200 Greek Boy and Girl Names for Babies and Children (With Meanings)

Choosing a baby name is one of the most exciting decisions you’ll ever make. And if you’re drawn to names with depth, history, and a certain timeless beauty Greek baby names might be exactly what you’re looking for. From the sun-drenched shores of Athens to the mythological halls of Mount Olympus, ancient Greek names carry stories that have shaped Western civilization for millennia.

Whether you want something rooted in Greek mythology, inspired by powerful philosophers, or simply a name that sounds beautiful and strong, this guide has you covered. Here are 200 Greek boy and girl names with meanings, history, and inspiration for your little one.

Greek Girl Names

Greek girl names are some of the most elegant names in the world. Many trace back to ancient goddesses, heroines, and muses whose legacies still resonate today.

Name	Meaning
Athena	Goddess of wisdom and war
Phoebe	Bright, radiant (alternate name for Artemis)
Selene	Goddess of the moon
Daphne	Laurel tree; a nymph transformed by Apollo
Penelope	Wife of Odysseus; faithful and clever
Calliope	Muse of epic poetry; “beautiful voice”
Iris	Goddess of the rainbow
Cleo	Glory; short form of Cleopatra
Thea	Goddess; divine gift
Eirene	Goddess of peace
Circe	Enchantress from Homer’s Odyssey
Nausicaa	Princess who aided Odysseus
Danae	Mother of Perseus; “she who judges”
Electra	Amber; radiant
Harmonia	Goddess of concord and harmony
Ianthe	Violet flower
Lyra	Lyre; musical and poetic
Cassiopeia	A mythic queen and constellation
Nerissa	Sea nymph; “from the sea”
Elysia	Blissful; reference to the Elysian Fields
Rhea	Flowing stream; mother of Zeus
Gaia	Earth; personification of the planet
Melitta	Honey bee
Sibylla	Prophetess; oracle
Acantha	Thorny; a mythological figure
Evanthe	Beautiful flower
Ismene	Daughter of Oedipus; “knowing”
Nyx	Goddess of night
Anthea	Flowery; one who loves flowers
Despoina	Daughter of Demeter; “mistress”
Phaedra	Bright; mythological figure
Calypso	The concealer; nymph from the Odyssey
Melaina	Dark; a nymph of the underworld
Thalia	Muse of comedy; “to flourish”
Zoe	Life; vibrant and energetic
Sophia	Wisdom
Elena	Bright, shining light
Ariana	Very holy; silver
Cora	Maiden; associated with Persephone
Lydia	Beautiful one from Lydia
Hecate	Goddess of magic; “far-reaching”
Themis	Goddess of law and justice
Amphitrite	Sea goddess; wife of Poseidon
Arete	Excellence; virtue personified
Theia	Mother of sun, moon, and dawn
Niobe	Fern; a mythological queen
Calista	Most beautiful
Delia	Born on Delos; another name for Artemis
Xanthe	Golden-haired; bright yellow
Tessara	Fourth; unique ancient choice

Greek Boy Names

Strong, heroic, and rich with meaning Greek boy names have long dominated the naming charts. Many carry the spirit of warriors, gods, and great thinkers.

Name	Meaning
Alexander	Defender of the people
Apollo	God of the sun, music, and poetry
Achilles	Greek hero of the Trojan War
Hermes	Messenger of the gods
Leonidas	King of Sparta; “lion-like”
Perseus	Hero who slew Medusa
Jason	Leader of the Argonauts; “healer”
Theseus	Hero who defeated the Minotaur
Odysseus	Hero of Homer’s Odyssey; “wrathful”
Hector	Hero of Troy; “to hold”
Adonis	Beautiful; beloved of Aphrodite
Triton	Son of Poseidon; messenger of the sea
Aeneas	Hero of Greek and Roman mythology; “praised”
Ajax	Greek warrior; “of the earth”
Diomedes	God-like cunning; hero in Troy
Heracles	Glory of Hera; greatest Greek hero
Leander	Lion-man; mythological swimmer
Solon	Athenian lawmaker; “wise man”
Lysander	Liberator
Orion	Hunter; constellation name
Damon	To tame; loyal friend
Cyrus	Far-sighted; sun
Theron	Hunter
Evander	Good man; strong man
Icarus	Mythological figure who flew too close to the sun
Nikolaos	Victory of the people
Phaedrus	Ancient philosopher; “bright”
Erasmus	Beloved; a cherished name
Helios	The sun god
Philemon	Affectionate; loving
Elio	Sun; modern and melodic
Cassander	Shining upon men
Endymion	One who dives; lover of Selene
Cadmus	He who excels; founder of Thebes
Dorian	From Doris; a dignified name
Ptolemy	Warlike; aggressive
Damian	To tame or subdue
Bastian	Venerable; dignified
Aris	Best; short form of Aristotle
Kosmos	Order; universe
Nikos	People’s victory
Stavros	Cross; deeply symbolic
Stefanos	Crown
Kyros	Like the sun; powerful
Timon	Honor; to esteem
Thaddeus	Heart; courageous heart
Demetrios	Devoted to Demeter
Pericles	Surrounded by glory
Ptolemaios	Warrior
Elias	My God is Yahweh; classic Greek form

