Greek Names — Origins, Meanings & History

Alkeides Masculine Greek Greek

Alkeides is the direct Greek form of Alcides, a name that appears in classical mythology as an alternative name for the hero more widely known as Heracles (Romanized as Hercules).EtymologyThe name Alkeides derives from t...

Alkestis Feminine Greek Greek

Alkestis is the Greek form of Alcestis, a name with deep roots in Greek mythology. The name derives from the Greek Ἄλκηστις (Alkestis), which is believed to come from the word ἀλκηστής (alkestes), meaning "brave" or "val...

Alkinoe Feminine Greek Greek

Alkinoe is a feminine given name of Greek origin. It is a feminine form of Alkinoos, also known as Alcinous, meaning "strong mind" — from Greek ἀλκή (alkē) "strength, prowess" and νόος (nous) "mind, thought". Alternate s...

Alkinoos Masculine Greek Greek

Alkinoos (also Alcinous; Ancient Greek: Ἀλκίνοος) is a masculine Greek name meaning "strong mind", derived from the elements ἀλκή (alke) "strength, prowess" and νόος (noos) "mind, thought". It is best known from Greek my...

Alkippe Feminine Greek Greek

Alkippe is the Greek form of Alcippe, which originates from the Greek name Ἀλκίππη (Alkippē). The name is composed of the elements ἀλκή (alkē) meaning "strength, prowess" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". Thus, the nam...

Alkmene Feminine Greek Greek

Alkmene is the Ancient Greek form of Alcmene, preserved directly from the original Greek spelling. In mythology, Alkmene (or Alcmene) is renowned as the mortal mother of the hero Heracles (Roman Hercules). Her name deriv...

Alkyone Feminine Greek Greek

Alkyone is the Ancient Greek form of Alcyone, a name derived from the word alkyón (ἀλκυών), meaning "kingfisher." In Greek mythology, Alkyone (Ἀλκυόνη) was the daughter of Aeolus, the god of the winds, and the wife of Ce...

Althaea Feminine Greek Greek

Althaea is a feminine given name, a variant of Althea. Derived from the Greek name Ἀλθαία (Althaia), it is perhaps related to the Greek word ἄλθος (althos) meaning "healing". In Greek mythology, Althaea (Althaia) was the...

Althaia Feminine Greek Greek

Althaia is the Greek form of Althea, derived from the ancient name Althaia (Ἀλθαία). In Greek mythology, Althaia (also spelled Althaea) was the queen of Calydon and the mother of Meleager. Her name is often interpreted a...

Althea Feminine Greek Greek

Althea is an English female given name derived from the Greek name Ἀλθαία (Althaia), which may be related to the Greek word ἄλθος (althos) meaning "healing". In Greek mythology, Althea was the mother of Meleager. Accordi...

Amalthea Feminine Greek Greek

EtymologyAmalthea is a name of Greek origin, derived from the Ancient Greek Ἀμάλθεια (Amaltheia), which in turn comes from the verb μαλθάσσω (malthasso) meaning "to soften, to soothe." This etymology reflects the nurturi...

Amaltheia Feminine Greek Greek

Amaltheia is the Greek form of Amalthea, derived from the Greek word malthasso meaning "to soften, to soothe". While often spelled as Amalthea in English, the name also appears in its original Greek rendering, Amelia.Ety...

Amphitrite Feminine Greek Greek

Amphitrite is a goddess of the sea in ancient Greek mythology, known as the queen of the sea and the consort of Poseidon. Her name possibly means "the surrounding sea" or "the surrounding third", from Greek ἀμφίς (amphis...

Anchises Masculine Greek Roman Greek Roman

Anchises is a figure from Greek and Roman mythology, best known as the mortal lover of the goddess Aphrodite (Roman Venus) and the father of the Trojan hero Aeneas.EtymologyThe name Anchises is probably derived from the...

Andromache Feminine Greek Greek

Andromache is a name of ancient Greek origin, derived from the elements ἀνήρ (aner) meaning 'man' (genitive ἀνδρός) and μάχη (mache) meaning 'battle', thus translating to 'man-battler' or 'fighter of men'. In Greek mytho...

Andromeda Feminine Greek Greek

Andromeda is a feminine given name derived from the Greek Ἀνδρομέδα (Andromeda), meaning “ruler of men.” The name is composed of the elements ἀνήρ (aner), meaning “man” (genitive ἀνδρός), and either μέδομαι (medomai), “t...

Antenor Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Antenor is a name of Greek origin, derived from the elements ἀντί (anti) meaning "against" or "like" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man," thus signifying "instead of a man." This name was borne by a 6th-century BC Athenian scu...

Anteros Masculine Greek Greek

Anteros is a Greek masculine name meaning "love returned" or "counter-love," derived from the Greek elements ἀντί (anti) (“against, compared to, like”) and ἔρως (eros) (“love”). In Greek mythology, Anteros was the god of...

