Greek girl names such as Eleni, Sofia (“wisdom”), Zoi (“life”), Eirini (“peace”) and Elpida (“hope”) come from saints, Greek words and ancient myth, and this list gives a checked meaning for 143 modern Greek, Ancient Greek and Greek Mythology names.
The most loved Greek girl names include Maria, Eleni, Sofia and Dimitra, along with word names like Elpida (hope) and Agapi (love). Many are Greek forms of names you already know, so Eleni is Helen and Ioanna is Joanna, and others are names of goddesses and Muses.
We grouped the names into classic and modern Greek names, virtue and nature names, modern Greek forms of classical names, Ancient Greek names, Greek mythology names and nicknames. You will also find a short guide to Greek naming customs, name days, spelling and pronunciation.
Key Takeaways
Eleni, Ioanna and Elisavet are the Greek forms of Helen, Joanna and Elizabeth.
Elpida means hope, Agapi means love, Chara means joy and Eirini comes from the word for peace.
Sofia and Zoi are the modern Greek forms; Sophia and Zoe are the Ancient Greek forms English speakers know.
Mythology names such as Athena, Selene and Hestia are labeled Greek Mythology, not modern Greek.
Greek tradition often names children after grandparents, and many Greeks celebrate a saint’s name day.
Table of Contents
Greek Girl Names at a Glance
Quick Answer
Beloved Greek girl names include Maria, Eleni (the Greek form of Helen), Sofia (“wisdom”), Zoi (“life”), Eirini (“peace”), Dimitra and Vasiliki; virtue names such as Elpida (“hope”), Agapi (“love”) and Chara (“joy”); ancient names such as Sophia, Zoe and Chloe; and names from Greek mythology such as Athena, Artemis, Selene and Phoebe.
Every gender, usage label and meaning on this page was checked against the name’s own entry on Behind the Name in October 2026. Where an entry only says a name is a “form of” another name, we give that name’s meaning from its own entry. Where a meaning is unknown or debated, we say so. Greek script is shown only where the entry gives it.
Greek girl names come in three families, and this list keeps them apart on purpose. Modern Greek names are the ones Behind the Name labels “Greek”: names such as Eleni, Ioanna and Paraskevi that families in Greece and the Greek diaspora use today. Ancient Greek names, such as Hypatia and Sappho, are labeled for people of the ancient world. And Greek Mythology names, such as Athena and Hestia, belong to goddesses, nymphs and heroines. A single name can carry more than one label (Myrto is Greek, Ancient Greek and Greek Mythology), and we show every label the entry gives.
You will also notice spelling pairs such as Sofia and Sophia, or Zoi and Zoe. These are separate entries: Sofia and Zoi are the forms used in modern Greek, while Sophia and Zoe are the ancient forms most English speakers know. Both are on the list so you can choose the spelling that fits your family.
Classic Greek Girl Names and Their Meanings
These are the names you are likely to meet in Greek families across generations, many of them tied to saints and to the Orthodox Christian calendar. Several are Greek forms of names you already know: Eleni is Helen, Ioanna is Joanna, Elisavet is Elizabeth and Varvara is Barbara.
