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.
Galini
“calm or serenity”
Galini comes from the ancient Greek 'galene' (γαλήνη), meaning calm sea or serenity, a word used by Homer and other poets to describe the sea's peaceful state between storms. The name carries an almost meditative quality, suggesting stillness, composure, and emotional balance. In Greek mythology, Galene was a sea-nymph personifying calm waters.
Garifalia
“carnation or clove flower”
Garifalia comes from the Greek 'garifalo' (γαρύφαλλο), the word for carnation or clove, a flower associated with deep emotion and affection in Mediterranean cultures. The carnation was beloved in ancient Greek festivals and remained prominent in Byzantine and modern Greek folk tradition. The name evokes beauty, fragrance, and the vibrant floral imagery central to Greek poetry and song.
Gennadios
“of noble birth or generous and well-born”
Gennadios derives from the Greek 'gennadas' (γενναδας), meaning noble, generous, or magnanimous, itself from 'gennao' (to beget, to be born) with the sense of being born well or of good stock. The name carried connotations of both inherited nobility and cultivated virtue in ancient Greek thought. It was borne by several important Orthodox patriarchs, cementing its religious prestige.
Georgios
“Earth worker, farmer, tiller of soil”
Georgios comes from the Greek word "georgos," meaning "farmer" or "earth worker," combining "ge" (earth) and "ergon" (work). It is the original Greek form of George and carries associations with the land, honest labour, and steadfastness. The name connects its bearer to one of humanity's most fundamental and noble pursuits.
Gerasimos
“honorable gift or bearing honor”
Gerasimos derives from the Greek 'geras' (γέρας), meaning honor, prize, or gift given in recognition of worth, combined with a suffix indicating possession or bearing. The word 'geras' in ancient Greek referred specifically to the gift or privilege awarded to a hero or elder as recognition of their status. The name thus encapsulates the concept of honorable distinction and is profoundly associated with the patron saint of Kefalonia.
Giorgos
“Earth worker”
Giorgos is the modern Greek form of George, meaning "earth worker" or "farmer." It connects to the ancient Greek roots "ge" (earth) and "ergon" (work), celebrating the dignity of working the land. The name has been borne by kings, saints, and countless individuals across the Greek-speaking world.
Glaukos
“gleaming or silver-blue”
Glaukos comes from the Greek 'glaukos' (γλαυκός), an adjective describing a luminous blue-grey or silver-green color particularly associated with the sea, Athena's eyes, and the color of olive leaves. Multiple figures in Greek mythology bore this name, including a sea deity and several Trojan War heroes. The name evokes the luminous, shifting quality of color at the boundary between sky and sea.
Glykeria
“sweetness or the sweet one”
Glykeria comes from the Greek 'glykys' (γλυκύς), meaning sweet, applied to taste, sound, temperament, and the experience of love. The name was borne by an early Christian martyr venerated in the Orthodox Church, and became associated with a beloved modern Greek singer who brought the name to national prominence. It radiates warmth and affection.
Gregorios
“watchful or alert”
Gregorios derives from the Greek 'gregoreo' (γρηγορέω), meaning to be awake or watchful, a verb of spiritual alertness as much as physical wakefulness. The name was borne by at least sixteen popes, multiple Orthodox patriarchs, and saints including Gregory the Theologian and Gregory Palamas. Its long history reflects the Christian ideal of spiritual vigilance and intellectual leadership.
Grigorios
“watchful”
Grigorios is the everyday spoken form of the name that appears as Gregorios in formal writing, both derived from the Greek 'gregoreo' (to be awake, to watch). The name has been borne by influential Greek writers, political martyrs, and Orthodox saints. In everyday Greek life, Grigorios is the familiar, spoken form while Gregorios appears in official documents and ecclesiastical use.