Anthea Feminine Greek Greek

Anthea is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the Ancient Greek Ἄνθεια (Antheia), which comes from ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower, blossom." It was used as an epithet of the Greek goddess Hera, the queen...

Antheia Feminine Greek Greek

Antheia is the Greek form of Anthea, derived from the Greek word anthos (ἄνθος), meaning "flower" or "blossom." In ancient Greek religion, Antheia (Ἀνθεία, literally "flower goddess") was used as an epithet for the major...

Anticlea Feminine Greek Greek

Anticlea is the Latinized form of Antikleia, itself a feminine form of Antikles. The name derives from the Greek elements anti (ἀντί) meaning "against, compared to, like" and kleos (κλέος) meaning "glory". The compound n...

Antigone Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Antigone is a female given name of Greek origin, famously borne in classical mythology and literature. The name is derived from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and γονή (gone) meaning "birth, offsp...

Antikleia Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Antikleia is an Ancient Greek feminine given name, best known as the mother of the legendary hero Odysseus in Greek mythology. The name is the feminine form of Antikles. Etymology Antikleia derives from the masculine Ant...

Antiope Feminine Greek Greek

Antiope is a feminine name of Greek origin, famously borne by several figures in Greek mythology, most notably an Amazon queen. The name is derived from the Greek elements ἀντί (anti), meaning "against, compared to, like...

Aoede Feminine Greek Greek

Aoede is a feminine name of Greek origin, best known as one of the three original Muses in early Boeotian mythology. She was the Muse of voice and song. The name is the Latinized form of Aoide, which means "song" in Gree...

Aoide Feminine Greek Greek

Aoide (Ancient Greek: Ἀοιδή, Aoidē) is a Greek female name meaning "song". It was borne in Greek mythology by one of the three original Muses, the goddess of voice and song. Her sisters were Melete (Practice) and Mneme (...

Aphrodite Feminine Greek Greek

Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, passion, and procreation, whose name is of uncertain etymology, possibly of Phoenician origin. The Greeks famously connected her name with ἀφρός (aphros),...

Apollo Masculine Greek Greek

Apollo is the Greek name of one of the most important Olympian gods in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Its etymology is uncertain: it derives from the Greek Ἀπόλλων (Apollon), which may stem from the Indo-European...

Apollon Masculine Greek Greek Greek Greek

Apollon is a direct Greek form of Apollo, retaining the original ancient Greek nominative Ἀπόλλων (Apollon). Used in several European languages—including Danish, Finnish, and sometimes English as a synonym—it refers to t...

Arachne Feminine Greek Greek

Arachne is a name originating from Greek mythology, derived from the Greek word arachne meaning "spider". The name is famously associated with the mortal weaver who challenged the goddess Athena (or her Roman equivalent,...

Ares Masculine Greek Greek

Ares is the Greek god of war and courage, one of the Twelve Olympians in Greek mythology. His name may derive from either the Greek word ἀρή (are) meaning "bane, ruin" or ἄρσην (arsen) meaning "male." The name first appe...

Arete Feminine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Arete is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from the Ancient Greek word ἀρετή (aretḗ), meaning "virtue" or "excellence." In Greek mythology, Arete was the personification of virtue and excellence, often considered...

Arethousa Feminine Greek Greek

Arethousa is the rare ancient Greek given name of a nymph from Greek mythology, meaning "quick water." It is a direct borrowing of the Greek Ἀρέθουσα (Arethousa), derived from the elements ἄρδω (ardo) meaning "water" and...

Arethusa Feminine Greek Greek

Arethusa is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from the Ancient Greek Ἀρέθουσα (Arethousa), meaning "quick water" or "the waterer." The name is composed of ἄρδω (ardo), meaning "to water," and θοός (thoos), meaning...

Argos Masculine Greek Greek

Argos is a masculine name of Greek origin, primarily known as a variant of Argus. It derives from the Ancient Greek Ἄργος (Argos), which is linked to the word ἀργός (argos), meaning "glistening" or "shining." The name ap...

Argus Masculine Greek Greek

Argus is a masculine name from Greek myth, rooted in the Greek Ἄργος (Argos), itself derived from ἀργός (argos) meaning "glistening, shining". The name was borne by several figures in Greek mythology, especially the gian...

Ariadne Feminine Greek Greek

Ariadne is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the Cretan Greek elements αρι (ari), meaning "most," and αδν&oacutes; (adnos), meaning "holy." The name thus carries the meanin...

Aristaeus Masculine Greek Greek

Aristaeus is a Greek name borne by a minor god of agriculture, hunting, and cattle. Derived from the Greek name Ἀρισταῖος (Aristaios), it stems from the element ἄριστος (aristos), meaning "best." In mythology, Aristaeus...

Aristaios Masculine Greek Greek

Etymology and Origin Aristaios is the Greek form of Aristaeus, a name derived from the Greek word aristos, meaning "best" (related to the aristos element). In Greek mythology, Aristaeus was a minor god associated with ag...

