100 Gorgeous Greek Names for Girls: With Meanings

Adamantia

Adamantia is from the Ancient Greek “adamas,” meaning “invincible, indomitable.”

In ancient Greece, adamant was a material that was hypothetically, unbreakable. “Adamant” was applied to gold and sapphires before becoming a more general adjective for substance, and then people who were considered “hard” or “hard-headed.”

It’s also the word from which “diamond” evolved. Choose Adamantia for your little girl, and she may grow into a strong, resolute, determined adult.

Afroditi

A variant of Aphrodite, the meaning of these names is unknown.

Aphrodite was the ancient Greek goddess of beauty, passion, love, and procreation. In addition to these roles, the Spartans also saw Aphrodite as a warrior goddess.

Associated with myrtle, doves, roses, and swans, Aphrodite was said to have been born from sea foam, making Afroditi a suitable name for those who live, work, or love by the sea.

Aglaia

Aglia is a Greek name meaning “beauty, splendor.”

In Greek mythology, Aglaia was one of the three Charities, goddesses of beauty, nature, creativity, goodwill, and fertility. In some writings, Aglaia is referred to as Kale, and in others, she is called Charis.

Aikaterini

Aikaterini is a Greek name whose meaning is debated.

Aikaterini is an alternate transcription of the Greek name Ekaterini, which itself is a modern Greek form of Katherine, the meaning of which is debated depending on the origin used as reference.

The names may come from the Greek “hekateros,” meaning “each of the two,” or “aikia,” meaning “torture.”

Early Christians connected it to καθαρός, or “katharos,” meaning “pure,” which is why many sources say Katherine means “pure” when the meaning is unknown.

Aimilia

Aimilia is a Greek name meaning “rival.”

Aimilia is an evolution of the Roman family name Aemilius, which comes from the Latin word aemulus or “rival.”

Consequently, Aimilia is a “name cousin” of Emilia, Emily, and Amilia.

Alexandra

Alexandra means “defender of man.”

Alexandra was one of the epithets, or descriptors, used for the ancient Greek goddess Hera. While Hera was known for her temper and vengeful nature, she was also known to defend humanity from her husband, Zeus. Hence, she was the “defender of man.”

Alexia

The English name Alexia means “helper” or “defender.”

While Alexia is a modern English name, it is included in our list of Greek names for girls for two reasons.

First, it’s a feminine form of the Greek name Alexis, so you could argue that although Alexia is generally classed as an English name, its roots are Greek.

Second, Alexia is the 227th most popular name of all time in Greece, compared to the 1700th in England.

Aliki

Aliki is the Greek form of Alice, meaning “noble type.”

While Aliki is the Greek form of Alice, the spelling is also that of the Greek word which transcribes as “álikos”. Alikos means “crimson, scarlet, deep red,” making Aliki an excellent alternative to all of the little Scarletts in the schoolyard.

Amalia

From the Germanic name Amala, Amalia means “work.”

Amalia is often assumed to be the same name as Amilia and Emilia, just with different spelling, but even though they are similar looking they are entirely separate names. In Greece, the name day for Amalia is July 10th, honoring Saint Amalia.

Amalia has recently become more popular as a viable alternative to the more common Amilia, Emilia, and Emily name groups.

Anastasia

Anastasia is from the Greek word “anastasis”, meaning “resurrection.”

Anastasia of Sirmium was a fourth-century Christian martyr who was burned to death by the Ancient Romans who tried to convert Anastasia to the pagan religion. When she refused, she was thrown in prison and starved. She didn’t die of starvation, so she was put aboard a boat designed to sink. When it didn’t sink, she was burned to death.

Andriana

Andriana is from the Greek word “andreios”, meaning “manly.”

As well as being a Greek female name, Andriana is also an aristocratic title in the island nation of Madagascar. The Malagasy people lived in a society with rigid, social classes and the Andriana was the highest class.

Andriana was added to the front of their names to denote their noble status.

Andromachi

A modern spelling of Andromache, Andromachi probably means “man’s fighter.”

Andromachi is made of two Greek words – man and battle. However, it is unclear whether the intention was for the name to mean “man’s fighter,” “fighter of men,” “man battle,” or “man’s battle.”

The Andromache of ancient Greece was known for her strength of character, fidelity, and virtue but is not to be confused with the Amazon warrior Andromache.

Androniki

Androniki is from the Ancient Greek Andronikos, meaning “victory of a man.”

There are fewer than 10,000 people across the world with the name Androniki. There are so few babies named Androniki each year that the name does not register on any national “top name” lists.

