Greek Baby Names: 80+ Names From Gods, Philosophers, and Ancient Greece
Greek Baby Names: 80+ Names From Gods, Philosophers, and Ancient Greece
Where Civilization Began
Democracy. Philosophy. Theater. The Olympic Games. Medicine. Mathematics. Western civilization didn't begin in Greece—it exploded from it, like Athena fully formed from Zeus's head. And with all that culture came names. Magnificent names. Names that have echoed through three thousand years of human history.
When you name a child Alexander, you're invoking the boy who conquered the known world before he turned thirty. When you name her Sophia, you're giving her the word the Greeks invented for wisdom itself. These aren't just names—they're connections to the people who figured out geometry, invented democracy, and wrote tragedies we still perform today.
My college roommate was named Penelope, and she spent her whole childhood explaining her name came from 'The Odyssey.' By high school, she'd read the entire epic. By college, she was a classics major. Her name became a self-fulfilling prophecy—she grew into the story she carried.
If you're drawn to Greek names—whether for heritage, meaning, or the sheer beauty of the sounds—you're choosing from a tradition that helped build the modern world.
The Greek Naming Tradition
Greek naming combines ancient mythology, Orthodox Christian tradition, and family honor.
The Patronymic System
Traditional Greek naming follows strict rules: first son named after paternal grandfather, first daughter after paternal grandmother, second children after maternal grandparents. This creates extended families where cousins share the same names—lots of Yiayia's name walking around.
The Name Day Tradition
Greeks celebrate name days more than birthdays. Each day honors an Orthodox saint, and everyone with that saint's name celebrates together. If your name is Konstantinos, you celebrate on May 21st with every other Konstantinos in Greece. It's a communal celebration of shared identity.
The Meaning Matters
Greek names aren't arbitrary sounds—they're words. Sophia means wisdom. Theodoros means gift of God. Nikolaos means victory of the people. Greeks know what their names mean because Greek is still the root language of meaning itself.
The Evolution
Modern Greek names blend ancient names (Alexandros, Helena), Orthodox Christian names (Konstantinos, Maria), and newer international names (Eva, Nikos). But tradition remains strong—naming your first son after his grandfather is still the expectation in most Greek families.
Greek Girl Names
Greek girl names carry mythological power, philosophical meaning, and lyrical beauty.
Classical Greek Girls
- Sophia (so-FEE-ah) - 'Wisdom.' Philosophy itself (philo-sophia = love of wisdom). Global top name.
- Athena (ah-THEE-nah) - Goddess of wisdom and war. Athens's patron. Powerful.
- Helena (heh-LEH-nah) - 'Light, bright.' Helen of Troy launched ships. Classic and accessible.
- Penelope (peh-NEL-oh-pee) - Odysseus's faithful wife. 'Weaver.' Literary and loyal.
- Phoebe (FEE-bee) - 'Bright, pure.' Titan goddess. Accessible internationally.
- Chloe (KLOH-ee) - 'Blooming, young green shoot.' Nature name from Greek.
- Zoe (ZOH-ee) - 'Life.' Simple and profound.
- Thalia (thah-LEE-ah) - 'Blooming.' Muse of comedy. Joyful name.
- Daphne (DAFF-nee) - 'Laurel tree.' Nymph mythology. Nature and myth combined.
- Iris (EYE-ris) - Goddess of rainbows. Messenger between gods and humans.
- Cassandra (kah-SAN-drah) - 'She who entangles men.' Prophetess. Dramatic.
- Cynthia (SIN-thee-ah) - 'From Mount Cynthus.' Epithet for Artemis.
- Alexandra (al-ex-AN-drah) - Feminine of Alexander. 'Defender of mankind.'
- Theodora (thee-oh-DOR-ah) - 'Gift of God.' Byzantine empress name.
- Calliope (kah-LYE-oh-pee) - 'Beautiful voice.' Muse of epic poetry.
Orthodox and Modern Greek Girls
- Maria - Greek form of Mary. Virgin Mary devotion. Most common Greek name.
- Eleni (eh-LEH-nee) - Greek form of Helen. Very common in Greece.
- Katerina (kah-teh-REE-nah) - Greek Catherine. 'Pure.'
- Anastasia (ah-nah-STAH-see-ah) - 'Resurrection.' Easter-connected. Princess familiarity.
- Evangelia (eh-van-geh-LEE-ah) - 'Good news.' Gospel connection.
- Dimitra (dee-MEE-trah) - Greek Demeter. 'Earth mother.'
- Ioanna (yo-AH-nah) - Greek Joanna. 'God is gracious.'
- Georgia (yor-YEE-ah) - 'Farmer.' Common Greek name.
