Greek Names for Boys

Sometimes used as a short-form of Catholic Pope name Anacletus, Cletus is an ancient name that has not-yet found the popularity of Theodore, Leo, Atticus and Max. It perhaps suffers from its association to the yokel character in The Simpsons , but we think it's time for a reconsideration, given how well it fits into several current trends. Nickname Clete is cute as a button!

Cletus

Two prominent literary namesakes make Gregor a somewhat risky choice. On the highbrow side, there's Gregor Samsa, the Kafka character who woke up one day to find himself turned into a cockroach. And then there's Gregor Clegane, one of the most feared and purely evil characters in the world of Game of Thrones. It's a shame, because this earlier form of Gregory, quite common in Scotland, would otherwise make an attractive choice.

Gregor

Jason is the better known name and the more familiar mythological figure, but if you're wanting something rare, Aison (or Aeson) could make an interesting choice. Borne by the father of Jason (and a king of Thessaly), there are two varying myths around Aison, one being that he was imprisoned by his half-brother Pelias, and the other that he was killed by Jason's wife Medea and brought back to life again as a young man. 
 
This particular form is notably associated with the red-figure vase painter and is traditionally pronounced as EE-sohn. The exact meaning is unknown, though there is a chance that it may relate to Iason, the source of Jason, which means "to heal". 
 
Aison has been appearing in the US stats since 2005, though whether it's being used because of its Greek origins or whether parents are choosing it as a mix of Aiden, Kaison, Mason, and similar, is hard to know. As such, you may hear it said as AY-suhn or EYE-suhn too.

Aison

A rare Biblical name that appears in the New Testament, borne by the father of two of the Apostles, Alphaeus may appeal to those who want something with Biblical roots but don't want to go for any of the classic or recently popular options. It could also be an interesting way to get to  nickname Alfie (or Alphie).

Alphaeus

Demitrius is a masculine name that represents an alternative spelling of Demetrius, which comes from the ancient Greek name Dēmḗtrios (Δημήτριος), meaning 'devoted to Demeter' (the Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility). This classical name has a rich history dating back to antiquity, including several saints and historical figures. The spelling variant Demitrius emerged more recently, gaining modest usage particularly in the United States during the late 20th century. The name has remained in continuous, though not widespread, use throughout Western history since classical times. This variant spelling demonstrates how classical names often develop alternative forms that reflect contemporary pronunciation patterns or distinguish them from their historical antecedents. The name carries the gravitas of its ancient Greek origins while its spelling variant gives it a more modern feel.

Demitrius

Macarius, the name of several early saints, is virtually unknown in the U.S. though its Spanish forms Macario and the feminine Macaria are sometimes used.  With the revival of many ancient s-ending names, Macarius might rise again, and it does carry the user-friendly nickname Mac.

Macarius

Odyssey is a rare and weighty word name — following the footsteps of Hero, Legend, Prosper, and Story. Despite its literal connection to Odysseus, Homer's epic hero, Odyssey has always been slightly more common among baby girls, possibly owing to its similarity to the likes of Issy, Chrissy, Ottilie, and Odile.
 
While it literally refers to Homer's epic, more figuratively, Odyssey is a word name, referring to a long and eventful journey. As such, it may appeal to those who like Venture, Wilder, Prosper, and Journey, but want something far rarer.
 
Given to 8 boys in the US (and 27 girls) in a recent year, this figure may rise following the 2026 movie adaptation of Homer's work.

Odyssey

A Slavic form of the Greek Sabbas, this name is notably associated with Saint Sava, a 12th-century Prince and monk who became known as The Illuminator. He was the founder of Serbian Law and the first archbishop of the Serbian Church, and is considered the patron saint of Serbia.
 
Derived from Greek and Amharic, Sava means "old man, grandfather", making it a cool name with a 'wise, old soul' meaning.

Sava

Symeon is a historical Greek variant of Simon, originating from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "he has heard" or "listening." This ancient form appears in the New Testament and was borne by several early Christian saints and Byzantine figures. While less common than Simon in English-speaking countries, Symeon maintains popularity in Orthodox Christian communities, particularly in Greece, Russia, and other Eastern European countries. The name carries a sense of wisdom and religious heritage, making it an appealing choice for parents seeking a traditional name with biblical roots but a distinctive character that sets it apart from more common variants.

Symeon

There's Zan and there's Xan--take your pick. Both of these are the latest generation of Alexander nicknames, Xan having been noticed first as a character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (a rich source of names), and soon phoneticized into Zan. 

Only a handful of baby boys are given Zan or Xan as a full name each year. Zander and Xander are much more popular, with Zander used for about 1000 baby boys annually in the US vs. Xander, given to nearly 2000. 

King of them all is full name Alexander, a Top 25 boys' name in the US for three decades, given last year to about 8500 baby boys. There are lots of nicknames for Alexander, but some of those baby Alexanders are inevitably called Zan or Xan, making this short form much more popular than the numbers suggest.

