For those searching for baby name ideas, it's hard to miss that Greek baby names have been a hot trend — and we can't say we're that upset about it. These strong baby names pack a powerful punch because of their deep past and equally impressive meanings. Names that come from Greece are loaded with history because there's a pretty good chance they were worn at one time by some god or another. Whether mom or dad is looking to honor their family heritage or considering strong namesake for their little one, looking toward Greece for the option offers countless contenders.
With hundreds of years of history and mythology, the beautiful coastal country offers no shortage of inspiration. Though some of the goddesses' names are harder to pull off than others (Aphrodite, anyone?), the gorgeous ancient language provides plenty of wearable baby names for both little girls and boys.
Not only are there stunning unisex options, but among the mythical characters and the ancient language, there are a variety of masculine and feminine ideas to inspire parents-to-be. Check out our 50 favorite Greek baby names for both boys and girls — and good luck narrowing them down!
IRENE
Though classically spelled Eirene, both names are gentle and come from Eirene, the Greek daimona of peace. When Irene is shortened to "Rene" or "Renie" (pronounced "REE-nee"), this classic name is absolutely irresistible.
ANGELO
Need a name as angelic as your little guy? How about Angelo? As a name, Angelo has been consistently popular since the 1880s. It comes from the Greek word for "messenger," and is a more masculine version of Angel or Angela.
KASSANDRA
ALEXANDER
OLYMPIA
Another widely unused name that we think deserves some credit, the name Olympia comes from Mount Olympus, the Greek mountain that was home to the gods in legends. It's powerful without losing any femininity, and any girl with this name is destined for greatness.
PARIS
Though it seems like this name would be French in origin, it actually comes from the Trojan prince who started the Trojan War. Maybe Paris was used traditionally as a boys' name, but we love this for little girls (thanks, Gilmore Girls).
ANDREW
The Greek word andreios means "manly," and Andrew comes straight from it. Andrew is a good choice for parents looking for a popular and classic name, as it has been in the top 100 names in the US list for decades. We also love Anderson as a great alternative with the same roots.
PENELOPE
Penelope is a sweet name that has even sweeter nicknames (we love "Penny"). In Homer's The Odyssey, Penelope was the famously faithful wife of the hero Odysseus. Penelope is a name on the rise and is currently the most popular girl name starting with a P.
ATTICUS
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Atticus is Atticus Finch from the classic To Kill a Mockingbird. And hey — that's not a bad inspiration. But its Greek roots come from the historical Herodes Atticus, an important scholar and aristocrat from the second century.
PHOEBE
Coming from the Greek word phoibos (bright one), Phoebe is also a name given to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt and wilderness. It's also featured widely in influential American media — including J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and the hit TV show Friends.
DENNIS
Dennis (and its nickname Denny) is a strong name that was especially popular in the mid-1900s. It comes from the Greek figure Dionysus, who was the god of wine and fertility. Not a bad namesake, we think.
ATLAS
Sure, it's a little unusual, but Atlas is also a gorgeous name for boys. Greek legends label Atlas as the Titan who was tasked with holding up the Earth from the sky. It's strong and smart, and we can't wait to see more little boys carry around this name.
RHEA
In Greek mythology, Rhea was the mother of the powerful Olympian gods — including Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Her name comes from the Greek word rhoia (flowing), and we love this for a powerful but unusual name for girls.
ADONIS
In Greek mythology, Adonis was popular and super attractive. No guarantee that anyone's son will be, too, but we love this name for other reasons. It's strong and graceful, and Don makes an unassuming nickname.
SELENA
Selena comes from the mythical figure Selene (which is a gorgeous name for girls in its own right), who was the Greek goddess of the moon. The name itself is luminous, and worn well by celebrities like Selena Gomez.
BASIL
The name Basil comes straight from the Greek word basileus, which literally means "king." Parents will recognize the same roots in words like basilica and basilisk, but it was also a popular baby name before the mid-1900s. Great nicknames like Baz or Bas (pronounced "BAYZ") give this traditional name a bit of a modern edge.
THALIA
The Greek word thallein means "to flourish and bloom," and the name Thalia comes from the Muse of comedy and pastoral poetry. Nicknames like "Thal" or "Lia" make this name versatile — it can be tough or gentle when parents need it to be.
GEORGE
George is another classic (and princely!) name that has its roots in the Greek language. In this case, George comes from the Greek words for "earth" and "to work."
ZOE
Zoe was a minor goddess whose name means "life." It has the trendy "oe" sound, which gives it a little spunk, and can be seen on celebrity favorites like Zoe Saldana and Zoe Kazan. Another spelling option is "Zoey," which is slightly more popular.
DEMETRI
Though it's more traditionally spelled Dimitri, the added e in Demetri strengthens this name's connection to Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility. This name comes from Demetrius, which is another uncommon option.
AGATHA
This old-fashioned name comes from the Greek word agathos, which means "good" or "kind." With so many adorable nicknames for Agatha like "Aggie" and "Hattie" and strong forebears like Agatha Christie, how could one possibly say no?
CYRUS
In Greek history, Cyrus the Young was a Persian prince and general famous during the fifth century. The name itself comes from kyrios, the Greek word for "lord." Often shortened to Cy, it's a tough but elegant name for boys.
ALEXIS
Though it can be used as a boys' name, we love Alexis for strong and independent girls. Coming from the Greek word alexin (to defend), it can be shortened to something spunky like "Allie" or "Lexi." This name is perfect for fans of Schitt's Creek who aren't afraid of having a daughter who is a little bit Alexis.