Therefore, if you are looking for a unique Greek name for girls, this could be the one for you.

Angeliki

Angeliki is from the Greek word “angelos”, which means “messenger.”

Like many Greek names, Angeliki is the Greek version of a Roman name, from a Roman word that came from a Greek word.

In this case, the Greek word was “angelos” which means “messenger,” “one who announces,” or “envoy”. Angelos was used to describe the spiritual beings which delivered God’s messages to humanity. We now call them angels.

Anthe

An Ancient Greek name, from the word “anthos”, Anthe means “bloom, blossom, flower.”

Anthe was one of seven daughters of the giant Alcyoneus. When Hercules killed their father, the seven sisters threw themselves into the sea and were transformed into kingfishers.

Anthoula

Anthoula comes from the Greek “anthos” meaning “flower, blossom, bloom.”

Actor and director Anthoula Katsimatides was an aide to New York governor George Pataki when she lost her brother in the September 11th attacks.

Katsimatides was made the Vice President for family relations at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, became the liaison with families affected by 9/11, and served on the National September 11th Memorial & Museum board.

Antigoni

The Greek name Antigoni may mean “like one’s parents.”

The exact meaning of Antigoni is unclear.

One theory is that Antigoni is the feminine equivalent to the name Antigonos, made of two words. “Anti” meaning “against, like, compared to, in place of” and “goneus,” meaning “ancestor.”

Alternatively, Antigoni could be from “anti” and “gone”, meaning “offspring, birth.” In this case, the meaning would be “against motherhood,” “against birth,” or “in place of mother.”

Antonia

The Greek name Antonia is of unknown meaning.

Antonia is the feminine form of the Roman family name Antonius.

In ancient Roman society, women were not given forenames. Instead, they were known by their family name. So the daughter of someone from the family, Antonius, would be called Antonia.

When a father had multiple daughters, they were given a nickname such as Tertia, meaning “third,” to distinguish between sisters.

Apostolia

Apostolia is a Greek girl name. It means “messenger, apostle.”

Globally, just over 5,100 people have the name Apostolia, and 5,000 of them are in Greece. The next highest number is in Germany, where there are 36. In the US, there are 33.

As only 1 in 10,985,969 people in the US have this name, it’s safe to say you probably won’t bump into another. The downside is, your child will never find their name on a personalized pen in a store!

Areti

Areti is from the Greek word “arete”, meaning “virtue.”

To the ancient Greeks, arete was the concept of living up to your potential, fulfillment of purpose, and achieving excellence in all you do.

Arete was linked to knowledge, and the knowledge of knowledge, or contemplation, was the way to the highest forms of happiness.

Argiro

Argiro is the feminine form of Argyros which means “silver.”

Cookbook author, celebrity chef, and official Global Ambassador of Authentic Greek Cuisine Argiro Barbarigou grew up in her family’s restaurant.

Now the head of a culinary empire including restaurants, cookbooks, a cookware line, and a multitude of appearances at international events, Barbarigou was recently named as the Ambassador of South Aegean Cuisine, Athens, Greece, by the Greek government.

Aristea

Aristea is a Greek name meaning “excellent.”

Aristea is a genus of plants. A genus comes below a family but above a species.

An evergreen perennial, Aristea is native to the southern and tropical regions of Africa. With common names including Blue-corn-lily and Blue-eyed-iris, Aristea Ecklonii is an invasive species in Australia and New Zealand, where it is on the banned species list.

Asimina

The Greek name Asimina means “silver.”

Asimina is the scientific name for a group of tree species. One of these, the American paw-paw, is a deciduous tree with the largest edible fruit native to the North American continent.

Asimina is not only a cute Greek name for girls; it’s also a beautiful choice for anyone searching for an unusual nature-based girl’s name.

Aspasia

From the Greek word aspasios, Aspasia means “embrace, welcome.”

The most common English language pronunciation of Aspasia is “as-PAY-zhee-ah.” However, the correct Greek pronunciation is “ahs-pah-SEE-a.”

Aspasia is also a group of seven orchid species from Central and South America. Some of these orchids grow as a stem on another plant, getting everything they need from rain, air, and debris building up around it.

This Aspasia is pronounced “as-PAZ-ee-ah.”

Athanasia

Athanasia is from the Greek word Athanasios meaning “immortal.”

Pronounced “a-thana-SIA,” the most popular nickname for this pretty name is Sia.