This evocative name of one of the Three Wise Men of the Orient, also spelled Balthasar, may finally be ready for prime time. Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar were the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, though their names were not mentioned in the Bible.
 Balthazar, in its various spellings, has been attached to a number of distinguished artists, writers and philosophers of the past; the most prominent contemporary bearer is Balthazar Getty, actor and great-grandson of J. Paul Getty. The iconoclastic modern painter Balthus was born Balthasar.
 Balthazar is well represented in literature. The name appears in no fewer than four Shakespeare plays, is the title of a Lawrence Durrell novel, is the main character of a Balzac novel, and has been seen in everything from a James Bond film to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to The Smurfs to Xbox and online games, and there is a J. P. Donleavy novel titled The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B.

Balthazar

Associated with havoc, disaster, and trouble, this bold moniker is unlikely to be many parents' first choice, but it has nevertheless been appearing in the US charts since 2006. It may appeal to those who like Danger, Wild, and Rowdy, or associate Chaos with rebellion, mythology, or physics.
 
Derived from the Greek khaos, the word originally meant "abyss, vast, empty", and in Greek creation myths, Chaos was the first being to exist, out of which Erebus and Nyx (darkness and night) were born. In some versions of the myth, Gaia, Tartarus, and Eros were also born out of Chaos. 
 
Given to more than 140 babies since the mid-2000s, Chaos had its (current) peak in 2021 when 22 boys received the name. Nickname Ossie (or Ozzie) might just help ground it, though you could consider Chaol, a modern literary name inspired by the word.

Chaos

Rare and distinctive name with intimations of antiquity, also a Shakespearean character. 

Cleon

Kostas makes the ancient emperor's name more approachable.

Kostas

This ancient saint's name was borne by the infamous midcentury playboy, Porfirio Rubirosa. 

Porfirio

Pronounced "TAHL-a-mee," this was the name of one of Alexander the Great's generals and several Greco-Egyptian rulers, as well as the name of a famous Greek astronomer. Actress Gretchen Mol brought it into modern times when she chose it for her baby.

Ptolemy

Also spelled as Argos, this name appears in Greek mythology, borne by Odysseus's loyal dog, by a giant creature with a hundred eye, a son of Zeus and King of Argos, and an Argonaut ship builder. The name is associated with vigilance, guardianship, and watchfulness (in relation to the many-eyed creature) and with faithfulness (owing to Odysseus's dog being the first to recognize the returned hero). 
 
In the UK, this name may feel far too close to the retailer Argos, though elsewhere, it could be a shiny, mythological choice, similar in sounds to August, Atlas, and Atreus. Six boys were called Argus in the US in a recent year.

Argus

Leandros is a masculine name of Greek origin, derived from the name Leander, which comes from the Greek elements 'leon' meaning 'lion' and 'andros' meaning 'man', thus translating to 'lion man' or 'lion-like man'. In Greek mythology, Leander was a young man who would swim across the Hellespont every night to meet his beloved Hero. The name embodies strength, courage, and determination. While not commonly used in English-speaking countries, Leandros remains popular in Greece and among families with Greek heritage, appreciated for its classical roots and powerful meaning.

Leandros

Could Philo be the next Milo?
 We love the o-ending and sweet meaning of this dynamic and distinctive Greek name, often used in literature, but never particularly popular.
 The ancient Philo (aka Philo of Alexandria and Philo the Jew) was a Biblical philosopher who attempted to merge Greek and Jewish thought. 
 A character named Philo was a minor figure in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, it was the name of the S. S. Van Dine aristocratic dandy detective Philo Vance, and Clint Eastwood's character in both Any Which Way You Can and Any Which Way But Loose was Philo Beddoe. Most well known Philo in recent real life was inventor Philo Farnsworth.

Philo

Became completely feminized in the unisex name revolution of the seventies. 

Stacey

 as Phillip and George, Nicholas and Andrew, Peter and Stephen, all common in the US for most of its history. These traditional Greek boys’ names and their variations have been widely used in the western world for decades.

The latest favorite Greek name for boys is Theodore, which made a rapid ascent into the 

. That's an all-time high for this classic, presidential name. Short form Theo is also rising as a stand-alone name.

 in the US Top 500 today include Alexander, Atticus, Elias, Jonas, Lucas, Nico, Sebastian, and Tobias. Baby boy names popular in Greece include Yiorgos — the Greek form of George — Yiannis, Constantine, and Dimitris.

 with a contemporary appeal include Lazarus, Linus, Ozias, and Phoenix.

Other unique Greek boy names trending for modern babies are 

. You might consider naming your son Apollo or Atlas, Orion or Perseus.

This list gathers all the Greek names for boys on Nameberry, ordered by their current popularity among visitors to the site.

Greek boy names with meanings, origins, and popularity, include top and classic Greek names for boys, as well as unusual Greek male names. (Page 9)

315+ Greek Boy Names (with Meanings)