DAMON
Damon comes from the Greek legend that surrounds the characters Damon and Pythias, whose friendship and trust in each other saved their lives. It's a great story and a great name — and it's definitely more wearable than Pythias.
ANGELIA
APOLLO
In Greek mythology, Apollo was one of the 12 major deities, and the god of music, poetry, truth, and healing. With such beautiful roots, we wish this historic name got a little more attention. Fans of the Rocky movies will know that Apollo is a strong name for a charismatic boy!
ARETHA
Aretha is the female version of Ares, who was the Greek god of war. It is strong and commanding and possibly worn best in history by the R&B powerhouse Aretha Franklin. Possible nickname options include "Ari" or "Thea."
HOMER
Parents might recognize Homer as the dad on The Simpsons, or as the author of The Iliad and The Odyssey, depending on your brand of nerd. The latter wrote two of the most important works in Greek history, so we think this name is an appropriate tribute to the culture.
ATALANTA
With an extra syllable to differentiate her from the city of Atlanta, Atalanta is a strong and independent huntress in Greek mythology. This gorgeous name is tragically underused, though potential nicknames like "Annie" and "Lana" are much more popular.
MYRON
Though similar in sound and spelling to Myles, Myron comes for the Greek version of myrrh. It was made by the Greek sculptor Myron, who was most famous for his statue of the discus thrower. With other old-school names like George, Walter, and Henry coming back into style, could Myron be next?
ATHENA
Of course, any girl with the name Athena would have big shoes to fill, but we still love this name for girls. It's borrowed from the Greek goddess of wisdom, skill, and war, and any little Athenas out there are just about guaranteed to walk with their head up high.
MYLES
Though many people attribute this name to French and German roots today, Myles was actually an important and ancient Greek king. His grandson became the namesake of the legendary city Sparta, but we think Myles deserves a little recognition, too.
AURA
Pronounced "oar-ah," this gentle name is shared with the Greek goddess of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early mornings. There's something so peaceful about Aura … everyone take a big inhale and exhale. Ahhh.
NICHOLAS
CHLOE
Though in Greek (and in the Kardashian family) it's spelled "Khloe," either way this little girl's name is equal parts strong and sweet. In mythology, Chloe was the summer epithet of the goddess Demeter and recalls her gift for making flowers bloom.
JASON
Jason was a classic underdog hero of Greek mythology who deserves our attention. The name itself comes from the word for "healer," and today it is a sensible and popular name for boys. The popularity of the name peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, but we think it might be ripe for a come back soon!
CORA
This bright name comes from the word kore, which means maiden. Cora is a common byname for the mythological figure Persephone, who was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and the queen of the underworld. Talk about strong female figures!
PHOENIX
Phoenix has gained quite a bit of attention as a name recently, but the mythological bird has been around in Greek culture for thousands of years. The x sound makes this name extra trendy, and we love it for little boys who do things a little bit differently.
HERA
Sharing sounds with the popular "Sara" and "Tara," Hera is a gorgeous name we'd love to see more of. In mythology, Hera was the majestic wife of Zeus, the goddess of women and marriage, and definitely a force to be reckoned with.
SANDOR
Game of Thrones fans will associate this with the character Sandor Clegane, but it came about as a distant cousin of Alexander, which is one of the strongest and most prolific Greek names out there. Strong and just a little off-beat, Sandor is a name we think deserves its own attention.
HELEN
This classic name is a Greek legend — Helen was the wife of the Spartan king, famed for her beauty, whose abduction sparked the Trojan war. It means light, torch, or bright … all of which are perfect for a firecracker of a daughter.
ORION
Orion is a gorgeous name that's been getting the attention it deserves in the last couple of years. Greek legend says that Orion was the son of Poseidon. He was tragically killed, but as a result was placed in the heavens as a constellation.
HERMIONE
Of course the first thing we think of with this name is J.K. Rowling's famous character from the Harry Potter series, but Hermione has always existed as a feminine form of Hermes, the Greek messenger god. We love it for the playful bounce in the middle, and hey — if a daughter turns out at all like Hermione Granger, then parents could do a lot worse.
DORIAN
Historically, the Dorians were one of the four major groups that Greece was split into in the fourth and fifth centuries. The name comes from Dorus, a grandson of Zeus and the founder of the Dorians. We also love the variation Doran.
DAPHNE
In Greek mythology, Daphne is a nymph and daughter of the river god Peneus. The name has nature roots, originally meaning "bay tree" or "laurel tree". Of course, anybody familiar with Scooby-Doo already knows how adorable this name can be.
THADDEUS
Meaning "courageous of heart" in Greek, Thaddeus is a commanding name and elegant name for a man but one that shortens to adorable nicknames like Tad and Teddy for your little guy. You could even mix it up and go with Deus as another nickname option.
EFFIE
Effie is the short version of two great Greek words: euphemia and eftychia, which mean "well-spoken" and "happiness" respectively. It also brings to mind the colorful Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games, who just gets more and more fabulous every time we see her.
OTIS
Also spelled Otus, Otis was one one the Giants, a race of strong and powerful Greek characters. The name itself is short and strong, and of course brings to mind the soulful Otis Redding. Parents drawn to names like Gus, Jasper, or Zeke might want to add Otis to the possible names list.
CLEO
Derived from kleos, the Greek word for glory and fame, Cleo is a tough but quirky name that borrows directly from the muse of history, Clio. The name evokes Cleopatra vibes, so this is a name for a girl with some major personality.
TIMOTHY
Timothy comes from the Greek word time, which translates to "honor and respect." A classic name, it shortens well to nicknames like Tim, Timmy, and Timo. This name reached its peak popularity in 1967, but with older names making a comeback, we think this one is feeling fresh again.