Name
Greek
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning
Maria
Μαρία
Greek, Italian, Portuguese, English and more
Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary); the meaning is not known for certain
Eleni
Ελένη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Helen: probably from Greek helene, “torch”, or possibly related to selene, “moon”
Aikaterini
Αικατερίνη
Greek
Alternate transcription of Αικατερίνη (see Ekaterini), the Modern Greek form of Katherine, whose etymology is debated
Katerina
Κατερίνα
Greek, Macedonian, Albanian, Russian, Bulgarian
A Greek variant of Aikaterine (Katherine); the etymology is debated
Vasiliki
Βασιλική
Greek
Modern Greek feminine form of Basil, from Basileios: “royal, kingly”
Georgia
Γεωργία
English, Greek
Latinate feminine form of George, from Greek georgos: “farmer, earthworker”
Dimitra
Δήμητρα
Greek
Modern Greek form of Demeter, which possibly means “earth mother”
Ioanna
Ιωάννα
Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Joanna, the feminine form of Ioannes (John)
Christina
Χριστίνα
English, German, Swedish, Dutch, Greek and more
From Christiana, the Latin feminine form of Christian (“a Christian”)
Evangelia
Ευαγγελία
Greek
Feminine form of Evangelos: “bringing good news”
Angeliki
Αγγελική
Greek
Greek form of Angelica, from Latin angelicus: “angelic”
Konstantina
Κωνσταντίνα
Greek
Greek feminine form of Constantinus (Constantine), a derivative of Constans
Paraskevi
Παρασκευή
Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Paraskeve: “preparation” or “Friday”
Eirini
Ειρήνη
Greek
Alternate transcription of Ειρήνη (see Irini), the Modern Greek form of Irene: “peace”
Panagiota
Παναγιώτα
Greek
Feminine form of Panagiotis, from Panagia, a Greek title of the Virgin Mary meaning “all holy”
Stavroula
Σταυρούλα
Greek
Feminine form of Stavros: “cross”, referring to the cross of the crucifixion
Anna
Άννα
Greek, English, Italian, Russian and more
Form of Hannah, from Hebrew: “favor, grace”
Varvara
Βαρβάρα
Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Greek form of Barbara, ultimately from Greek barbaros: “foreign, non-Greek”
Elisavet
Ελισάβετ
Greek
Modern Greek form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew: “my God is an oath”
Kyriaki
Κυριακή
Greek
Feminine form of Kyriakos: “of the lord”
Styliani
Στυλιανή
Greek
Feminine form of Stylianos, from Greek stylos: “pillar”
Sotiria
Σωτηρία
Greek
Feminine form of Sotirios (Soterios): “saviour, deliverer” or “salvation, deliverance”
Theodosia
Θεοδοσία
Ancient Greek, Greek
Feminine form of Theodosius: “giving to god”
Evgenia
Ευγενία
Greek, Russian, Bulgarian
Modern Greek form of Eugenia, the feminine form of Eugenius: “well born”
Loukia
Λουκία
Greek
Greek form of Lucia, the feminine form of Lucius, from Latin lux: “light”
Classic Greek girl names with the Greek spelling, usage label and meaning from each name’s Behind the Name entry.
A few things stand out. Aikaterini and Katerina both trace back to the Greek name behind Katherine, and Behind the Name is candid that its origin is debated: it may come from a word meaning “each of the two”, from the goddess Hecate, or from other sources. Maria’s ultimate meaning is also not known for certain. We kept those uncertainties rather than picking a tidy answer.
Some classic names carry religious meanings in Greek itself. Panagiota comes from Panagia, “all holy”, a Greek title of the Virgin Mary. Stavroula comes from Stavros, “cross”. Paraskevi means “preparation” or “Friday”, the day of preparation. Evangelia means “bringing good news”. If you are drawn to faith-rooted names in other traditions, our biblical girl names list covers the Hebrew and New Testament originals of names such as Anna, Elisavet and Ioanna.
Others honor a quality. Vasiliki goes back to Basileios, “royal, kingly”, and Evgenia to Eugenius, “well born”. Loukia, the Greek form of Lucia, connects to the Latin word for “light”; you will find more light names in our names that mean light guide.
Modern Greek Names for Girls Families Choose Today
These names feel fresh in Greece and travel easily abroad. We are not making ranking claims for Greece here; these are simply modern-sounding names with Greek usage on Behind the Name.
