Greek Names

Lexis is a condensation of Alexis, or the expression of a wish to drive a Lexus. Go with the longer form.

Lexis

An old royal name in England and Scotland that's also spelled Marjorie. Popular in the Middle Ages and Tudor period, it was revived at the end of the 19th century, peaked in 1921 and dropped off the list in 1958, enough time to be reconsidered as a Margaret alternative. The name Margery Daw is familiar via the seesaw nursery rhyme and Margery Williams wrote the children's classic The Velveteen Rabbit..

Margery

Roxane

A name that looks simple on the surface but has a variety of complex roots, Senia is often used as an alternative form of Xenia, a Greek name meaning "hospitable, welcoming" or "guest". This spelling likely emerged via the Scandinavian variation, Senja, or from the Slavic Ksenia. 
 
Another possibility is that Senia is an elaboration of Sena, which opens up a whole variety of possible sources. On one hand, it may come from the Turkish spelling of the Arabic Thana, meaning "praise", while on the other, it may have emerged from any name with the sen sound, such as Selina, Serena, Asenath, Siena, and Rosena.
 
From Sanskrit, it could mean "army; missile, dart", inspired by Sena, the wife of Indra (or Kartikeya), and a personification of the armed forces or thunderbolts. 
 
Given to a handful of girls each year in the US, it makes a rare but familiar sounding choice.

Senia

Stately and elegant, but with the familiar sounds of Sophia and Sophie, Sophronia was a familiar choice back in the 19th century but has since fallen into obscurity. Derived from the Greek sophron, it means "sensible, self-restrained".
 
Some people might have first encountered the name in the old children's book series The Five Little Peppers, in which Sophronia, the youngest of the Peppers is nicknamed Phronsie.`It was also used by Dickens in two of his novels: The Old Curiosity Shop and Our Mutual Friend.
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Given to a very small handful of girls most years, it makes a familiar but alternative option.

Sophronia

Agapi has a sweet meaning of love and affection, but though this name is used in modern Greece, it's one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/507/greek-names-for-girls">Greek names for girls</a> that has not yet emigrated to the US along with so many of her sisters.

Agapi

Likely a variation of the Spanish Aristea, combined with the popular -ella suffix, Aristella has its origins in Greek, drawn from the element aristos meaning "excellent" or "best". Predominantly used in Brazil, it has plenty of potential for more widespread usage as a sparkly name in its own right, and as a rare alternative to Aria, Stella, Ariana, and Ariella. 
 
It has been appearing in the US stats since 2021, with 6 girls receiving the name in a recent year.

Aristella

A less common relic of the Claudette-Paulette-Annette era. Babette's Feast is a 1987 Danish film based on a Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) story about a cook who wins the lottery and prepares an elaborate feast.

Babette

Briony may be the variation and Bryony the original, but many parents will see this as the more authentic-feeling version of this attractive botanical name. Melodic and bright, it was once a Top 400 name in the UK back in the 90s but has since fallen out of favor, as has Bryony.
 
The name of a vine once used for medicinal purposes, Briony is derived from the Greek bryo meaning "to swell, sprout, grow", likely in reference to the plants ability to climb. As such, Briony isn't related to the similar sounding Brian, though it could nevertheless make an honor name for one.
 A literary choice, Briony appears in Ian McEwan's popular novel, Atonement, in which the young, imaginative Briony Tallis sets the plot in motion. In the screen adaptation, she was played by Saoirse Ronan, for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination.
 
In the most recent stats, no girls were called Briony (or Bryony) in the US, while in the UK, just over 30 babies were given the names collectively. With potential nicknames Bonny, Brie, or Bee, Briony could make an unexpected yet familiar option.

Briony

Despina is best known as the clever and wily maidservant character in Mozart's opera Così fan tutte, and as one of Neptune's moons, making it a musical and an astronomy-inspired choice. However, the name is actually of Greek origin, derived from Despoina, who in Greek mythology was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon. 
 
Used most notably in Russia, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, and South Africa, along within its native Greece, this form has been borne historically by a 14th century Serbian Princess. More recent bearers are singer Despina Olympiou, tennis player Despina Papamichail, musician Despina Mdende, and singer Despina Vandi. 
 
In its native Greece, Despina is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable – DESS-pi-na (or more accurately THESS-pi-na, the TH like that in then), though elsewhere, it may be said as dess-PEE-nah. Given to 16 girls in the US in a recent year, this form may feel more approachable than the traditional Greek spelling.

Despina

Despite the possibility of gender confusion, the Hero in Greek myth was a woman. Myleene Klass got that when she chose Hero for her daughter, and Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson used it as their daughter's middle--and we wouldn't be surprised to see more girls with this heroic name.
 In Greek legend young Leander swam across dangerous waters every night to court his beloved Hero. In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Hero is the love interest of Claudio and cousin of Beatrice.

