Greek Names (with Meanings & Popularity)

Maximos

Greek variation of Maximus, Latin

"greatest"

The Greek form of Latin Maximus, with plenty of gravitas.

Morpheus

Greek mythology name, god of sleep and dreams

Though you may pray to the god of sleep for your baby to slumber through the night, a drowsy image is not the greatest one to inflict on your little boy.

Moisis

Moisis is a masculine name that represents a variation of Moses, an ancient name with profound religious and historical significance. While Moses derives from Egyptian origins meaning "drawn out of…

Moyses

Moyses is a masculine name representing an ancient variation of Moses, with roots in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages. The original Hebrew name Moshe means 'drawn from the water,' referring to the…

Myron

Greek

"fragrant, an aromatic shrub, myrrh"

One of many M names -- including Murray, Melvin, Morton, Milton, and Marvin -- given to first-generation Jewish boys to replace the old-fashioned Moses. Now we'd pick Moses over any of them. Myron…

Napoleon

Greek

"lion of the new city"

Overly ambitious choice, recently borne by the hapless hero of cult movie hit Napoleon Dynamite.

Narcissus

Greek

"daffodil"

Mythological young man who fell in love with his own image: the first narcissist.

Neander

Greek

"new man"

Following a custom among scholars in Renaissance Germany, Neander is the classical form of the surname Newman. But the bullies at school are sure to call him Neanderthal.

Nectarios

Greek

"of nectar"

A twentieth-century Greek saint's name redolent of the beverage of the gods that imparted immortality.

Nemo

Greek

"nobody"

One of the best known early Nemos was the captain in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea , while the more familiar modern one is the animated little orange fish in the Disney movie. Unusual name…

Nereus

Greek mythology name

"water"

The name of the father of the sea nymphs -- or one of its shorter forms such as Nereo or Nerio -- would be somewhat easier for a child to carry than Neptune. The name Nereus is largely forgotten but…

Nestor

Greek

"traveler, voyager"

A wise ruler of legend--his sage advice helped the Greeks win the Trojan War--whose name is a possibility for the adventurous, though related in sound to the dated Lester-Hester family.

Nikasios

Nikasios is a masculine name with Greek origins. It derives from the Greek word "nike" meaning "victory," combined with the suffix "-asios," creating a name that essentially means "victorious one" or…

Nicodemus

Greek

"victory of the people"

This rarely used New Testament name could make an unusual route to the cool nickname Nico. Borne by the person who helps to entomb Jesus following his crucifixion, it has the powerful meaning of…

Nicomedes

Greek

"pondering victory"

Even more daunting than Nicodemus.

Nike

Greek

"victory"

Cool goddess name, but you might need to brace yourself for lots of sneaker jokes, depending on where you live.

Nikos

Greek, diminutive of various names beginning with the element Niko-

Attractive, approachable, and more striking Nick alternative.

Nikostratos

Greek

"army of victory"

A lengthy Olde World route to Nick.

Nile

River name, color name, or variation of Niall, Irish

"champion"

Water names are a cool category these days, and this one of the famous Egyptian river is no exception. It streamlines the fussier Niles and also may be thought of as a color name, meaning dark blue…

Oceanus

Mythological name

"ocean"

Oceanus was the Titan in ancient Greek mythology who rules what they thought was the body of water that surrounded the Earth. Oceanus was, appropriately enough, the name of the baby born on the…