Name
Greek
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning
Sofia
Σοφία
Greek, Italian, Portuguese, English and more
Form of Sophia: “wisdom”
Zoi
Ζωή
Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Zoe: “life”
Myrto
Μυρτώ
Greek, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
From Greek myrtos: “myrtle”
Melina
Μελίνα
English, Greek
Elaboration of Mel, from names such as Melissa or from Greek meli: “honey”
Marina
Μαρίνα
Greek, Italian, Spanish, English, Russian and more
Feminine form of Marinus, from the family name Marius or Latin marinus: “of the sea”
Gianna
Γιάννα
Greek, Italian, English (Modern)
Modern Greek variant of Ioanna, and an Italian short form of Giovanna
Stefania
Στεφανία
Greek, Italian, Polish
Greek feminine form of Stephen, from Stephanos: “crown, wreath”
Angelina
Αγγελίνα
Greek, Italian, English, Russian and more
Latinate diminutive of Angela
Alexandra
Αλεξάνδρα
Greek, English, German, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology and more
Feminine form of Alexander, from Alexandros: “defending men”
Theodora
Θεοδώρα
Greek, English, Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Theodore (“gift of god”); common in the Byzantine Empire
Anastasia
Αναστασία
Greek, Russian, English, Ancient Greek and more
Feminine form of Anastasius: “resurrection”
Despoina
Δέσποινα
Greek Mythology, Greek
“Mistress, lady”; in Greek mythology a daughter of Demeter and Poseidon
Amalia
Αμαλία
Greek, Spanish, Italian and more
Short form of Germanic names beginning with amal: “unceasing, vigorous, brave”
Aliki
Αλίκη
Greek
Greek form of Alice; it also corresponds with the Greek word for “scarlet”
Nikol
Νικόλ
Greek, Czech, Bulgarian
Greek form of Nicole, the French feminine form of Nicholas
Demi
Δήμη, Ντίμι, Ντίμη
Greek, English (Modern)
Transcription of Dimi (a short form of Dimitra), and a short form of Demetria
Lia
Λεία
Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Georgian
Greek form of Leah: probably from Hebrew, “weary, grieved”
Eva
Εύα
Greek, Spanish, Italian, English and more
Form of Eve: from Hebrew, “to breathe” or “to live”
Modern Greek girl names with the Greek spelling, usage label and meaning from Behind the Name.
Sofia is the standout for American families. The Social Security Administration (SSA) ranks Sofia No. 9 and Sophia No. 5 for girls born in the U.S. in 2025, so both spellings are familiar here. Theodora, the feminine form of Theodore, has a link to the boys’ list too: Theodore is No. 4 for U.S. boys born in 2025. Behind the Name notes that Theodora was common in the Byzantine Empire and was borne by several empresses.
Myrto, meaning “myrtle”, is short and bright and carries all three labels at once: Greek, Ancient Greek and Greek Mythology. Despoina means “mistress, lady”, and its entry lists it both as a modern Greek name and as a figure in Greek mythology. Marina, “of the sea”, and Melina, linked to Greek meli, “honey”, are easy to say in English and in Greek.
Gianna is an interesting crossover. Behind the Name lists it as an Italian short form of Giovanna and a Modern Greek variant of Ioanna, so it suits families with roots in either country. Our Italian girl names list has more names that work in both languages.
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How Greek Naming Works: Grandparents, Name Days and Spelling
A short note on custom, using only what the sources below say. The Lexicon of Greek Personal Names at the University of Oxford explains that, in antiquity as in Greece today, there was a tradition of naming the first-born son after the paternal grandfather and the second son after the maternal grandfather. It adds that less is known about how girls were named, because women appear much less often in the historical record, though there is evidence of the same pattern. That is why you may meet several cousins who share a grandmother’s name.
Name days are the second tradition worth knowing. Eortologio, a Greek name-day calendar, explains that in the Greek Orthodox tradition every day of the year is dedicated to a Christian saint or martyr, and when someone is named after one of those saints, that day becomes their name day, which is traditionally celebrated. Behind the Name lists a Greek name day on some entries; for Stavroula, for example, it gives September 14.
Spelling is the third thing to plan for. Greek uses its own alphabet, and Latin-letter spellings are transcriptions, so the same Greek name can appear more than one way. Behind the Name lists Eirini as an alternate transcription of Ειρήνη (see Irini), and Aikaterini as an alternate transcription of Αικατερίνη (see Ekaterini). Pick one spelling and use it everywhere.
U.S. paperwork does not always carry accents or special characters, so Greek letters and accent marks may not print on every form. Many families use the Latin-letter spelling on official records and the Greek spelling at church or at home.
Greek Names That Mean Hope, Love, Joy and Light
Many Greek names are simply Greek words for good things. These are some of the most meaningful choices on the page, and most are modern Greek forms of older names.
