🇬🇷 Greece · Hellas

Greek Baby Names: Popular Greek Names for Boys and Girls

Greece is the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and mythology. Discover timeless Greek names rooted in ancient history, the gods of Olympus, and the beauty of the Aegean.

Greek names carry an extraordinary heritage — from the philosophers of Athens to the gods of Mount Olympus and the heroes of ancient epic poetry. Greek names often have roots in mythology, Orthodox Christianity, and the ancient language that gave birth to much of the Western world's vocabulary.

Whether you have Greek heritage or are simply drawn to names with depth and history, this guide will help you find the perfect Greek name for your baby.

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Most Popular Greek Girl Names

#	Name	Meaning	Origin
1	Sofia	Wisdom	Greek
2	Eleni	Shining light; bright one	Greek
3	Maria	Beloved; sea of bitterness	Hebrew
4	Katerina	Pure; clear	Greek
5	Georgia	Farmer; earth worker	Greek
6	Dimitra	Earth mother; devoted to Demeter	Greek
7	Vasiliki	Royal; queenly	Greek
8	Ioanna	God is gracious	Hebrew
9	Athina	Goddess of wisdom	Greek
10	Zoe	Life	Greek

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Most Popular Greek Boy Names

#	Name	Meaning	Origin
1	Georgios	Farmer; earth worker	Greek
2	Dimitrios	Devoted to Demeter	Greek
3	Konstantinos	Steadfast; constant	Latin
4	Nikolaos	Victory of the people	Greek
5	Alexandros	Defender of men	Greek
6	Christos	Anointed one	Greek
7	Ioannis	God is gracious	Hebrew
8	Vasileios	Royal; kingly	Greek
9	Panagiotis	All holy	Greek
10	Theodoros	Gift of God	Greek

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Traditional Greek Names

Greek families have a strong tradition of naming children after grandparents and saints. These classic names have been cherished for centuries.

👧 Girls

AnastasiaParaskeviStavroula FotiniChrysoulaDespina EfthymiaKyriakiMagdalini Eleftheria

👦 Boys

ApostolosStavrosSpyridon AthanasiosEvangelosMichalis PetrosStefanosKyriakos Leonidas

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Modern Greek Names

Contemporary Greek parents are embracing shorter, internationally friendly names — many of which are ancient names in a sleeker modern form.

👧 Girls

LyraThaliaAlexia MelinaIreneCallie DemiNia

👦 Boys

NikosKostasTasos AndreasThanosAris LeoMarkos

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Mythology-Inspired Greek Names

Greek mythology is one of the richest sources of baby names in the world. These names connect your child to the gods, goddesses, and heroes of ancient Greece — stories that have shaped art, literature, and culture for over 3,000 years.

👧 Girls

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Athena

Goddess of Wisdom

Wisdom, warfare & the arts

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Iris

Goddess of the Rainbow

Rainbow; messenger of the gods

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Selene

Goddess of the Moon

Moon; celestial brightness

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Daphne

Nymph of the Laurel

Laurel tree; victory

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Persephone

Queen of the Underworld

Bringer of spring

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Gaia

Goddess of Earth

Earth; mother of all life

👦 Boys

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Apollo

God of Light & Music

Sun, arts & prophecy

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Zephyr

God of the West Wind

West wind; gentle breeze

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Atlas

Titan of Endurance

To carry; endurance

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Orion

The Great Hunter

Rising star; boundary

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Zeus

King of the Gods

Sky; heaven; shine

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Hermes

Messenger of the Gods

Speed; cunning; luck

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Famous Greeks with Popular Names

These legendary figures show the lasting power of Greek names across history and culture.

Alexander the Great

Macedonian king who conquered much of the known world · 356–323 BC

Aristotle

Philosopher & polymath; tutor of Alexander the Great · 384–322 BC

Socrates

Father of Western philosophy & the Socratic method · 470–399 BC

Maria Callas

Legendary Greek-American opera soprano · 1923–1977

Melina Mercouri

Actress, singer & Greek Minister of Culture · 1920–1994

Nikos Kazantzakis

Author of Zorba the Greek · 1883–1957

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How to Choose a Greek Baby Name

Consider the meaning and symbolism — Greek names often carry deep philosophical, mythological, or religious significance.
Think about pronunciation outside Greece — names like Zoe, Iris, and Apollo travel effortlessly internationally.
Honour Greek naming traditions — the custom of naming the first son after the paternal grandfather is still widely practised.
Consider name day celebrations — in Greece, name days (tied to saints) are often celebrated as much as birthdays.
Make sure the name works for both a child and an adult — mythological names like Athena or Apollo carry well into adulthood.
Check compatibility with your surname — try saying the full name aloud, and consider how it sounds in your home language.