- Stavroula (stav-ROO-lah) - 'Cross.' Religious meaning.
Greek Boy Names
Greek boy names invoke heroes, philosophers, and saints with powerful meanings.
Classical Greek Boys
- Alexander (al-ex-AN-der) - 'Defender of mankind.' The Great conquered the world. Classic.
- Theodore (THEE-oh-door) - 'Gift of God.' Presidential and saintly.
- Nicholas (NIK-oh-las) - 'Victory of the people.' Santa Claus association.
- Sebastian (seh-BAS-tee-an) - 'From Sebastia.' Saint name. Very popular now.
- Andreas (ahn-DREH-as) - Greek Andrew. 'Manly.' First apostle called.
- Demetrius (deh-MEE-tree-us) - 'Follower of Demeter.' Earth-connected.
- Philip (FIL-ip) - 'Lover of horses.' Alexander's father. Apostle name.
- Stephen (STEE-ven) - 'Crown, wreath.' First Christian martyr.
- George (JORJ) - 'Farmer.' Saint George dragon-slayer. Royal name.
- Jason (JAY-son) - 'Healer.' Argonaut leader. Golden Fleece hero.
- Hector (HEK-tor) - 'Holding fast.' Troy's greatest warrior.
- Paris (PAIR-is) - 'Wallet, pack.' Helen's abductor. City confusion helps or hurts.
- Homer (HOH-mer) - 'Hostage' or 'blind.' The poet himself.
- Aristotle (AIR-is-tot-ul) - 'Best purpose.' The philosopher. Bold choice.
- Plato (PLAY-toh) - 'Broad-shouldered.' Another philosopher. Very bold.
Orthodox and Modern Greek Boys
- Konstantinos (kon-stan-TEE-nos) - Constantine. 'Constant.' First Christian emperor.
- Dimitris (dee-MEE-trees) - Demetrius diminutive. Very common in Greece.
- Nikos (NEE-kos) - Nicholas diminutive. 'Victory of the people.'
- Yiannis (YAH-nees) - Greek John. Very common.
- Petros (PET-ros) - Greek Peter. 'Rock.'
- Pavlos (PAV-los) - Greek Paul. 'Small.'
- Christos (khree-STOS) - 'Anointed one.' Christ itself.
- Stavros (STAV-ros) - 'Cross.' Religious meaning.
- Spiros (SPEE-ros) - Short for Spiridon. 'Spirit.'
Greek Mythology Names
Greek mythology offers powerful names, though some carry complicated stories.
Olympian Gods and Goddesses
- Zeus - King of gods. Too powerful for a baby? Some parents disagree.
- Athena - Wisdom and warfare. Excellent name. No negative associations.
- Apollo - Music, poetry, sun. Beautiful but very bold choice.
- Artemis - Goddess of the hunt. Currently rising. Strong and beautiful.
- Hermes - Messenger god. Luxury brand association now.
- Hera - Queen of gods. Jealous wife stories might concern some.
- Demeter - Harvest goddess. Earth mother. Usable.
- Dionysus - God of wine. Party-hardy associations.
Heroes and Heroines
- Achilles (ah-KIL-eez) - Greatest warrior. Heel vulnerability. Bold choice.
- Odysseus (oh-DIS-ee-us) - Clever hero. Long journey home. Literary.
- Perseus (PER-see-us) - Medusa slayer. Hero name. Rising in use.
- Theseus (THEE-see-us) - Minotaur slayer. Athenian hero.
- Helen - Face that launched a thousand ships. Beautiful but problematic story.
- Penelope - Faithful wife. Weaver. Entirely positive associations.
- Ariadne (air-ee-AD-nee) - Helped Theseus escape. 'Most holy.'
- Andromeda (an-DROM-eh-dah) - Rescued princess. Constellation name.
Other Mythological Figures
- Selene (seh-LEE-nee) - Goddess of the moon. Beautiful.
- Persephone (per-SEF-oh-nee) - Queen of underworld. Spring connection.
- Nike (NY-kee or NEE-kay) - Goddess of victory. Brand familiarity complicates.
- Iris - Rainbow goddess. Messenger. Beautiful and usable.
- Phoebe - Titan goddess. 'Bright.' Very usable.
- Gaia (GUY-ah) - Earth goddess. Nature name. Rising.
- Atlas - Titan who holds sky. Map association. Bold.
- Orion (oh-RYE-on) - Hunter. Constellation name. Popular now.
Biblical Greek Names
Many New Testament names are Greek, carrying both biblical and classical weight.
Apostles and Early Christians
- Peter/Petros - Rock. Foundation of the church.
- Andrew/Andreas - First called apostle.
- Philip/Philippos - Lover of horses. Apostle name.