We adore the sound, rhythm, and meaning of this name which was immortalized (pun entirely intended) by Oscar Wilde in his poem of the same name. The poem is true to the meaning of the name, exploring the concept of immortality.

Athina

Athina, the modern Greek form of Athena, means “Athens,” sort of.

Athina is a modern Greek spelling of the ancient Greek name Athena. Athena was the highly revered Greek goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, and war, as well as the patron of the city of Athens.

The ancient Greeks argued over whether the city was named after the goddess or vice-versa. Modern scholars also disagree. Consequently, we list Athina as meaning Athens -sort of because nobody seems to know for sure.

Charicleia

A Greek name, Charicleia, means “kindness,” “grace,” and “glory.”

The ancient Greek novel Theagenes and Chariclea tells the story of Charicleia, an Ethiopian princess who is also albino. Charicleia’s mother fears being accused of adultery so places her in the care of another.

Charicleia meets Theagenes; they fall in love, run away together and experience many dangers. The story is considered the first example of an adventure/thriller.

Chrysanthi

The Greek girl’s name Chrysanthi means “golden flower.”

The name day for Chrysanthi in the Greek Orthodox Church is March 19th. This is the day on which Saint Chrysanthos is celebrated, and as Chrysanthi is the feminine form, it too is celebrated on this day.

However, some women have begun to celebrate October 25th as the name day of Chrysanthi. This is in honor of Saint Agia Chrysanthi.

Despoina

Despoina is a Greek name meaning “lady, mistress.”

In some ancient Greek cults, Despoina was the goddess of mysteries, and only those who were initiated into her mysteries were able to know her true name.

This could make Desponia a clever choice for a Greek girl in families with scientists, detectives, PI’s, mystery writers, or anyone else who works in a career involving mysteries.

Dimitra

The modern form of Demeter, Dimitra, means “earth, mother.”

By the time she was 15, art prodigy Dimitra Millan had sales of over $1,000,000. Now at 21 she is the co-owner of the Milan Art Institute in Stantham, Georgia, and she regularly travels to Greece.

Dimitra considers herself to be one of the new age of art influencers, sharing her work on social media, and selling to international collectors via her website and private galleries.

Dionysia

Dionysia combines Dion, meaning “of Zeus,” and Nysa, meaning “tree.”

The Dionysia festivals were held in ancient Greece to honor the God Dionysus. There were both rural and city Dionysia with the Rural Dionysia taking place in the month straddling the winter equinox and the City Dionysia during the month straddling the vernal equinox.

Consequently, Dionysia could be a good choice of the feminine Greek name for babies born at these times of the year.

Effrosyni

Effrosyni is the Modern form of Euphrosyne, which means “merriment.”

In Greece, the most common nickname for Effrosyni is the incredibly cute “Froso.”

While worldwide, there are almost 20,600 people named Effrosyni, nearly 20,550 of them are in Greece. So, while it is a popular Greek name, the 86th most common name in Greece, it is virtually unknown in the rest of the world.

Efstathia

A modern, Greek, feminine form of Eustathius, Efstahia means “stable.”

Efstathia has a complex evolution.

Efstathia is the modern form of the Late Greek Eustathia, and Eustathia is the feminine form of Eustathios.

Eustathios is the Greek form of the Ancient Greek name Eustathius, which means “well built, stable,” and Eustathius comes from the Greek words eu, meaning “good,” and histemi, meaning “to set up, stand.”

Efthalia

A modern spelling of Euthalia, Efthalia means “bloom, flower.”

Euthalia, Virgin Martyr, lived in Italy in the third century. After her mother, Saint Eutropia, was miraculously healed, both mother and daughter converted to Christianity.

Euthalia’s brother was enraged at their conversion and threatened them with violence if they did not renounce their faith. Their mother fled the home, but Euthalia stayed and was subsequently beheaded by her sibling.

Efthymia

Efthymia is a Greek name meaning “generous, in good spirits.”

The Greek village of Agia Efthymia was called Myonia until 1580 when an earthquake destroyed the town and the residents fled to the mountains. Here they met an older man who told them to return and that he would protect them.

They returned, rebuilt, and named their town after the older man, Saint Euthymius, changing his name to the feminine form, Efthymia.

Eirini

A modern Greek name, Eirini, means peace.

Eirini, an alternative transcription of Ειρήνη, is the modern Greek form of the Ancient Greek name Eirene or Irene.

In ancient Greece, Eirene was the personification of peace, usually depicted as a beautiful young woman. One statue shows Eirene holding a baby, Plutus, the Greek god of wealth. This was said to symbolize wealth prospering under the auspices of peace.

