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Greek girl names: 180+ female Greek names from mythology and history, with meanings

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

Greek girl names include modern classics like Sofia, Eirini and Zoi, and female Greek mythology names such as Ariadne, Calliope and Selene. Many carry clear, lovely meanings: Eirini means peace, Zoi means life and Selene means moon.

Below are 180+ real Greek female names with their meanings and origins, most with pronunciation tips. Sections cover the names most used in Greece today, traditional Greek women's names, goddesses and Titans, Muses and nymphs, heroines, Fates and spirits of myth, ancient Greek female names, virtue names and nature names.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Dione

    Of Zeus; Greek. A goddess worshiped with Zeus at Dodona

  • Zoi

    Life; Greek, the modern spelling of Zoe. Say zo-EE

  • Despina

    Lady, mistress; Greek, Despoina in full. Say DHES-pee-nah

  • Elpiniki

    Hope and victory; Greek. Say el-pee-NEE-kee

  • Glykeria

    Sweet; Greek. Say glee-keh-REE-ah

  • Smaragda

    Emerald; Greek. Say smah-RAHG-dhah

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

Theodora Kleiniou

Theodora, daughter of Kleinias

Theo- from theos, god; -dora 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.

Traditional Greek women's names

Names you will meet among Greek mothers, aunts and grandmothers, many honoring saints of the Orthodox Church.

  1. Efthymia: In good spirits, cheerful; Greek. Say ef-thee-MEE-ah
  2. Styliani Greece #26: Pillar; Greek, a feminine form of Stylianos. Say stee-lee-ah-NEE
  3. Magdalini: Woman of Magdala, a village whose name meant tower; Aramaic
  4. Nektaria: Nectar, the drink of the gods; Greek. Say nek-tah-REE-ah
  5. Chrysoula: Little golden one; Greek, from chrysos, gold. Say hree-SOO-lah
  6. Anthoula: Little flower; Greek, from anthos. Say ahn-THOO-lah
  7. Kalliopi: Beautiful voice; Greek, the modern form of Calliope. Popi for short
  8. Efthalia: Flourishing, in bloom; Greek. Say ef-thah-LEE-ah
  9. Dionysia: Of Dionysus; Greek, a feminine form of Dionysios
  10. Asimina: Silver; Greek, from asimi. Say ah-see-MEE-nah
  11. Evdoxia: Good repute; Greek, the modern form of Eudoxia. Say ev-dhoh-KSEE-ah
  12. Ermioni: From Hermes; Greek, the modern form of Hermione. Say er-mee-OH-nee
  13. Andriana: Manly, brave; Greek, a feminine form of Andreas
  14. Theopisti: Faithful to God; Greek. Say theh-oh-PEE-stee
  15. Chrysa: Golden one; Greek, from chrysos, gold. Say HREE-sah
  16. Stavroula: The cross; Greek, a feminine form of Stavros. Say stahv-ROO-lah
  17. Kyriaki: Of the Lord, Sunday; Greek. Say kee-ree-ah-KEE
  18. Effrosyni: Joy, mirth; Greek, after one of the three Graces. Say ef-ro-SEE-nee
  19. Niki: Victory; Greek, the modern form of Nike. Say NEE-kee
  20. Varvara: Foreign woman; Greek, the Greek Barbara. Say var-VAH-rah
  21. Margarita: Pearl; Greek. Say mar-gah-REE-tah

Greek goddess names for girls

Goddesses and Titans of Greek myth. Some of the best known, like Athena and Artemis, have no known meaning, and the notes say so.