Name
Greek
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning
Elpida
Ελπίδα
Greek
Modern Greek form of Elpis: “hope”
Agapi
Αγάπη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Agape: “love”
Chara
Χαρά
Greek
“Happiness, joy”
Galini
Γαλήνη
Greek
Modern Greek feminine form of Galen, from galene: “calm”
Eleftheria
Ελευθερία
Greek
Feminine form of Eleftherios (Eleutherios): “free”
Areti
Αρετή
Greek
Modern Greek form of Arete: “virtue”
Xenia
Ξένια
Greek, Spanish, Ancient Greek
“Hospitality”, from xenos: “foreigner, guest”
Eftychia
Ευτυχία
Greek
Modern Greek form of Eutychia; it means “happiness” in Modern Greek
Efthymia
Ευθυμία
Greek
Modern Greek form of Euthymia, the feminine form of Euthymius: “in good spirits, generous”
Glykeria
Γλυκερία
Greek, Late Greek
From Greek glykeros: “sweet”
Fotini
Φωτεινή
Greek
Modern Greek form of Photine, from Greek phos: “light”
Lamprini
Λαμπρινή
Greek
Feminine form of Lampros: “bright, shining, brilliant”
Theofania
Θεοφανία
Greek
Modern Greek form of Theophania, the feminine form of Theophanes: “manifestation of God”
Greek girl names with meanings of hope, love, joy, peace and light, as listed on Behind the Name.
Elpida (“hope”), Agapi (“love”) and Chara (“happiness, joy”) make a lovely trio if you want a name that says exactly what you feel. Galini, “calm”, and Eleftheria, “free”, carry quieter strength. Fotini comes from the Greek word for “light”, and Lamprini means “bright, shining, brilliant”.
Xenia means “hospitality”, from xenos, “foreigner, guest”, which is a warm sense for a name. Eftychia is worth knowing too: its entry says it means “happiness” in Modern Greek. If you are building a shortlist around meaning, our names that mean beautiful and names that mean star lists gather similar picks from many languages.
Greek Nature Names for Girls: Flowers, Gems and Sky
Flowers, precious stones, colors and weather all show up in Greek names. Several of these build on anthos, “flower, blossom”.
Name
Greek
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning
Iris
Ίρις
Greek Mythology, Greek, English and more
“Rainbow”; also the name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow
Irida
Ίριδα
Greek
Greek variant of Iris (“rainbow”), from the genitive form Iridos
Anthi
Ανθή
Greek
Short form of names containing the Greek element anthos: “flower, blossom”
Chrysanthi
Χρυσάνθη
Greek
Modern Greek feminine form of Chrysanthos: “golden flower”
Evanthia
Ευανθία
Greek
Modern Greek feminine form of Euanthia, a variant of Euanthe: “blooming, flowery”
Marianthi
Μαριάνθη
Greek
Combination of Maria and Greek anthos: “flower”
Garyfallia
Γαρυφαλλιά
Greek
“Carnation”
Triantafyllia
Τριανταφυλλιά
Greek
Feminine form of Triantafyllos (“rose”); also the Greek word for “rosebush”
Margarita
Μαργαρίτα
Greek, Spanish, Russian and more
Latin form of Margaret, from Greek margarites: “pearl”
Smaragda
Σμαράγδα
Greek
Feminine form of Smaragdos: “emerald”
Asimina
Ασημίνα
Greek
From Greek asimi: “silver”
Chrysa
Χρύσα
Greek
Variant of Chrysi, the Modern Greek form of Chryse: “golden”
Xanthi
Ξανθή
Greek
Modern Greek form of Xanthe: “yellow, blond, fair-haired”
Avra
Αύρα
Greek
Greek form of Aura, a word ultimately from Greek for “breeze”
Olympia
Ολυμπία
Greek, Slovak
Feminine form of Olympos, from the mountain home of the Greek gods
Nature-themed Greek girl names with the Greek spelling, usage label and meaning from Behind the Name.
The flower names are the richest group. Chrysanthi means “golden flower”, Marianthi joins Maria with anthos, and Evanthia goes back to Euanthe, “blooming, flowery”. Garyfallia means “carnation”, and Triantafyllia is also the Greek word for “rosebush”. For more botanical choices, browse our flower names.
Smaragda (“emerald”), Asimina (“silver”), Chrysa (“golden”) and Margarita (“pearl”) are jewel-like options. Iris means “rainbow”, and its entry lists Greek usage alongside Greek Mythology, where Iris was the goddess of the rainbow. Avra connects to a Greek word for “breeze”. Olympia comes from Olympos, the mountain home of the Greek gods.