Eleftheria

Eleftheria is a Greek name. It means “freedom.”

“Eleftheria i thanatos” is the motto of Greece. The motto was adopted in 1814 by the secret underground organization Filiki Eteria, which was formed to overthrow the rule of the Ottoman Empire.

It is said that the five blue stripes on the Greek flag represent the five syllables of Eleftheria, and the four white stripes, the four syllables of i Thanatos.

Eleni

Eleni is from the Greek word helene, meaning “corposant.”

Eleni is a modern alternative to its root name, Helen, and other similar names such as Elaine, Alena, Ellen, and Jelena.

The only downside is that you may spend time correcting people’s pronunciation. Some pronounce Eleni as “L-N-E” while others go with “ee-LANE-ee,” “elle-LEN-ee,” “EL-in-eye,” and “EL-ee-nee.” There doesn’t seem to be a standard pronunciation

Elisavet

Elisavet means “my God is an oath.”

This modern Greek variant of the Hebrew girl name Elisheva is a quirky alternative to their common name cousin, Elizabeth.

Is there an expectation that you’ll honor a family member named Elizabeth, Elisheva, Isabelle, Beth, Betty, Elsie, or any of the numerous other alternatives and nicknames? If so, Elisavet is an uncommon alternative.

Elpida

A modern variation of Elpis, Elpida means “hope.”

A fabulous, feminine Greek name Elpida doubles up as a name to fit the “EL” name trend and an intelligent, modern alternative to the pretty but overused, Hope.

The original Elpida, Elpis, was the last thing left in Pandora’s box after she opened it up and let out all of the evils of humanity.

Evangelia

The Greek girl’s name Evangelia means “bringing good news.”

Singer-songwriter Evangelia Psarakis grew up spending time on her grandmother’s farm in Greece and her parent’s home in New Jersey.

Psarakis describes her musical style as the unique fusion of “modern, urban pop meets traditional, rural Greek melodies.”

Evanthia

Evanthia is a form of Evanthes, meaning “blooming richly.”

Evanthia Kairi was a Greek writer, playwright, and feminist. In 1826, she became the first Greek woman to have her play published in modern Greece.

A fluent speaker of Ancient Greek, French, and Italian, Kairi was in great demand as a translator and later wrote a condensed history of ancient Greece.

Evdokia

From the Greek word eudokeo, Evdokia means “good thoughts, judgment.”

The 1971 film Evdokia is considered one of the most significant works in Greek cinema, and the Greek Film Critics Association voted it as the best Greek movie of all time.

Evmorfia

Evmorfia is a Greek name meaning “beautiful,” or “good appearance.”

Evmorfia Bethanis was born in Canada, raised in Athens, and moved to London to study at the prestigious Saint Martin’s College of Art & Design.

After working with fashion icons such as Alexander McQueen, Bethanis founded her own fashion label, the self-named Evmorfia.

Fani

Fani is a Greek girl’s name meaning “appearing.”

We have taken a small liberty with the meaning of Fani; let us explain.

Fani is a modern, short form of Theofania, which is itself a modern variation of the Ancient Greek Theophania. Theophania is the feminine version of Theophanes which means “manifestation from God,” from theos, meaning “God,” and phanes, meaning “appearing.”

So, Fani isn’t a direct translation of “appearing.”

Foteini

Fotenini is from the Greek word phos, which means “light.”

Fotini Gazi is a successful food blogger and influencer who specializes in sharing authentic Greek food.

As well as maintaining a fabulous food blog and its associated social media streams, Gazi runs the restaurant in her family’s beach-side hotel on the Greek island of Lefkada.

Freideriki

From the Germanic name Frederick, the Greek girl name Freideriki means “peaceful ruler.”

All but four of the people in the world with the name Freideriki were born in Greece. That’s not to say that there’s a large number of Freiderikis out there, we found fewer than 6,600, but it does mean that you’re not going to bump into one any time soon.

Unless, of course, you choose this unique Germanic/Greek cross-over name for your little one.

Garifallia

Garifallia is a Greek name meaning “chrysanthemum.”

The child of an important Greek family, Garifallia Mohalbi, ended up as a slave after her parents were murdered by invading Turks. Sent to live with her rescuer’s family in Boston, Massachusetts, Garifillia became an abolitionist and feminist symbol.

After dying of TB at the age of 13, Garifallia became famous, inspiring Hiram Powers’ sculpture “The Greek Slave.”

Giannoula

An evolution of John, Giannoula means “Yahweh is gracious.”

