180 Cool Ancient Greek Names for Your Little One

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Naming expert Natalie Mulholland shares classic Greek names for boys & girls

Co-authored by Maria Souza and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: March 31, 2026 Fact Checked

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Popular Girl Names

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Rare Girl Names

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Greek Goddess Names

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Popular Boy Names

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Rare Boy Names

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Greek God Names

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More Ancient Greek Resources

If you’re an expectant parent looking for a timeless name for your son or daughter, an ancient Greek name could be the perfect choice for you. These names have withstood the test of time, and they’re filled with history and rich meanings. We partnered with a naming expert to help us compile a thorough list of the best ancient Greek names, including rare options for girls and boys. Whether you’re an ancient Greek history buff or you just want a name with a classic, lasting energy, you’re sure to find an option you love here!

Ancient & Old Greek Names

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An image of different Ancient Greek names.

Naming expert Natalie Mulholland says that some of the most popular Greek names include Leon, Zoe, Lysander, Irene, Leander, Theodora, Isidore, Eulalia, Cyril, and Xenia. Ancient Greek names also include the names of Greek deities or heroes, like Demeter, Gaia, or Achilles.

Section 1 of 7:

Popular Ancient Greek Names for Girls

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Pick one of these well-loved ancient Greek names if you want a sure thing. These beautiful, feminine names all come from ancient Greek origins, and many of them have maintained their popularity throughout the centuries. This means you can rest assured that they’ll never go out of style! Here are some of our favorite options:
- Agatha: “Good” or “honorable.”
- Agnes: “A chaste woman.”
- Alexandra: “Defender of man.”
- Alexis: “Defender” or “protector.”
- Althea: “Healer.”
- Anastasia: “Resurrection.”
- Angelica: “Heavenly messenger.”
- Ariana: “Most holy.”
- Calliope: “Beautiful voice,” also one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology.
- Cassandra: “Shining upon man,” also a prophetess from Greek mythology.
- Chloe: “Young green shoot” or “blooming.”
- Cleo: “To celebrate” or “to make famous.”
- Cora: “Heart” or “maiden.”
- Cynthia: “From Mount Kynthos” or “moon.”
- Daphne: “Laurel tree,” also a nymph from Greek mythology.
- Dorothea: “Gift of God.”
- Georgia: “Farmer” or “earth-worker.”
- Helen: “Torch,” after Helen of Troy in the Iliad.
- Hermione: “Messenger.”
- Irene:^{[1]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Peace.”
- Isadora: “Gift of Isis.”
- Isidore:^{[2]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Gift of Isis.”
- Katherine: “Pure.”
- Larissa: “Citadel.”
- Lydia: “From Lydia.”
- Nikola: “Victor of the people.”
- Ophelia: “Aid” or “help.”
- Penelope: “Weaver,” also Odysseus’s wife.
- Philippa: “Horse lover.”
- Phoebe: “Radiant.”
- Theresa: “To harvest.”
- Selena: “The moon.”
- Sophia: “Wisdom.”
- Sybil: “Prophetess” or “oracle.”
- Thalia: “Flourishing” or “to blossom.”
- Thea: “Goddess.”
- Theodora:^{[3]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Gift of god.”
- Zoe:^{[4]
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Life.”
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Natalie Mulholland is a naming expert from Athens, Georgia. Since 2023, she’s also been a content creator focused on sharing the origin of names, plus what they mean and interesting people who’ve had that name before.

Section 2 of 7:

