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.
Iliana
“Bright sun ray”
Derived from the Greek name Helios, the personification of the sun, Iliana carries the imagery of radiant light and warmth. The name suggests a luminous, life-giving quality, evoking the golden rays of the morning sun. Its melodious, flowing sound has made it popular across Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as among Spanish-speaking communities where it appears as a variant of Elena or Eliana.
Ilias
“The Lord is my God”
Ilias is the Greek form of Elijah, meaning the Lord is my God. It carries the spiritual weight of the great Hebrew prophet whilst also evoking Homer's Iliad, one of the foundational texts of Western literature. This dual heritage gives the name a rare combination of spiritual depth and literary grandeur.
Io
“Moon”
Io is one of the most ancient names in Greek mythology, borne by a priestess of Hera who was loved by Zeus. The etymology of the name is debated, with some scholars connecting it to a Proto-Indo-European root relating to the moon or to an exclamation of joy. In mythology, Io was transformed into a white heifer by Zeus to conceal her from Hera, and her wandering journey across the ancient world gave her name to several geographical features, including the Ionian Sea. Jupiter's most volcanically active moon, Io, is named after her, giving the name a modern astronomical resonance.
Ioakeim
“God will establish or raised up by God”
Ioakeim is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yehoyaqim (יְהֹויָקִים), meaning 'God will establish' or 'God raises up'. In Orthodox Christian tradition, Ioakeim is the name of the father of the Virgin Mary, making it a name of profound Marian significance. The feast of Saints Ioakeim and Anna (Mary's parents) is one of the significant dates in the Orthodox calendar.
Ioanna
“God is gracious”
Ioanna is the Greek feminine form of Ioannis, derived from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning 'God is gracious'. It is the Greek equivalent of Joanna and has been immensely popular in Greece for centuries. The name carries a sense of elegance and deep spiritual warmth.
Ioannis
“God is gracious”
Ioannis traces back through Greek to the Hebrew 'Yohanan,' meaning 'God is gracious' or 'God has shown favour.' It is a name that speaks to divine benevolence and the gratitude felt at the arrival of a child.
Iokasti
“The Greek form of Jocasta”
Iokasti is the authentic Greek spelling of the name anglicized as Jocasta, a figure of immense dramatic and psychological significance in ancient Greek tragedy. The name's etymology is debated, with some scholars linking it to 'io,' a Greek exclamation, and 'kaste,' possibly relating to purity or shining. Whatever its precise linguistic roots, Iokasti carries the weight of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, one of the most influential dramatic works in human history.
Ioni
“A feminine Greek name derived from Ionia”
Ioni carries the heritage of Ionia, one of antiquity's most culturally fertile regions, home to philosophers like Thales, Heraclitus, and Anaximander as well as the birthplace of epic poetry through Homer. The Ionians were known for their intellectual openness, artistic refinement, and commercial vitality, and names derived from this region carry connotations of sophistication and creativity. The feminine form Ioni adds softness to this grand cultural legacy.
Iosif
“God will add”
Iosif is the Greek form of Joseph, itself derived from the Hebrew name Yosef, meaning 'God will add' or 'God will increase'. The name carries a sense of divine blessing and abundance. In the Hebrew scriptures, Joseph was the beloved son of Jacob who rose from slavery to become a ruler of Egypt, making the name a symbol of resilience, wisdom, and providential favour. Iosif preserves that ancient legacy in its Greek rendering, giving it a distinctly Eastern European and Orthodox Christian character.
Iphigeneia
“Born of great strength”
Iphigeneia combines 'iphios,' meaning strong or mighty, with 'genes,' meaning born of, yielding the meaning 'born of great strength' or 'she who is born mighty.' The name belongs to Agamemnon's daughter, whose near-sacrifice at Aulis to propitiate Artemis and gain winds for the Greek fleet set in motion the tragic chain of events that defined the house of Atreus. Her story, told by Euripides, is one of sacrifice, survival, and the redemptive power of compassion.
Iphigenia
“Born to strength, of royal birth”
Iphigenia is a majestic Greek name meaning 'born to strength' or 'of royal birth,' drawn from the elements iphios, meaning 'strong' or 'noble,' and genos, meaning 'birth' or 'race.' One of the most dramatic names in classical mythology, it belongs to the daughter of Agamemnon whose sacrifice became a defining story of the Trojan War.