Giannoula began as an affectionate nickname for girls with the Greek name Gianna, which itself comes from Ioanna, the Greek form of Joanna, and subsequently John.

Although Gianna, which is also an Italian girl name, and Ioanna have traveled beyond the Greek borders, Giannoula is still very much a local name.

Glykeria

Glykeria is a Greek name meaning “sweet.”

A Greek Orthodox tradition, which transcends generations, is the celebration of name days. Similar to a birthday, you celebrate the feast day of the saint, martyr, or other holy person with whom you share a name.

Because many Greeks are named after relatives, name days are often a family affair. The name day for Glykeria is May 13th.

Ifigeneia

The modern spelling of Iphigenia, Ifigenia means “strong at birth.”

In Greek mythology, Iphigenia was the daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. On the way to the Trojan War, Agamemnon accidentally kills one of the sacred stags belonging to Artemis who orders him to sacrifice Iphigenia.

It’s suggested that the Stannis Baratheon storyline in Game of Thrones was based on the Iphigenia story.

Ioulia

Ioulia is a Greek name meaning “downy-bearded.”

Russian ice skater Ioulia Chtchetinina began as a ladies singles skater, representing Switzerland, before joining Noah Scherer to compete for the country in the pairs skating competition.

Chtchetinina has since parted ways with the Swiss Skating Federation and now skates with Márk Magyar, representing Hungary.

Kalliope

The Greek name Kalliope means “beautiful voice.”

Kalliope, also transcribed as Calliope, was the Greek muse of epic poetry and eloquence. Known for her beautiful voice, Calliope was said to be the most assertive and the wisest of the muses.

Kleopatra

Kleopatra is a Greek name meaning “glory of the father.”

Many people not familiar with ancient history assume that Cleopatra is the correct spelling of this name and that the famous Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra, was Egyptian.

However, the spelling that begins with a K is the original form of the name, and Cleopatra was not an Egyptian but a member of a Macedonian Greek dynasty.

Konstantia

From the Late Latin name Constans, Konstantia means “constant, steadfast.”

Konstantia is the 32nd most common Greek female name. Not of all time, but among Greeks whose births are registered in the country and who, at the time of writing, still live there.

Kyriaki

Kyriaki is a Greek name that means “of the Lord.”

In addition to being a name meaning “of the Lord,” Kyriaki is also the Greek word Κυριακή which means Sunday. Consequently, Kyriaki is often given to girls who are born on a Sunday.

While Kyriaki is an exclusively feminine moniker in Cyprus, Greece, and most other countries, in England, a handful of boys are given the name.

Lambrini

Lambrini is from the Greek word lampros, meaning “bright, brilliant.”

Lambrini is the feminine form of the Greek boy name Lambros which can be a forename or a surname.

Related to Lambrini is Lambri or “the brightness,” which is another word the Greeks use for the festival of Easter. This is the most important event of the year in the Greek Orthodox Church.

Lemonia

Lemonia is Greek for “lemon tree.”

Lemonia is a traditional cookie made with milk, lard, flour, lemon, and ammonium bicarbonate, or baker’s ammonia. Baker’s ammonia is no longer widely available, but can be found online or in some Greek specialist food stores.

The ammonia is incredibly pungent and is only usable in Lemonia cookies because they dry out so much in the oven.

Loukia

The Greek name Loukia means “light.”

Loukia Nicolaidou defied the social norms of her home country, Cyprus, and left home to study art at the influential École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. After returning to Cyprus, she discovered the response to her art was underwhelming, so she moved to London, England.

Largely forgotten until the 1990s, Nicolaidou’s work is now highly sought after.

Magdalini

Magdalini is the Greek form of Magdalene which means “from Magdala.”

Magdalini is the modern Greek form of Magdalene, from the name of the Biblical Mary Magdalene.

Maria

Maria is the Greek form of Miryam and Mary which is of unknown meaning.

While it doesn’t jump out as a Greek girl name, Maria is the Latin form of the Greek name Μαρία. This Greek spelling is interchangeable with the Greek Μαριάμ, transcribed as Mariam.

Both Greek names are forms of the Hebrew מִרְיָם, or Miryam, of which Mary is the English language form.

Among Greek female names, Maria is most common.

Marika

Marika doesn’t have a specific meaning.

Marika began as an affectionate nickname for people with names that start with “Mari.” People liked the sound and started using it as a stand-alone name.

Marika is also a common surname among the Yolngu people of Australia’s Arnhem Land. In Spanish it is a derogatory slur for male homosexuals. Although in this case it is spelled MariCa it sounds the same.

