Panayota as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Panayota

What is the meaning of the name Panayota ?

The baby name Panayota is a Female name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced pa-na-YO-ta (approx. /pa.naˈjo.ta/).

Panayota is Greek in Origin.

Panayota is a Greek feminine name tied to the epithet Panagia, “the All-Holy,” for the Virgin Mary in Eastern Orthodox tradition. It ultimately combines pan “all” and hagios “holy,” yielding the meaning “all-holy” or “most holy.” The spelling Panayota reflects a transliteration of Greek Παναγιώτα (Panagiota), where the γι (gi) sound is sometimes rendered as “y.” Widespread in Greece and Cyprus from the Byzantine era onward, the name is commonly bestowed in devotion to Mary, with a name day on August 15 (Dormition). It also appears in Balkan forms such as Panajota/Panayota.

Standard variants include Panagiota, Panayiota, and Panayiotta; the masculine counterpart is Panagiotis. Common diminutives and nicknames are Giota/Yota, Nota, Nitsa, and Pitsa. Usage remains steady in Greek and diaspora communities, balancing tradition and faith-centered significance while offering flexible international spellings.

⚙ Panayota is far from common. In all, it turns up just 15 times, across 3 countries.