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A History of Greek Baby Names

Mycenaean Era
1600–1100 BCE

Linear B clay tablets reveal the earliest Greek names: Ko-wa (Kore = girl) and Ko-wo (Kouros = boy). Names were simple and descriptive of role or gender.

Classical Period
500–323 BCE

Virtue and achievement names flourished: Alexandros (defender of men), Pericles (far-famed glory), Themistocles. Olympic Games winners were immortalized — their names lived for centuries.

Hellenistic Period
323–31 BCE

Alexander the Great's conquests spread Greek names across Egypt, Persia, and India. Greek naming became the prestige system of the ancient world.

Byzantine Empire
330–1453 CE

Greek-Orthodox Christian saints replaced pagan heroes: Konstantinos, Theodoros, Anastasia, Kyriakos. Religion and naming became inseparable.

Ottoman Occupation
1453–1821

Greek names were secretly preserved at home as a form of cultural resistance — a quiet act of identity against 400 years of foreign rule.

Modern Greece
1821–today

Independence brought revival of ancient names alongside saints' names. Today Alexandros, Eleni, and Nikos honor both classical and Christian heritage simultaneously.

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Greek Naming Traditions

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Name Days Over Birthdays

In Greece, your "onomastiki giorti" (name day — the feast of your patron saint) is often celebrated more than your birthday. Friends call, flowers arrive, sweets are shared.

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Grandparent Cycle

First child is named after the paternal grandparents, second after maternal grandparents. This creates beautiful naming continuity across generations.

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Orthodox Baptism

Greek names must come from the Orthodox Christian calendar for a religious baptism — though civil registration accepts wider choices.

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Ancient Revival

Modern Greek parents increasingly choose ancient names — Periklis, Themistoklis, Alkibiades — as a statement of cultural pride in 3,000 years of civilization.

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⚡ Did You Know? Fun Facts About Greek Names

"Alexander" has been in continuous use for 2,500 years — from the Macedonian conqueror to babies born this year.

Greek names are the single largest source of English names: Anthony, Peter, Philip, Catherine, Helen all trace directly to ancient Greek.

"Nike" means "victory" in Greek — the goddess of victory wore wings. She predated the shoe brand by about 2,500 years.

"Kostas" (short for Konstantinos) is so common that Greeks joke there are only three male names in Greece: Kostas, Giorgos, and Nikos.

The name "Sophia" (wisdom) has been used without interruption since Plato's time — a confirmed 2,400-year lifespan.

Ancient Greeks believed names shaped destiny — the practice of naming children carefully to invite good fortune is called "onomatology."

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sofia is consistently one of the most popular names both in Greece and internationally, ranking in the top 5 in many countries. Eleni — the Greek form of Helen — is also deeply beloved and has been used in Greece for thousands of years.

Georgios is one of Greece's most enduring male names, often shortened to Giorgos. Dimitrios and Konstantinos have also been staples of Greek naming traditions for centuries, honouring the goddess Demeter and Emperor Constantine respectively.

Absolutely. Many Greek names — Zoe, Sophia, Alexander, Theodore, Iris, and Athena — are used all over the world and feel natural in virtually any culture. Greek names gave rise to much of the English language, so they blend in seamlessly.

Popular mythology-inspired choices include Athena, Iris, Selene, and Persephone for girls, and Apollo, Atlas, Orion, and Zephyr for boys. These names are rising in popularity globally as parents seek names with meaning and grandeur.

In Greek Orthodox tradition, most names correspond to a saint's feast day — called a name day (onomastiki eorti). Greeks often celebrate name days with gatherings, sweets, and gifts, sometimes more so than birthdays. Choosing a name with a name day is still an important consideration for many Greek families.

Greek Baby Names: Popular Greek Names for Boys and Girls

📋 In This Guide

Most Popular Greek Girl Names

Most Popular Greek Boy Names

Traditional Greek Names

👧 Girls

👦 Boys

Modern Greek Names

👧 Girls

👦 Boys

Mythology-Inspired Greek Names

👧 Girls

👦 Boys

Famous Greeks with Popular Names

How to Choose a Greek Baby Name

A History of Greek Baby Names

Greek Naming Traditions

⚡ Did You Know? Fun Facts About Greek Names

Frequently Asked Questions