Greek Names

Vasos is a masculine name with Greek origins, derived from 'Vassilios,' the Greek form of Basil, meaning 'royal' or 'kingly.' In Greek Cypriot communities, Vasos functions as both a standalone name and a diminutive of Vassilios. The name carries cultural significance in Mediterranean regions, particularly Cyprus and Greece. Vasos has a strong, distinctive sound while remaining relatively short and easy to pronounce. Though uncommon in English-speaking countries, it offers an appealing option for parents seeking a name with Greek heritage or those looking for something distinctive yet connected to traditional naming patterns. The name conveys strength and cultural richness.

Vasos

Though this one would be sure to inspire confusion, Ven- names can be an intriguing alternative to the Ben- group. 

Venedictos

This alternate name for Apollo has a noble sound and can always be shortened to Xan. 

Xanthos

This name of an ancient Greek historian sounds too long-ago and faraway to consider for a modern child. 

Xenophon

One of the more accessible X names, though Xeno or Zeno might sound more modern. 

Xenos

Appealing sound and meaning, but there is that discount-store association. 

Zale

Like Gandy, a rarely heard name (there was a seventies movie called Zandy's Bride) that has a lot more energy and charm than its commoner cousins Andy, Randy, and Sandy.

Zandy

Zealous and noble, an unusual and strong choice -- and if the original is too much of a mouthful, you can always call him Zen. 

Zenobios

Arete is a minor goddess in Greek mythology who personifies the idea of excellence or perfect virtue. There is also a mythological queen Arete, with her sister an "exacter of justice".

Arete

Aretha

Arcangela is a heavenly possibility if Angel or Angela isn't elevated enough for you. 

Arcangela

In Greek mytholgy, Antigone was the noble and courageous daughter of Oedipus, who acts as his guide after he blinds himself. Antigone is also the eponymous heroine of a play by Jean Anouilh.
 Despite her heroism, however, Antigone has not yet made it into the modern world, but with the increasing acceptance of longer, weightier Greek and Roman names, this could change.

Antigone

This lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name, makes a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. While the original name took an umlaut over the e, modern English speakers may find that more trouble than it's worth (though big fans of the Brontës may well disagree).
 Trivia note: The Anglo-Irish clergyman who was the father of Charlotte, Emily and Anne changed his name from the original Brunty. According to scholars, the family pronounced the name bron-tee, though today, you're likely to hear this pronunciation used interchangeably with bron-tay. 
 
In Australia, the name is more likely to take inspiration from Bronte Beach in Sydney. It was named after Lord Nelson, the 1st Duke of Bronté. He got his title from a town in Sicily, itself named after a mythological Cyclops.
 Many people first noticed the name in the film Green Card, as the name of the Andie MacDowell character.
 
Familiarly used in the 90s and early 2000s in the UK, Bronte fell out of style in the 2010s, but more recently, it has been coming back in a big way. In the latest stats, it ranked just outside the Top 500 in England and Wales, while in the US, it was given to just 14 girls.

Bronte

In the Zulu and Xhosa languages of Southern Africa, Phila is a unisex name pronounced "PEE-la" and means "to live of life" 

It's also the feminine version of the ancient Greek name Philo, pronounced "FEE-la", meaning friend or lover and present in several contemporary names and words used throughout the Western World. The name Philip, for instance, means lover of horses, while the city name Philadelphia means "brotherly love" and philosophy means "love of wisdom".

Phila

Also written as Philemon, this New Testament character was a recipient of Paul's epistles.

Philomon

An early American name inspired by the word spiritual word "elect" and by a passage in the New Testament in which the Christian Church is referred to as "The Elect Lady and Her Children". Used in the 19th and early 20th century, it has since faded out of view, last appearing in the stats in 2016 when it was given to 7 girls.
 
Still, with Chosen in the charts and Ellie an enduring favorite, perhaps Electa may begin to appeal again. 
 
An alternative possibility is that Electa might be used as an alternative to the mythological Electra, meaning "amber".

Electa

The name of a star in the constellation of Leo, Zosma is an intriguing, celestial choice that could make an unexpected middle name option, especially for babies born under the lion sign. Meaning "belt" or "girdle" in Greek, Zosma (the star) is located at the hip of the of the constellation.
 
If you like Zosma, but aren't so keen on the meaning, you could try Zosime and Zosima, meaning "viable, likely to survive."

Zosma

Patrick Lafcadio Hearn was born on the Greek Island of Lefkada, the origin of the name he used as a first.  But as a writer, he was known as Koizumi Yakumo, a collector of Japanese folk tales and ghost stories.  Truly an international choice.

Lafcadio

This adorable name of the young daughter on "Big Love" might be thought of as a variation of Tansy, an obscure flower name whose star may rise on the heels of such current favorites as Lily and Daisy.

Tancy

Queen Hecuba was the legendary queen of King Priam of Troy, mother of Hector, Paris, Cassandra and others. Euripedes' tragedy Hecuba depicts Hecuba's grief over the death of her daughter Polyxena, and the revenge she takes for the murder of her youngest son Polydorus.

Hecuba

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 55)

Greek Names (with Meanings & Popularity)