Gender-Neutral Greek Names

Greek gender-neutral names blend beautifully into modern naming culture. They’re flexible, distinctive, and deeply rooted in Greek heritage.

Name	Meaning
Alexis	Defender; helper
Phoenix	Dark red; rebirth
Zephyr	West wind
Lyric	Musical; poetic
Aether	Upper air; the sky
Indigo	Deep blue; symbolic
Theron	Hunter
Eliot	Strength of God
Andro	Warrior; man
Aris	Best; excellence
Cosmo	Order; beauty
Nico	People’s victory
Sage	Wise one
Kyros	Far-sighted
Dion	Divine

Read More: Farewell Party Name

Unique Greek Boy and Girl Names

Want something truly rare? These unique Greek names won’t show up on every classroom roster but they’ll turn heads and spark conversations.

• Acanthus (boy) — a thorny plant; symbol of art and architecture
• Evanthe (girl) — beautiful flower
• Alectrona (girl) — sun; daughter of Helios
• Theron (boy) — hunter; bold and rare
• Iphigenia (girl) — born strong; mythological heroine
• Brizo (girl) — goddess of sailors
• Anaxis (boy) — lord; ruler
• Callista (girl) — most beautiful
• Eryx (boy) — son of Aphrodite; mountain wrestler
• Menoetius (boy) — doomed might; tragic hero

These names draw from ancient Greece baby names that most parents haven’t even heard of yet. That’s exactly what makes them special.

Modern Greek Boy and Girl Names

Not every family wants a name straight out of a mythology textbook. Modern Greek-inspired names blend classical roots with contemporary sound.

Girls: Zoe, Elena, Lyra, Chloe, Thea, Ariana, Demi, Nia, Lydia, Callie

Boys: Nico, Theo, Leo, Alex, Damon, Eli, Lucas, Dorian, Bastian, Demi

These timeless Greek names have crossed centuries without losing their appeal. Chloe, for instance, means “blooming” and it’s been consistently popular in the U.S. for decades. Theo brings the warmth of the divine without feeling stuffy.

Greek Boy and Girl Names with Meaning

Every name on this list carries weight. But some shine brightest for parents who care deeply about names with meanings that reflect values.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Sophia	Girl	Wisdom
Alexander	Boy	Defender of the people
Eirene	Girl	Peace
Leonidas	Boy	Lion-like strength
Arete	Girl	Excellence, virtue
Pericles	Boy	Surrounded by glory
Thalia	Girl	To flourish
Evander	Boy	Good, strong man
Harmonia	Girl	Harmony, concord
Solon	Boy	Wisdom, law

Sophia remains one of the most universally loved names and for good reason. It’s not just popular. It means something. Same with Leonidas, which carries the legacy of the Spartan king who held the pass at Thermopylae with 300 men. Now that’s a name with a story.

Uncommon Greek Boy and Girl Names

Looking beyond the top-100 lists? These uncommon Greek names offer rare beauty with rich historical roots.

Girls: Acantha, Alectrona, Brizo, Despoina, Iphigenia, Melitta, Nerissa, Sibylla, Theia, Ypsipyli

Boys: Anaxis, Cadmus, Endymion, Eryx, Phaedrus, Philemon, Ptolemy, Stavros, Timon, Xenophon

These names come straight from Greek historical names and classical sources. Sibylla, for example, refers to ancient prophetesses who delivered divine oracles. Cadmus was the legendary founder of Thebes and the man who supposedly introduced the Greek alphabet. Imagine carrying that legacy.