- Stephen/Stephanos - First martyr. Crown meaning.
- Timothy/Timotheos - 'Honoring God.' Paul's companion.
- Lydia - First European convert. 'From Lydia.' Beautiful.
- Phoebe - Deaconess. 'Bright, pure.'
- Priscilla - Early Christian. 'Ancient.'
Biblical Greek Word Names
- Sophia - Wisdom personified in Scripture.
- Agape (ah-GAH-pay) - Divine love. Unconditional love.
- Zoe - Life. Eternal life in New Testament.
- Anastasia - Resurrection. Easter meaning.
- Evangelos/Evangelia - Good news. Gospel.
Modern Greek Names
What are Greeks actually naming their children today?
Currently Popular in Greece
Top Greek girl names now: Maria, Dimitra, Eleni, Katerina, Georgia. Top boy names: Yiannis, Konstantinos, Dimitris, Georgios, Nikos. Traditional names dominate—Greek naming is conservative.
International Greek Names
Greek names popular internationally: Sophia, Chloe, Zoe for girls; Alexander, Sebastian, Theodore for boys. These Greek-origin names have gone global.
Revival Names
Ancient names making comebacks: Penelope, Athena, Persephone for girls; Atlas, Orion, Apollo for boys. Mythology names are trending worldwide, even as traditional Greeks stick to Orthodox choices.
Using Greek Names Internationally
Greek names generally travel well, with some pronunciation notes.
Names That Need No Adjustment
- Sophia, Zoe, Chloe, Iris, Helen, Alexandra
- Alexander, Theodore, Nicholas, Stephen, Philip
Names With Pronunciation Variations
- Penelope - peh-NEL-oh-pee in Greek, often pen-EL-oh-pee in English
- Athena - ah-THEE-nah in Greek, uh-THEE-nuh in English
- Persephone - per-SEF-oh-nee, not per-SEH-phone
- Hermione - her-MY-oh-nee (Harry Potter helped here)
Greek-Specific Names
Some names are distinctly Greek and rare elsewhere:
- Stavroula (Cross), Evangelia (Good news), Despina (Lady)
- Stavros, Spiros, Vangelis (short for Evangelos)
These mark Greek heritage specifically. They're beautiful but might need more explanation outside Greek communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How do I pronounce Greek names correctly?
Key rules: stress usually falls on second-to-last syllable (so-FEE-a, not SO-fee-a). 'Th' is soft (like 'think'). 'Ph' is 'f.' Most Greek names have been anglicized, so the English pronunciation is acceptable—but knowing the Greek pronunciation shows respect.
Q2: Are Greek names hard to spell?
Most Greek names in English use familiar letter patterns: Sophia, Theodore, Alexandra. A few (Persephone, Hermione) need learning, but Harry Potter helped normalize unusual Greek spellings. The challenge isn't spelling—it's knowing which Greek names exist.
Q3: Which Greek mythology names work for everyday babies?
Excellent choices: Athena, Penelope, Daphne, Iris, Phoebe for girls; Jason, Hector, Alexander, Perseus for boys. Risky choices: Zeus, Apollo, Achilles, Aphrodite—powerful but very bold. Avoid: Narcissus (obvious reasons), Medusa, Hades.
Q4: Do I need Greek heritage to use Greek names?
Not at all. Greek names are foundational to Western culture. Sophia is the most popular name in multiple non-Greek countries. Alexander has been used worldwide for 2,300 years. These names belong to everyone now.
Q5: What's the difference between ancient Greek names and modern Greek names?
Ancient: mythology-derived (Athena, Apollo), philosopher names (Aristotle, Plato), Homer's characters (Penelope, Hector). Modern: Orthodox saint names (Konstantinos, Stavros), biblical names (Maria, Andreas). Many names bridge both—Alexander is ancient history and Orthodox saint.
Names That Built Civilization
Greek names aren't just beautiful—they're foundational. They invented the words we think with, the concepts we reason with, the stories we still tell. When you name a child from the Greek tradition, you're connecting them to the people who invented democracy, discovered that the Earth orbits the sun, and wrote plays we perform three thousand years later.
My friend Penelope grew into her epic name. She became someone who loved stories, who valued patience and loyalty, who saw her life as part of something larger than herself. That's what Greek names can do—they offer a mythology to grow into.
Whether you choose an Olympian goddess, a philosopher's wisdom, or a saint's blessing, Greek names carry weight. The kind of weight that builds civilizations, that echoes through millennia, that turns a baby's first breath into connection with everyone who's carried that name before.
Find your Greek name on SoulSeed, where you can explore mythological, biblical, and modern Greek names and discover sounds that have been inspiring humanity since the dawn of Western civilization.