  1. Hestia: Hearth, fireside; Greek. Goddess of the home and family fire
  2. Selene US #623: Moon; Greek. Titan goddess of the moon, Selini in modern Greek
  3. Eos: Dawn; Greek. The rosy-fingered goddess of the dawn
  4. Gaia: Earth; Greek. The primordial mother of all life
  5. Nike: Victory; Greek. The winged goddess of victory. Say NEE-kay
  6. Iris US #61: Rainbow; Greek. Goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods
  7. Harmonia: Harmony; Greek. Goddess of harmony and concord
  8. Themis: Natural law, custom; Greek. Titan of divine order and justice
  9. Tyche: Luck, fortune; Greek. Goddess of fortune. Say TY-kee
  10. Nyx: Night; Greek. Primordial goddess of the night. Say NIKS
  11. Hemera: Day; Greek. Primordial goddess of daylight. Say HEM-eh-rah
  12. Phoebe US #157: Bright, pure; Greek. A Titan linked to prophecy. Say FEE-bee
  13. Metis: Wisdom, skill; Greek. Titan of wise counsel and mother of Athena
  14. Mnemosyne: Remembrance; Greek. Titan of memory, mother of the Muses. Say nem-OSS-ih-nee
  15. Theia: Possibly goddess; Greek. Titan of shining light, mother of Helios. Say THEE-ah
  16. Asteria: Starry; Greek. A Titan goddess linked to the stars
  17. Astraea: Star; Greek. The star maiden of justice, linked to Virgo
  18. Dione: Of Zeus; Greek. A goddess worshiped with Zeus at Dodona
  19. Kore: Maiden; Greek. A title of Persephone, queen of the underworld
  20. Eunomia: Good order; Greek. One of the Horae, goddesses of the seasons
  21. Chloris: Pale green; Greek. A nymph-goddess of flowers and spring
  22. Delia: Of Delos; Greek. A name for Artemis, born on Delos
  23. Cynthia: Woman from Cynthus; Greek. A name for Artemis, after her birthplace mountain
  24. Athena US #109: Meaning unknown; Greek. Goddess of wisdom and war, patron of Athens. Say ah-THEE-nah
  25. Artemis: Meaning unknown, possibly pre-Greek. Goddess of the hunt and the moon, twin of Apollo
  26. Aphrodite: Meaning unknown, possibly Phoenician. Goddess of love and beauty, the Roman Venus
  27. Persephone US #735: Meaning unknown, probably pre-Greek. Queen of the underworld and goddess of spring. Say per-SEF-o-nee
  28. Hera: Meaning uncertain, probably pre-Greek. Queen of the gods and goddess of marriage
  29. Demeter: Possibly earth mother; Greek. Goddess of the harvest, mother of Persephone

Muses, Graces and nymph names

The Muses, the Graces and the nymphs of the sea, sky and forest.

  1. Calliope US #451: Beautiful voice; Greek. Muse of epic poetry. Say kah-LY-o-pee
  2. Clio: Glory; Greek. Muse of history, Kleio in modern Greek. Say KLEE-o
  3. Thalia US #648: To blossom; Greek. Muse of comedy and one of the Graces
  4. Urania: Heavenly; Greek. Muse of astronomy. Say yoo-RAY-nee-ah
  5. Erato: Lovely; Greek. Muse of love poetry. Say EHR-ah-toh
  6. Euterpe: Delight; Greek. Muse of music. Say yoo-TUR-pee
  7. Melpomene: To sing; Greek. Muse of tragedy. Say mel-POM-ih-nee
  8. Terpsichore: Delight in dance; Greek. Muse of dance. Say turp-SIK-o-ree
  9. Polyhymnia: Many hymns; Greek. Muse of sacred song. Say pol-ee-HIM-nee-ah
  10. Aglaia: Splendor, beauty; Greek. One of the three Graces. Say ah-GLY-ah
  11. Daphne US #178: Laurel; Greek. A nymph turned into a laurel tree, Dafni today
  12. Echo: Reflected sound; Greek. A nymph who could only repeat others' words
  13. Calypso: She who conceals; Greek. The sea nymph who kept Odysseus for years
  14. Nephele Greece #19: Cloud; Greek. A cloud nymph; as Nefeli, a top-20 name for girls born in Greece in 2021
  15. Callisto: Most beautiful; Greek. A nymph placed in the sky as the Great Bear
  16. Aoide: Song; Greek. One of the three elder Muses of Mount Helicon
  17. Alcyone: Kingfisher; Greek. One of the seven Pleiades. Say al-SY-o-nee
  18. Maia US #433: Good mother; Greek. Eldest of the Pleiades and mother of Hermes
  19. Electra: Amber; Greek. A Pleiad, and Agamemnon's daughter in tragedy
  20. Chione: Snow; Greek. A daughter of Boreas, the north wind. Say ky-OH-nee
  21. Ligeia: Clear-voiced; Greek. One of the Sirens. Say ly-JEE-ah
  22. Ianthe: Violet flower; Greek. An ocean nymph. Say eye-AN-thee
  23. Aegle: Light, radiance; Greek. One of the Hesperides. Say EE-glee
  24. Callirrhoe: Beautiful flowing; Greek. An ocean nymph. Say kah-LIR-o-ee
  25. Eudora: Good gift; Greek. A sea nymph, one of the Nereids

