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Greek boy names: 160+ Greek male names with meanings and origins

170 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Greek boy names include modern favorites like Giorgos, Nikolaos and Alexandros, and Greek mythology boy names such as Iason (Jason), Hector and Helios. Most Greek male names carry meanings that go back thousands of years: Nikolaos means victory of the people and Alexandros means defender of men.

Below are 160+ real Greek male names with their meanings, origins and, for most, pronunciation tips. Sections cover the names most used in Greece today, male gods and Titans, heroes and kings of myth, ancient philosophers and statesmen, biblical and saints' names, the everyday nicknames Greek men go by and nature names.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Christodoulos

    Servant of Christ; Greek. Say hree-STO-thoo-los

  • Proteus

    First; Greek. Shape-shifting old man of the sea. Say PRO-tee-us

  • Timon

    Honor; Greek. Say TEE-mon

  • Vangelis

    Bearer of good news; Greek, short for Evangelos. Say vahn-GEH-lees

  • Dimitris

    Devoted to Demeter; Greek, the everyday form of Dimitrios. Say thee-MEE-trees

  • Neoptolemos

    New war; Greek. Son of Achilles, called to end the Trojan War

Greek name tools

Build an ancient Greek name from two meaningful parts and write it the way Athenians did, with the father's name and the deme or city. Then see any modern surname in its man's and woman's forms, what its ending says, and the name days of common names.

An ancient name

Theodoros Kleiniou Skambonides

Theodoros, son of Kleinias, of the deme Skambonidai

Theo- from theos, god; -doros from doron, gift. A name found in ancient sources.

The father's name goes in the genitive, by the usual Attic endings (Kleinias, Kleiniou). Women were usually named as the daughter or wife of a man. Gods' own names were not normally given to people before Roman times.

A modern surname, for a man and a woman

A man
Papadopoulos
A woman
Papadopoulou
Papa- marks a priest in the family.
-opoulos means descendant of and comes from the Peloponnese.

A woman's surname is the genitive, of the family: -os becomes -ou, -is becomes -i, -as becomes -a, and -ou stays.

Name days

  • Ioannis · Ιωάννης7 JanuaryEveryday: Giannis, Yannis
  • Georgios23 April, or Easter Monday when it falls in Lent or Holy WeekEveryday: Giorgos (Γιώργος)
  • Konstantinos · Κωνσταντίνος21 MayEveryday: Kostas
  • Eleni · Ελένη21 MayEveryday: Lena
  • Maria · Μαρία15 AugustEveryday: Marika
  • Paraskevi · Παρασκευή26 JulyEveryday: Voula, Evi
  • Sofia · Σοφία17 September
  • Dimitrios · Δημήτριος26 OctoberEveryday: Dimitris, Dimos
  • Aikaterini · Αικατερίνη25 NovemberEveryday: Katerina, Keti
  • Nikolaos · Νικόλαος6 DecemberEveryday: Nikos
  • Christos, ChristinaChristmas
  • Vasilis, Vasiliki1 January, St Basil's day
  • Anastasios, AnastasiaEaster, so the date moves each yearEveryday: Natasa (Anastasia)
Want endless ideas? Try the greek name generator and generate new names in one click.

Male Greek god names

Gods, Titans and primordial powers of Greek mythology. Where a meaning is uncertain, the note says so.