Martha

From the Aramaic name מַרְתָּא, Martha means “mistress, the lady.”

The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the third Sunday of Pascha as the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers. This is the collective name given to the women who ministered to Jesus during his life, brought oils to anoint his body, and were the first witnesses to his resurrection.

Martha, sister of Lazarus, was one of those myrrhbearers, making her name a popular Greek choice.

Melpomeni

Melpomeni, from the Greek melpo, means “to celebrate with song.”

In Greek mythology, the nine muses are goddesses who embody the arts, said to inspire creativity.

Before theater, Melpomene, modern spelling Melpomeni, was the muse of singing but was reassigned to tragedy after tragic plays became popular. In some traditions, she represents both.

Melpomene is usually depicted wearing the traditional actors’ cothurnus footwear and holding a tragic theater mask.

Natalia

Natalia is from the Latin “Natale Domini,” meaning “Christmas Day.”

A common name for girls born on Christmas Day, Natalia is also a popular name for Orthodox Greeks, in honor of Saint Natalia, who is commemorated on August 26th.

A wealthy Roman convert to Christianity, Natalia died in her sleep after praying she wouldn’t be forced to marry a pagan after her Christian husband was executed for his faith.

Nektaria

Nektaria means “nectar, drink of the Gods.”

Singer and lawyer Nektaria Karantzi is considered, by many, to be one of the most important contemporary voices in Byzantine Chant. Beginning as a chorister at nine-year-old, Karantzi made her first commercial recording at 14.

Karantzi also has a law degree, three postgraduate law degrees, and is currently a Criminal Law Doctorate candidate, making her an incredible, multi-talented role model.

Nikoleta

From the Greek boy name Nikolaos, Nikoleta means “victory of the people.”

Spelled with two T’s, Nikoletta is the 62nd most common name in Greece, while Nikoleta with one T is the 83rd most common, putting both spellings combined at number 27.

Olympia

From the name of Greece’s highest mountain, Olympia is of unknown meaning.

Archaia Olympia is a small town in Greece’s Alfeiós River valley. Now an archaeological site, it was a sacred place of worship for the ancient Greeks and the location of the first Olympic Games.

Although they share a name, Olympia is not in the same location as the home of the gods, Mount Olympus.

Ourania

The Greek name Ourania means “heavenly.”

Ourania, Latinized as Urania, was one of the nine muses. Originally the muses were general goddesses of song, dance, and music, but when they were allocated specific spheres of inspiration, Ourania became the muse of astronomy.

This makes Ourania a fabulous Greek name for those interested in space, or a family member who works in an astronomical field.

Pagona

The Greek name Pagona means “ice.”

Pagona is one of the more uncommon Greek girl names and virtually unknown outside of Greece. Outside of Greece, there are just over 200 people with the name Pagona, and it’s generally found only in expat Greek communities or families with a Greek heritage.

Panagiota

Panagiota is a Greek girl name meaning “all-holy.”

Panagiota is from Panagia, which is the Greek title for the Virgin Mary. The Orthodox Church believes the Virgin Mary to be more holy than other human beings and, as such, holier than a saint.

Therefore Orthodox churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary are not called St.Mary’s. Instead, they are named Panagia.

Paraskevi

Paraskevi is from the Greek word παρασκευή which means “Friday.”

Paraskevi refers to Friday as the day of preparation for the Sabbath. Saint Paraskevi of Rome was arrested and tortured by Roman Emperor Pius but released after performing a miracle and curing the emperor’s blindness.

Beheaded for her refusal to worship pagan idols, Paraskevi is commemorated on July 16th.

Parthena

From the mythological Greek name Parthenope, Parthena means “maiden’s voice.”

Parhena is the modern reworking of Parthenope, a Siren who lured sailors onto the rocks with her beautiful, alluring voice. Legend says that Parthenope tried to entice Odysseus to the shore, and upon failing, she threw herself into the sea and drowned.

Pelagia

A Greek name from the word pelagos Pelagis, means “the sea,”

While many Greek female names are popular in-country but uncommon elsewhere, Pelagia bucks the trend.

Pelagia is almost as popular in the Philippines as it is in Greece, and in comparison to the 7,100 Pelagias in Greece, there are 3,700 in Zimbabwe and nearly 3,500 in Peru.

Persephone

The meaning of the ancient Greek name Persephone is uncertain.