Female Greek mythology names: heroines, Fates and spirits

Princesses, queens, Fates and the spirits of justice and truth at the center of famous myths.

  1. Ariadne: Possibly most holy; Greek. The Cretan princess who helped Theseus. Say ar-ee-AD-nee
  2. Atalanta: Equal in weight; Greek. A swift huntress who raced her suitors
  3. Phaedra: Bright; Greek. A Cretan princess, sister of Ariadne. Say FEE-drah
  4. Eurydice: Wide justice; Greek. The wife of Orpheus. Say yoo-RID-ih-see
  5. Iphigenia: Strong-born; Greek. A daughter of Agamemnon. Say if-ih-jeh-NY-ah
  6. Nausicaa: Burner of ships; Greek. The princess who helped Odysseus. Say naw-SIK-ay-ah
  7. Hippolyta: Freer of horses; Greek. Queen of the Amazons. Say hih-POL-ih-tah
  8. Pandora: All gifts; Greek. The first woman in Greek myth
  9. Psyche: Soul; Greek. A mortal who married Eros, god of love. Say SY-kee
  10. Parthenope: Maiden's voice; Greek. A Siren, and an ancient name for Naples
  11. Alcestis: Brave, valiant; Greek. A queen who offered her life for her husband
  12. Hippodamia: Tamer of horses; Greek. The bride Pelops won in a chariot race
  13. Creusa: Princess; Greek. The first wife of Aeneas of Troy
  14. Alcippe: Strength and horse; Greek. A daughter of Ares, god of war
  15. Hypermnestra: Much-wooed; Greek. The one daughter of Danaus who spared her husband
  16. Pasiphae: Shining for all; Greek. A queen of Crete, daughter of the sun god
  17. Euryale: Far-wandering; Greek. One of the three Gorgon sisters
  18. Nemesis: What is due, righteous anger; Greek. Goddess of retribution
  19. Aletheia: Truth; Greek. The spirit of truth, Veritas to the Romans
  20. Clotho: Spinner; Greek. The Fate who spins the thread of life
  21. Lachesis: Apportioner; Greek. The Fate who decides how long each life lasts
  22. Penelope US #22: Probably from penelops, a type of duck; Greek. The faithful wife of Odysseus. Say peh-NEL-o-pee
  23. Cassandra US #631: Possibly to excel; Greek. The Trojan princess whose true prophecies no one believed
  24. Andromeda: Ruler or thinker of men; Greek. The Ethiopian princess rescued by Perseus
  25. Antigone: Against birth, or like a parent; Greek. Oedipus's daughter, heroine of Sophocles. Say an-TIG-o-nee

Ancient Greek female names

Names borne by women of ancient Greece, the Hellenistic kingdoms and the early church, and a few from ancient writers.