Grigoris
“Watchful, alert”
Grigoris is the modern Greek colloquial form of Gregorios, derived from the ancient Greek verb 'gregorein', meaning to be awake, to be watchful, or to be alert. The name conveys a sense of attentiveness, vigilance, and active engagement with the world. It is borne by several important figures in the Greek Orthodox Church, lending it a depth of spiritual and cultural meaning that runs through Greek identity.
Haralambos
“shining with joy or radiant with happiness”
Haralambos combines the Greek 'chara' (χαρά), meaning joy or delight, and 'lambos' from 'lampo' (λάμπω), meaning to shine or radiate. Together they form a name meaning 'he who shines with joy' or 'radiant gladness'. The name is borne by a beloved 2nd-century martyr-bishop venerated across the Orthodox world, whose feast is celebrated as a herald of spring.
Hariklia
“glory of joy or famous for delight”
Hariklia combines 'chara' (χαρά), meaning joy or delight, with 'kleos' (κλέος), the ancient Greek concept of fame and glory won through great deeds. The name suggests one who is famous for bringing joy, or whose glory consists of joyful virtue. It belongs to a class of Greek compound names that blend emotional and heroic values, projecting both warmth and distinction.
Haris
“grace”
Haris derives from the Greek 'charis' (χάρις), meaning grace, favor, charm, or a freely given gift. In ancient Greek religion, the Charites (or Graces) were goddesses of beauty, charm, and festivity. In Christian theology, 'charis' became the word for divine grace, God's freely given love. The name works for both boys and girls in modern Greek usage.
Hektor
“holding fast or steadfast defender”
Hektor derives from the Greek verb 'echo' (ἔχω), meaning to hold or restrain, in the sense of 'holding fast' or 'he who holds firm'. In the Iliad, Hektor is the Trojan champion who fights not for glory but to defend his city, his family, and his people, the model of the noble defender. His name captures the quality of steadfast endurance under pressure.
Heliodoros
“gift of the sun”
Heliodoros combines 'helios' (ἥλιος), the Greek word for sun and the name of the sun god, with 'doron' (δῶρον), meaning gift. The name thus means 'gift of the sun', a child born as a solar blessing, radiating warmth and light. Helios was one of the Titans in Greek mythology, driving his chariot across the sky daily, and his name underlies words like heliocentric and heliosphere.
Hera
“Lady, protectress”
Hera is the name of the queen of the Olympian gods in Greek mythology, wife and sister of Zeus, and goddess of marriage, women and family. The etymology of her name is debated, with the most widely accepted interpretation deriving from a pre-Hellenic root meaning lady or mistress, comparable to the masculine 'heros' (hero, lord). Some scholars also connect it to a word meaning protectress. As a given name, Hera carries an extraordinary weight of mythological association, projecting power, majesty and a fierce, passionate nature. It is a bold, concise name that has grown in appeal as mythology-inspired names have become fashionable.
Herakleitos
“glory of Hera or famous through Hera”
Herakleitos combines 'Hera', the queen of the Olympian gods, with 'kleitos' from 'kleos' (κλέος), meaning fame or glory. The name thus means 'renowned through Hera' or 'made glorious by Hera'. It is best known as the name of the pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus, famous for his doctrine of flux and the unity of opposites.
Herakles
“Glory of Hera”
Herakles is the original Greek form of the name more widely known in its Latinised version, Hercules. It is composed of 'Hera', the queen of the gods, and 'kleos', meaning glory or renown. The name belongs to the greatest hero of Greek mythology, famed for his extraordinary strength and his legendary twelve labours.
Hermes
“Cairn, boundary marker”
Hermes is one of the great names of classical antiquity, borne by the Olympian god of travel, trade, communication, thieves, and boundaries. The name's precise etymology links it to 'herma', a pile of stones used to mark boundaries or roads in ancient Greece. As messenger of the gods, Hermes embodied swiftness, intelligence, and wit. The name carries extraordinary cultural weight, spanning Greek myth, Roman tradition as Mercury, and the Hermetic philosophical tradition.