  1. Zeus: Sky, shine; Greek, from an ancient root. King of the Olympian gods
  2. Helios: Sun; Greek. Titan god of the sun. Say HEE-lee-os
  3. Eros: Love; Greek. God of love and desire
  4. Hyperion: Over, above; Greek. Titan of heavenly light. Say hy-PEER-ee-on
  5. Prometheus: Forethought; Greek. The Titan who stole fire for humankind
  6. Epimetheus: Hindsight; Greek. Titan brother of Prometheus
  7. Morpheus: Shape, form; Greek. God of dreams. Say MOR-fee-us
  8. Hypnos: Sleep; Greek. God of sleep
  9. Chronos: Time; Greek. Personification of time
  10. Ouranos: Heavens; Greek. Primordial god of the sky. Say oo-rah-NOS
  11. Aether: Ether, heaven; Greek. Primordial god of the bright upper air
  12. Kratos: Power, strength; Greek. The god who personifies strength, and the hero of the God of War games
  13. Zephyros: West wind; Greek. God of the gentle spring breeze. Say ZEF-ih-ros
  14. Boreas: North wind; Greek. God of winter's cold blasts. Say BOR-ee-as
  15. Aeolus: Quick-moving, nimble; Greek. Keeper of the winds. Say EE-o-lus
  16. Proteus: First; Greek. Shape-shifting old man of the sea. Say PRO-tee-us
  17. Phoebus: Bright; Greek. A title of Apollo, god of light. Say FEE-bus
  18. Ploutos: Wealth; Greek. God of riches, son of Demeter. Say PLOO-tos
  19. Pontos: Sea; Greek. Primordial god of the deep sea. Say PON-tos
  20. Hesperos: Evening; Greek. God of the evening star. Say HES-peh-ros
  21. Phosphoros: Light-bringer; Greek. God of the morning star. Say FOS-fo-ros
  22. Euros: East wind; Greek. Brother of Zephyros and Boreas. Say YOO-ros
  23. Astraios: Starry; Greek. Titan of dusk and father of the winds
  24. Oneiros: Dream; Greek. The dream spirit Zeus sends in the Iliad
  25. Erebos: Nether darkness; Greek. Primordial god of deep shadow. Say EH-reh-bos
  26. Glaukos: Bluish gray; Greek. A fisherman who became a sea god
  27. Zelos: Zeal, rivalry; Greek. Brother of Kratos and Nike
  28. Aion: Age, eternity; Greek. God of unending time. Say eye-ON
  29. Kairos: The right moment; Greek. God of opportunity. Say KAI-ros
  30. Aristaios: Best; Greek. Minor god of farming, beekeeping and herds
  31. Atlas US #75: Possibly enduring; Greek. The Titan who holds up the sky; No. 75 in the US in 2025
  32. Ares US #290: Perhaps ruin, or male; Greek. The Olympian god of war. Say AIR-eez
  33. Apollo US #445: Meaning unknown; Greek. The Olympian god of music, prophecy and light

Male Greek mythology names: heroes and kings

Heroes, kings and legendary figures, in the spelling English readers know. Many of their meanings are uncertain, and the notes say so.

  1. Iraklis: Glory of Hera; Greek, the modern form of Heracles. Say ee-rah-KLEES
  2. Iason: Healer; Greek, Jason in English. Leader of the Argonauts. Say ee-AH-son
  3. Hector US #409: Holding fast; Greek. The Trojan prince of the Iliad
  4. Orestis: Of the mountains; Greek. Son of Agamemnon. Say o-REH-stees
  5. Tilemachos: Fighting from afar; Greek. Son of Odysseus. Say tee-LEH-mah-hos
  6. Patroklos: Glory of the father; Greek. Achilles' closest companion. Say PAH-tro-klos
  7. Nestor: Homecomer; Greek. The wise old king in the Iliad
  8. Leandros: Lion man; Greek. Swam the Hellespont nightly to see Hero. Say LEH-ahn-dros
  9. Adonis US #241: Lord; Phoenician adon. A youth loved by Aphrodite
  10. Daedalus: Cunning worker; Greek. The inventor who built the Labyrinth. Say DED-ah-lus
  11. Linos: Flax; Greek. A legendary musician who taught Heracles
  12. Phaethon: Shining; Greek. Son of Helios who drove the sun chariot. Say FAY-eh-thon
  13. Admetos: Untamed; Greek. A king whom Apollo served as herdsman
  14. Agenor: Very manly, heroic; Greek. King of Tyre and father of Europa
  15. Lykos: Wolf; Greek. Several kings in myth bore it. Say LEE-kos
  16. Evandros: Good man; Greek. An Arcadian hero who settled in Italy
  17. Hippolytos: Freer of horses; Greek. Son of Theseus in Euripides' tragedy
  18. Neoptolemos: New war; Greek. Son of Achilles, called to end the Trojan War
  19. Diomedes: Cunning of Zeus; Greek. Hero who stole the Palladium with Odysseus
  20. Hyakinthos: Hyacinth flower; Greek. Prince loved by Apollo, reborn as a bloom
  21. Kreon: Ruler, king; Greek. King of Thebes in the Oedipus plays
  22. Orion US #334: Meaning uncertain, perhaps boundary; Greek. The hunter set among the stars
  23. Achilles: Meaning uncertain; Greek. The greatest warrior of the Iliad. Say uh-KIL-eez
  24. Odysseus: Meaning unknown; Greek. The wandering hero of the Odyssey. Say oh-DIS-ee-us
  25. Perseus: Possibly destroyer; Greek. The hero who beheaded Medusa. Say PUR-see-us
  26. Theseus: Possibly to set, to place; Greek. The hero who killed the Minotaur. Say THEE-see-us

