280 Rare & Ancient Greek Girl Names & Meanings

Greek has been spoken for over 3,400 years, and it is spoken by about 13 million people all around the world. I have hand-picked 280 rare and ancient Greek girl names with their meaning included.

List Of 280 Ancient Greek Girl Names:

Konstantina

The Greek girl name Konstantina comes from the Latin Constantinus and is meaning ”unwavering” or ”steadfast.” Constantine the Great was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity

Iphigenia

“She who causes the birth of strong offspring.” Iphigenia was a daughter of Queen Clytemnestra and King Agamemnon.

Chloris

“Greenish-yellow.” It is pronounced as KLOR-iss.

Petra

Petra has its origins in “πέτρα” (rock). Petra is a feminine form of Peter, the name Jesus of Nazareth gave to the apostle Simon bar Jonah.

Penelope

Penelope was the wife of Odysseus and is rooted in the word ”penelops” that means ”duck”.

Daphne

Daphne (“laurel tree”) was the nymph and the daughter of the Thessalian river god Peneus.

Semele

Semele is a feminine name with Greek and Slavic roots that means “Mother Earth” or ”earth.” Semele was the youngest daughter of Harmonia and Cadmus. In Rome, the goddess Stimula (“she who stimulates”) was Semele.

Nereida

From Nereis, Nereida is meaning ”sea nymph.”

Despina

”Mistress” or ”lady.”

Clytie

”Famous.” Clytie turned into a flower that follows the sun.

Greek Christian Girl Names:

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Theoktisti	”made by God”	theh-ok-TEE-stee
Stavroula	cross	stahv-ROO-lah
Glykeria	sweet	glee-keh-REE-ah
Ekaterini	root disputed	eh-kah-teh-REE-nee
Triantafyllia	30-petal rose	tree-ahn-dah-fee-LEE-ah
Georgia	she works the earth	yeh-or-YEE-ah or JOR-juh
Christodouli	”servant of Christ.”	hree-stoh-THOO-lee
Makrina	long-lived	mah-KREE-nah
Sotiria	salvation	soh-tee-REE-ah
Vasiliki	”royal”	vah-see-lee-KEE
Pelagia	of the open sea	peh-lah-YEE-ah or peh-LAY-jee-uh
Theopisti	faithful to God	theh-OH-pee-stee
Chrysoula	little golden one	hree-SOO-lah
Angeliki	angelic	ahn-yeh-lee-KEE
Nektaria	”of nectar”	nek-tah-REE-ah

More below.

Galene

Galene is a calm sea, one of the Nereids.

Megara

Megara (”power”) was the first wife of Heracles.

Ismene

Ismene (“knowledgeable”) is a sister of Antigone who would not help bury their brother.

Omphale

”Navel.”

Pyrrha

”Flame-red.”

Marpessa

Marpessa (”snatcher”) chose the mortal Idas over Apollo.

Callisto

Callisto comes from kalós (beautiful). She was a nymph and the daughter of King Lycaon.

Thalassa

Thalassa means “sea.”

Hermione

From the Greek messenger god Hermes, Hermione means ”well-born” or “messenger.” In the Harry Potter series Hermione Granger is portrayed by Emma Watson.

Corisande

“Chorus-singer” or “heart in bloom.”

Thalia

Thalia (”to flourish”) was the goddess who presided over idyllic poetry. Thalia was the daughter of Mnemosyne and Zeus.

Oreithyia

”She who rages on the mountain.”

Melia

Melia is the ash tree as well as a nymph.

Amaltheia

“To soothe”.

Chloe

“Young green shoot.”

Eudokia

”Good will.”

Larisa

Larisa is the word for citadel.

Phyllis

”Leafy.”

Neaera

Neaera (”fresh one”) was a courtesan from Corinth.

Lydia

”Woman from Lydia.”

Zenaida

“Dedicated to Zeus”.

Callirrhoe

”Beautiful flow”.

Girl names based on Greek mythology:

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Lachesis	”she who allots”	LAK-uh-sis
Ione	violet	eye-OH-nee
Antiope	root disputed	an-TIE-oh-pee
Ocypete	swift wing	oh-SIP-eh-tee
Macaria	”blessed.”	mah-KAIR-ee-uh
Eurybia	wide force	yoo-RIB-ee-uh
Atropos	she cannot be turned	AT-ruh-pos
Hyale	glass	hy-AY-lee
Autonoe	a mind of her own	aw-TON-oh-ee
Nysa	origin unclear	NY-suh or NEE-sah
Leucippe	”white mare”	loo-SIP-ee
Epione	soother	eh-PIE-oh-nee
Pandrosos	all-dewy	pan-DROH-sos
Erytheia	red one	eh-rih-THEE-uh
Aceso	”healing process”	ah-SEE-soh

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Creusa

”Princess.”

