Greek Names

Traditionally spelled as Neonilla, this is the Ukrainian form of the saintly name. Borne by a 3rd century saint, martyred during Roman persecution, Neonila is derived from the Greek "neos", meaning "new". Used occasionally in Russian and the Ukraine, it may make an interesting alternative to Nova or as an unexpected way to get to nicknames Nola, Noa, Nia, Nila, and Neo.




Neonila

Bright and intriguing, Neonilla is an ancient name with the cool meaning "new". Derived from the Greek "neos", it was borne by an Orthodox saint,  persecuted and martyred in the third century. An unexpected route to nicknames Nola, Noa, Neo, and Nila, it is occasionally used in Russian and the Ukraine. 




Neonilla

A rare form of the popular Naomi, found in the Greek Old Testament, Noemin is pronounced with the emphasis on the last syllable (-MEEN), while the first two glide smoothly into each other. It may appeal as an unexpected alternative to the US Top 50 choice, and a way to nicknames Mina and Nina. 
 
Meaning "pleasantness" from the Hebrew na'am, it is borne by the mother-in-law of Ruth in the Bible.

Noemin

While Odessa may be more familiar in the US, Odesa is the Ukrainian spelling of the sea port, named by Catherine the Great for Homer's Greek epic, The Odyssey. As such, it may be interpreted as meaning "voyage" or "long journey".
 
While Odessa ranked in the US Top 1000 until the 1950s, Odesa is rarely heard, with just five babies receiving the name in 2023: only the second time it has ever appeared in the stats. This spelling may appeal to those, however, who like the name, but want to honor the Ukrainian spelling.

Odesa

Grimes may have named her daughter Exa Dark Sideræl, but it wasn't her top choice. "A girl named Odysseus is my dream," she told reporters. Now that Grimes put it out there as a potential girl name, will parents adopt Odysseus for their daughters? It's already a rising choice for baby boys, more popular than ever before.
 
With the 2026 movie adaptation of Homer's Odyssey bringing the name more attention, could it truly enter the stats for girls? Possibly, though based on existing data, it's Odyssey itself that parents prefer for daughters.

Odysseus

Most notably used in Mozambique and Mexico, this rare, masculine form of Ofelia could work as a rare alternative to Celio, Felix, Orlando, and Emilio. Yet to rank in the US stats, an alterative spelling is Ophelio. 

Ofelio

A variation of the arty and elegant Shakespearian name, Ofeliya is sometimes used in Russia, the Ukraine, and Bulgaria, and in Azerbaijan, where it is likely transcribed as Ofeliya, with the dotted I. Notable bearers include TV host Ofeliya Sənani and actress Ofeliya Aslan, the stripped back Ofelya is also sometimes used. 

Ofeliya

A rare name, most notably borne by Opha May Johnson, who became the first woman to officially join the United States Marine Corps in 1918, Opha may appeal to those who like the sounds of Aoife, Opal, and Sophia. The exact origins of the name are unknown, but it may well have emerged as a short form of stylish, Shakespearean Ophelia meaning "help, assistance" or as a variation of the Biblical Ophrah (from the Hebrew ofer) meaning "fawn".
 
The name has also been used as an enemy species in the video game Borderlands, which leads to another possible source:the ophanim, a type of celestial being whose name means "wheels, spheres, whirlwinds" and appear in one of Ezekiel's visions in the Bible.They are sometimes considered alongside Cherubim and Seraphim, beings who guard the throne of God.
 
In addition to this, it's the acronym of various health associations across the globe.

Opha

A masculine form of the poetic Ophelia, this name derives from Ancient Greek in which it means "help, advantage". The more familiar feminine form appears in Shakespeare's Hamlet and in the US and UK popularity charts, while Ophelio is used very, very occasionally. 
 
A rare alternative for those who like Orlando, Felix, and Aurelio, Ophelio has yet to rank in the US stats. Neither has alternative spelling Ofelio, though the latter has seen use in Mozambique and Mexico.

Ophelio

Borne by a now little known Greek comic-poet from the 4th century, Ophelion may be recognizable thanks to its similarity to the Shakespearean favorite, Ophelia. Both come from the Greek element opheleia meaning "help, aid" or "benefit". 
 
Also transcribed as Ofelion in modern Greek, it seems unlikely that Ophelion will ever catch on as its sister name has. However, it may make a cool (middle?) name for those who really, really love Ophelia but are naming a boy.