  1. Aspasia: Welcome, embrace; Greek. A famed woman of Pericles' Athens. Say as-PAY-zhah
  2. Hypatia: Highest, supreme; Greek. Mathematician and philosopher of Alexandria. Say hy-PAY-shah
  3. Olympia: Of Olympus; Greek, after the mountain home of the gods
  4. Berenike: Bringing victory; Greek. A name of several Ptolemaic queens. Say beh-reh-NEE-kee
  5. Kleopatra: Glory of the father; Greek. Borne by several Ptolemaic queens of Egypt, the last of them Cleopatra VII
  6. Xanthippe: Yellow horse; Greek. The wife of Socrates; in English her name became a word for an ill-tempered woman. Say zan-TIP-ee
  7. Filippa: Lover of horses; Greek, a feminine form of Filippos. Say FEE-lee-pah
  8. Lysandra: Liberator of men; Greek, a feminine form of Lysander
  9. Thekla: Glory of God; Greek. An early Christian saint. Say THEH-klah
  10. Evdokia: Good will; Greek, the modern form of Eudocia. Say ev-dho-KEE-ah
  11. Euphemia: Well-spoken; Greek. Effimia in modern Greek
  12. Dorothea: Gift of God; Greek. Say do-ro-THEH-ah
  13. Theodosia: Giving to God; Greek, a feminine form of Theodosios
  14. Corinna: Maiden; Greek Korinna. A lyric poet of Tanagra, said to have beaten Pindar; her dates are debated
  15. Arsinoe: Raising of the mind; Greek. Borne by Ptolemaic queens of Egypt
  16. Laodice: Justice of the people; Greek. Common among Seleucid royal women
  17. Timarete: Honoring virtue; Greek. A woman painter of the 5th century BC
  18. Olympias: Of Olympus; Greek. The mother of Alexander the Great
  19. Stratonike: Army victory; Greek. A queen of the Seleucid Empire. Say strah-toh-NEE-kee
  20. Phila: Beloved, friend; Greek. A daughter of Antipater, regent of Macedon
  21. Thessalonike: Thessalian victory; Greek. Alexander's half-sister; Thessaloniki bears her name
  22. Cynisca: Little hound; Greek. The first woman to win at the Olympics
  23. Diotima: Honoring the god; Greek. The wise woman who teaches Socrates in Plato's Symposium, probably invented by Plato
  24. Aglaonice: Splendid victory; Greek. A Thessalian said to draw down the moon

Greek virtue names for girls

Modern Greek names that are also everyday words for hope, love, joy and freedom.

  1. Elpida: Hope; Greek, from elpis. Say el-PEE-dhah
  2. Agapi: Love; Greek, the word for selfless love. Say ah-GAH-pee
  3. Eleftheria: Freedom; Greek. Say eh-lef-theh-REE-ah
  4. Areti: Virtue; Greek. Say ah-reh-TEE
  5. Chara: Joy, happiness; Greek. Say hah-RAH
  6. Charis: Grace; Greek. Used for girls and boys. Say HAH-rees
  7. Sotiria: Salvation, deliverance; Greek. Say so-tee-REE-ah
  8. Eftychia: Happiness, good fortune; Greek. Say ef-tee-HEE-ah
  9. Xenia: Hospitality; Greek. Say KSEH-nee-ah
  10. Polyxeni: Very hospitable; Greek, a modern form of Polyxena. Say po-lee-KSEH-nee
  11. Galini: Calm; Greek. Galene was the goddess of calm seas
  12. Evgenia: Well born; Greek. Say ev-YEH-nee-ah
  13. Glykeria: Sweet; Greek. Say glee-keh-REE-ah
  14. Sevasti: Venerable, revered; Greek. Say seh-vah-STEE
  15. Adamantia: Unbreakable; Greek, from adamas, unconquerable. Say ah-dhah-mahn-DEE-ah
  16. Agathi: Good; Greek, the Greek Agatha. Say ah-GAH-thee
  17. Lamprini: Bright, shining; Greek. Lambri is a Greek name for Easter
  18. Elpiniki: Hope and victory; Greek. Say el-pee-NEE-kee
  19. Kleoniki: Glory and victory; Greek. Say kleh-o-NEE-kee
  20. Charikleia: Grace and glory; Greek. Say hah-REE-klee-ah

Greek nature names for girls

Flowers, gems, birds and the sea in Greek.