Hesione

Hesione (”pleasure” or ”joy”) was a princess of Troy chained to a rock for a sea monster.

Althaea

”Healing.”

Glauce

”Gleaming.” Medea sent Glauce a poisoned robe on her wedding day.

Myrrha

Myrrha gave birth to Adonis from a myrrh tree

Berenice

Berenice has origins in the Macedonian form of Pherenike (”bearer of victory”). It is pronounced as ber-uh-NEES. Star cluster Coma Berenices is the only constellation named after a real person from history.

Agatha

Good, from agathos.

Thecla

”Glory of God.”

Calliope

Calliope is the eldest of the 9 Muses; she was the one who mothered Orpheus. It is composed of kallos (that means ”beauty”) and ops (”voice”).

Europa

Eurys (wide) and ops (face).

Leda

”Wife” or ”woman.”

Hypatia

Hypatia has its origins in hypatos, meaning ”supreme.” Hypatia is a great choice for your daughter, especially if you want her to aim high in life. Hypatia was a philosopher who lived in Alexandria. Hypatia is also the first female mathematician.

Phaethusa

”Radiant”.

Aethra

”Bright sky,” the mother of Theseus.

Marika

Marika is a diminutive of Maria. In Christianity Mary is the mother of Jesus and the wife of Joseph.

Keroessa

“The horned.” Ceroessa was the daughter of Io and Zeus.

Evadne

”Good” or “holy one,” Evadne is the name of the daughter of Poseidon and Pitane.

Eurycleia

”Wide fame.”

Anticlea

Anticlea (“against fame”) is the mother of Odysseus and died of longing for him.

Dorothea

Doron (gift) and theos (God), and is Theodora in reverse.

Ambrosia

”Food of the gods,” from a (not) and brotos (mortal).

Cynthia

Cynthia comes from Mount Cynthus on Delos and was used as a title of Artemis.

Clotho

Clotho is the Fate who spins the thread of every life, from klotho, to spin.

Barbara

”Foreign woman,” from barbaros.

Anastasia

”Resurrection.”

Pythia

Pythia was the title of Apollo’s priestess at Delphi, from Pytho.

Margarita

Margarita is ”pearl,” from margarites.

Kyriaki

Kyriaki is Sunday, ”the Lord’s day.”

Paraskevi

Paraskevi is the modern word for Friday, ”preparation” for the Sabbath.

Chrysanthe

”Golden flower,” and has similar origins as chrysanthemum.

Evangelia

”Good news.”

Lampetia

”Shining.” Lampetia is a daughter of Helios who guarded his cattle on Thrinacia.

Myrrhine

From myrsine, myrtle.

Rhoda

”Rose.” In Acts, servant Rhoda left Peter knocking at the gate out of joy.

Agave

”Illustrious.” In the Bacchae Agave tears apart her son Pentheus.

Castalia

Castalia (“sacred fountain of the Muses”) fled Apollo and became the spring at Delphi.

Athena

Athena is the Goddess of war and wisdom and the daughter of Zeus. Athena is also linked with the city of Athens.

Elpis

”Hope,” the only thing left in Pandora’s jar when the lid came down.

Callidora

Kallos (beauty) with doron (gift).

Eulalia

”Sweetly spoken,” from eu and lalein.

Eunice

Eunice is meaning ”Good victory.”

Eugenia

”Well-born.”

Sophia

”Wisdom.” Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was finished in 537.

Agape

”Selfless love,” and is the word the New Testament uses for the love of God.

Zoe

”Life.” Empress Zoe ruled Byzantium with her sister in 1042.

Demeter

Demeter is the Olympian goddess of agriculture and the harvest and the second child of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. It means “Earth Mother.”

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia is a Northern Hemisphere constellation. A way to spot Cassiopeia is to look for the “W” in the North. It means “cassia juice”.

Basileia

Basileia is the feminine form of basileus and is meaning princess or queen.

Alexandra

Alexandra combines alexō (“to defend”) and anēr (“man”) for “defender of men.” Nicknames include Alexa and Sasha.

Gaia

“The earth.” Gaia is the personification of Earth in Greek legends. Terra is the Roman equivalent of Gaia.

Theofania

“Manifestation of God.”

