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.
Kassiani
“Cinnamon”
Kassiani derives from the Greek word kassia, referring to the cinnamon tree and its fragrant spice. The name is borne most famously by Kassiani, a ninth-century Byzantine abbess, poet, hymnographer, and composer whose work is still sung in the Eastern Orthodox liturgy today. Her compositions represent some of the earliest surviving music written by a named female composer in European history, giving the name a remarkable artistic and spiritual legacy.
Katerina
“Pure, clear, and unsullied”
Katerina is the Greek form of Catherine, derived from the Greek word 'katharos,' meaning pure or clean. This association with purity has given the name a timeless, luminous quality. It has been borne by saints, queens, and scholars throughout the centuries, lending it both grace and gravitas.
Katina
“form of Katherine”
Katina is a warm and melodic Greek diminutive of Katherine, a name whose roots reach deep into ancient Greek culture. The name carries connotations of purity and unspoiled virtue, reflecting the Greek ideal of inner beauty. Its soft ending gives it an endearing, affectionate quality that has made it a beloved choice in Greek-speaking communities for generations.
Kleisthenes
“famous for closing or renowned strength”
Kleisthenes is composed of the Greek elements kleios, meaning glory or fame, and sthenos, meaning strength or force. Together the name conveys the idea of renowned power or glory achieved through strength of character and action. It is inseparably linked to one of history's most consequential political reformers, the Athenian lawgiver who laid the foundations of democracy.
Kleomenes
“glorious strength or celebrated for power”
Kleomenes combines the Greek kleos, meaning glory, renown, or fame celebrated in song, with menos, meaning might, spirit, or vital force. The result is a name that evokes heroic energy and lasting reputation, well suited to the warrior culture of ancient Sparta. Multiple Spartan kings bore this name, embedding it firmly in the history of Lacedaemonian power.
Kleopatra
“A magnificent ancient Greek name meaning”
Kleopatra is composed of the Greek kleos, meaning glory or fame, and pater, meaning father. The name thus expresses the idea of a daughter who brings lasting renown to her family and lineage. It was widely used among the Macedonian-Greek ruling dynasties of the ancient Mediterranean world, most iconically by Cleopatra VII, the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt.
Konstantina
“Steadfast, constant”
Konstantina is the Greek feminine form of Konstantinos, itself derived from the Latin Constantinus, meaning constant or steadfast. The name honours the legacy of Constantine the Great, the first Roman Emperor to adopt Christianity, who founded the city of Constantinople (modern Istanbul) in 330 AD. Constantinople served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years, and the name Konstantinos and its feminine form Konstantina became deeply embedded in Greek Christian culture as a mark of pride in that heritage.
Konstantinos
“Steadfast, constant, and unwavering”
Konstantinos means "steadfast" or "constant," derived from the Latin word "constans." The name conveys an unwavering strength and reliability, suggesting someone who remains firm and resolute in the face of challenges. It is one of the most historically significant names in Greek culture, tied to emperors and kings.
Koralia
“Coral”
Koralia derives from the Greek 'koralli', meaning coral, the precious marine organism that has been prized since antiquity for its jewel-like beauty and vivid colour. The name evokes the warm, luminous shades of the Mediterranean and the natural splendour of the sea. It is a distinctly Greek name that carries a sense of rare beauty and natural elegance.
Korina
“Maiden”
Korina is a variant spelling of Corinna, derived from the ancient Greek kore meaning maiden or girl. The name was most famously borne by the ancient Greek lyric poet Corinna of Tanagra, who was said to have competed with and even defeated Pindar in poetry contests. Korina carries this classical artistic heritage while its spelling gives it a softer, more contemporary feel.
Korinna
“maiden or young girl”
Korinna derives from the ancient Greek kore, meaning maiden, girl, or young woman, a word that also referred to the Kore, one of the names of Persephone. The name celebrates the beauty and vitality of youth and femininity. It was immortalized by Korinna of Tanagra, a lyric poet of the fifth century BCE whose surviving fragments reveal a gifted and distinctive poetic voice.
