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Greek Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

  1. Sosthenes

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "safe strength"

    • Description:

      The name of two Biblical figures, one a supporter of St. Paul and the other a Corinthian ruler. Virtually unknown in the U.S. but used in the form Sosthene in modern France.
  2. Ilene

    • Origin:

      Greek variation of Helen

    • Description:

      Ilene might be a phonetic way to spell Aileen or Eileen, though in the end people may have more luck pronouncing the original.
  3. Gregor

    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Gregory

    • Meaning:

      "vigilant, a watchman"

    • Description:

      Two prominent literary namesakes make Gregor a somewhat risky choice. On the highbrow side, there's Gregor Samsa, the Kafka character who woke up one day to find himself turned into a cockroach. And then there's Gregor Clegane, one of the most feared and purely evil characters in the world of Game of Thrones.
  4. Hilary

    • Origin:

      Latin from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "cheerful, happy"

    • Description:

      Hilary (also spelled with two 'l's) is a hot potato of a name, so closely identified with Sen. Clinton that it's hard for most parents to see it as a baby name. A pity, really, as it's got so much going for it: the popular, rhythmic three-syllable structure, the fact that it's strong but light, proper but jaunty, with an irresistible meaning -- having the same root as hilarious.
  5. Aphrodite

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "foam or born from the sea"

    • Description:

      The name of the Greek goddess of love has rarely descended to mortal use, though the Roman equivalent Venus, thanks to tennis star Williams, now seems completely possible. But with the new fashion for goddess names, we may see more little Aphrodites in the playground with Jupiter and Juno. Nineteen baby girls received the name in the US last year.
  6. Persis

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "Persian woman"

    • Description:

      Parents seeking a distinctive New Testament name might consider this one. Adopted by some Puritans in the seventeenth century, Persis was used in the William Dean Howells novel The Rise of Silas Lapham for the wife of the protagonist.
  7. Myrtle

    • Origin:

      Greek botanical name

    • Description:

      Long in our category of so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out category, once seen as a gum-cracking 1940's telephone operator, we think it's time to reassess Myrtle, and look at is as a nature name, a plant with pink or white aromatic berries. Ruled by Venus, myrtle is a plant associated with love, peace, fertility and youth.
  8. Jeno

    • Description:

      Jeno is a masculine name with Hungarian origins, being the Hungarian form of Eugene, which derives from the Greek name Eugenios meaning "well-born" or "noble." In Hungary, it's pronounced YEH-no, though in English-speaking countries it may be pronounced JEH-no. The name gained some international recognition through Jeno Hubay, a famous Hungarian violinist and composer. It's also recognized as the name of the founder of Jeno's Pizza (later becoming Totino's). While common in Hungary throughout the 20th century, Jeno remains quite rare in English-speaking countries. The name's simplicity, coupled with its distinctive international character, gives it a unique appeal for parents seeking something uncommon yet pronounceable.

  9. Daedalus

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "craftsman"

    • Description:

      Name of a tragic mythological hero, used as a surname in the works of James Joyce; heavy but ponderous for an American boy, though pulled off very well by single-name musician Daedalus and writer and artist Daedalus Howell.
  10. Elektra

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "shining, bright"

    • Description:

      This spelling of Electra makes this vibrant name less electric and more kinetic.
  11. Rheya

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "flowing stream"

    • Description:

      It's a futuristic name in Solaris, but it is also related to Rhea, the name of Zeus's mother and wife of Cronus.
  12. Eliane

    • Origin:

      Variation of Eliana, Hebrew, or Latin from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "my God has answered; sun"

    • Description:

      Eliane is a melodic name with the very fashionable El- beginning. Lovely and lilting as it is, be aware that there are many El- variations around these days, and little girls called Ellie as a result.
  13. Piers

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "rock"

    • Description:

      Piers was the first version of Peter to reach the English-speaking world, via the Normans, but it's never made it in the US, despite its large measure of understated panache. This might change due to the high visibility of TV personality and former news editor Piers Morgan.
  14. Eladio

    • Origin:

      Spanish, from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "the Greek"

    • Description:

      Musical, with a buoyant beat.
  15. Timeo

    • Origin:

      Italian from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "honor"

    • Description:

      Timeo is a Top 100 name in France but is virtually unknown in the English-speaking world. Appearing briefly in the New Testament and related to Timon, a Shakespearean name, Timeo is a valid possibility for parents looking for an unusual name with cross-cultural cred.
  16. Arista

    • Origin:

      Greek or Latin

    • Meaning:

      "the best; ear of corn"

    • Description:

      From the root for aristocrat, an upwardly mobile choice -- or if you go by its other meaning, an earthy delicious choice.
  17. Aminta

    • Origin:

      Literature, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "defender"

    • Description:

      One of the romantic names favored by British pastoral poets, it was first used as a masculine name by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso for his 16th century play about a shepherd falling in love with a nymph.
  18. Poseidon

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Description:

      This version of the sea god's name may be more ready for prime time than the Roman version, Neptune -- slightly.
  19. Agathe

    • Origin:

      French variation of Agatha, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "good woman"

    • Description:

      Agathe is a hugely popular name in contemporary France, even if it's English-speaking counterparts have not yet warmed to the usual English version, Agatha. The two-syllable French pronunciation is sure to trip up non-French speakers.
  20. Atalanta

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Meaning:

      "equal in weight"

    • Description:

      Atalanta was a beautiful mythological maiden who refused to marry any man who couldn't beat her in a footrace -- quite a role model. This myth is found in Ovid's Metamorphoses and later in Swinburne's Atalantis in Calydon.

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