Greek given names show clear structural patterns. Many masculine names end in -os, -as, or -is (Georgios, Nikolas, Yannis), while feminine forms often end in -a, -i, or -e (Maria, Sofia, Chrysi). Classical compounds are common, combining meaningful elements such as alex- “defend,” andr- “man,” theo- “god,” and nik- “victory” (Alexandros, Theodoros, Nikolaos). Theophoric forms and “gift” elements appear in -doros/-dora. Well-known meanings include Sofia “wisdom,” Eirini “peace,” and Dimitrios linked to the goddess Demeter. Transliterations reflect Greek phonology, so th, ch/kh, ph, and y appear in Latinized spellings (Theodoros, Charalambos, Glykeria), and multiple English variants often coexist.
Naming has been shaped by Eastern Orthodox practice, with many names taken from saints and feast days. Modern usage mixes Christian, Byzantine, and revived ancient names, a trend strengthened after the 19th century. Diminutives and hypocoristics are widely used and may be given officially, such as Nikos from Nikolaos or Vasilis from Vasileios; feminine diminutives often use -oula. Overall, contemporary Greek naming blends historical strata rather than following a single pattern.
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia | Wisdom | Greek | Girl | 141,895 #1 | |
| Alexander | Defender of men / protector of mankind | Greek | Boy | 116,481 #2 | |
| Sebastian | From Sebastia; derived from Greek sebastos meaning 'venerable' or 'revered'. | Greek | Boy | 102,425 #3 | |
| Thomas | Twin | Aramaic, Greek, Latin | Boy | 94,370 #4 | |
| Sofia | Wisdom | Greek | Girl | 90,798 #5 | |
| George | Farmer, earth-worker | Greek | Boy | 66,815 #6 | |
| Penelope | Weaver (associated with Odysseus's faithful wife; possibly derived from a Greek word for a duck) | Greek | Girl | 65,541 #7 | |
| Theo | Gift of god | Greek | Boy | 61,782 #8 | |
| Christopher | Bearer of Christ | Greek | Boy | 61,635 #9 | |
| Andrew | Manly, masculine; strong | Greek | Boy | 60,873 #10 | |
| Angel | Messenger; messenger of God (angel) | Catalan, Greek | Unisex | 53,728 #11 | |
| Maya | Sanskrit: 'illusion, magic'; Hebrew: associated with 'water'; also linked to the Greek goddess Maia and the month of May | Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Sanskrit, Spanish | Girl | 50,862 #12 | |
| Zoey | Life | English, Greek, Hebrew | Girl | 48,180 #13 | |
| Sophie | Wisdom | French, Greek | Girl | 45,251 #14 | |
| Nicholas | Victory of the people | Greek | Boy | 40,033 #15 | |
| Genesis | Origin; beginning; creation | Biblical, English, Greek | Unisex | 37,132 #16 | |
| Leon | Lion | Greek | Boy | 36,105 #17 | |
| Iris | Rainbow; messenger of the gods; also the iris flower. | Greek | Girl | 35,207 #18 | |
| Silas | Of the forest | Greek, Latin | Boy | 34,382 #19 | |
| Jason | Healer | Greek | Boy | 32,158 #20 | |
| Ariana | From Greek Ariadne 'most holy' or Persian Ariana 'land of the Aryans'. | Greek, Persian | Girl | 31,985 #21 | |
| Damian | To tame, subdue | Greek | Boy | 31,313 #22 | |
| Cora | Maiden, daughter | Greek | Girl | 29,153 #23 | |
| Lydia | From Lydia - 'Lydian', indicating origin from the ancient region of Lydia | Greek | Girl | 28,821 #24 | |
| Alex | Defender of men; protector | Greek | Unisex | 26,595 #25 | |
| Lena | From Helena meaning 'light, torch, shining'; in Arabic from Leena meaning 'tender, delicate' or 'young palm' | Arabic, German, Greek, Scandinavian, Slavic | Girl | 26,311 #26 | |
| Athena | Goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts | Greek | Girl | 25,283 #27 | |
| Melanie | Derived from Greek melanē meaning 'black, dark' (often interpreted as 'dark-haired') | Greek | Girl | 24,461 #28 | |
| Zion | Jerusalem citadel | English, Greek, Hebrew, Latin | Boy | 24,216 #29 | |
| Alexis | Defender; helper | Greek | Unisex | 23,573 #30 | |
| Melody | Song; musical tune | Greek | Girl | 23,025 #31 | |
| Phoebe | Bright, radiant | Greek | Girl | 22,917 #32 | |
| Thea | Goddess; 'divine' - also interpreted as 'gift of God' when derived from Dorothea/Theodora | Dutch, Greek | Girl | 22,822 #33 | |
| Arianna | Derived from Greek Ariadne, meaning "most holy" or "very pure" | Greek | Girl | 22,532 #34 | |
| Lina | Tender, delicate; also used as a diminutive of names ending in -lina (e.g., Angelina, Carolina). In Arabic, often interpreted as 'tender' or 'young palm tree'. | Arabic, Germanic, Greek, Latin, Scandinavian | Girl | 21,184 #35 | |
| Phoenix | Mythical bird reborn from its ashes; symbolizes renewal, immortality, and rebirth. | Greek | Unisex | 20,856 #36 | |
| Georgia | Farmer; earth-worker | Greek | Girl | 20,833 #37 | |
| Katherine | Often given as 'pure' (from Greek katharos); original root is uncertain | Greek | Girl | 20,753 #38 | |
| Margaret | Pearl | Greek | Girl | 20,343 #39 | |
| Atlas | Bearer of the heavens; supporter, enduring | Greek | Boy | 19,995 #40 | |
| Alexandra | 'Defender of men' / 'protector of mankind' | Greek | Girl | 19,969 #41 | |
| Timothy | Honouring God | English, Greek | Boy | 19,280 #42 | |
| Tommy | Twin | Aramaic, English, Greek | Boy | 18,890 #43 | |
| Alina | Often given as 'noble' (from Adelina) and also associated with 'bright' or 'light' (via Helen/Elena). | Arabic, Germanic, Greek, Slavic | Girl | 18,221 #44 | |
| Anastasia | Resurrection; rebirth | Greek | Girl | 18,030 #45 | |
| Teddy | Wealthy guardian; gift of God | English, Greek, Old English | Boy | 17,788 #46 | |
| Alexa | Defender of men; protector | Greek | Girl | 17,722 #47 | |
| Khloe | Young green shoot; bloom; freshness and fertility | Greek | Girl | 17,249 #48 | |
| Peter | Rock; stone | Greek | Boy | 17,137 #49 | |
| Sacha | Diminutive of Alexander/Alexandra - 'defender of men' or 'protector of mankind'. | French, Greek, Russian | Unisex | 17,031 #50 |
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Greek-origin name in our dataset.