Kosmas
“Order, decency”
Kosmas derives from the Greek word kosmos, meaning order, harmony, or the universe. The same root gives English the words cosmos and cosmetic. The name is borne by Saint Kosmas, who with his twin brother Damian formed one of the most celebrated pairs of martyrs in the early Christian church. The two brothers were physicians who refused payment for their services, earning the title anargyroi, meaning the unmercenary ones. Their feast is observed in both the Eastern and Western churches, giving Kosmas a deep ecumenical resonance.
Kostas
“Steadfast”
Kostas is the most common diminutive of Konstantinos and has become a standalone name in its own right. It is one of the most frequently heard male names in everyday Greek life, carrying a sense of constancy and dependability. The name reflects a deeply rooted cultural identity tied to endurance and resilience.
Kristi
“anointed one”
Kristi is a lively and accessible short form of Christina and Kristina, both of which trace back to the Greek Christos, meaning 'the anointed one,' a title applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. The name entered widespread use through Christian communities across Europe and has been particularly popular in Scandinavia and the American South. Kristi offers the warmth and faith heritage of the longer forms in a crisp, modern package.
Kyriaki
“Of the Lord, Sunday”
Kyriaki is the feminine form of Kyriakos, derived from the Greek word kyrios meaning lord or master. The name also carries the secondary meaning of Sunday, as the word kyriaki in modern Greek denotes the day of the Lord. It is a deeply devotional name in the Greek Orthodox tradition, given to girls born on a Sunday or at Easter time, and carries a strong spiritual resonance.
Kyriakos
“Of the Lord”
Kyriakos is a Greek name meaning "of the Lord" or "belonging to the Lord," derived from the Greek word "kyrios" (lord, master). It carries a profound spiritual resonance, reflecting devotion and reverence. The name has a long and distinguished history in the Greek-speaking world, where it has been used continuously since the early Christian era.
Kyrillos
“lordly or masterful”
Kyrillos derives from the Greek kyrios, meaning lord, master, or authority, a word of deep religious and social importance in the Greek-speaking world. The name thus carries connotations of rightful authority and dignified leadership. It is most famously associated with Saint Cyril of Thessaloniki, whose creation of an early Slavic alphabet, the basis for the modern Cyrillic script, represents one of the most consequential acts of cultural transmission in European history.
Kyros
“Lord, master”
Kyros is the Greek form of the name known in English as Cyrus, derived from the Greek kyrios, meaning lord or master. The name has deep roots in both Greek and Persian culture. In Greek, kyrios was the standard term of respect and authority, used throughout the New Testament to address Christ as Lord. Kyros connects this weight of lordly authority to the Greek-speaking world's understanding of Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who founded the Achaemenid Empire and was celebrated in the Hebrew scriptures as a righteous ruler. The name carries intellectual and historical gravitas in its Greek spelling.
Laertes
“An ancient Greek mythological name borne”
Laertes appears in Homer's Odyssey as the aging father of Odysseus, a man who retreated from society in grief at his son's long absence from Ithaca, mourning alone on his farm. The name's etymology is uncertain, possibly related to Greek words suggesting gathering or people, but its mythological identity is one of patient fatherly love and quiet heroism. Shakespeare also used the name for Ophelia's protective brother in Hamlet.
Lambros
“Bright, radiant”
Lambros derives from the ancient Greek word 'lampros', meaning bright, radiant, or brilliant. It is deeply tied to the Greek Orthodox Easter celebration, known as Lambri, when the world is symbolically flooded with light. Boys born around Easter are traditionally named Lambros as a mark of that joyful illumination. The name carries connotations of brilliance, both physical and intellectual, and has been a cherished given name in Greece for many centuries.
