Greek Boy Names
Greek boy names carry strength, character and centuries of heritage. Greek names carry the weight of Western civilisation’s oldest stories — myth, philosophy, drama and the early church all named their people in Greek. Some honour the gods and heroes (Apollo, Jason, Penelope), some are virtue-names built from Greek words (Sophia, “wisdom”; Alexander, “defender of the people”; Zoe, “life”), and many were carried across Christendom by saints and martyrs. Their sound is distinctive, with flowing vowels and endings like -os, -as and -a. Ancient yet endlessly current — Sophia and Alexander top charts worldwide — Greek names offer both grand mythology and gentle everyday beauty. Below are real Greek boy names, each with its genuine meaning, pronunciation and origin — researched, never invented, and honestly noted where the sense depends on the writing or dialect.
40 Greek boy names
Alphabetical, each with meaning, pronunciation and origin.
How Greek names work
Greek names reach back to the very roots of Western storytelling. For thousands of years, Greek speakers named their children after gods and heroes, after admirable qualities, and later after Christian saints — and because Greek is such an expressive language, most of these names carry a clear meaning. Alexander means “defender of the people,” Sophia means “wisdom,” and Zoe means “life.” Choosing a Greek name is choosing a word with a long and luminous history.
Myth, virtue and the saints
Greek names fall into a few overlapping families. Some come from mythology — Jason, Penelope, Chloe, Selene and Helena all have roots in the ancient stories. Others are virtue-names and word-names: Irene (“peace”), Sophia (“wisdom”), Theodora (“gift of God”), Alexander (“defender”). A third great group came through the early church, since much of the New Testament and the first Christian communities were Greek-speaking, giving us Nicholas, Katherine, George and Christopher.
Endings and gender
Traditional Greek names are often marked for gender by their endings. Many masculine names end in -os, -as or -is (Nikolaos, Andreas, Yannis), while feminine names commonly end in -a or -e (Sophia, Eleni, Chloe). English versions frequently trim these endings — Nikolaos becomes Nicholas, Georgios becomes George — so the same name can look thoroughly Greek or comfortably international.
Pronunciation and spelling
Greek names are transliterated from the Greek alphabet, so spellings can vary (Eleni or Helen, Katerina or Katherine). A few sounds trip up English speakers: the “ch” in names like Chloe is a hard “k.” Every name on this page is listed with a clear pronunciation and its true meaning, so the ancient origins are easy to carry into everyday life.
Choosing a Greek name
Decide whether you are drawn to grand mythology (Apollo, Athena, Cassandra), gentle virtue (Sophia, Irene, Zoe) or timeless saintly classics (Nicholas, Katherine). Greek names range from the boldly dramatic to the soft and universal, and many — Sofia and Alexander foremost among them — are among the most popular names in the world, proof that this ancient tradition still feels wonderfully current.
Frequently asked questions
Are Greek baby names based on mythology?
Some are — Jason, Penelope, Chloe and Selene all come from Greek myth — but just as many are virtue and word names, like Sophia (“wisdom”), Zoe (“life”) and Irene (“peace”), or come from early Christian saints such as Nicholas and Katherine.
What do endings like -os and -a tell me?
Greek names are often marked for gender: many masculine names end in -os, -as or -is (Nikolaos, Andreas), while feminine names commonly end in -a or -e (Sophia, Chloe, Irene). English versions may drop or soften these endings.
Is “Alexander” really Greek?
Yes. It comes from the Greek alexein (“to defend”) and aner/andros (“man”), giving “defender of the people.” Its long history and clear, strong meaning are part of why it has stayed popular for over two millennia.
What are good boy Greek names to consider?
This page lists real Greek boy names with their meanings and pronunciations, spanning mythological, virtue and saintly names, so you can weigh a bold classical choice against a softer everyday one.