Rare Ancient Greek Names for Girls

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Opt for one of these names to set your little girl apart. Your daughter is bound to be a star in her own right, so why not pick a name that’s as unique and one-of-a-kind as she’ll be? These unique baby girl names all have roots in ancient Greece, and they’re a little less commonly used today:
- Aglaia: “Splendor” or “beauty.”
- Ambrosia: “Immortal” or “food of the gods.”
- Andromeda: “Leader of humankind,” also a figure from Greek mythology and a constellation.
- Aniela: “Heavenly messenger.”
- Aretha: “Virtue,” “goodness,” or “excellence.”
- Arete: “Excellence.”
- Ariadne: “Most holy,” also a princess from Greek mythology.
- Briseis: “Daughter of Briseus,” also a character in the Iliad.
- Briony: “Climbing plant.”
- Callista: “Most beautiful,” also a nymph in Greek mythology.
- Calypso: “Hidden,” also a nymph in Greek mythology.
- Cassia: “Cinnamon.”
- Cassiopeia: “Cassia juice,” also a queen in Greek mythology and a constellation.
- Chryseis: “Golden.”
- Cleopatra: After the Egyptian queen who was of Greek descent.
- Damaris: “Calf.”
- Danae: “Bright” or “a judge.”
- Demetria: “Dedicated to Demeter.”
- Dion: “Follower of Dionysus.”
- Elektra: “Shining” or “amber,” also a figure from Greek mythology.
- Elpis: “Hope.”
- Eudora: “Good gift.”
- Eufemia: “Well-spoken.”
- Eugenia: “Well-born.”
- Eulalia:^{[5]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Well-spoken.”
- Eurydice: “Wide justice,” also a figure from Greek mythology.
- Evadne: “Well” or “good,” also a nymph in Greek mythology.
- Hyacinth: “Hyacinth flower.”
- Ianthe: “Violet.”
- Leda: A Spartan queen from Greek mythology.
- Megara: “Grudge,” also the wife of Hercules in Greek mythology.
- Olympia: “From Mount Olympus.”
- Ourania: “Heavenly.”
- Pandora: “All gifted,” also a figure in Greek mythology.
- Thelma: “Will” or “volition.”
- Xanthe: “Yellow” or “blonde.”
- Xanthippe: “Golden” or “fair,” also Socrates’s wife.
- Xenia:^{[6]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Guest or stranger” or “hospitalite.”

Section 3 of 7:

Ancient Greek Goddess Names for Girls

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Name your daughter after a goddess to surround her with strength and power. Whether you want to honor your favorite Greek deity or you just want to remind your little girl that she’s a goddess in her own right, these gorgeous names are sure to do the trick!
- Aphrodite: Goddess of love and beauty.
- Artemis: Goddess of the moon and the hunt.
- Astraea: Goddess of justice.
- Athena: Goddess of wisdom and war.
- Aura: Titan of the breeze.
- Circe: Goddess of magic and sorcery.
- Demeter: Goddess of the harvest, agriculture, and grain.
- Eos: Titan of the dawn.
- Gaia: Mother goddess and personification of the Earth.
- Hecate: Goddess of magic, witchcraft, and crossroads.
- Hebe: Goddess of eternal youth.
- Hera: Goddess of marriage, women, and family.
- Hestia: Goddess of the hearth, home, and family.
- Iris: Goddess of the rainbow.
- Nike: Goddess of victory.
- Nyx: Goddess of the night.
- Rhea: Titan associated with fertility and fruitfulness.
- Selene: Goddess of the moon.
- Thalassa: Primordial goddess of the sea.
- Tyche: Goddess of chance, fortune, and fate.

Section 4 of 7:

Popular Ancient Greek Names for Boys

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Choose one of these popular names for a timeless vibe. Many of today's well-loved names actually originate in ancient Greece, giving them a classic, timeless energy. Many of them also have very powerful meanings (like Alexander, “defender of men”), or are the names of legendary figures from mythology (like Hector or Jason), which makes them totally perfect for your little hero-in-the-making!
- Adonis: “Lord,” also the human lover of Aphrodite in Greek mythology.
- Alexander: “Defender of men.”
- Ambrose: “Immortal.”
- Andreas: “Manly” or “warrior.”
- Andrew: “Manly.”
- Atticus: “From Attica.”
- Basil: “King.”
- Cole: “Victory of the people.”
- Cosmo: “Order” or “harmonious.”
- Damion: “To tame” or “subdue.”
- Damon: “One who tames or subdues.”
- Darius: “Maintains possessions well.”
- Deacon: “Messenger” or “helper.”
- Eugene: “Well-born” or “noble.”
- Georgios: “Farmer” or “earth-worker.”
- Gregory: “Watchful” or “vigilant.”
- Hector: “Steadfast,” also a hero in the Iliad.
- Homer: “Security” or “pledge,” also the name of the poet who wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey.
- Jason: “Healer,” also a hero from Greek mythology.
- Julius: “Devoted to Jove.”
- Leon:^{[7]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Lion”
- Linus: “Flaxen-haired.”
- Lukas: “From Lucania” or “light.”
- Luke: “From Lucania,” Greek origin.
- Nikolas: “People of victory.”
- Orion: “Rising in the sky,” also the son of Poseidon from Greek mythology.
- Perseus: “To destroy,” also a hero from Greek mythology.
- Peter: “Rock.”
- Philip: “Horse lover.”
- Phoenix: “Legendary bird.”
- Theodore: “God’s gift.”
- Troy: “Foot soldier,” also the location of the Trojan War from Greek mythology.
- Xander: “Defender of man.”