Aristodemos Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyAristodemos is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek name Ἀριστόδημος (Aristodemos), composed of the elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people". Thus, the name roughly tra...

Arke 1 Feminine Greek Greek

Arke is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word ἀρκής (arkes) meaning "swift." In Greek mythology, Arke was the twin sister of the rainbow goddess Iris but is far lesser-known than her sibling. While...

Artemis Feminine Greek Greek Greek Greek

Etymology and OriginsArtemis is a name of uncertain etymology, rooted in ancient Greek. It may derive from the Greek word ἀρτεμής (artemes), meaning "safe" or "unharmed," or alternatively from ἄρταμος (artamos), meaning...

Asclepius Masculine Greek Greek

Asclepius is the Latinized form of Asklepios, the Greek god of healing and medicine. In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Asclepius (originally Asklepios Ἀσκληπιός) was a hero and then a deity, venerated as the patro...

Askanios Masculine Greek Greek

Askanios is the Greek form of Ascanius, a figure from classical mythology. The name derives from Ancient Greek Ἀσκάνιος (Askánios), of unknown meaning. In Greek and Roman mythology, Ascanius—also called Julus—was the son...

Asklepios Masculine Greek Greek

Asklepios (also known by the Latinized form Aesculapius) is the Greek name for the god of healing and medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology. The meaning of his name remains unknown, but it is deeply rooted in...

Asteria Feminine Greek Greek

EtymologyAsteria is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from the masculine form Asterios (see Asterius), which comes from the Greek word aster meaning "star." The name thus carries the meaning "starry" or "of the st...

Asterion Masculine Greek Greek

Asterion (also spelled Asterius) is a Greek name meaning "of the stars," derived from the Greek word aster ("star"). In Greek mythology, Asterion is the name of several figures, including a river god, one of the Giants,...

Asterios Masculine Greek Greek +1 Greek Greek Ancient Greek

EtymologyAsterios is the Greek form of Asterius, itself a Latinized derivative of the Greek name Asterios. Unsurprisingly, the name hails from the Greek word aster meaning "star", conferring upon the bearer a celestial s...

Asterius Masculine Greek Ancient Greek Greek Ancient Greek

Asterius is the Latinized form of the Greek name Asterios (Ἀστέριος), derived from aster (ἀστήρ), meaning "star". In Greek mythology, Asterius is an alternate name for the Minotaur, the half-bull, half-man monster confin...

Asterope Feminine Greek Greek

Asterope is a feminine name of Greek origin, meaning "lightning, flash of light". In Greek mythology, several figures bear this name, including a naiad—a water nymph—who tragically died while fleeing from the mortal yout...

Astraea Feminine Greek Greek

Astraea is the Latinized form of the Greek name Astraia (Ἀστραία), derived from the Greek word ἀστήρ (aster) meaning "star". In Greek mythology, Astraea was the virgin goddess of justice and innocence. She is distinct fr...

Astraia Feminine Greek Greek

Astraia is the original Greek form of the name Astraea, the Romanized Latin version. Derived from the Greek word astēr (aster) meaning "star", Astraia appears in Greek mythology as the goddess of justice and innocence. A...

Astrape Feminine Greek Greek

Astrape (Ἀστραπή) is a Greek name meaning "lightning, gleam, flash." In Greek mythology, Astrape personified lightning and served as an attendant of Zeus, the king of the gods. She was often paired with Bronte, the perso...

Atalanta Feminine Greek Greek

Etymology and Mythological OriginAtalanta is a feminine name of Greek origin, derived from the ancient Greek Ἀταλάντη (Atalante), meaning "equal in weight." This comes from the word ἀτάλαντος (atalantos), which is relate...

Athena Feminine English Greek English Greek

Athena is a name of Greek origin, derived from the goddess of wisdom, warfare, and handicraft in ancient Greek mythology. The meaning of the name is unknown, but it is likely that the goddess's name originated from the c...

Athene Feminine Greek Greek

Athene is an English variant of the name Athena, derived from the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts. The name likely originated from the city of Athens, which was named in her honor. According to mytho...

Atlas Masculine Greek Greek

Atlas is a name of Greek origin, most famously borne by the Titan in Greek mythology who was condemned by Zeus to hold up the heavens for eternity as punishment for leading the Titan rebellion against the Olympian gods....

Atreus Masculine Greek Greek

Atreus is a name from Greek mythology, derived from the Greek negative prefix ἀ (a) and τρέω (treo) meaning "to fear, to flee," thus signifying "fearless." In Greek mythology, Atreus was a king of Mycenae in the Peloponn...

Atropos Feminine Greek Greek

Atropos is a Greek feminine name derived from the word atropos, meaning "inevitable, inflexible." This name is formed from the negative prefix a ("without") and tropos ("turn, direction, manner"), literally translating t...

Bacchus Masculine Greek Greek

Bacchus is a masculine name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek Βάκχος (Bakchos), which itself comes from the verb ἰάχω (iacho) meaning "to shout." This name is intimately connected with the Greek god Dionysos, who w...