Powerful Greek Boy and Girl Names

Some names just hit differently. These names representing strength, courage, and wisdom carry an unmistakable gravitas.

Girls: Athena, Arete, Electra, Hecate, Penelope, Themis, Rhea, Gaia, Cassiopeia, Eirene

Boys: Achilles, Ajax, Alexander, Hector, Heracles, Leonidas, Odysseus, Perseus, Theseus, Triton

“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.” Aristotle

Achilles embodies the dual nature of heroism brilliance and vulnerability in one name. Athena represents strategic wisdom over brute force. These aren’t just names. They’re archetypes.

Ancient Greek Boy and Girl Names

If you want something genuinely rooted in ancient Greece, these classical picks go all the way back.

Girls: Alcmene, Andromeda, Antigone, Briseis, Chryseis, Clytemnestra, Eos, Eurydice, Hecuba, Nereids

Boys: Agamemnon, Bellerophon, Eratosthenes, Laertes, Menelaus, Patroclus, Philoctetes, Sophocles, Telemachus, Xenophon

These are the true classical Greek names the ones you find in Homer, Hesiod, and Sophocles. Telemachus was Odysseus’s son, a symbol of patient loyalty. Andromeda was the princess rescued by Perseus, later placed among the stars. Each name is a portal to an entire world.

Beautiful Greek Boy and Girl Names

Beauty in a name isn’t just about how it sounds. It’s about what it evokes. These names are lyrical, graceful, and deeply poetic.

Girls: Calliope, Calypso, Daphne, Elysia, Evanthe, Ianthe, Iris, Lyra, Phoebe, Xanthe

Boys: Adonis, Adrastos, Dorian, Elio, Evander, Leander, Lysander, Orion, Zephyr, Endymion

Calliope try saying it out loud. It rolls off the tongue like music. It was the name of the muse who inspired Homer to write the Iliad and the Odyssey. Zephyr sounds like the breeze it represents. Lyra carries the spirit of the lyre, that ancient instrument Apollo played. Beautiful inside and out.

FAQ’s

What is a unique Greek name for a boy?

Endymion is one of the most unique Greek boy names you’ll find. In mythology, he was a beautiful shepherd whom the moon goddess Selene fell in love with. She visited him each night as he slept. It’s rare, romantic, and utterly distinctive.

Other unique choices include Cadmus, Phaedrus, Philemon, and Eryx. None of these will show up in your son’s kindergarten class guaranteed.

What is the prettiest Greek girl’s name?

Beauty is subjective, but Calliope, Elysia, and Ianthe consistently rank among the most melodious and visually striking Greek girl names. Calliope means “beautiful voice” and was the most exalted of the nine Muses. Elysia evokes paradise the Elysian Fields were the ancient Greek version of heaven. Ianthe means “violet flower” and appears in Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poetry.

What Greek name means God’s gift?

Theodore means “gift of God” from theos (God) and doron (gift). It’s one of the most beloved Greek names with meanings tied to the divine. Dorothea is the feminine form and carries the exact same meaning. Both are timeless, warm, and never feel out of place.

What are the 20 rarest Greek names?

Here are 20 genuinely rare Greek names you rarely hear today:

1. Acanthus
2. Alectrona
3. Anaxis
4. Bellerophon
5. Brizo
6. Cadmus
7. Chryseis
8. Endymion
9. Eryx
10. Iphigenia
11. Laertes
12. Menoetius
13. Nerissa
14. Niobe
15. Philoctetes
16. Ptolemy
17. Sibylla
18. Theia
19. Xenophon
20. Ypsipyli

These uncommon Greek baby names offer a genuine point of difference. Most parents haven’t considered them which makes them even more special if you’re looking for something truly original.

Conclusion

Greek names don’t just sound beautiful they mean something. Behind every name in this list is a goddess, a hero, a philosopher, or a force of nature that shaped the ancient world. Whether you choose the timeless elegance of Sophia, the heroic thunder of Achilles, or the rare mystique of Endymion, you’re giving your child a name with centuries of meaning behind it.

Ancient Greek names have survived wars, empires, and millennia precisely because they resonate. They speak to virtues we still admire: wisdom, courage, love, strength, and beauty. And in a world full of fleeting trends, a name rooted in Greek heritage will always feel both distinctive and enduring.

So take your time. Say the names out loud. Picture your child growing into them. The perfect Greek baby name is out there and now you’ve got 200 places to start.