Ippokratis
“Master of horses”
Ippokratis, the Greek form of Hippocrates, combines 'ippos,' meaning horse, with 'kratos,' meaning power or rule, yielding the meaning 'master of horses' or 'horse power.' In ancient Greece, the horse was a symbol of nobility, military prowess, and high social standing, so names incorporating 'ippos' were aristocratic by nature. Ippokratis of Kos, however, transcended his aristocratic name to become the defining figure of ancient medicine.
Irene
“Peace”
Irene comes from the ancient Greek Eirene (Εἰρήνη), meaning peace, and was the name of the Greek goddess who personified peaceful times and was one of the Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. The name was adopted early by Christians in honor of Saint Irene of Rome and multiple other martyrs, spreading rapidly across the Roman Empire and into medieval Europe. In Italy, Irene has been a consistent presence for centuries, valued for its classical beauty and its powerful, optimistic meaning.
Irini
“Peace”
Irini is the modern Greek form of Eirene, the goddess of peace and one of the Horai, the goddesses of the seasons and natural order. In ancient Greek thought, eirene was not merely the absence of war but a positive state of social harmony, abundance, and flourishing that made all good things possible. The name thus carries an expansive, deeply civilizational meaning beyond simple quietude.
Isadora
“Gift of Isis”
Isadora is the Latin and Spanish form of the Greek name Isidora, meaning gift of Isis. It combines the name of the Egyptian goddess Isis with the Greek element 'doron' meaning gift, following the same pattern as names such as Theodora (gift of God) and Pandora. Isis was the most widely venerated goddess in the ancient world, worshipped across Egypt, Greece, Rome, and as far as Britain, representing magic, healing, motherhood, and the power of nature. The name Isadora therefore carries associations of divine blessing, feminine power, and creative mystery. In the modern era, the name is almost inseparable from Isadora Duncan, the American dancer who revolutionised the art form and whose life was as dramatic and unconventional as anything in mythology. Isadora has experienced a quiet but steady revival as parents seek alternatives to more common names.
Isidoros
“Gift of Isis”
Isidoros combines 'Isis,' the Egyptian goddess of wisdom, healing, and magic who was widely worshipped in the Hellenistic world, with 'doron,' meaning gift, yielding 'gift of Isis.' The name reflects the remarkable cultural exchange of the Hellenistic period, when Greek and Egyptian religious traditions merged, and Isis became one of the most beloved deities across the Mediterranean world. Its bearer was understood to carry divine gifts of wisdom and transformative power.
Ismene
“Knowledgeable”
Ismene is a name from ancient Greek mythology, most likely meaning 'knowledgeable' or 'the one who knows'. In the great tragedies of Sophocles, Ismene is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta, and the sister of the more famously rebellious Antigone. Her character represents pragmatism, caution and quiet strength.
Ismini
“knowledgeable or wise one”
Ismini carries the ancient Greek meaning of wisdom and knowledge, evoking a figure of intellectual and spiritual depth. The name is most closely associated with Ismene, the daughter of Oedipus in Greek mythology, representing loyalty, love, and moral courage. In modern Greek culture, Ismini is cherished as a name that balances classical heritage with feminine grace.
Kalli
“beautiful or good”
Kalli is a radiant Greek name rooted in the word 'kallos,' meaning beauty in both physical and moral senses. As both a standalone name and a diminutive of longer names like Kalliope or Kallistheni, Kalli carries the full weight of the ancient Greek ideal that beauty and goodness are inseparable virtues. Its brevity gives it a modern, wearable quality without sacrificing its deep classical roots.
Kallimachos
“beautiful battle”
Kallimachos fuses two of ancient Greek culture's most prized ideals, physical and moral beauty ('kallos') and martial excellence ('machos'), into a single heroic name. It belongs to the tradition of compound Greek names that described the ideal man as someone who was as admirable in character and appearance as he was formidable in combat. Parents drawn to Kallimachos are choosing one of classical antiquity's most striking and resonant names, one that carries the full weight of the ancient Greek heroic tradition.