Ancient Greek male names

Names of philosophers, statesmen and writers, in the spelling English readers know or the modern Greek form.

  1. Periklis: Exceedingly glorious; Greek. Athens' great statesman Pericles. Say peh-ree-KLEES
  2. Sokratis: Whole, unwounded power; Greek. The philosopher Socrates. Say so-KRAH-tees
  3. Platon: Broad-shouldered; Greek. The philosopher Plato. Say PLAH-ton
  4. Aristotelis: Best purpose; Greek. The philosopher Aristotle. Say ah-ree-sto-TEH-lees
  5. Leonidas US #510: Son of the lion; Greek. Sparta's king at Thermopylae. Say leh-o-NEE-thas
  6. Themistoklis: Glory of the law; Greek. The Athenian general at Salamis
  7. Dimosthenis: Strength of the people; Greek. Athens' greatest orator
  8. Ippokratis: Horse power; Greek. Hippocrates, the father of medicine
  9. Sofoklis: Glory of wisdom; Greek. Sophocles, the tragic playwright
  10. Xenofon: Foreign voice; Greek. Xenophon, historian and soldier. Say kseh-no-FON
  11. Diogenes: Born of Zeus; Greek. The Cynic philosopher who lived in a jar
  12. Herodotus: Gift of Hera; Greek. The father of history
  13. Euclid: Good glory; Greek. The geometer of Alexandria
  14. Lysandros: Liberator of men; Greek. Lysander, the Spartan admiral
  15. Ptolemaios: Warlike; Greek. Name of Egypt's Greek kings, the Ptolemies
  16. Aristidis: Son of the best; Greek. Aristides the Just of Athens
  17. Zinon: Of Zeus; Greek. Zeno, founder of Stoic philosophy. Say ZEE-non
  18. Agathon: Good; Greek. A tragic poet in Plato's Symposium
  19. Timon: Honor; Greek. Say TEE-mon
  20. Damon US #501: To tame; Greek. Pythias's loyal friend in legend
  21. Isidoros: Gift of Isis; Greek. Say ee-SEE-tho-ros
  22. Thrasyvoulos: Bold counsel; Greek. Thrasybulus restored democracy to Athens

Biblical names in Greek

Apostles and biblical figures in the Greek forms used in church and at home.