Modern Greek Forms of Classical and Myth Names
Many Greek girls today carry names from ancient poetry and myth, but in their modern Greek forms. Behind the Name labels each of these “Greek” (and sometimes Greek Mythology as well), and each meaning below comes from the classical name’s own entry. If you love a mythological name and want the form a Greek grandmother would recognize, start here.
Name
Greek
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning
Kalliopi
Καλλιόπη
Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Kalliope: “beautiful voice”, one of the nine Muses
Kleio
Κλειώ
Greek Mythology, Greek
From Greek kleos: “glory”; the Muse of history and heroic poetry
Ourania
Ουρανία
Greek Mythology, Greek
From Greek ouranios: “heavenly”; the Muse of astronomy and astrology
Thalia
Θάλεια
Greek Mythology (Latinized), Greek
From thallo: “to blossom”; the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry
Efterpi
Ευτέρπη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Euterpe: “delight”, the Muse of music and joy
Melpomeni
Μελπομένη
Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Melpomene, from melpo: “to sing, to celebrate with song”
Ariadni
Αριάδνη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Ariadne: possibly “most holy” (some scholars suggest a pre-Greek origin)
Nefeli
Νεφέλη
Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Nephele, from nephos: “cloud”
Danai
Δανάη
Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Danaë, the feminine form of Danaus
Ilektra
Ηλέκτρα
Greek
Modern Greek form of Elektra (Electra), from elektron: “amber”
Iro
Ηρώ
Greek
Modern Greek form of Hero, from heros: “hero”
Persefoni
Περσεφόνη
Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Persephone; meaning unknown, probably of pre-Greek origin
Afroditi
Αφροδίτη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Aphrodite; meaning unknown, possibly of Phoenician origin
Antigoni
Αντιγόνη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Antigone: from anti, “against, compared to, like”, and gone, “birth, offspring”
Ismini
Ισμήνη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Ismene: possibly from isme, “knowledge”
Polyxeni
Πολυξένη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Polyxena: “entertaining many guests, very hospitable”
Alkmini
Αλκμήνη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Alcmene: alke, “strength, prowess”, plus mene, “moon”, or menis, “wrath”
Nafsika
Ναυσικά
Greek
Modern Greek form of Nausicaa: “burner of ships”
Ifigeneia
Ιφιγένεια
Greek
Modern Greek form of Iphigeneia: iphios, “strong, stout”, and genes, “born”
Kyveli
Κυβέλη
Greek
Modern Greek form of Cybele; meaning unknown, possibly from Phrygian roots meaning “stone” or “hair”
Modern Greek forms of classical names, with the meaning of the original name from Behind the Name.
Six of the nine Muses appear here. Kalliopi (“beautiful voice”), Kleio (“glory”), Ourania (“heavenly”), Thalia (“to blossom”), Efterpi (“delight”) and Melpomeni (the Muse of tragedy, from “to sing”) are all in use as modern Greek names. Nefeli, from the word for “cloud”, and Ariadni, possibly “most holy”, are soft-sounding favorites with English speakers too.
A few names in this table carry meanings that Behind the Name calls unknown: Persefoni and Afroditi among them. For Afroditi, the entry adds that the Greeks connected the goddess’s name with aphros, “foam”, but that is an ancient story about the name, not its proven origin. Nafsika’s meaning, “burner of ships”, surprises many parents; in the Odyssey, Nausicaa is the princess who helps Odysseus on his journey home.
Ancient Greek Names for Girls
These names are labeled “Ancient Greek” on Behind the Name, often alongside English or other modern usages. Many reached English through saints and history.
