Greek Baby Names: Meanings & Origins

Greek baby names reach back to mythology, philosophy and the natural world, and many are still widely used across the West. Each shows its meaning and origin.

Myth, virtue and the natural world

Greek names reach back to the oldest layer of Western culture — the gods and heroes of myth (Athena, Jason, Cassandra), transparent virtues (Sophia, “wisdom”; Irene, “peace”) and the natural world (Daphne, “laurel”; Chloe, “green shoot”).

Endings and gender

Greek names typically end in -os or -as for men (Nikolaos, Andreas) and -a or -i for women (Elena, Sofia). Many familiar Western names are simply the Latinised forms of these Greek originals.

From gods to saints

With Christianity, a new layer arrived — Christos, Stephanos, Nikolaos — and these saints’ names remain among the most common in Greece today.

Naming after grandparents

A strong Greek tradition names the first grandchildren after their grandparents, which keeps classic names in steady circulation generation after generation.

Frequently asked questions

What do Greek names usually mean?

Greek names are often very transparent u2014 Sophia is u201cwisdom,u201d George is u201cfarmer,u201d Irene is u201cpeaceu201d u2014 drawn from myth, virtue and nature.

How do Greek name endings work?

Names ending in -os or -as are typically masculine (Nikolaos, Andreas) and those ending in -a or -i feminine (Elena, Sofia).

What are popular Greek names?

Georgios, Konstantinos and Dimitris for men, and Maria, Eleni and Sofia for women, are among the most common in Greece.

Are many Western names originally Greek?

Yes u2014 Alexander, Sophia, George, Nicholas, Stephen and many more are the Latinised forms of Greek originals.