  1. Matthaios: Gift of God; Hebrew, the Greek Matthew. Say mah-THEH-os
  2. Loukas: Probably man from Lucania; Greek, the Greek Luke. Say loo-KAHS
  3. Iakovos: Supplanter, holder of the heel; Hebrew, the Greek Jacob. Say ee-AH-ko-vos
  4. Iosif: He will add; Hebrew, the Greek Joseph. Say ee-o-SEEF
  5. Gavriil: God is my strong man; Hebrew, the Greek Gabriel. Say gahv-ree-EEL
  6. Rafail: God heals; Hebrew, the Greek Raphael. Say rah-fah-EEL
  7. Andreas: Manly, brave; Greek. The apostle Andrew, patron of Patras. Say ahn-DREH-ahs
  8. Pavlos: Small, humble; Latin, the Greek Paul. Say PAHV-los
  9. Filippos: Lover of horses; Greek. Say FEE-lee-pos
  10. Stefanos: Crown, garland; Greek. Say STEH-fah-nos
  11. Timotheos: Honoring God; Greek, the Greek Timothy. Say tee-MO-theh-os
  12. Theofilos: Friend of God; Greek. Luke's Gospel is addressed to a Theophilus
  13. Thomas US #34: A twin; Aramaic. Greeks say tho-MAHS

Greek Orthodox saints' names

Church names honored on Orthodox feast days, the source of most Greek name days.

  1. Nektarios: Nectar, drink of the gods; Greek. A much-loved modern saint of Aegina
  2. Chrysostomos: Golden mouth; Greek. Title of Saint John, the great preacher
  3. Polykarpos: Much fruit; Greek. Saint Polycarp of Smyrna
  4. Kyrillos: Lordly; Greek. Saint Cyril, who gave the Cyrillic alphabet its name
  5. Grigorios: Watchful, alert; Greek. Say gree-GO-ree-os
  6. Gerasimos: Honor, gift; Greek. Patron saint of Kefalonia. Say yeh-RAH-see-mos
  7. Panteleimon: All-compassionate; Greek. A healer saint. Say pahn-deh-leh-EE-mon
  8. Kosmas: Order, decency; Greek. A physician saint, honored with Damianos
  9. Damianos: To tame; Greek. A physician saint, honored with Kosmas
  10. Christoforos: Bearer of Christ; Greek. Say hree-STO-fo-ros
  11. Nikiforos: Bearing victory; Greek. Say nee-kee-FO-ros
  12. Sotirios: Savior, deliverer; Greek. Say so-TEE-ree-os
  13. Stylianos: A pillar; Greek. Its saint protects children. Say stee-lee-ah-NOS
  14. Efstathios: Steadfast, well established; Greek. Say ef-STAH-thee-os
  15. Kyriakos: Of the Lord; Greek. Say kee-ree-AH-kos
  16. Prodromos: Forerunner; Greek. A title of John the Baptist. Say PRO-thro-mos
  17. Paschalis: Of Easter; Late Latin, from Pascha. Say pahs-HAH-lees
  18. Anestis: Risen; Greek, the word heard in the Easter greeting Christos anesti. Say ah-NEH-stees
  19. Theofanis: Manifestation of God; Greek, linked to Epiphany. Say theh-o-FAH-nees
  20. Christodoulos: Servant of Christ; Greek. Say hree-STO-thoo-los

Greek men's names: everyday nicknames

The everyday short forms most Greek men actually go by.

