi
“Dew”
Ersi is a delicate Greek name meaning "dew," evoking the freshness and purity of morning dewdrops. Rooted in ancient Greek mythology, the name carries an ethereal, nature-inspired beauty that feels both timeless and refreshingly uncommon outside of Greece.
Eudora
“good gift or generous giver”
Eudora combines the Greek elements 'eu' (good) and 'doron' (gift), forming a name that means 'good gift' or 'generous one'. In Greek mythology Eudora was the name of one of the fifty Nereids, the sea-nymphs who were daughters of the sea god Nereus, and also the name of one of the seven Pleiades. The name conveys abundance, generosity, and the beauty of freely given blessing.
Eudoxia
“Good repute”
Eudoxia is a Greek name composed of 'eu' (good, well) and 'doxa' (glory, honour, repute), giving the meaning 'of good repute' or 'she who has good glory'. The element 'eu' is found in many classical names, always adding a sense of excellence and virtue. Doxa carries a rich theological resonance in Greek Christian thought, where it is associated with the glory of God. Eudoxia was borne by several Byzantine empresses and saints, making it a name with significant historical and spiritual weight.
Euphemia
“well-spoken or of good repute”
Euphemia derives from the Greek 'euphemia,' composed of 'eu' (good, well) and 'pheme' (speech, voice, report), giving it the meaning 'one who speaks well' or 'she of good repute.' Saint Euphemia of Chalcedon, a 3rd-century martyr, spread the name through the early Christian church, and it was taken up with particular enthusiasm in Scotland, where it was warmly domesticated as Effie, a nickname that became a beloved Scottish name in its own right. Euphemia enjoyed sustained use in Scotland across the medieval and modern periods, carried by queens, noblewomen, and ordinary families alike.
Euphrasia
“good cheer”
Euphrasia is formed from the Greek 'eu' (good, well) and 'phrazein' (to think, to declare, to express), yielding a meaning of 'good expression', 'joyful declaration', or simply 'good cheer'. In ancient Greek, euphrasia was a word for cheerfulness and delight. The name was borne by an early fifth-century Christian saint whose life of radical asceticism in Egypt became widely read in both Eastern and Western monasticism.
Euripides
“son of the Euripos or one from the strait”
Euripides is traditionally explained as derived from 'Euripos', the name of the dangerous tidal channel between the island of Euboea and mainland Greece, known for its violently reversing currents. The '-ides' suffix denotes descent or origin, suggesting 'son of Euripos' or 'born near the strait'. The name belongs to the great Athenian tragedian who transformed Greek drama, making it one of the most culturally significant names in all of Western literature.
Eurydice
“Wide justice”
Eurydice comes from the ancient Greek elements eurys, meaning wide or broad, and dike, meaning justice or right. The name suggests a sweeping, all-encompassing sense of justice and moral order. It is most famously borne by the tragic figure of Greek mythology, wife of the musician Orpheus, whose story of love and loss in the Underworld has inspired countless works of art and music across millennia.
Euthymios
“good-spirited”
Euthymios combines 'eu' (good, well) with 'thymos' (spirit, the seat of emotion, courage, and life-force in ancient Greek thought), yielding 'good-spirited' or 'one with a courageous and noble soul'. The word 'thymos' was central to Homeric psychology, describing the inner emotional fire that drives heroic action. Saint Euthymios the Great, a fifth-century Palestinian monk, is the most venerated bearer of the name in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
Evangelia
“Good news, gospel”
Evangelia is the feminine form of Evangelos, derived from the Greek words 'eu' meaning good and 'angelos' meaning messenger. Together they form 'euangelion', the word from which 'evangel' and 'gospel' are derived in English. The name therefore carries the literal meaning of 'bearer of good news' and holds deep significance in Greek Orthodox Christianity. It is an elaborate, melodic name that has been a staple in Greek-speaking communities for centuries, often given to daughters born around the feast days associated with the Annunciation.
Evangelos
“Good messenger, bearer of good news”
Evangelos is a Greek name meaning good messenger or bearer of good news, formed from the Greek elements 'eu' (good) and 'angelos' (messenger). The name is intimately connected to the concept of the Gospel, as the Greek word 'evangelion' (good news) shares the same root. It remains a popular and deeply traditional name in Greece, carrying centuries of religious and cultural significance while maintaining a striking, melodic quality.
Evanthia
“Beautiful flower”
Evanthia is composed of the Greek elements eu, meaning good or beautiful, and anthos, meaning flower. Together they paint a picture of a beautiful blossom in full bloom. It is a name of lyrical elegance, deeply rooted in the Greek tradition of naming children after qualities found in nature. The name has a poetic, timeless quality that resonates with both classical Greece and the warmth of the modern Greek-speaking world.
Evdokia
“Good will”
Evdokia comes from the Greek elements eu (good, well) and dokeo (to seem, to think, to suppose), giving the combined meaning of good will, good repute, or one who is well thought of. The name was common in Byzantine culture and was held by several empresses of the Eastern Roman Empire. It reflects the Greek ideal of being regarded well by others, combining inner virtue with outward honour.