Ophelion

Appearing several times in Greek mythology, Pallas is an epithet of Athena, the goddess or wisdom, and, depending on which version of the legends you follow, is also borne by a (female) childhood friend of Athena; by a giant son of Gaia, whom Athena slays; a Titan war god; a teacher of Athena; and a grandson of the King Evander, who features in Virgil's Aeneid.
 
Pronounced PAHL-LAHS in Classical Greek and PAL-uhs in English, it could mean "to brandish" or it could mean "youth".

Pallas

An ancient city in modern-day Syria, which occasionally makes the roster of girl names. Its etymology is uncertain — locally it is called Tadmor, and Palmyra is the Greek version — but it has traditionally been associated with palm trees. It may also be a feminine form of the Italian Palmiro, meaning "pilgrim", ultimately from palma, again meaning "palm tree".
 
Palmira is an alternative (and more popular) spelling.

Palmyra

Borrowed from the Greek panteleimon, a name that was also given to the patron saint of doctors and midwives, St. Pantleon, this form was used by the writer Philip Pullman in his popular series, His Dark Materials. Meaning "all compassionate", it is borne by the main character's dæmon (an manifestation of a person's inner-self, appearing outside their body as an animal). 
 
While other names from the series have begun to catch on, albeit with different spellings, Pantalaimon has yet to join Lyra, Seraphina (Serafina), Azriel (Asriel), Will, or Colter (Coulter) in the charts. It could make a cool middle though.

Pantalaimon

A mythological name, Parthenope is a rare and distinctive choice that may nevertheless appeal to those looking for little known alternatives to Penelope or Persephone. While some sources suggest the name means "maiden's face" or "virgin appearance", others interpret it as "maiden's voice".
 
In Greek mythology, Parthenope was one of the sirens who attempted to lure Odysseus to crash his ship, however, when her songs failed to entice him, she threw herself into the sea and drowned. In Roman mythology, Parthenope was pursued by a centaur called Vesuvius, but he was thwarted when the god Jupiter turned him into a volcano and Parthenope into a city.
 
The name has a few other noteworthy bearers: Frances Parthenope Verney, sister to Florence Nightingale and a writer and journalist in her own right, and the musician Parthenope Wald-Harding. Additionally, it was used as the title (and for the main character) of a 2024 film by Paolo Sorrentino.
 
With possible nicknames including Thena, Poe, Poppy, Enna, Peri, and Pip, it is a one-of-a-kind choice that has never ranked in the US charts.

Parthenope

A Latinized form of Peisandros, better perhaps than the alternative Pisander, this name appears a number of times in Greek mythology. Borne by a suitor of Penelope, a Trojan warrior and a hero of the Athenians, it makes a rare addition to the -ander set of names.

Peisander

Possibly inspired by Penelopeia, the Epic Greek form of Penelope, this form of the elegant name has appeared in the US stats twice since the 2010s and as such, may well have been used simply as a creative respelling. 

Penelopea

In Greek mythology, Pentheus was the King of Thebes who banned the worship of Dionysus, in turn bringing the god's wrath on the city. The women went into a Bacchic frenzy, and Pentheus was later lured away and killed by the god. 
 
Derived from the Greek penthos, the name has the equally unhappy meaning of "sorrow, grief, sadness, mourning", and as such, it is a very rare name.

Pentheus

Also appearing as Percília, this distinctive choice appeared in the Brazilian charts in the 1930s and 1940s. While it may look like a relative of Percival or Priscilla, it does ultimately come from an Ancient Greek word meaning "perch" or "dark-spotted". Used as the name of a genus of ray-finned fish that are native to Chile, it could feel a bit too fishy for some, but for others, it could be a name with a cool nature connection and a rarer alternative to Cecilia, Philippa, and Perla. 

Percilia

With the rise of other S-ending surname names — Brooks, Hollis — we see a future for Perris. This unusual unisex name could make a modern honor name for an ancestral Peter.
 
It may also be related to the Biblical Perez, meaning "burst forth" and the Greek Pericles (or Perikles), meaning "surrounded by glory" or "exceedingly famous".

Perris

Predominantly used in its native Greece — though it may be seen occasionally in Cyprus and Albania too — Persefoni is the modern Greek transcription of the mythological goddess's name. Borne by Queen of the Underworld and the Goddess of spring, Persefoni makes an elegant choice. 




Persefoni

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 37)

Greek Names (with Meanings & Popularity)