Hero

Illyria can trace all its varied associations to the name of an ancient place in the western part of the Balkan peninsula, also called Illyricum. Its inhabitants, conquered by the Romans in 168 BC, were called the Illyrians. Its mythological ancestor was Illyrius, a demigod and son of King Cadmus and the goddess Harmonia.
 
Illyria also plays a role in literature, both as a place-name and a character name. Shakespeare set his play Twelfth Night in a fictionalized Illyria, while more recently, Joss Whedon created a (female) character named Illyria, a powerful "Old One", for his show Angel. And there's a (male) Illyrio in Game of Thrones.
 
Although Illyria sounds similar to the cheerful Italian name Ilaria, it has a different root. The exact root of Illyria is speculated, but one theory is that it means "water snake".

Illyria

Io may be one of the slightest names in the book, but there aren't many two-letter names with as much substance as this Greek mythological example.  Io, a name used for the largest moon of Jupiter, was in classic myth raped by Zeus and escaped from him by changing herself into a cow. 

Iridiana is a name, predominantly used in Mexico, used as an even more elaborate form of Iridián. Both of these names are  related to the Greek name Iris, who in Greek mythology was the personification of the Rainbow. Iridiana is a frillier version of the name, likely to appeal to people who prefer Isabella to Isobel and Delphinia to Delphi.

Iridiana

Kyriaki is the feminine variation of Kyriakos, derived from the Greek word kyrios, meaning "lord." It is also the Greek word for Sunday, meaning it doubles up as a word name, and a saint's name, borne by a 3rd-century Christian saint who refused to compromise her faith, despite multiple, prolonged periods of torture.

Kyriaki

Omega is a perfect choice for a youngest child. 

Omega

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.
 In Romans 16.12 of the New Testament, Persis is a Roman woman who was an early follower of Christ, mentioned by St. Paul in a letter as "beloved" and having "worked hard in the Lord."
 Indian actress Persis Khambatta was Lieutenant Ilia in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Persis

An Ethiopian place-name and multicultural diminutive for many names, including the Slavic Tatiana and the Spanish Cayetana. Tana is also a rare Frisian name, meaning "thought", as well as a masculine name meaning "sweetheart" in the Turkic Karachay-Balkar language.

 This slight but strong name is enjoying new visibility thanks to bestselling mystery writer Tana French.

Tana

Themis was the Titan — one of the Elder Gods (or in this case Goddesses) — of Justice and Order, usually depicted blindfolded and holding the scales of justice. The mother of the Fates and the seasons, Themis may appeal to fans of mythology, but also to those who want a name that conveys balance and order. 
 
Pronounced as TEH-MEES in classic Greek and as THEE-mis in English, it could work as a highly unique alternative to Thea, Aurora, Artemis, and Athena. Given to five girls in a recent year, it has only ever appeared in the US stats 3 times, though it has seen more use in Brazil, Greece, and Cyprus.

Themis

Kastas is a masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Greek or Baltic naming traditions. It may be related to the Greek name Kostas (a diminutive of Konstantinos, meaning "constant" or "steadfast") or could have connections to Lithuanian name elements. This uncommon name has very limited usage internationally, making it particularly distinctive. Kastas has a strong, masculine sound with its crisp consonants and symmetrical structure. The name's rarity gives it an air of uniqueness while its phonetic pattern feels familiar enough to be accessible. For parents seeking a truly uncommon name with potential historical or cultural connections, Kastas offers an intriguing option that balances distinctiveness with a traditional masculine sound pattern.

Kastas

Greek names include choices from ancient mythology along with modern Greek names both familiar to English speakers and those used mainly in Greece. As 

 become more popular, Greek baby names are found more often in nurseries and on playgrounds around the world.

 for girls include Alexandra, Chloe, Katherine, Sophia, and Zoe. For boys, Greek names in the US Top 300 include Alexander, Andrew, Elias, Lucas, and Phoenix. In 

 include Constantine, Nicholas, Eleni, and Vasiliki.

today include Atalanta, Kassia, Timon, and Xan. Baby names drawn from ancient Greek myth include Pandora, Calypso, and Zephyr.



Many Greek baby names have traveled far and wide from their origins in Greece. But there are other Greek names that are attracting new interest that are more distinctly Greek: Cassia and Ione for girls, for instance, and Homer and Linus for boys.



If you’re interested in Greek names for your baby, here is our full range, ordered by current popularity on Nameberry.

Greek baby names for girls and boys with meanings and popularity, including top Greek names such as Theodore and Ophelia along with hundreds of unique Greek names. (Page 27)

Greek Names (with Meanings & Popularity)