Beautiful Greek Girl Names - Ancient & Modern

Greece is known for many diverse things, from ancient culture and philosophy to beautiful Mediterranean ocean vistas and a rich cuisine. Choosing a Greek female name for your little girl can be very rewarding whether it's a more modern name or one based on ancient Greek mythology.

Modern Greek Girl Names

In Greek tradition, babies are usually named after their grandparents. Parents who want to be more modern can choose a popular Greek girl name that's separate from their family's history.

• Agape (uh-gah-pay) - "Love"
• Aileen or Eileen or Ilene (ay-LEEN) - "Torch of light"
• Aleeta (ah-LEE-tə) - "Truthful"
• Alexandra (al-əg-ZAN-drə) - "Protector of humanity"
• Alexis (ə-LEK-sis) - diminutive of Alexandra
• Alyx (AL-iks) - diminutive of Alexandra
• Amethyst (AM-ə-thist) - "protected from intoxication;" also a purple gem
• Aris (ar-is) - "Ruin"
• Agnes (AG-nis) - "Chaste"
• Alcmene (alk-mee-nee) - "Strength of the moon"
• Astra (AS-trə) - "Like a star"
• Avra (AH-vrah) - "Breeze"
• Bryony (BRIE-ə-nee) - "Flowering plant"
• Calanthe (kə-LAN-thee) - "Pretty flower"
• Charisma (kə-RIZ-mə) - "Given grace"
• Chrystal or Crystal (KRIS-təl) - "Looking like ice"
• Coral (KAWR-əl) - "Coral" as in a coral reef
• Demi (DUH-mee) - "Earth mother"
• Diamond (DIE-mənd) - "Unbreakable;" also a precious gem
• Eleni (e-LEN-ee) - "Torch"
• Ellie (EL-ee) - "Sympathy" or "Compassion;" a diminutive of Eleanor
• Emerald (EM-ə-rəld) - The name of the green gemstone
• Evangeline (ə-VAN-jə-leen) - "Good news"
• Georgia (JAWR-jə) - "Farmer"
• Hermione (hər-MIE-ə-nee) - "Good messenger"
• Jorie (JAWR-ee) - "Pearl"
• Katrina (kə-TREE-nə) - "chaste" or "pure;" diminutive of Katherine
• Kaylee (KAY-lee) - "chaste" or "pure;" diminutive of Katherine
• Leona (lee-O-nə) - "Lion woman"
• Lexi (LEKS-ee) - diminutive of Alexandra
• Loida (LOY-dah) - "The best"
• Maisie (MAY-zee) - "Pearl"
• Maria (ma-REE-ah) - "Beloved"
• Melissa (mə-LIS-ə) - "Honey bee"
• Nicolassa (nee-ko-LAH-sah) - femine of Nicholas, meaning "the people's victory"
• Nyssa (NIS-ə) - "Inception" or "goat"
• Petra (PET-rə) - "Rocky"
• Philippa (FIL-i-pə) - "Lover of horses"
• Philomena or Filomena (fil-uh-mee-luh) - "Strong love"
• Raisa (RIE-sah) - "Easy going"
• Tiara (tee-AHR-ə) - A type of crown
• Topaz (TO-paz) - The name of the gemstone
• Vitaliya (vee-TAH-lyah) - "full of life, vitality"
• Xandra (KSAHN-drah) - diminutive of Alexandra
• Zoe or Zoey (ZO-ee) - "Life"

Ancient Greek Names

When most people think of ancient Greek names, they picture the pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses. If you want to find a unique name, try one of these lesser-known Greek baby girl names associated with figures from the culture's mythology.

