Cool Greek Names and Their Meanings

In Greek, you’ll often find male names ending with -os, -as, or -is, and female names with -a or i. You’ll also notice the same name often has a male and a female version.

Let’s start our list of cool Greek names by covering some most popular ones. In the table below, you’ll find the female name in the first column, the male name in the second column, and the meaning of the name in the third column.

Many Greek names for girls have religious connotations, such as Maria and Michaela. It’s also possible to find names with historical and mythological origins, as well as names with important character traits, such as Sofia which means “wisdom.”

Here are 10 of these Greek girl names and their meanings:
Αλεξάνδρα (Alexandra): Derived from the ancient Greek words alexo (“to defend”) and aner (“man”), the meaning of Alexandra translates into “defender of mankind.” It can be shortened to Alex, Sandra, or Lexi.

Αθηνά (Athena): In Greek mythology, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts. She was known for her intelligence, strategic thinking, and bravery.

Ελένη (Eleni): Eleni means “bright” or “shining light.” Its Latin version is Helena, which you may recognize from the English name Helen or the famous Helen of Troy.

Ζωή (Zoe): Zoe means “life” in Greek. It’s a short and simple, yet beautiful name.

Κατερίνα (Katerina): Katerina is a variant of the Greek name Aikaterine, which means “pure.” It symbolizes innocence, virtue, and clarity of spirit.

Μαρία (Maria): Maria is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Mary, which has various interpretations. Its most famous one would be its religious significance in Christianity, as it was the name of the mother of Jesus. Other sources say it means “bitter,” “wished-for child,” or “rebellious.”

Σοφία (Sofia): Sofia means “wisdom” in Greek. It has a sophisticated and cultured feel, symbolizing intelligence, knowledge, and understanding.

Δάφνη (Daphni): Daphne means “laurel tree.” Its origins lie in Greek mythology, as Daphne was a nymph who was transformed into a laurel tree because of her love for Apollo.

Λυδία (Lydia): The name Lydia comes from the Asian region of Lydia. It’s also thought to derive from the region’s legendary king, Λυδός (Lidos).

Greek names for boys often have strong, masculine qualities. Similar to girls’ names, they also often carry religious significance and desirable character traits.
Αλέξανδρος (Alexandros): Like its feminine version Alexandra, Alexandros means “defender of mankind.” A famous Greek with this name is Alexander the Great, one of history’s most renowned conquerors and military strategists.

Δημήτριος (Demetrios): Demetrios means “follower of Demeter,” the Greek goddess of agriculture, harvest, and fertility. It’s a popular name that is thought to convey a sense of devotion and loyalty.

Γεώργιος (Georgios): Georgios means “farmer” or “earthworker.” King George III of England was nicknamed “Farmer George” for his interest in agriculture. Coincidence?

Ιωάννης (Ioannis): Ioannis is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yochanan, which means “God is gracious.”

Κωνσταντίνος (Konstantinos): Konstantinos means “constant” or “steadfast.” Roman emperor Constantine the Great, who made it illegal to persecute Christians, had this name. He also founded the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul). Constantinople is the combination of two words: Constantine and πόλη (poli), the Greek word for city.

Ελευθέριος (Eleftherios): Eleftherios means “liberator” or “the free one.” It comes from the Greek word for “free,” ελεύθερο (elefthero), and can even be found in Greece’s motto: Eleftheria i Thanatos (“Freedom or Death”).

Βασίλειος (Vasileios): Vasileios means “kingly” or “royal” in Greek. Fun fact: Santa Claus in Greek is not Saint Nicholas as you would expect — it’s Άγιος Βασίλης (Saint Vasilis).

Νικόλαος (Nicholas): Nicholas means “victory of the people” in Greek. It’s a very popular name, and you’ll hear its other derivatives, such as Nikos.

Λέων (Leon): Leon means “lion” in Greek, symbolizing strength, courage, and leadership. Besides Leon, you may also hear Λεωνίδας (Leonidas), which means “son of lion.” The most famous Leonidas is probably the King Leonidas I of Sparta, or should I say “This is Sparta!”

From the captivating stories of gods, goddesses and heroes to inspiring tales, Greek mythology is full of historic and unique names.

Here are some of the most famous ones and their meanings:

1. Αφροδίτη (Aphrodite): Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure. Her Roman equivalent is Venus, which inspired many artworks, namely The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.

According to a myth, Aphrodite was born from seafoam in Paphos, Cyprus. If you’re ever in Cyprus, you can see this mythical site yourself — it’s called Petra tou Romiou. Although not so popular in other languages, you can come across women named Aphrodite in Greek-speaking countries.

Alexander, Sophia, Phoebe, and more. Many Greek names became popular not only in Greece but also around the world, which makes them so cool!