It’s thought that Persephone was a name in the pre-Greek period. Consequently, there are no records of the meaning. However, the Ancient Greek word pertho means “to destroy,” and phone means “murder,” so it’s reasonable to assume they had similar meanings pre-Greek.

So, the meaning of Peresephone is probably connected to these two words, but the exact meaning is unclear.

Pinelopi

Pinelopi is the modern Greek spelling of Penelope.

The meaning of Penelope, and subsequently, Pinelopi is shrouded in mystery. The explanation that Penelope comes from penelops, a form of duck, has no firm evidence, and it’s not even known if a penelop was a type of duck.

Other connections between pene, meaning “waft, threads,” and ops meaning “eye,” are also unsubstantiated.

Polyxeni

Polyxeni means “hospitable, entertaining many guests.”

The 2017 Greek movie Polyxeni tells the story of an orphan adopted by a wealthy couple from Istanbul. As she grows, Polyxeni flourishes, but then strange occurrences begin to hint at the couple’s dark motives.

Greek actress Katia Goulioni plays Polyxeni, and she won the Hellenic Film Academy Awards for Best Actress in 2018.

Selene

Selene is Greek and means “moon.”

In Greek mythology, the Titans were the children of the earth and sky. Hyperian was a Titan, and his children were Selene-moon, Helios-sun, and Eos-dawn. Selene raced through the sky on her chariot, chasing her brother Helios.

The Roman equivalent was Luna, and Selene is a beautiful alternative to the extremely popular name of the Roman embodiment of the moon.

Sevasti

Sevasti means “respected” in Greek.

Sevasti is also a rare masculine name meaning “venerable.”

Both forms of Sevasti are Greek forms of the Ancient Roman title Augustus, meaning “exulted, venerable” or “to increase,” and all of these names and definitions tie into the Germanic, Spanish, and French name Sebastian.

Sophia

The Greek name Sophia means “wisdom.”

Sophia probably arose as a name because of inaccurate translation.

The Hagia Sophia or “Holy Wisdom” Basilica in Constantinople was dedicated to the Holy Wisdom, a concept in Christian theology, connected to God the Son in the Holy Trinity.

Pilgrims thought it was a saint’s name, “Holy Sophia,” and began naming their children Sophia in honor of “the saint.”

Sotiria

Sotiria is a Greek girl name meaning “savior.”

Sotiria is 55th on the Top Greek Female Name charts. However, that is for all people who currently call Greece home and not how many children were named Sotiria in a particular year.

Spelled Soteria, it is the 492nd most common name in Cyprus and, globally, there are seven families known to have Sotiria as a surname.

Spyridoula

Spyridoula is from the Greek word for “basket.”

Spiridoula Karidi is a Greek athlete who competes in the long and triple jump. Karidi won gold at the 2019 U20 European Championships in Borås, Sweden, and is currently the Greek national champion in both the outdoor triple and long jump.

Stavroula

Stavroula is the feminine form of Stavros, meaning “cross.”

Born in 2000, Stavroula Tsolakidou earned her Woman FIDE Master title at the age of 14 during her winning run in the World U14 Girls Chess Championships.

As the no.1 female chess player in Greece, in 2014, Tsolakidou earned her Woman International Master title, followed by the World U16 Girls’ Championship in 2015.

After being declared as the winner of the World U18 Girls’ Championship in 2016, Tsolakidou earned her International Grandmaster title in 2018.

Stefania

Stefania is the Greek feminine form of Stephen. It means “wreath, crown.”

Greek-Dutch singer Stefania represented Greece in the 2016 Junior Eurovision Song Contest and was due to represent her country again in the main Eurovision contest in 2020 before it was canceled due to covid.

In Greece, Stefania is both a successful singer and a popular YouTuber.

Styliani

The Greek girl’s name Styliani means “pillar.”

Styliani is used primarily in Greece, with a healthy number of Stylianis found in Cyprus.

In both these and almost every other country in the world where it’s used, Styliani is an exclusively feminine name. However, in the US, where there are 73 people named Styliani, and England, where there are 39, it is also used, on occasion, as a masculine name.

Thalia

From the Greek name Θάλεια, Thalia means “blossom.”

With its similar meaning, Thalia makes a fabulous sister name to go with Chrysanthi, Evanthia, and Anthe. Naming daughters or cousins with this name will create a gorgeous bunch of blooms.

Thekla

From the Greek name Theokleia, Thekla means “glory of God.”

Saint Thecla was a follower of Saint Paul the Apostle. She is said to have listened to Paul’s “discourse on virginity,” converted to Christianity, and took a vow of chastity.