Lampetia
“she who shines or radiance”
Lampetia derives from the ancient Greek lampein, meaning to shine, to gleam, or to blaze with light, the same root that gives us the English word lamp. In Greek mythology, Lampetia and her sister Phaethusa were daughters of Helios, the personification of the sun, and served as divine shepherdesses tending the immortal cattle and flocks of their father. Her name perfectly reflects her solar parentage and her association with radiance and light.
Laskarina
“From the noble Laskaris family”
Laskarina is a feminine name derived from the Byzantine aristocratic surname Laskaris, which was borne by the Nicaean imperial dynasty during the 13th century. The name became celebrated through Laskarina Bouboulina, the heroic naval commander of the Greek War of Independence (1821). It carries connotations of nobility, courage, and patriotic sacrifice. The name is rare outside Greece and carries an intensely historical and cultural weight.
Lazaros
“God has helped”
Lazaros is the Greek form of Lazarus, derived from the Hebrew name Eleazar, meaning God has helped or God is my helper. The name carries profound spiritual resonance through its association with the biblical story of resurrection and divine intervention. It conveys a sense of gratitude toward God and the belief in miraculous renewal.
Leandros
“Lion man”
Leandros is the Greek form of Leander, composed of the elements leon meaning lion and aner meaning man. The name therefore means lion man, evoking courage, strength, and noble character. In Greek mythology, Leander was the young man who swam the Hellespont nightly to be with his beloved Hero, making this a name associated with passionate devotion as well as physical bravery.
Leda
“Lady”
Leda is an ancient Greek name whose precise etymology is debated, but it is most commonly linked to a Lycian or pre-Greek root meaning lady or woman. In Greek mythology, Leda was the Queen of Sparta, wife of King Tyndareus, and mother of some of antiquity's most celebrated figures, including Helen of Troy and the divine twins Castor and Pollux. The name carries an air of mythological grandeur combined with a simple, timeless beauty.
Lefteris
“Liberator, free man”
Lefteris is a Greek diminutive of Eleftherios, from the Greek word 'eleftheria', meaning freedom or liberty. The name therefore means liberator or free man, and carries strong patriotic overtones in Greek culture. 'Eleftheria' is one of the most resonant words in modern Greek, deeply tied to the country's long struggle for independence.
Leonidas
“Son of the lion”
Leonidas is an ancient Greek name meaning 'son of the lion' or 'lion-like', derived from leon (lion) with a patronymic suffix. It is a name inseparable from the legendary King Leonidas I of Sparta, who led three hundred warriors against the Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BCE. The name carries an unmistakable sense of courage, defiance, and heroic sacrifice. For modern parents, Leonidas offers both the gravitas of classical antiquity and the warmth of its natural nickname, Leo.
Leontios
“lion-like or resembling a lion”
Leontios derives from the Greek leon, meaning lion, with the suffix -tios indicating a quality or resemblance. The lion has been a universal symbol of royal courage, strength, and noble authority across ancient Mediterranean cultures, and a name meaning lion-like carried enormous prestige in the ancient world. The name appears throughout Greek and Byzantine history on saints, military commanders, and at least one Byzantine emperor.
Leukosia
“White goddess”
Leukosia derives from the Ancient Greek leukos, meaning white, bright, or shining, combined with the feminine suffix suggesting a divine or noble being. In Greek mythology, Leukosia was one of the Sirens, the enchanting creatures whose song lured sailors to their destruction. Her name suggests luminous beauty, purity, and an almost supernatural radiance. The name also gave rise to the ancient place name for the site of modern Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus.
Linos
“Flax”
The name Linos originates from the ancient Greek word for the flax plant, which was prized for its fibers used in linen-making across the ancient Mediterranean world. In Greek mythology, Linos was a celebrated musician and poet, said to be the inventor of melody and rhythm, and a teacher of legendary heroes. The name thus evokes both natural beauty and artistic genius, making it a rich choice for a child.
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