Section 5 of 7:

Rare Ancient Greek Names for Boys

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Opt for one of these names for an eye-catching option. If you really want your little boy to stand out in the crowd and claim a legendary destiny, why not give him a rarer and more unique ancient Greek name? You’re not likely to hear these very often, so they’re ideal if you want to set your son apart!
- Acacius: “Thorny” or “innocent, not evil.”
- Achilles: “Pain or grief of the people,” also a hero in the Iliad.
- Ajax: “Eagle,” also a hero in the Iliad.
- Alastor: “Avenger” or “defender of man.”
- Alistaire: “Man’s defender.”
- Arsenio: “Masculine.”
- Castor: “Beaver,” also a son of Zeus and part of the Gemini constellation.
- Cletus: “Called forth” or “summoned.”
- Constantine: “Steady and consistent.”
- Cyril:^{[8]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} “Masterful” and “from the Lord.”
- Demetrius: “Dedicated to Demeter.”
- Draco: “Dragon.”
- Evander: “Good man” or “bow warrior.”
- Euclid: “Glorious” or “renowned,” also the name of an ancient Greek mathematician.
- Eustace: “Good grapes,” “fruitful,” or “fecund.”
- Hercules: “Hera’s glory,” also a hero from Greek mythology.
- Hyacinthus: A figure from Greek mythology.
- Leander:^{[9]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
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  Expert Interview} “Lion man.”
- Lysander:^{[10]
  X
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  Natalie Mulholland
  Naming Expert
  
  Expert Interview} “Releasing men” or “liberator.”
- Odysseus: “Angry man,” also the hero of the Odyssey.
- Orestes: “He who stands like a mountain,” also the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon in Greek mythology.
- Orpheus: “Darkness of night,” also a figure from Greek mythology.
- Paris: An important figure from the Iliad.
- Plato: After the ancient Greek philosopher.
- Pollux: “Crown” or “very sweet,” also a son of Zeus and part of the Gemini constellation.
- Rhode: “Rose.”
- Socrates: “Full and complete power,” also an ancient Greek philosopher.
- Stephanos: “Garland.”
- Telemachus: “Fighting from afar,” also the name of Odysseus’s son.
- Theseus: “To set or place,” also a king in Greek mythology.
- Theophilus: “Love of God.”
- Timótheos: “God’s honor.”
- Zeno: “The gift of Zeus.”

Section 6 of 7:

Ancient Greek God Names for Boys

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Name your son after a god to encourage him to reach for the stars. Your son is bound to be completely extraordinary, so why not name him after a powerful Greek god? These names are filled with rich meaning and history, and they’re also a great way to surround your little one with an aura of power and strength.
- Apollo: God of the sun, music, poetry, and healing.
- Ares: God of war.
- Atlas: Titan who holds up the universe.
- Boreas: God of the north wind.
- Cronus: God of the harvest.
- Dionysus: God of wine, vegetation, fertility, festivity, and wild frenzy.
- Erebus: Personification of the darkness.
- Eros: God of love, affection, and beauty.
- Hades: God of the underworld.
- Helios: God of the sun.
- Hermes: Messenger god.
- Hyperion: Titan god of heavenly light.
- Hypnos: Personification of sleep.
- Morpheus: God of dreams.
- Pallas: Titan of battle and warcraft.
- Pan: Trickster god of shepherds, flocks, and the wild.
- Plutus: God of wealth and abundance.
- Poseidon: God of the sea.
- Prometheus: Titan of fire.
- Zephyr: God of the west wind.
- Zeus: God of the sky and king of the gods.
- Big fan of Greek mythology? Try out our “Which Greek God Am I?” quiz!