109 Ancient Greek Boy Names That Reflect History

Channel the strength of Alketas and the power of Kallikrates through these timeless names.

Written by N Pravenchandra Singh, MA

Edited by Vidya Tadapatri, MSc (Biotechnology)

Fact-checked by Trisha Chakraborty, MA, BEd

Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Greece is known for its scenic beauty and its rich mythology. Ancient Greek boy names are influenced by these two factors associated with the country. Most parents in Greece do not choose a name just because they like it. They follow a traditional method for selecting baby names. As per their tradition, the first-born or eldest son in a family is given the name of his paternal grandfather. The later-born sons can be given names of other male relatives. The Greek Orthodox Church also plays a significant role in assigning names to babies. Most Greek babies are named after saints. Every island or part of Greece has its own patron saint. A child is often given the name of the local saint (1). Every Greek child’s first name is followed by a patronymic name, that is, their father’s first name with the suffix -ou, meaning ‘of.’ The family name or surname comes last. People may even have a middle name in addition to patronymic names. The Greeks' practice of naming children after their grandparents has ensured that traditional names are relevant in modern times. These names link the bearer to ancient Greece's cultural and philosophical legacy. They are backed by heroic tales of gods, warriors, and scholars. Famous names like Priam and Aristotle connect the name bearer to a long legacy of wisdom and glory. A unique quality of these names is their universal nature. Greek names have survived the test of time and have transcended borders. These culturally rich names are popular even with non-Greek people. In fact, Alexander and Elias, names with Greek roots, are featured within the top 50 baby names in the US (2). This indicates the global appeal that Greek boy names possess. Noting the popularity of ancient Greek boy names, we have compiled a list of names you may want to consider for your son.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Zeus	Unisex	Sky father
Arius	Boy	Warlike; Martial; Devoted to Ares; Of Ares
Daemon	Boy	Loyal; Godlike; Provider; Guardian spirit
Alexandros	Boy	Defender of mankind
Alexios	Boy	Defender; Helper
Zeno	Unisex	Sky god; Sky or shine
Artemio-Baby-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-Popularity-&-Guide	Boy	Safe; Butcher
Ariston-Name-Meaning,-Origin,-And-History:-Comprehensive-Guide	Boy	The best
Aristotle	Boy	The best purpose
Achilleus	Boy	Pain

Kirill	Boy	Lord; Lordly; Lord of the Home
Archimedes	Boy	Master planner; Cunning master
Arcadio	Boy	From the region of Arcadia
Arek	Boy	Of Arcadia; Mountain of strength
Arcadius:-Complete-Guide-To-Pronunciation,-Popularity,-And-More	Boy	Of Arcadia
Arsene	Boy	Brave; Manly; Virile
Socrates	Boy	Whole power
Athos	Boy	Holy mountain; Of Athena
Cleophus	Unisex	NA
Giuliani	Boy	Downy-bearded; Sky father

Demosthenes	Boy	Vigor of the people; Strength
Kaos	Unisex	Vast chasm; Void
Nicasio	Boy	To win; To conquer; Victory
Thadeus	Boy	Heart
Acheron	Boy	A river of sorrow; The stream of woe; Pain
Arseniy	Boy	Virile
Cosmas-Name-Meaning:-Pronunciation,-Popularity,-And-Numerology	Boy	Order; Decency; Universe
Eutimio	Boy	In good spirits; Good-hearted
Agathon	Boy	Good
Archelaus	Boy	Master of the people

Atalo	Boy	Traits which resemble that the person is youthful
Bion	Boy	Life
Fotis	Boy	Light
Hippocrates	Boy	Horse power
Hyperion	Boy	He who walks high above
Ode	Girl	Wealth; Fortune; Prosperity; Lyric poem
Peris-Name-Meaning:-Complete-Guide-To-Origin-&-Pronunciation	Boy	Surrounding glory; Nearing masculinity
Priamus	Boy	A very courageous person; Latinized version of the name Priam, the king of Troy
Pylyp	Boy	One who is a horse lover
Pyrrhus	Boy	Red; Flame-colored; Fire

Sophocles	Boy	Glory of skill; Glorious in wisdom
Sosthenes	Boy	Safe in strength
Telemachus	Boy	Fighting from afar
Theodosius	Boy	Giving to God
Artjoms	Boy	Follower or gift of Artemis; A variant of Artemus
Chrysanthos	Boy	Golden flower
Aeropos	Boy	Male form of Aerope
Alketas	Boy	Strength; A strong man
Petrov	Boy	A form of Peter; Rock
Zenaida	Boy	Life of Zeus

Achaikos	Boy	Achaikos is the ancient Greek form of Achaicus. It refers to a region in Greece named Achaia
Agapetos	Boy	Beloved
Akakios	Boy	Innocent; Not evil
Alkaios	Boy	Strength
Alkibiades	Boy	Strength
Ampelios	Boy	Greek form of the name Ampelio; Vine
Anakletos	Boy	Original Greek form of Anacletus; Invoked
Anaxagoras	Boy	Derived from Greek element anax; Master or lord and agora; Assembly; Marketplace
Androkles	Boy	Greek form of Androcles; Glory of man
Andronikos	Boy	Form of Andronicus; Victory of a man