Name
Greek script
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning
Sophia
Σοφία
English, Greek, German, Dutch, Ancient Greek
“Wisdom” in Greek
Zoe
Ζώη, Ζωή
English, Italian, Spanish, German, Czech, Ancient Greek
“Life” in Greek
Chloe
Χλόη
English, Biblical, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
“Green shoot”, referring to new plant growth in the spring; an epithet of Demeter
Agatha
Ἀγαθή
English, German, Dutch, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Agathe, from Greek agathos: “good”
Agape
Ἀγάπη
Ancient Greek
From Greek agape: “love”
Aspasia
Ἀσπασία
Ancient Greek, Greek
From Greek aspasios: “welcome, embrace”
Doris
Δωρίς
English, German, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology and more
“Dorian woman”; in Greek mythology a sea nymph
Eulalia
Εὐλαλία
Spanish, Italian, English, Ancient Greek and more
From Greek eulalos: “sweetly-speaking”
Euphemia
Εὐφημία
Ancient Greek, English
“To use words of good omen”
Hypatia
Ὑπατία
Ancient Greek
From Greek hypatos: “highest, supreme”; Hypatia of Alexandria was a 5th-century philosopher and mathematician
Isidora
Ἰσιδώρα
Ancient Greek, Spanish, Serbian and more
Feminine form of Isidore, from Isidoros: “gift of Isis”
Melissa
Μέλισσα
English, Dutch, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
“Bee” in Greek
Philomena
Φιλουμένη
English, German, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From Philoumene: “to be loved”
Sappho
Σαπφώ
Ancient Greek
Possibly from Greek sappheiros, “sapphire” or “lapis lazuli”; a 7th-century BC poet from Lesbos
Zenobia
Ζηνοβία
Ancient Greek
“Life of Zeus”; the name of a queen of the Palmyrene Empire
Dorothea
Δωροθέα
German, Dutch, English, Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Dorotheos: “gift of god”
Ancient Greek girl names with the Ancient Greek spelling, usage labels and meaning from Behind the Name.
Sophia (“wisdom”), Zoe (“life”) and Chloe (“green shoot”) are the best-known Ancient Greek names in the English-speaking world. Chloe’s entry says the name refers to new plant growth in the spring and was an epithet of the goddess Demeter.
Hypatia, “highest, supreme”, belonged to a 5th-century philosopher and mathematician from Alexandria. Sappho, possibly from the word for “sapphire”, belonged to a 7th-century BC poet from Lesbos. Zenobia, “life of Zeus”, was the name of a queen of the Palmyrene Empire. Dorothea, “gift of god”, is built from the same two elements as Theodore, in reverse order. Melissa means “bee”, and Agape and Philomena both connect to love.
Names From Greek Mythology: Goddesses, Titans and Nymphs
These names are labeled “Greek Mythology” on Behind the Name. They are names of mythological figures, not modern Greek given names (unless the entry also lists Greek usage, as Artemis’s does). Each myth note is one fact from the entry; many of these stories are complex, so read the full entry before you choose.
Name
Ancient Greek
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning and myth
Athena
Ἀθηνᾶ
Greek Mythology, English
Meaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare and patron goddess of Athens
Artemis
Ἄρτεμις
Greek Mythology, Greek
Meaning unknown, possibly of pre-Greek origin; the Greek goddess of the moon and hunting
Hera
Ἥρα
Greek Mythology
Meaning uncertain, likely of pre-Greek origin; the queen of the gods, who presided over marriage and childbirth
Hestia
Ἑστία
Greek Mythology
“Hearth, fireside”; the goddess of the hearth and domestic activity
Demeter
Δημήτηρ
Greek Mythology
Possibly “earth mother”; the goddess of agriculture and mother of Persephone
Gaia
Γαῖα
Greek Mythology, Italian
From a word meaning “earth”; the mother goddess who presided over the earth
Rhea
Ῥέα
Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology
Meaning unknown, perhaps related to rheo, “to flow”; a Titan and mother of the Olympian gods
Eos
Ἠώς
Greek Mythology
“Dawn”; the Greek goddess of the dawn
Selene
Σελήνη
Greek Mythology
“Moon”; a Greek goddess of the moon, a Titan
Phoebe
Φοίβη
English, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Biblical
From Phoibe: “bright, pure”; a Titan associated with the moon
Daphne
Δάφνη
Greek Mythology, English, Dutch
“Laurel”; a nymph turned into a laurel tree
Penelope
Πηνελόπη
Greek Mythology, English
Probably from penelops, a type of duck, or possibly “threads, weft” plus “face, eye”; the wife of Odysseus in the Odyssey
Andromeda
Ἀνδρομέδα, Ἀνδρομέδη
Greek Mythology
From aner, “man”, plus a word meaning “to be mindful of” or “to protect, to rule over”; an Ethiopian princess rescued by Perseus
Cassandra
Κασσάνδρα
English, French, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Possibly “to excel, to surpass” plus “man”; a Trojan princess
Harmonia
Ἁρμονία
Greek Mythology
“Harmony, agreement”; the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite
Psyche
Ψυχή
Greek Mythology
“The soul”; a maiden beloved by Eros
Althea
Ἀλθαία
Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Perhaps related to althos, “healing”; the mother of Meleager
“Woman from Cynthus”; an epithet of the moon goddess Artemis
Cora
Κόρη
English, German, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Kore (“maiden”), another name for Persephone
Ianthe
Ἰάνθη
Greek Mythology
“Violet flower”; an ocean nymph
Ione
Ἰόνη
Greek Mythology, English, Portuguese
From ion, “violet flower”; a sea nymph
Themis
Θέμις
Greek Mythology
“Law of nature, divine law, custom”; a Titan who presided over custom and natural law
Hebe
Ἥβη
Greek Mythology
“Youth”; the goddess of youth and cupbearer to the gods
Maia
Μαῖα
Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology, Portuguese, Georgian
“Good mother, dame, foster mother”; the eldest of the Pleiades
Greek mythology girl names with the Ancient Greek spelling, usage labels, meaning and one myth fact from each Behind the Name entry.