Hermione
“Well-born messenger”
Hermione derives from Hermes, the Greek messenger god associated with communication, travel, and wit. In classical mythology, Hermione was the daughter of Helen of Troy and Menelaus, king of Sparta, making her a figure of noble lineage. The name carries connotations of eloquence, intelligence, and a spirited, curious nature.
Hermogenes
“Born of Hermes, descended from the messenger god”
Hermogenes combines 'Hermes,' the Olympian messenger god of communication, commerce, and travel, with 'genes,' meaning born of or descended from. The name thus identifies its bearer as someone with divine communicative gifts, sharp intellect, and the mercurial energy associated with Hermes. In ancient Greece, being linked to Hermes through a name was a mark of intellectual promise and facility with language.
Herodias
“heroic or of the hero”
Herodias is the Greek feminine form of Herodes, itself from 'heros' (ἥρως), meaning hero or warrior-protector. The name thus carries the meaning 'she of the hero' or 'heroic woman'. Its most famous bearer, Herodias the Hasmonean princess, is portrayed in the New Testament as the instigator of John the Baptist's execution, making it a name with deeply ambivalent historical resonance.
Herodotos
“gift of Hera”
Herodotos combines 'Hera', the queen of the Olympian gods, with 'dotos' from 'didomi' (to give), meaning 'given by Hera' or 'gift of Hera'. The name belongs to the theophoric tradition of naming children as gifts from a specific deity. Its most famous bearer, Herodotus of Halicarnassus, is called the 'Father of History' for his monumental account of the Greco-Persian Wars.
Hieronymos
“holy name or he of the sacred name”
Hieronymos combines 'hieros' (ἱερός), meaning holy or sacred, with 'onyma' (ὄνυμα), meaning name. The compound means 'holy name' or 'one who bears a sacred name'. Its Latin equivalent Jerome is far better known in the West, but the original Greek form Hieronymos carries the full weight of its sacred etymology. It is also the source of the artist's name Hieronymus Bosch.
Hippocrates
“horse power or master of horses”
Hippocrates combines 'hippos' (ἵππος), meaning horse, with 'kratos' (κράτος), meaning power, strength, or rule. The name thus means 'he who has power over horses' or 'horse master', placing it in the aristocratic Greek tradition where horse ownership and riding signified wealth and social standing. The bearer of this name who transformed medicine lived in the 5th–4th centuries BC.
Hypatia
“highest or supreme”
Hypatia derives from the Greek 'hypatia' (ὑπατία), the feminine form of 'hypatos' (ὕπατος), meaning highest or supreme, literally 'she who is at the top'. The name was also the feminine equivalent of the Roman consular title 'hypatos' (consul). Hypatia of Alexandria, murdered by a Christian mob in 415 AD, became an enduring symbol of scientific reason and the tragedy of religious fanaticism.
Iason
“healer or he who heals”
Iason (the Greek form of Jason) derives from the Greek verb 'iaomai' (ἰάομαι), meaning to heal or cure, making it a name with both heroic and therapeutic connotations. The mythological Jason was the leader of the Argonauts, the greatest maritime expedition in Greek legend, sailing to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece with heroes including Herakles, Orpheus, and the Dioscuri.
Ignatios
“fiery or ardent”
Ignatios is the Greek form of the Latin name Ignatius, derived from 'ignis' (fire), meaning fiery or ardent. Alternatively, some scholars connect it to the Etruscan family name Egnatius, making the fire etymology a later folk etymology. In Orthodox Christianity, the name is associated with Saint Ignatius of Antioch, a bishop who was martyred in Rome and whose letters are vital early Christian documents.
Iktinos
“kite”
Iktinos derives from the Greek 'iktinos' (ἰκτῖνος), the name of the kite, a large, soaring bird of prey. As a given name it is extremely rare in both ancient and modern Greek, known almost exclusively through the architect Iktinos who designed the Parthenon together with Kallikrates for Pericles' building program on the Acropolis of Athens in the 5th century BC.
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