Urania

Urania comes from the word ouranos (”sky”). She is the Muse of astronomy and the daughter of Zeus by Mnemosyne. Save

Aglaia

Aglaia is symbolizing ”splendor” and ”glow” and she is one of the 3 Charites. In some tales she became the wife of Hephaestus.

Dione

Dione is the genitive form of Zeus, “divine” or “of Zeus.” In Homer’s Iliad she is Aphrodite’s mother.

Euphrosyne

Euphrosyne means ”joy” and ”good cheer.” She is another of the 3 Graces. Frosini or Efi are diminutives that I like.

Iphinoe

It is made of iphi (“strongly”) and noos (“mind”). Iphinoe was the daughter of Abrota of Onchestus and King Nisos.

Phoebe

Phoebe is the feminine variation of Phoebus. It became popular in the US with the release of the TV show Friends, where Phoebe Buffay was a main character.

Elektra

”Amber.” In Greek mythology, she was the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.

Eliana

Eliana has its origins in Hebrew for “my God has answered.”

Theodora

”Gift of God.” It connects its bearer to the immense compassion and the power of the Divine.

Iolanthe

”Violet flower” and is linked to literature and beauty.

Jocasta

“Shining moon.”

Evridiki

”Wide justice.”

Philippa

From Philippos, Philippa means ”horse.” Possible nicknames are Pip, Pippa, Pippulina, Pipka, Pippita, and Pippy.

Yianna

It is a form of Joanna which means “God is merciful.”

Cassia

“Cinnamon.”

Zenobia

Zenobia (“life of Zeus”) feminine variant of Zenobios. In 2005 comedian Tina Fey named her daughter Alice Zenobia.

Aspasia

Aspasia means ”welcome” or ”embrace” and is rooted in aspasios.

Photini

Photini was the Samaritan woman Christ met at the well. “Enlightened” or ”luminous one” and is Svetlana for Slavs.

Helena

Shining light.” Helen of Troy was married to King Menelaus of Sparta. She’s also the daughter of Zeus.

Andromeda

“Leader of humankind.” Andromeda is one of the 48 constellations that consists of 16 stars visible in the northern sky. It’s a cool outer space name for your little star.

Xanthe

”Golden” or ”fair-haired” and has origins in xanthos. You can visualize it on a grown woman as well as on a newborn. Xanthos was one of Achilles’s immortal horses.

Ariadne

Ariadne (“utterly pure”) is the Cretan princess who helped Theseus escape from the Minotaur.

Selene

Selene is the Greek for moon. In 1817 the element selenium was named after her.

Anthea

Anthea comes from anthos (”flower”) and is the title of the goddess Hera.

Clio

Clio is from kleos and is symbolizing ”glory” or ”fame.” Clio is a daughter of Zeus and the muse of history.

Erato

Erato is the Muse of lyric poetry and poets called on her before writing verses about romance. In 1860 an asteroid belt was named 62 Erato.

Melpomene

Melpomene comes from a verb meaning to sing. She is the Muse of tragedy in Greek mythology. The minor planet 18 Melpomene was named after her.

Melissa

Melissa is from the Greek word for a bee. In ancient timess the priestesses of Demeter were called Melissae aka the bees.

Danae

Danae was mother of the hero Perseus by Zeus and the only child of King Acrisius of Argos. The exact meaning is uncertain.

Xenia

”Hospitality” or ” “foreigner.” In Catalan there is Xènia and Kseniya in Bulgarian.

Antigone

“Worthy of one’s parents” and is made of ”anti” and ”gonos.” She is the daughter of Oedipus and the sister of Polynices.

Calypso

Calypso has origins in kalyptein that means to hide or conceal. She was a nymph who kept Odysseus on her island for 7 years.

Alcyone

Alcyone (“kingfisher”) is the brightest star in the Pleiades cluster.

Chariclea

Chariclea (“glory of grace”) is composed of charis (”grace”) and kleos (”glory”). She is the main character of the Aethiopica, a novel that was written by Heliodorus of Emesa.

Panagiota

Panagiota is meaning “all-holy” and is linked to Panagia, a title of the Virgin Mary. It is pronounced as pah-nah-YO-tah.

Hippodamia

”Tamer of horses.”

Acantha

Acantha is the word for thorn.

Laodamia

”Tamer of people.”

Euanthe

Euanthe means ”in bloom,” eu plus anthos.

Eos

Eos is the dawn, the goddess who opens the gates of heaven for the sun each morning.

Eudora

”Good gift,” one of the Nereids.

Hera

Hera (”mistress” or ”lady”) rules Olympus as queen.