Moon lovers have plenty to choose from. Selene means “moon” and was a goddess of the moon; Artemis was the goddess of the moon and hunting; Phoebe was a Titan associated with the moon; and Cynthia was an epithet of Artemis. See our names that mean moon for more. Eos means “dawn”, and Gaia comes from a word meaning “earth”.
Be honest with yourself about the stories. Athena’s and Rhea’s meanings are unknown, Hera’s is uncertain, and some myths behind lovely names are sad or violent. Hestia (“hearth, fireside”), Harmonia (“harmony, agreement”), Hebe (“youth”) and Themis (“law of nature, divine law, custom”) have gentler associations. Ianthe and Ione both connect to violets.
Greek Nicknames, Names That Travel Well and Pairings
Greek families use many diminutives, and several are full names in their own right. These are the ones Behind the Name lists with Greek usage.
Name
Greek
Usage (per Behind the Name)
Meaning
Voula
Βούλα
Greek
Diminutive of Paraskevi
Evi
Εύη
Greek, Dutch, German
Greek diminutive of Paraskevi and of names beginning with Ev
Fani
Φανή
Greek
Short form of Theofania or Stefania
Kiki
Κική
Greek, English, German, Dutch
Diminutive of names beginning with or containing the sound K
Natasa
Νατάσα
Greek
Greek diminutive of Anastasia
Stella
Στέλλα
Greek
Diminutive of Styliani, with the spelling influenced by the name Stella
Dora
Ντόρα
Greek, Italian, Spanish, English and more
Short form of Dorothy, Theodora or Isidora
Keti
Καίτη
Greek
Diminutive of Ekaterini
Marika
Μαρίκα
Greek, Czech, Hungarian, Finnish and more
Diminutive of Maria and other names beginning with Mari
Tasoula
Τασούλα
Greek
Greek diminutive of Anastasia
Vaso
Βάσω
Greek
Diminutive of Vasiliki or Vasileia
Lena
Λένα
Greek, Swedish, German, Russian and more
Short form of names ending in lena, such as Helena
Greek nicknames and short forms for girls, as listed on Behind the Name.
Notice that one nickname can come from several names: Evi is a diminutive of Paraskevi and of names beginning with Ev, and Fani is a short form of Theofania or Stefania. Stella, in its Greek entry, is a diminutive of Styliani.
Names that travel well in English. Our picks, all from the tables above: Sofia, Zoe, Chloe, Georgia, Christina, Alexandra, Theodora, Anastasia, Marina, Melina, Iris, Thalia, Xenia, Daphne, Penelope, Phoebe, Cora, Althea, Eva and Lena. These are spelled and pronounced in ways most English speakers already know. That is our impression, not a statistic.
Sibling and middle-name pairings. Ideas within this list, not traditions: Eleni Sofia, Zoi Marina, Ariadni Eleni, Theodora Iris, Daphne Elpida and Chloe Anastasia. Sisters can share a theme without matching: Elpida and Agapi (hope and love), Anthi and Chrysanthi (flower names), or Kalliopi and Ourania (two Muses). For a brother, pair a sister’s name with one from our Greek boy names list; Theodora and Theodore share a meaning, for example. If you want more rare options from other cultures, see our unique girl names and Russian girl names.