  1. Anthi: Flower; Greek, short for names built on anthos
  2. Chrysanthi: Golden flower; Greek, from chrysos, gold, and anthos, flower
  3. Evanthia: Good flower; Greek. Say eh-vahn-THEE-ah
  4. Triantafyllia: Rose; Greek, from a word meaning thirty leaves
  5. Garyfallia: Carnation; Greek. Say gah-ree-fah-LYAH
  6. Myrto: Myrtle; Greek. Say meer-TOH
  7. Melissa US #420: Bee; Greek. Say meh-LEE-sah
  8. Koralia: Coral; Greek. Say ko-rah-LEE-ah
  9. Smaragda: Emerald; Greek. Say smah-RAHG-dhah
  10. Argyro: Silver; Greek, from argyros. Say ar-yee-ROH
  11. Diamanto: Diamond; Greek. Say dhee-ah-mahn-DOH
  12. Pagona: Peacock; Greek. Say pah-GOH-nah
  13. Xanthi: Golden-haired, blonde; Greek, from xanthos. Say ksahn-THEE
  14. Pelagia: Of the open sea; Greek, from pelagos. Say peh-lah-YEE-ah
  15. Phyllis: Foliage; Greek. A princess turned into an almond tree
  16. Anthea: Flower, blossom; Greek. A title of the goddess Hera
  17. Chloe US #23: Green shoot; Greek. A title of Demeter, goddess of the harvest
  18. Avra: Breeze; Greek, the modern form of Aura. Say AHV-rah

How to pick the right name

Choose a spelling

Greek names have more than one spelling in our alphabet: Sofia or Sophia, Eirini or Irini, Zoi or Zoe. Pick the one that is easiest to read where you live.

Check the stressed syllable

Every Greek name has one stressed syllable, and it changes the sound. Vasiliki is vah-see-lee-KEE and Despina is DHES-pee-nah. In our respellings, th is the sound in thin and dh the sound in this.

Know the name day

Most Greek names have a feast day on the Orthodox calendar, celebrated much like a second birthday: Paraskevi's is July 26. Myth names like Ariadne or Calliope may have none, and their bearers often celebrate on All Saints' Day.

Read the myth first

Ariadne, Atalanta and Psyche come with famous stories. Read the myth before you choose so you know exactly what the name brings with it.

Greek girl names: 187 ideas from Nomezo

Save this list for later

Pin it to a naming board, or tap the heart next to any name to keep it in your favorites on this device.

Greek girl names: what girls in Greece are named now, the goddess names nobody can translate, and how naming works

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

In Greece, Maria is far ahead: 7.71% of girls born in 2021 were named Maria, according to ELSTAT's 2021 census, and the saints' names Eleni, Aikaterini, Ioanna and Vasiliki follow. Ancient and myth names are coming back beside them: Nefeli, Melina, Lydia and Danae are all in the top 30.

In the US, the myth names are the ones rising: Iris, Daphne, Phoebe, Calliope and Selene all reached their highest US ranks ever in 2025. The tags beside the names show their rank among girls born in Greece in 2021 and in the US in 2025, and the kit above builds an ancient name and the woman's form of any Greek surname.

  1. Step 1Choose a spellingEleni or Elena, Zoi or Zoe.
  2. Step 2Check the meaningAthena and Artemis have no known meaning.
  3. Step 3Find the name dayParaskevi's is July 26.
  4. Step 4Build the full nameA woman's surname is the genitive: Papadopoulou.