Eleutheria

”Freedom.” The nine stripes of the national flag match the 9 syllables of ”Eleftheria i thanatos”, freedom or death.

Artemis

Artemis’ temple at Ephesus is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Aphrodite

”Foam-born”, from aphros, sea foam.

Hestia

Hestia is the word for hearth.

Rhea

Rhea (“flowing stream”) fooled Cronus with a stone that was wrapped in baby clothes and he swallowed it in place of Zeus.

Persephone

Persephone (“bringer of destruction”) rules the underworld with Hades.

Themis

”Divine law and custom.”

Mnemosyne

Mnemosyne is memory, and she bore Zeus the nine Muses.

Tethys

Tethys is the Titaness of fresh water and the wife of Oceanus.

Theia

Theia means ”goddess.”

Metis

”Cunning wisdom.”

Nyx

Nyx is night.

Hemera

Hemera is day, the daughter of Nyx.

Nike

Nike is victory with wings.

Iris

Iris is the rainbow and the messenger of Hera.

Hebe

”Youth”. Hebe poured nectar for the gods until she married Heracles.

Tyche

”Fortune.”

Nemesis

”Retribution.” Nemesis punished Narcissus for his pride.

Eirene

Eirene is peace, one of the Horae.

Eunomia

Good order and lawful rule.

Dike

Dike is justice, the Hora who reports every wrong to Dias.

Harmonia

Harmonia is the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite.

Hecate

Hecate guards crossroads and is meaning “far-shooting”.

Maia

Mother or nurse.

Leto

Leto (”forgotten” or “hidden”) gave birth to Apollo and Artemis on Delos.

Asteria

Asteria comes from aster, star.

Eileithyia

Eileithyia is the goddess of childbirth and is simbolizing “she who comes to aid.”

Astraea

Astraea is ”star maiden,” the last immortal to leave Earth as humans grew wicked.

Peitho

Peitho is persuasion, a companion of Aphrodite.

Panacea

Panacea combines pan (all) with akos (cure).

Hygieia

”Health,” and a daughter of Asclepius. Hygiene comes from her name.

Styx

Styx comes from the verb for hate or shudder.

Iaso

From iasis, the word for a cure.

Aegle

”Radiance.”

Psyche

Psyche is the word for breath and the living self.

Aura

Aura is a breeze, a Titan’s daughter who hunted with Artemis.

Eris

”Strife. Her golden apple ”for the fairest” set off the Trojan War.

Chione

Chione is snow. She was a daughter of Boreas, the north wind.

Thetis

Thetis (”disposer”) is the sea nymph who mothered Achilles.

Galatea

”Milk-white,” from gala, milk.

Doris

Doron, gift.

Amphitrite

Amphitrite (“encircling third”) is Poseidon’s queen and a dolphin found her when she hid from him.

Clymene

”Fame”.

Eurynome

Eurynome is made of eurys (wide) and nomos (rule).

Nephele

”Cloud.” She sent a golden-fleeced ram to transport her children to safety.

Philyra

Philyra is the linden tree. After giving birth to the centaur Chiron, she begged to become a tree.

Helle

Helle (”holy”) fell from that golden ram into the sea.

Merope

Merope (“with her face turned away”) is the dimmest of the seven Pleiades.

Pleione

Pleione is the mother of the Pleiades and means ”greater.”

Taygete

“Long-necked”.

Coronis

Coronis has origins in korone, crow.

Arethusa

”Quick water.”

Echo

Echo became the word she stands for.

Celaeno

”Dark,” another of the Pleiad sisters.

Syrinx

”Tube” or ”pipe.”

Io

Io (”violet”) was a priestess of Hera whom Zeus turned into a white heifer.

Alcmene

Alcmene combines alke (strength) and mene (moon).

Andromache

Andromache is ”battle of men.”

Cassandra

From kekasmai, to excel.

Niobe

Niobe (“sorrowful as snow”) had 14 children with Leto and lost them all.

Briseis

”Daughter of Briseus.”

Hecuba

Hecuba was queen of Troy, and means ”to be far away.”

Chryseis

Chryseis has chrysos, gold.

Clytemnestra

”Famed for her suitors.” She killed Agamemnon in his bath the day he came home from Troy.

Phaedra

Phaedra comes from phaidros, bright.

Polyxena

Polyxena is ”very hospitable,” from polys and xenos. The youngest daughter of Priam died at the tomb of Achilles.

Medea

Medea comes from medomai, to plan. The princess of Colchis helped Jason take the Golden Fleece.

Atalanta

”Equal in weight.” She lost a footrace only when Hippomenes dropped three golden apples.