How to Pronounce Greek Names for Girls
Behind the Name prints pronunciations in the International Phonetic Alphabet. In that system, ˈ comes before the stressed syllable. The table gives the pronunciation shown on the entry for a sample of names; where the entry gives several, we list the Greek one.
Name
Pronunciation given by Behind the Name
Eleni
/e.ˈle.ni/
Aikaterini
/e.ka.te.ˈri.ni/
Eirini
/i.ˈri.ni/
Vasiliki
/va.si.li.ˈci/
Angeliki
/aŋ.ɟe.li.ˈci/
Dimitra
/ˈði.mi.tɾa/
Georgia
/ʝe.oɾ.ˈʝi.a/ (Greek)
Christina
/xɾi.ˈsti.na/ (Greek)
Theodora
/θe.o.ˈðo.ɾa/ (Greek)
Sofia
/sɔ.ˈfi.a/ (Greek)
Zoi
/zo.ˈi/
Areti
/a.ɾe.ˈti/
Kalliopi
/ka.ˈʎo.pi/
Stavroula
/sta.ˈvɾu.la/
Konstantina
/kon.stan.ˈdi.na/
Despoina
/ˈðe.spi.na/ (Greek)
Pronunciations as printed on each name’s Behind the Name entry.
A few patterns help. Stress often falls late: Vasiliki and Angeliki are stressed on the last syllable, and so is Zoi (zo-EE). Greek letter pairs do not always sound the way English readers expect: the entry for Aikaterini begins with an “e” sound, and Eirini begins with an “ee” sound. The Greek pronunciation of Georgia is quite different from the English one, and Dimitra begins with the “th” sound of English “this”.
The best way to learn a name is to hear a Greek speaker say it, then practice it slowly with your surname.
Greek girl names range from saints’ names that run through families, such as Maria, Eleni and Vasiliki, to word names with clear meanings, such as Elpida (“hope”) and Chara (“joy”), to Ancient Greek names such as Sophia and Zoe and mythological names such as Athena and Selene. Decide first whether you want a modern Greek form, an ancient form or a name from myth, then read the full entry for any name you shortlist so you know every sense it carries.
If you have Greek family, ask which names belong to grandparents and whose name days matter. Then say each name with your surname a few times, and pick the one that feels like your daughter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Greek girl names?
Classic Greek girl names that appear across generations include Maria, Eleni, Aikaterini, Vasiliki, Georgia, Dimitra, Ioanna and Eirini. Many are tied to saints and to Greek naming customs that honor grandparents. Sofia is also widely loved and, in the United States, ranked No. 9 for girls born in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration.
What Greek girl name means light?
Fotini is the modern Greek form of Photine, which comes from the Greek word phos, meaning light. Lamprini means bright, shining or brilliant, and Loukia, the Greek form of Lucia, connects to the Latin word for light. Phoebe, a name from Greek mythology, means bright or pure, and Phoebe was a Titan associated with the moon.
What Greek name means hope?
Elpida is the modern Greek form of Elpis, which means hope in Greek. In Greek mythology Elpis was the personification of hope. Elpida pairs naturally with other virtue names on this list, such as Agapi, meaning love, and Chara, meaning happiness or joy, if you want sisters’ names that share a theme.
What are some Greek goddess names for girls?
Greek goddess names include Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare; Artemis, goddess of the moon and hunting; Hera, queen of the gods; Hestia, goddess of the hearth; Demeter, goddess of agriculture; Selene, a moon goddess; Eos, goddess of the dawn; and Hebe, goddess of youth. Behind the Name labels these Greek Mythology names.
What does Sofia mean in Greek?
Sofia is a form of Sophia, which means wisdom in Greek. Behind the Name lists Sofia with Greek usage and the Greek spelling Σοφία, and lists Sophia with English, Greek, German, Dutch and Ancient Greek usage. In the United States, Sophia ranked No. 5 and Sofia No. 9 for girls born in 2025.
What is a unique Greek girl name?
Unique Greek girl names on this list include Myrto, meaning myrtle; Nefeli, from the word for cloud; Garyfallia, meaning carnation; Asimina, from the word for silver; Glykeria, meaning sweet; and Kleio, from the word for glory. Ancient names such as Hypatia, meaning highest or supreme, and mythology names such as Ianthe, meaning violet flower, are also uncommon.
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