• Acantha (ə-KAN-thə) - A nymph that was loved by the god Apollo, means "thorn."
• Achelois (A-khe-LO-ees) - A minor goddess of the moon, means "she who washes away pain."
• Aella (AA-eh-ll-aa) - An Amazon warrior, means "whirlwind."
• Andromeda (an-DRAW-mə-də) - A princess saved by the mythological hero Perseus, means "to be aware of man."
• Arachne (ə-RAK-nee) - A weaver who was turned into a spider by the goddess Athena.
• Calliope (kə-LY-ə-pee) - One of the nine Muses, in charge of epic poetry and eloquence. Also known as the "Chief of all Muses."
• Calypso (kah-lip-so) - A nymph who kept Odysseus as a prisoner in Homer's The Odyssey.
• Cassandra (kə-SAN-drə) - An oracle who was cursed so that no one would believe her visions. The name means "shine upon mankind."
• Daphne (DAF-nee) - A nymph who was turned into a laurel tree, means "laurel tree."
• Doris (door-is) - A member of the Oceanids, or sea nymphs, means "bounty of the sea."
• Echo (E-ko) - A musical nymph who loved her own singing voice, means "woman of sound" or in modern English, a sound reflection.
• Electra (ə-LEKT-rə) - Daughter of King Agamemnon who helped to avenge her father's murder with her brother. The name means "bright one."
• Ersa (air-sah) - Goddess of the morning dew.
• Gaia (GIE-ə) - The name for Mother Earth and the mother of all the gods.
• Harmony (HAHR-mə-nee) or Harmonia (HAHR-mow-nee-ah) - Harmonia was the goddess of peace and agreement.
• Hecate (HEHK-ə-tee) - Goddess of witchcraft and the night, the name means "far off."
• Hera (Hair-rah) - The wife of Zeus and goddess of women and marriage. The name means "heroine."
• Iphigeneia (ee-f-ee-y-EN-ee-aa) - The daughter of King Agamemnon who was saved from being sacrificed to the goddess Artemis. The name means "born to be strong."
• Iris (IE-ris) - The goddess of rainbows and the name of a flower.
• Khione (kee-OWN-ee) - A nymph who was turned into a snow cloud, means "snow."
• Kleio or Clio (clay-oh) - One of the Muses in charge of history, means "to make famous."
• Larissa (lə-RIS-ə) - A nymph whose name means "women from citadel."
• Lysandra (ly-SAN-drah) - Queen of Macedonia in ancient Greece, means "a release."
• Medea (mə-DEE-ə) - Wife of Jason of the Argonauts, the name means "cunning lady."
• Merope (meh-ROH-pee) - One of the Pleiades or "star nymphs."
• Naida (NAYD-ə) - Taken from Naiad, the Greek word for water nymph.
• Nefeli (neh-FEL-ee) or Nephele (neh-FEL) - A cloud nymph in mythology who was also the mother of centaurs and goddess of hospitality. The name means "cloud."
• Nemesis (NEM-ə-sis) - The goddess of revenge, means "to give what should be given."
• Nike (NIE-kee) - The goddess of victory.
• Nyx (NEEKS) - The goddess of the night.
• Pandora (pan-DAWR-ə) - The first woman on Earth who inadvertently released evil onto the world by opening "Pandora's Box." The name means "all gifted."
• Penelope (pə-NEL-ə-pee) - The wife of Odysseus from Homer's Odyssey, means "weaver."
• Phaedra (PHAH-a-drə) - A character in the mythology who fell in love with her step-son Hippolytus and committed suicide. The name means "bright."
• Phoenix (FEE-niks) - The legendary fire bird, the name means "dark crimson."
• Rhea (REE-ah) - Goddess of nature and a titaness, also the mother of Zeus.
• Selene (SE-le-ne) - Goddess of the moon, means "of the moon."
• Taygete (t-ai-IH-j-eh-t-ee) - One of the Pleiades or "star nymphs."
• Thalia (THAL-eeah) - One of the nine muses, she was in charge of comedy and idyllic poetry, meaning "to blossom" or "joyous."
• Urania or Ourania (you-rain-ee-ah) - One of the Muses in charge of astrology and astronomy, means "heavenly."
• Xanthe (ZAN-thee) - A Oceanid which is one of 3,000 water nymphs, means "fair haired."

Finding the Best Greek Name for a Baby Girl

Greek culture and language has had a strong influence on English words and names today and you'll find that many "common" names in English have a Greek background. Whether you want to find something that's used in modern day Greece as a name, or find something eclectic and unusual with the name of an ancient goddess of nymph, you have a rich history of names to choose from for your new baby girl.