What girls in Greece are named now

Most common names for girls born in Greece in 2021 (ELSTAT, 2021 census)
RankName
1Maria (7.71% of girls)
2Eleni
3Aikaterini
4Ioanna
5Vasiliki
6Anastasia
7Konstantina
8Sofia
9Dimitra
10Anna
19, 22, 23, 29Nefeli, Melina, Lydia, Danae

Sources: ELSTAT's 2021 census, as reported by Odigos tou Politi and in.gr in September 2025. Only the first of a double name was counted, among residents with Greek or mixed citizenship.

Greek or English spelling?

Greek forms and English forms among US girls in 2025
Greek formUS girls, 2025English formUS rank, 2025
Eleni240Elena#42
Zoi25Zoe#31
Athina23Athena#109
Ioanna20Joanna#306
Kalliopi8Calliope#451
Eirini6Irene#651
Katerina151Katherine#186

Source: US Social Security Administration. In the US the English form almost always wins; Sophia (No. 5) and Sofia (No. 9) are both in the top 10.

The goddess names nobody can translate

  • Meaning unknown. Behind the Name gives no known meaning for Athena, and calls Artemis possibly pre-Greek, Aphrodite possibly Phoenician and Persephone probably pre-Greek. Neat one-word meanings for them online are guesses.
  • Rising in the US. From 2020 to 2025, Iris went from No. 127 to No. 61, Daphne from No. 415 to No. 178, Phoebe from No. 254 to No. 157, Calliope from No. 692 to No. 451 and Selene from No. 805 to No. 623, each its best rank ever. Athena peaked at No. 76 in 2023.
  • Two names we left off. Hebe, goddess of youth, is also an offensive English slur for a Jewish person (Wiktionary), and Dike, goddess of justice, is spelled like another English slur (Wiktionary).

How Greek girls are named

  • Grandmothers first. By tradition the first and second daughters are named after their father's and mother's mothers (Wikipedia).
  • A woman's surname is a genitive. It is usually the genitive of her father's or husband's surname, so Papadopoulos becomes Papadopoulou (Wikipedia). The kit above shows both forms.
  • Name days. A saint's name has its own feast, like Paraskevi's on July 26. A name with no saint is said not to have a name day, or its bearer celebrates on All Saints' Day (Wikipedia).
  • Ancient names came back. With the Modern Greek Enlightenment, names from antiquity became popular again (Wikipedia).

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common Greek girl name?

Maria, by a wide margin: 7.71% of girls born in Greece in 2021 were named Maria, according to ELSTAT's 2021 census, followed by Eleni, Aikaterini, Ioanna and Vasiliki. Ancient and myth names are back too: Nefeli, Melina, Lydia and Danai are in the top 30.

What are some female Greek mythology names?

Ariadne, Atalanta, Psyche and Hippodamia are heroines of Greek myth, and goddesses such as Selene (moon), Iris (rainbow) and Nike (victory) are also used as girl names. Two of the three Fates, Clotho and Lachesis, have names meaning spinner and apportioner.

How are Greek girls traditionally named?

By tradition, the first daughter is named after her father's mother and the second after her mother's mother, so the same names repeat through generations. Each name also has a name day on the church calendar, often celebrated like a birthday.

What are some ancient Greek female names?

Real women of ancient Greece were named Aspasia, Hypatia, Corinna, Arsinoe and Cynisca. Cynisca, a Spartan princess whose name means little hound, was the first woman to win at the Olympic Games.

What Greek girl name means wisdom?

Sofia, also spelled Sophia, means wisdom. Metis, the Titan of wise counsel and mother of Athena, has a name meaning wisdom and skill.

Do Greek myth names have a name day?

Not always. A name with no saint, like Ariadne or Calliope, is said not to have a name day, and its bearer may celebrate on All Saints' Day instead. Saints' names have fixed days: Paraskevi's is July 26 and Maria's August 15.

How do Greek women's surnames work?

A woman's surname is usually the genitive of her father's or husband's surname, so Papadopoulos becomes Papadopoulou, while a surname ending in -ou, like Georgiou, stays the same. The kit on this page shows both forms of any surname.

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