Evgenia
“well-born or of noble birth”
Evgenia is the Greek feminine form of Eugene, derived from 'eugenes' meaning well-born or of noble lineage. The name pairs 'eu' (good) with 'genos' (birth, race, family), suggesting one born into nobility or endowed with an innately noble character. It has been borne by Byzantine empresses, early Christian saints, and is today one of the more elegant traditional Greek names for women.
Evgenios
“well-born or of noble lineage”
Evgenios is the Greek masculine form of the name that produced Eugene in English and Eugen in German, all deriving from the ancient Greek 'eugenes' meaning well-born or nobly descended. The name praises both social standing and inherent moral excellence, as 'eu' (good) modifies 'genos' (birth, lineage). Several early Christian popes and martyrs bore the name, giving it ecclesiastical as well as aristocratic dimensions.
Evi
“life”
Evi is used in Greece as a diminutive of Eva or as a standalone name, with Eva deriving from the Hebrew Havvah meaning life. In the Greek-speaking world it can also function as an affectionate short form of Evangelina or Evanthia. The name is simple, warm, and bright, a one-syllable gem that carries the ancient vitality of Eve, the first woman of biblical tradition, in a compact and thoroughly modern form.
Evris
“wide or broad”
Evris comes from the ancient Greek adjective 'eurys' meaning wide, broad, or far-reaching. The same root appears in the name Eurydice (wide justice) and in the prefix Euro- found in words like Europe. As a personal name, Evris suggests a person of wide-ranging talents, broad-minded vision, and generous spirit. It is a relatively rare modern Greek name that carries classical roots in an approachable form.
Faidra
“bright”
Faidra is the modern Greek rendering of the ancient name Phaedra, derived from the Greek 'phaidros' (bright, gleaming, radiant). In Greek mythology Phaedra was a Cretan princess, daughter of King Minos and Pasiphae, and the second wife of the Athenian hero Theseus. Her tragic passion for her stepson Hippolytus, explored in plays by Euripides and later Racine, made her one of the most compelling figures in the Western dramatic tradition.
Fevronia
“Febronilla or Febronia”
Fevronia is the Greek adaptation of the Latin name Febronia, derived from 'februum' (a means of purification) and the associated Roman purification festival Februa, held in February. The month of February itself takes its name from this purification ritual. The name thus carries meanings of cleansing, renewal, and sacred preparation. It was most significantly borne by a Syrian Christian martyr whose story became beloved in both Eastern and Western churches.
Filippos
“Lover of horses”
Filippos comes from the ancient Greek words 'philein', meaning to love, and 'hippos', meaning horse. It is the original Greek form of Philip, a name that has been carried by kings, saints and scholars across millennia. The name speaks to the deep bond between the ancient Greeks and their horses, animals that symbolised nobility, strength and freedom.
Filothei
“friend of God or lover of God”
Filothei combines the Greek words 'filos' (friend/lover) and 'theos' (God), creating a name that embodies spiritual closeness to the divine. It was borne by Saint Filothei of Athens, a 16th-century martyr who dedicated her life to helping enslaved women escape bondage. The name remains a cherished choice in Greek Orthodox families honoring religious heritage.
Foni
“voice or sound”
Foni derives from the ancient Greek word 'phone' (φωνή), meaning voice or sound, the same root that gives English words like phonetics, microphone, and symphony. In Greek culture, the voice was considered a divine gift, central to rhetoric, poetry, and religious chant. The name carries connotations of eloquence, musicality, and the art of communication.
Fotini
“Radiant, light-filled”
Fotini derives from the ancient Greek word phos, meaning light, and carries the sense of one who is filled with or radiates light. It is the Greek equivalent of names like Lucy or Lucia in the Latin tradition, sharing the same luminous meaning. In Greek Orthodox Christianity the name is inseparable from Saint Fotini, the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel of John, who is venerated as equal to the apostles.
Fotis
“Light”
Fotis derives from the Greek word phos meaning light, the same root as photography and phosphorus. It is closely associated with the Feast of the Epiphany in the Greek Orthodox tradition, when light and illumination are celebrated. The name carries connotations of brightness, clarity, and spiritual enlightenment.
Galatea
“White as milk”
Galatea comes from the ancient Greek 'galatea', derived from 'gala' meaning milk, giving it the sense of milk-white or white as milk. In Greek mythology there are two notable figures bearing this name. The first is a sea nymph, one of the fifty Nereids, who features in the tale of the Cyclops Polyphemus and his unrequited love for her. The second, and more famous in Western art, is the ivory statue created by the sculptor Pygmalion, which the goddess Aphrodite brought to life in response to his devotion. The name is rich with mythological resonance and carries an otherworldly, luminous quality.
Galateia
“White as milk”
Galateia derives from the Ancient Greek 'gala' (genitive: 'galaktos'), meaning milk, with the adjectival suffix suggesting she who is white as milk or milk-white. The name evokes a complexion of luminous pallor admired in classical antiquity. It was borne by two celebrated figures in Greek mythology: a sea nymph daughter of the sea god Nereus, and the ivory statue brought to life by the sculptor Pygmalion in one of the most enduring love stories of antiquity.
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