Aniketos	Boy	Original form of Anicetus; Unconquerable
Antigonus	Boy	Against; Compared to
Basileios	Boy	King
Cleisthenes	Boy	Glory and strength
Damianos	Boy	To tame; Powerful man
Dareios	Boy	To possess something good
Democritus	Boy	Judge of the people
Diodorus	Boy	Gift of Zeus
Diodotus	Boy	Given by Zeus
Dionysodoros	Boy	Gift of Dionysos

Epaphroditos	Boy	He who is lovely and charming
Epiktetos	Boy	Newly acquired
Epiphanes	Boy	Appearing; Manifesting
Euphranor	Boy	To delight
Euripides	Boy	A Greek tragedian from Athens
Eusebios	Boy	He who is pious
Eustachys	Boy	Fruitful
Eustathius	Boy	Well-built; Stable
Euthymius	Boy	In good spirits
Hermokrates	Boy	Power of Hermes

Hermolaos	Boy	The people of Hermes
Hesiod	Boy	To throw a song
Isocrates	Boy	Equal power
Kallias	Boy	Beauty
Kallikrates	Boy	Beautiful power
Kleitos	Boy	Splendid; Famous
Lycurgus-Name:-A-Complete-Guide-To-Meaning-And-Pronunciation	Boy	Work; Deed; Wolf
Neophytos	Boy	Newly planted
Nikandros	Boy	Victory of a man
Themistokles	Boy	Glory of the law

Theodotus	Boy	Given to God
Theodulos	Boy	Manifestation of God
Theodulus	Boy	Slave of god
Theophylaktos	Boy	Watched by god
Thoukydides	Boy	The glory of God
Xanthippos	Boy	Yellow horse
Xenocrates	Boy	Foreigner; Guest power
Zephyros	Boy	West wind; Ancient Greek form of Zephyr
Zopyros	Boy	Glowing
Zosimos	Boy	Viable or likely to survive

By choosing an Ancient Greek boy name, parents keep their culture alive and their children connected to their roots. These names have deep meanings that reflect virtues and qualities admired by the Greek community. Many Greek names commonly reflect traits such as strength, wisdom, or creativity. They also honor Greek gods, saints, legends, and heroes. Their mythological and historical associations make them more authentic. Thus, if you wish to carry your legacy forward or give your son a culturally-rich name, Ancient Greek boy names are the way to go.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What was the importance of names in ancient Greece?

In ancient Greece, the naming system was unique and was used for much more than just identification. Even though an individual was only assigned a single name officially, they sometimes had one or two added-on names. These names were usually associated with their family and the region from which they hailed. Therefore, a name was also utilized to symbolize the individual's status. These names also had links to religious rituals and prophecies, as the ancient Greeks considered names a means of establishing a connection between mortals and the gods (3).

2. How do ancient Greek names add a sense of tradition and legacy to a family's history?

In Ancient Greek, the naming practices were based on a strong foundation of legacy and traditions. The naming process usually involves selecting a name from within the family. The first-born son was named after his paternal grandfather, and the first-born daughter after the paternal grandmother. This naming tradition added value to the legacy of a family's history and ensured that it was carried forward to future generations (3).

3. Why did ancient Greeks only have one name?

According to the traditions of earlier times, Greeks were assigned one name because this was the Indo-European naming tradition followed throughout the continent then. Though the Greeks were officially only given a single name, they were sometimes given semi-formal names that assisted with identification, such as their father’s name or place of origin (3).

Infographic: Traditional Greek Names For The Modern Baby Boy

Ancient Greek boy names are symbols of the country’s history and mythology. These names also stand for human virtues upheld by the Greek community. Most of these names have a story behind them that makes them more significant and meaningful. The infographic below will help you pick some Greek boy names that are traditional and meaningful.

authentic greek baby boy names for your little king (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Guides to International Names.
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/research/projects/saymyname/library/tools/chinesenames
Top 50 Names in 2022.
https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
Naming Practices.
https://www.lgpn.ox.ac.uk/naming-practices

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Author Editor Fact Checker

N Pravenchandra SinghMA

Praven is an English literature expert. He did his bachelors in English from Delhi University and masters in English from Manipur University. Besides, he holds a certificate in multimedia design and content creation from NIELIT Imphal and presented papers at various national and international conferences.

Read full bio of N Pravenchandra Singh

Vidya TadapatriMSc (Biotechnology)

Vidya did her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Her interest in scientific research and writing made her pursue a career in writing, in which she now has over five years of experience. She has done certified biotechnology-related training programs under renowned organizations such as Centre For Cellular & Molecular Biology and Department of Biotechnology.

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Trisha ChakrabortyMA, BEd

Trisha worked as a schoolteacher for three years before taking up professional writing in 2021. She completed her masters in English from the University of Calcutta and bachelors in Education from the University of Burdwan.

Read full bio of Trisha Chakraborty