Greek First Names

Up until the 18th century, almost all Christian Greeks were named after Orthodox saints. Since then, many Greek first names are have been heavily influenced by Christian values and the Bible, but also Greek mythology and the rich history and culture of Greece. In fact, many Greek names were popularized throughout Europe via works of Greek literature. 

Ancient Greek mythology shares many of the same characters as Roman mythology. Greek mythology, however, predates the Roman version by approximately one thousand years. Even so, there was some crossover between traditions and names, and some of the Latin names are still popular in Greece today. Greece has strong naming traditions, naming the first son after the paternal grandfather and the second after the maternal grandfather, which is why so many classic Greek names have remained so popular for so long.

Greek God Names

There is no doubt that Greek mythology and its gods have survived and thrived over thousands of years and are prevalent in cultures worldwide. Ancient Greek characters have even made it as far as Disney World with the 90s movie Hercules. 

Baby Boy Names  (and Meanings)

1. Apollo - Apollo is the Greek god of music, poetry, and the sun. 
2. Hercules - The son of Zeus, known as the strongest man on earth. 
3. Hermes - A Greek deity who was the messenger of the gods. 
4. Triton - Triton is the son of Posideon and the messenger of the sea.
5. Zeus - This name simply means god. Zeus was the main god of Olympus, famous for his thunder and lightning bolts. 

Baby Girl Names (and Meanings)

1. Aphrodite - The Greek goddess of love.
2. Artemis- The Greek goddess of the hunt. 
3. Chloe - Chloe means spring and growth. It is an alternative name for Demeter. 
4. Hera - Zeus’ wife. 
5. Iris - A name meaning rainbow. Iris is the Greek goddess of rainbows and symbolizes power and majesty.

Latinized Greek God Names

1. Ambrosia - The Latin and feminine version of Ambrose, which means immortal.
2. Alexander - A boy’s name that means defender of man. From the Greek name Alexandros.
3. Demetrius - The Latin version and masculine form of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest. An alternative spelling is Demetrios. 
4. Phoebe - Phoebe is the Latin version of Phoibe which means light. 
5. Selena - The Latin form of Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. 

Greek Literature Names

Greek mythology and literature are much intertwined, but not all characters from the tales and myths were gods and goddesses. Many Greek namesakes stem from tales and literature, chief among them the Odyessy. Many of these ancient names are quite popular today in English-speaking cultures and around the world. 

Baby Boy Names  (and Meanings)

1. Adonis - A character from Greek mythology known for his beauty. 
2. Jason - This now-common name means healer. Jason is a hero from Greek mythology.
3. Hector  - Hector was a great fighter during the trojan war. 
4. Paris - Paris is the prince of Troy from the Odyessy. 
5. Penelope - She was the wife of Odysseus in the great Trojan tale. 

Baby Girl Names  (and Meanings)

1. Athena - The patron of Athens from the Odyessy.
2. Calliope - The Greek muse of poetry. 
3. Cassandra - The daughter of the king and queen of Troy.
4. Circe - A sorceress from the Odyessy. 
5. Helen - The great beauty from Homer’s Odyessy.

Christian Inspired Greek Baby Names

Christianity first came to Greece in 51 AD when St. Paul. Over the years, it took hold and became a strong influence throughout the country. By the end of the 4th century A.D., it was considered the official religion. The Greek Orthodox church still exists today, and many popular baby names stem from the church. 

Baby Boy Names  (and Meanings)

1. Andrew - Andrew was one of the original twelve disciples. 
2. Christos - To anoint. An alternative to Christopher. 
3. Constantine - Emperor Constantine is known for being the ruler who Christianized Rome.
4. Gregorious - Watchful and vigilant. Alternate versions are Gregory and Georgios.
5. Nikolaos - St. Nicholas was a 4th-century saint.

Baby Girl Names (and Meanings) 

1. Agape - Love. The highest form of love. 
2. Agatha - Good and honorable. 
3. Daphne - Laurel tree. 
4. Dorothy - Gift of God.
5. Konstandia - Saint. The feminine and Greek form of Constantine.

Greek Culture Inspired Names

Ancient Greece had many heroes and heroines, some real and some from mythology. As a result, Greek culture has inspired many monikers that are still popular names today. 

1. Alexis - The feminine version of Alexander. Alternative versions are Alexandria and Alexandra.
2. Ajax  - The name means Eagle and comes from the Greek word aiastes.
3. Andreas - A boy’s name that comes from the Greek word that means manly and strong.
4. Athanasios - A masculine name meaning immortal. 
5. Basil - A boy’s name that means king. 
6. Eugene - A male name meaning well-born. 
7. Philip - A boy’s name that means lover of horses. 
8. Roxane - A girl’s name of Persian origins that means Dawn. It was the name of one of Alexander the Great’s wives. 
9. Sousanna - It means Lily. The Greek version of the Hebrew name Shoshanna. 
10. Stephanie - A feminine name that means crown or victorious. 

Most Popular Greek First Names on FamilyEducation: Drakos, Sebastian, Diotama, Madalena