Kallinikos
“gloriously victorious or beautifully triumphant”
Kallinikos unites two of the most potent concepts in Greek culture: beauty and victory. The name was borne by athletes, soldiers, and saints who achieved triumph in ways that were considered not merely effective but excellent and admirable. It belongs to a family of Nike-compound names that celebrate success achieved with grace and virtue rather than brute force alone.
Kalliopi
“beautiful voice or one with a lovely voice”
Kalliopi derives from the Greek 'kalliope,' a compound of 'kallos' (beauty) and 'ops' (voice, face, or eye), meaning 'one with a beautiful voice.' As the name of the chief among the nine Muses in Greek mythology, Calliope was the divine patron of epic poetry, rhetoric, and all forms of inspired speech. Kalliopi carries this legacy of artistic excellence and expressive power into modern Greek naming tradition.
Kalliroi
“Beautiful stream”
Kalliroi combines the ancient Greek 'kallos' meaning beauty, and 'rhoe' meaning stream or flow. The name thus evokes a beautiful flowing stream, and carries the tranquil imagery of pure, clear water moving gracefully through a landscape. In Greek mythology, Kallirrhoe was the name of several naiads, the water nymphs who presided over fresh water, giving the name a deep mythological resonance alongside its poetic natural imagery.
Kallis
“beautiful or most beautiful”
Kallis distills the ancient Greek concept of 'kallos', encompassing beauty, excellence, and noble quality, into a crisp, modern-sounding name with gender-neutral appeal. As the superlative form suggests the most beautiful or most excellent, Kallis carries a quiet confidence and elegance that works equally well for any child. Its brevity and clarity give it a contemporary feel while its roots stretch back to the foundations of Western culture.
Kallistheni
“beautiful strength or noble power”
Kallistheni is among the most striking of the Kalli- compound names, uniting beauty with physical and moral strength in a single powerful expression. The name embodies the classical Greek ideal that true excellence is both aesthetically admirable and vigorously capable, that beauty without strength is incomplete, and strength without beauty is brutal. It carries a quietly commanding authority that makes it unforgettable.
Kallisti
“to the most beautiful one”
Kallisti is the dative form of 'kalliste,' meaning 'to the most beautiful,' and carries one of the most dramatic mythological backstories of any name. The inscription 'Kallisti' was written on the golden apple thrown by Eris, the goddess of discord, which Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite each claimed, ultimately leading to the Judgment of Paris and the Trojan War. The name thus carries both supreme beauty and a note of world-changing consequence.
Kallistos
“most beautiful or most excellent”
Kallistos holds the honor of being the superlative masculine form of the 'kallos' family of names, meaning quite literally 'the most beautiful one.' In ancient Greece, this was a name for someone considered to embody the absolute pinnacle of human excellence, not just in appearance but in character, virtue, and noble conduct. The name was borne by saints, mystics, and scholars, giving it a spiritual dimension alongside its classical beauty.
Kalomira
“beautiful fate or good destiny”
Kalomira unites two profound Greek concepts: beauty and destiny. 'Moira' was one of the most significant words in the ancient Greek worldview, referring to the fate or portion allotted to each person by the Fates, the Moirai, at birth. By combining 'kalo' (good, beautiful) with 'moira,' the name Kalomira expresses a heartfelt parental hope that a daughter's destined portion in life will be beautiful, fortunate, and blessed.
Kalypso
“she who conceals or the hidden one”
Kalypso comes from the Greek verb 'kalypto' (καλύπτω), meaning to cover, conceal, or veil, suggesting something beautiful hidden beneath the surface and waiting to be discovered. In Homer's Odyssey, Calypso was the immortal sea-nymph who kept Odysseus enchanted on the island of Ogygia for seven years, offering him immortality in exchange for his love. The name carries a powerful combination of mystery, allure, depth, and the irresistible pull of hidden knowledge.
Kassandra
“She who entangles men”
Kassandra is the authentic Greek spelling of Cassandra, the Trojan princess and prophetess of Greek mythology. The name is thought to derive from Greek elements meaning 'she who entangles men' or possibly from a root meaning 'shining upon men'. In the myth, Kassandra was granted the gift of prophecy by Apollo but cursed so that no one would believe her warnings. Her tragic story of ignored truth has made her name a byword for unheeded prophecy in Western culture, lending the name both beauty and a note of melancholy complexity.
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