Greek Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

Dree

Diminutive of Andrea, feminine form of Andrew

"strong and manly"

This unique one-syllable name was added to the mix by Mariel Hemingway for her now grown model/actress daughter; it could make a distinctive middle name or Bree substitute.

Eirini

Eirini is the traditional Greek form of Irene, deriving from the Greek word 'eirēnē' meaning 'peace.' This beautiful feminine name has profound historical roots in ancient Greek culture, where Eirene…

Irina

Russian from Greek

"peace"

Irina is a Russian ballet-inflected classic, one of the Three Sisters in the Chekhov play. While some Americans will pronounce this like Irene with three syllables, the pronunciation used throughout…

Rena

Hebrew, Greek, Estonian, Scandinavian, German, Punjabi

"joyous melody; peace; reborn; to remain"

Rena is a Hebrew name all on its own and is also a European short form of Irene, Irini, Renata, and Renate. In Punjabi, Rena means "to remain".

Eirene

Greek

"peace"

Eirene, modernized to Irene, was the Greek goddess of peace. Eirene or Irene was also the name of an early empress and several saints.

Nitsa

Nitsa is a feminine name with Greek origins, typically used as a diminutive of names like Annita or Anitsa. In Greek culture, it's often a nickname for Anna or Konstantina. The name has a bright,…

Bryonia

Bryonia is a distinctive feminine name derived from the scientific name for a genus of climbing plants commonly known as bryony. The name has Greek origins, as 'bryon' referred to moss or plants in…

Natasa

Natasa is a feminine name with Slavic origins, primarily used in Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and other Balkan countries. It is a variant of Natasha, which itself is a diminutive form of the Russian…

Dorothea

Greek

"gift of God"

Dorothea is a romantic Victorian-sounding name that blends elegance, gravitas and a hint of clunkiness too. Popular in the early decades of the twentieth century, it has been off the charts since…

Ionna

Ionna is a feminine name with Greek origins, likely a variant of Ioanna, which is the Greek form of Joanna or Joan. These names derive from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning 'God is gracious.' With its…

Doris

Greek

"gift of the ocean"

Doris had long been on our so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out-for-babies list, and seemed to be written there in indelible ink. But there are signs of a sea change, that Doris could profit from the…

Jocasta

Greek, meaning unknown

Jocasta is a mythological name fashionably used in England, but mostly ignored here. She was the mother of Oedipus, King of Thebes, whom he (oops) unwittingly married. If you can ignore that small…

Jolán

Greek

"violet"

One of a number of similar forms of the "violet" name family used throughout Europe — others include Yolanda, Violante and Iolanthe.

Junia

Latin, Feminine variation of Junius

"born in June"

Juno is hot, June is showing signs of a comeback along with other month and day names, whereas Junia, the name of the the first century Christian referred to by the apostle Paul as an apostle (and…

Brontë

Greek

"thunder"

Bronte is the lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name; a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. An extra element of Bronte's appeal: the…

Dorinda

Greek

"bountiful gift"

Cinderella stepsister type Victorian-valentine name.

Dorian

Greek

"from Doris"

A male name occasionally borrowed by the girls, as in Dorian Cramer, a long-running female character on the soap One Life to Live and famous midcentury model Dorian Leigh.

Beta

Greek, second letter of the Greek alphabet

If you can't have an Alpha male, how about a Beta girl.

Anastacia

Greek variation of Anastasia

"resurrection"

Gorgeous name in any form, though the c may muddy the pronunciation.

Elexis

Greek variation of Alexis

Rather than confusing things with Elexis, we'd stick with the original Alexis version.