  1. Giorgos: Farmer, earth worker; Greek, the everyday form of Georgios. Say YOR-gos
  2. Giannis: God is gracious; Hebrew, the everyday form of Ioannis. Say YAH-nees
  3. Kostas: Steadfast, constant; Latin, short for Konstantinos. Say KOS-tahs
  4. Dimitris: Devoted to Demeter; Greek, the everyday form of Dimitrios. Say thee-MEE-trees
  5. Nikos: Victory of the people; Greek, short for Nikolaos. Say NEE-kos
  6. Thanasis: Immortal one; Greek, short for Athanasios. Say thah-NAH-sees
  7. Panos: All holy; Greek, short for Panagiotis. Say PAH-nos
  8. Babis: Shining with joy; Greek, a pet form of Charalambos. Say BAH-bees
  9. Manolis: God with us; Hebrew, short for Emmanouil. Say mah-NO-lees
  10. Stelios: A pillar; Greek, short for Stylianos. Say STEH-lee-os
  11. Lefteris: Free; Greek, short for Eleftherios. Say lef-TEH-rees
  12. Tasos: Resurrection, rising again; Greek, short for Anastasios. Say TAH-sos
  13. Vangelis: Bearer of good news; Greek, short for Evangelos. Say vahn-GEH-lees
  14. Stathis: Steadfast, well established; Greek, short for Efstathios. Say STAH-thees
  15. Thodoris: Gift of God; Greek, short for Theodoros. Say tho-tho-REES
  16. Pantelis: All-compassionate; Greek, short for Panteleimon. Say pahn-deh-LEES
  17. Michalis: Who is like God? Hebrew, the everyday form of Michail. Say mee-HAH-lees
  18. Vasilis: Royal, kingly; Greek, the everyday form of Vasileios. Say vah-SEE-lees
  19. Alekos: Defender of men; Greek, a pet form of Alexandros. Say ah-LEH-kos
  20. Sotiris: Savior, deliverer; Greek, short for Sotirios. Say so-TEE-rees

Greek nature and meaning names for boys

Names that are also Greek words for light, silver, flowers, freedom and joy.

  1. Lampros: Bright, shining; Greek, also linked to Easter. Say LAHM-bros
  2. Argyris: Silver; Greek, from argyros. Say ar-YEE-rees
  3. Chrysanthos: Golden flower; Greek. Say HREE-sahn-thos
  4. Diamantis: Diamond; Greek. Say thee-ah-mahn-DEES
  5. Triantafyllos: Rose; Greek, from a word meaning thirty leaves
  6. Anthimos: Blooming, flowery; Greek, from anthos, flower. Say AHN-thee-mos
  7. Adamantios: Unbreakable; Greek, from adamas. Say ah-thah-MAHN-dee-os
  8. Polychronis: Long-lived; Greek, from poly and chronos. Say po-lee-HRO-nees
  9. Eleftherios: Free; Greek. Lefteris for short. Say eh-lef-THEH-ree-os
  10. Agapios: Love; Greek, from agape. Say ah-GAH-pee-os
  11. Efthymios: Cheerful, in good spirits; Greek. Say ef-THEE-mee-os
  12. Akakios: Innocent; Greek, literally not evil. Say ah-KAH-kee-os
  13. Fotios: Light, radiant; Greek, from phos, light. Say FO-tee-os
  14. Leon US #138: Lion; Greek. Say LEH-on
  15. Evgenios: Well born; Greek, the Greek Eugene. Say ev-YEH-nee-os

How to pick the right name

Choose the formal or everyday form

Greek boys usually have a long formal name and a short everyday one: Georgios and Giorgos, Konstantinos and Kostas. Decide which one you want on the birth certificate and which one at the dinner table.

Follow or adapt tradition

Many Greek families name the first son after the paternal grandfather. If you are honoring someone, the formal church name is the usual choice.

Check the stressed syllable

Each Greek name has one stressed syllable: Nikolaos is nee-KO-lah-os and Christos is HREES-tos. Getting the stress right makes the name sound Greek.

Pick a myth with care

Hero names like Iason and Orestis are easy to wear, while god names like Zeus or Kratos are bold statements. Choose the level of drama you want.

Greek boy names: 170 ideas from Nomezo

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Greek boy names in Greece and in the US: two forms, a name day, and a grandfather

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

A Greek boy usually has two names in one: a formal church name on his papers, Georgios, and an everyday form at home, Giorgos. By tradition the first son is named after his father's father and the second after his mother's father, and every name has a saint's day that is celebrated much like a birthday.

In the US the English form usually wins. Theodore was the No. 4 US boys' name in 2025, while 29 boys got Theodoros. The tools above show a name's everyday form and name day and how Greek names are built.

