Names That Mean Greek

Variation of Christian.

Attractive attenuated form of the popular Christopher, well used throughout Europe, appearing as Christophe in France and Christoph in Germany.

Author Ottessa Moshfegh is one of the few to bear her name — a rare variation of the ancient name Atossa, rather than Odessa (as many think). The historical Atossa was a character not unlike one in a Moshfegh novel — born into nobility and initially married to her brother, Atossa later became a powerful wife of Darius I. Atossa had a bleeding tumor removed from her breast in the first documented case of mastitis.

In literature, a Kyrielle is a form of poetry that has rhyming couplets or quatrains. It originated with the French troubadour tradition. It is called a Kyrielle after the Christian Kyrie. In 2016, 16 girls in the US were given this name.

Musical, with a buoyant beat.

The name of the tragic heroine of Alexander Pushkin's narrative poem The Gypsies, which has been adapted into several dozen ballets and operas. It may also have inspired Prosper Mérimée's novella Carmen, on which the famous opera of the same name was based.

An elegy is a poem lamenting a deceased person. As a name, it could be used by parents in remembrance of a recently deceased person or as a euphonic and unusual literary name. The original Greek could also work.

In Pierre Benoit's novel, Antinea is a beautiful and charming queen with a hideous secret: She has a cave wall with 120 niches carved into it, one for each of her lovers. Only 53 have been filled; when all 120 have been filled, Antinea will sit atop a throne in the centre of the cave and rest forever.

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

With the rising use of Eugenie and Eulalia, could literary Euphony make a debut? It certainly has a pleasant meaning and is euphonic itself.

Serviceable spelling of a cute but pandemic name that appears as everything from Cali to Callie to Kaylee and Kayleigh. Are these all the same names? Though there may be subtle differences in pronunciation and theoretical derivation, they certainly feel similar.

This is the clumsiest and least popular version of the classic Greek name Zoe. Little wonder this variation has fallen nearly 200 places in the US popularity rankings in just 2 years. We recommend you stick with the beautiful and elegant Zoe (which, for those of you looking to avoid overly-used names, is less popular than the American spelling 'Zoey').

Gianni, the Italian form of Johnny, has gotten popular in the US, and there's a good chance Giannis will be next, thanks to rising star basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is Greek. It makes an original spin on John or Jonas. Other variations are Iannis and Yanis.

Zephyrinus is the form of the name of the Greek god of the west wind best known as the name of a Jewish pope and saint.

Kristofer and all his cousins (and kousins) is an ancient name that was hugely popular from the 1970s through the 1990s, spawning a wide number of variations. Americans will be familiar with this phonetic spelling with an exotic spin.

A name with pleasant associations on a par with Eden and Heaven. It has been in low but steady use since the 1990s.

New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Barrett made this lovely and unusual flower name familiar to English speakers. Giacinda is the Italian version.

One way to reference mythology without naming your son after a god.

Variant of Lindus