This angered her fiance and mother, who reported her to the authorities. Thecla was sentenced to death but saved by a miracle, not once but on multiple occasions.

Theodora

Theodora is a Greek name meaning “gift of God.”

The meaning of Theodora makes it a beautiful Greek girl name choice for those who have waited a long time for a child.

It also benefits from having a robust full name that works for a mature adult and multiple cute nicknames such as Dora, Dorie, and Theo, which are ideal for a young child.

Theofania

Theofania is a feminine form of the Greek name Theophanes, meaning “manifestation of God.”

As with other modern Greek spellings of the feminine forms of male names, the traditional girl’s version of Theophanes is TheoPHania, and the “PH” has been replaced with an “F.” Another modern form of Theophania is Tiffany.

This was a name traditionally given to girls born on the Epiphany, 6th January.

Vaia

The Greek name Vaia refers to palm tree branches.

Vaia, written as Βαΐα, does not translate directly to “palm tree branch” or anything similar. Instead, it’s from the Greek Orthodox celebration, Palm Sunday, or “Κυριακή των βαϊων.”

This is the Sunday before Easter, so it doesn’t have a specific name day date. However, the name is frequently used for girls born on this day of the religious calendar.

Varvara

Vavara is a Greek name meaning “foreign.”

Common in Russia, Ukraine, and Greece, but virtually unknown outside of countries that speak Russian, Greek, or Macedonian, Vavara is a form of Barbara.

It’s considered an old-fashioned girl name in some countries and, as such, has fallen out of favor. However, in other places, Vavara has seen a recent surge of popularity as an old-lady chic name for girls.

Vasiliki

Vasiliki is from the Greek word basileus, meaning “king.”

The sound made by some Ancient Greek letters has changed. For example, the sound represented by “β” changed from a “b” to a “v.” Consequently, some names in Ancient Greek look and sound quite different in Modern Greek.

That’s why you won’t find Ancient Greek mentions of Vasiliki, but you will discover the Ancient Greek equivalent – Basileia.

Venetia

Venetia is the Greek name for the city of Venice.

Venetia Burney is credited with being the person who, at the age of 11, suggested “Pluto” as the name for the newly discovered planet in 1930.

The story is long and complex, but we like the circular feel of an English child, with a Greek name suggesting the name of the mythological Greek ruler of the underworld.

Viktoria

Viktoria is the Greek feminine form of Victor, meaning “victory.”

Although Viktoria means “victory,” this is not a direct translation. Viktoria is the Greek version of the English name Victoria which is from the Latin word “victorium,” which means “victory.”

Meanwhile, the Greek word for victory is “nike”, which is also the ancient Greek personification of Victory.

Xanthippi

Xanthippi evolved from the Greek words for “yellow” and “horse.”

Xanthippe, which is the ancient Greek spelling of the same name, was the wife of Socrates who was said to be a nagging, hot-tempered woman. Consequently, Xanthippe became a word to describe a harsh, scolding woman.

It’s unclear whether in modern society Xanthippe would be considered an angry nag, or a confident woman who stands up for herself.

Xenia

The Greek name Xenia means “hospitality.”

Xenia is the Greek word for the concept of “hospitality,” considered by the Ancient Greeks as a moral obligation to their guests. It is also the feminine form of Xenon which means “foreigner.”

Because Xenia shares its roots with the word “foreigner” and Varvara means “foreign” we think Xenia and Varvara would make a cute pair of twin names.

Zacharoula

From the Hebrew name Zacharia, Zacharoul means “Yahweh remembers.”

Zaharoula is predominantly used in Greece and Cyprus, and outside of those two countries, fewer than 100 people have this forename.

Zacharoula is also the name of a traditional Greek folk song and its accompanying dance. Both the song and the dance were first performed in the Veria region of Greece, but have now spread throughout the country.

Zenovia

The Greek name Zenovia means “life of Zeus.”

Composer, and professor of music Zenobia Powell was known for her tonal music or music with clear, classic, melodies.

One of the few female, African American composers of concert music, Powel also influenced by the slave songs of her father and the political activism of Booker T. Washington, whom she sang for at the age of 13.

Zoi

Zoi is the modern Greek form of Zoe. It means “life.”

Zoi is a short and sweet Greek girl name with a high cute factor and a positive meaning.

However, native English speakers have a tendency to pronounce it “ZOY” to rhyme with boy, rather than as “ZO-E.”

Some people in the US are more likely to connect Zoi to the American brand of Greek Yogurt, which may lead to the teasing of any little Zoi you may have.