Circe

Circe has roots in kirkos, hawk. On her island of Aeaea she turned the crew of Odysseus into pigs.

Nausicaa

Nausicaa is ”burner of ships.”

Alcestis

Alcestis (”valiant” or ”brave”) offered to die in place of her husband, Admetus.

Iole

Violet. Heracles sacked her father’s city to win her.

Hippolyta

Hippos (horse) with lyo (to loose).

Deianira

Deianira is ”destroyer of men.” She sent Heracles the poisoned shirt of the centaur Nessus.

Penthesilea

”Grief to the people.”

Philomela

”Lover of song.”

Pasiphae

Pasiphae is ”she who shines for all.” The queen of Crete was the mother of the Minotaur.

Procne

“Dark-spotted”.

Pandora

”All-gifted.” Hesiod gave her a jar and Erasmus turned it into a box.

Arachne

Arachne is the word for spider.

Cydippe

“Reputed for glory.”

Leucothea

”White goddess.” Leucothea gave Odysseus the veil that kept him afloat in a storm.

Oenone

Oenone is from oinos, wine. Oenone was the first wife of Paris, before Helen.

Aegina

Aegina (“land of the goat”) was a nymph and the island near Athens took her name.

Rhodope

”Rosy-faced.”

Hesychia

”Stillness.”

Ianthe

Ion (violet) with anthos (flower). In 1813 Percy Shelley named his daughter Ianthe.

Parthenia

”Maidenly,” from parthenos.

Pasithea

Pasithea (”relaxation”) is one of the Graces and Hera promised her to Hypnos, the god of sleep.

Euterpe

Euterpe is ”giver of delight,” Muse of music, pictured with a double flute.

Terpsichore

Terpsis (delight) and choros (dance). English has the adjective terpsichorean for anything to do with dancing.

Polyhymnia

Polyhymnia is ”many hymns,” Muse of sacred song.

Herse

”Dew.” Herse was a daughter of Cecrops, the first king of Athens.

Hesperia

Hesperia is evening and the west, one of the Hesperides who guarded the golden apples.

Gorgo

Gorgos, fierce.

Medusa

From medo, to guard or rule. When Perseus cut off her head, the winged horse Pegasus sprang from her neck.

Sappho

Sappho (“lapis lazuli”) wrote on Lesbos around 600 BC, and means

Corinna

Corinna is a diminutive of kore, girl.

Praxilla

Praxilla (”to achieve”) was a poet from Sicyon.

Erinna

Erinna (”maiden”) wrote The Distaff, a 300-line poem for a childhood friend.

Telesilla

”Completion” or “fulfillment.”

Myrtis

Myrtis has origins in myrtos, myrtle.

Anyte

Anyte (”nestling”) of Tegea wrote some of the earliest known epitaphs for animals.

Nossis

Nossis (”Young girl”) wrote epigrams in Locri, in southern Italy.

Hipparchia

”Horse ruler.” Hipparchia married the Cynic Crates and lived as a philosopher on the streets of Athens.

Arete

Arete is the word for virtue and excellence.

Agnodice

”Chaste before justice.”

Diotima

”Honored by Zeus.” In Plato’s Symposium, Diotima teaches Socrates about love.

Theano

Theano (”goddess”) was a Pythagorean philosopher, remembered as the wife or student of Pythagoras.

Phryne

Phryne was a nickname for toad, given for her sallow skin.

Cynisca

Cynisca is ”Puppy.” Spartan princess Cynisca became the first woman to win at Olympia.

Cleopatra

Kleos (glory) and pater (father). Plutarch says Cleopatra VII was the first of her dynasty to speak Egyptian.

Olympias

Olympias (”heavenly”) was the mother of Alexander the Great.

Arsinoe

Arsinoe belonged to several Ptolemaic queens, and is symbolizing “elevated mind”.

Stratonice

Stratos (army) with nike (victory).

Laodice

”Justice of the people.”

Artemisia

“Belonging to Artemis”.

Thessalonike

Thessalonike (“victory of Thessaly”) was Alexander’s half-sister and her husband founded Thessaloniki.

Agariste

” Very good.” Agariste’s father held a year-long contest for her suitors.

Elpinice

”Hope of victory.” Elpinice was the sister of the Athenian general Cimon.

Xanthippe

Xanthippe combines xanthos (yellow) with hippos (horse).

Lysistrata

”She who disbands armies.”

Melanippe

”Black mare.”

Chrysothemis

Chrysos (gold) with themis (law).

Praxagora

Praxagora is ”active in the assembly.”