  1. Step 1Choose the formFormal Theodoros, everyday Thodoris, or English Theodore.
  2. Step 2Find the name dayMost Greek names have a saint's day to celebrate.
  3. Step 3Check the meaningMany myth names have no known meaning; the notes say so.
  4. Step 4Mind the family traditionFirst son after the paternal grandfather, second after the maternal.

Greek form or English form?

Greek names and their English forms in the US, 2025
Greek formUS boysEnglish formUS rank
Theodoros29Theodore#4
Loukas39Lucas#10
Ilias60Elias#13
Alexandros49Alexander#30
Andreas154Andrew#73
Nikolaos51Nicholas#112
Georgios32George#126
Petros9Peter#187

Source: US Social Security Administration, 2025 data. Greek passports romanize names with one official system, ELOT 743, so a passport can spell a name differently from the family's usual English spelling (Wikipedia).

Myth names in the US

American parents pick a few mythology names much more than others. Atlas climbed from No. 188 in 2020 to No. 75 in 2025.

Greek mythology names for US boys, 2025
NameUS rankMeaning
Atlas#75Possibly enduring
Ares#290Perhaps ruin, or male
Orion#334Uncertain
Apollo#445Unknown
Perseus168 boysPossibly destroyer
Achilles151 boysUncertain
Odysseus44 boysUnknown

Sources: US Social Security Administration; meanings from Behind the Name (Apollo, Orion, Perseus).

How Greek boys are named

  • After the grandfathers. There is a strong tradition of naming the first and second sons after the paternal and maternal grandfathers. It is partly challenged in the cities but still practiced in much of the country (Wikipedia).
  • Two forms of one name. The formal form is used on official papers; the short or everyday form is used in daily life (Wikipedia). The everyday nicknames section above pairs them.
  • Georgios first. Georgios was the most common name for Greek boys in every birth year from 1940 to 2021, according to ELSTAT's 2021 census, as reported by in.gr (in.gr, in Greek).
  • Gods were not names. Before the Roman period, Greeks did not normally bear exactly the same names as gods. They used names built from them: Dionysios, belonging to Dionysos, or Theodoros, gift of god (Wikipedia). Zeus and Apollo as first names are a modern choice.
  • Name days. Every day of the Orthodox calendar honors at least one saint, and people with that saint's name celebrate (Wikipedia): Giannis on January 7, Konstantinos on May 21, Dimitrios on October 26 and Nikolaos on December 6.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common Greek boy name?

Georgios has been the most common name for Greek boys in every birth year from 1940 to 2021, according to ELSTAT's 2021 census data. Konstantinos, Ioannis and Dimitrios trade second to fourth place, with Nikolaos next.

What are male Greek god names?

The male Olympian gods are Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus and Dionysus, and Hades rules the underworld. American parents use Atlas, Ares and Apollo most: Atlas was No. 75 for US boys in 2025. Many god names have uncertain meanings, and the notes on this page say which.

Why do Greek men have so many nicknames?

Long church names are shortened in daily life: Georgios becomes Giorgos, Konstantinos becomes Kostas and Charalambos becomes Babis. The short form is often what everyone actually uses.

How are Greek boys traditionally named?

By tradition, the first son is named after his paternal grandfather and the second after his maternal grandfather. Name days on the Orthodox calendar are celebrated much like birthdays.

What Greek boy names mean strong?

Kratos means power and strength, Andreas means manly and brave, and Adamantios means unbreakable. Leonidas, son of the lion, was the name of Sparta's famous king.

Did ancient Greeks name boys after gods?

Not exactly. Before the Roman period it was not normal for Greeks to bear the same names as gods; they used names derived from them, such as Dionysios (belonging to Dionysos) or Theodoros (gift of god).

Which Greek boy names are popular in the US?

Mostly in their English forms: Theodore (No. 4 in 2025), Lucas (No. 10), Elias (No. 13) and Alexander (No. 30). Of the myth names, Atlas is highest at No. 75. Greek forms like Theodoros and Georgios went to about 30 boys each.

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