Greek Names for Boys & Their Meanings

Greek names for boys sound beautiful and carry with them the tales and traditions of a centuries-old civilization. Whether you have Greek roots or simply love a name with deep meaning, there are so many options, including traditional, ancient, modern, and mythological names. To make the choice easier, we picked 80 Greek boy names to help you find one that suits your family.

Looking for more ideas? You can ask Quillbot’s AI Chat to come up with specific lists, such as “unique names for boys” or “middle names for boys.”

Note
A “Greek name” can mean a name of Greek origin, a traditional Greek name, or the Greek form of an international name.

Many Greek boy names have stood the test of time. Whether rooted in history, religion, or mythology, these names remain popular choices in Greece and beyond.

Popular Greek name for boys Meaning Common form(s)
Alexandros Defender of men Alekos, Alexis
Andreas Manly, brave
Angelos Messenger
Antonios Priceless, worthy of praise Antonis
Christoforos Bearer of Christ
Christos Anointed one
Dimitrios Dedicated to Demeter Dimitris
Elias Greek for Elijah, meaning “The Lord is my God.”
Emmanouil God is with us Manolis
Filippos Lover of horses
Georgios Farmer, earth worker Giorgos
Ioannis God is gracious Giannis
Iasonas Name of the mythological leader of the Argonauts
Konstantinos Constant, steadfast Kostas, Kostis
Leonidas Name of the Spartan king who led the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae
Michail Who is like God? Michalis
Nikolaos Victory of the people Nikos
Odysseas Name of the hero of Homer’s Odyssey
Panagiotis All-holy Panos
Petros Rock, stone
Stefanos Crown, garland
Athanasios Immortal Thanasis
Vasileios Royal, kingly Vasilis

Ancient Greek names for boys

Ancient Greek names draw inspiration from mythology, history, philosophy, and literature. While some feel firmly rooted in the ancient world, others have remained familiar and are still used as names today.

Ancient Greek name for boys Meaning / origin
Achilles Hero of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad
Aias Greek hero of the Trojan War, known in English as Ajax
Aristides “Best, excellent”; name of an Athenian statesman known as Aristides the Just
Aristotelis Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle
Ektoras Trojan hero Hector in Homer’s Iliad
Ermes Greek god Hermes
Herakles Mythological hero known for his twelve labors
Kimon Name of an ancient Athenian statesman and military leader
Lysandros Spartan admiral who defeated Athens in the Peloponnesian War
Orfeas Mythological musician and poet Orpheus
Periklis Athenian statesman who led Athens during much of its Golden Age
Perseas Mythological hero who defeated Medusa
Platon Ancient Greek philosopher Plato
Sokratis Ancient Greek philosopher Socrates
Sofoklis Ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles

Unique Greek names for boys

If you’re looking for something a little less common, these unique Greek boy names offer plenty of character without feeling too unusual. The list includes rare names from Greek mythology, ancient history, and traditional Greek naming.

Unique Greek name for boys Meaning / origin
Alcides “Strength”; an ancient epithet associated with Herakles
Aion “Eternal time”; associated with the personification of eternity
Evander “Good man” or “beautiful man”; an ancient Greek heroic name
Hyperion “He who goes above”; one of the Titans in Greek mythology
Ikaros Mythological figure who flew too close to the sun
Leandros “Man of the people”; the hero of the Greek myth of Hero and Leander
Melanthios “Dark flower”; a name found in ancient Greek literature
Nestor Name of the wise king of Pylos in Homer’s epics
Nikandros “Victory of man”; an ancient Greek name
Orion Mythological hunter who became a constellation
Themistoklis Name of the Athenian statesman Themistocles
Theseus Legendary hero who defeated the Minotaur
Timoleon “Honor of the people”; name of an ancient Greek statesman
Xanthos “Golden” or “fair-haired”; an ancient Greek mythological name
Zisis “Life”; a traditional Greek name expressing a wish for longevity

Modern Greek names for boys

These modern Greek boy names feel fresh and current, including familiar shortened forms of traditional names and a few ancient names that have made a comeback.

Modern Greek name for boys Meaning / origin
Anestis “Resurrected”; a Greek name associated with Easter
Aris/Ares Short form of names such as Aristotelis and Aristarchos; also the Greek name of Ares, the god of war
Evangelos “Bringer of good news”
Efthimis “Good-natured” or “cheerful”
Fotis “Light”
Haris “Grace” or “kindness”
Lefteris Short form of Eleftherios, meaning “free”
Marios Greek form of Marius; a widely used modern Greek name
Nestor Ancient Greek name that has seen a modern revival
Nicetas “Victor”; an ancient Greek name still used in Greece
Nikos Short form of Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people”
Orestes Ancient Greek name that has seen a modern revival
Spyros Greek name traditionally associated with the island of Cephalonia
Stavros “Cross”
Tasos Short form of Anastasios, meaning “resurrection”
Theodoros “Gift of God”

Strong Greek names for boys

If you want a name that conveys strength and character, Greek mythology and history offer plenty of inspiration. These Greek boy names are linked to legendary heroes, warriors, and gods, as well as meanings associated with courage, victory, and protection.

Strong Greek name for boys Meaning / origin
Achilleas Hero of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad
Aias Greek hero of the Trojan War, known in English as Ajax
Alkaios “Strong” or “mighty”; the name of an ancient Greek poet
Alexandros “Defender of men”
Aris/Ares Greek god of war
Ektoras Trojan hero known for his courage and skill as a warrior
Herakles Mythological hero known for his extraordinary strength and the twelve labors
Leonidas Spartan king who led the Greek forces at the Battle of Thermopylae
Miltiadis Athenian general who led the Greeks to victory at the Battle of Marathon
Nikiforos “Bringer of victory”
Niketas “Victor”
Orestes Figure from Greek mythology, son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra
Perseas Mythological hero who defeated Medusa
Theseus Legendary hero who defeated the Minotaur

Short Greek names for boys

If you prefer names that are short and easy to say, these Greek boy names are simple and memorable.

Short Greek name for boys Meaning / origin
Agis Ancient Greek name; associated with several Spartan kings
Cleon “Glory” or “fame”; an ancient Greek name
Dimos “The people”; an ancient Greek name
Eros Greek god of love
Ion Ancient Greek name associated with Greek mythology and the legendary ancestor of the Ionians
Marios Greek form of Marius
Myron “Perfume” or “scented oil”
Nikos Short form of Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people”
Paris Trojan prince in Greek mythology
Timos Short form of names such as Timotheos or Timoleon; related to the Greek word for “honor”

Greek names for boys: the complete list

Below, you’ll find all the Greek boy names featured in this article, arranged in alphabetical order. Browse the list to get an overview of the names or quickly find a favorite.

  • Achilleas
  • Agis
  • Aias
  • Aion
  • Alkaios
  • Alcides
  • Alexandros
  • Andreas
  • Angelos
  • Anestis
  • Antonios
  • Aristides
  • Aristotelis
  • Aris
  • Dimitrios
  • Dimos
  • Efthimis
  • Ektoras
  • Elias
  • Eleftherios
  • Emmanouil
  • Evangelos
  • Evander
  • Filippos
  • Fotis
  • Georgios
  • Haris
  • Herakles
  • Hyperion
  • Iasonas
  • Ikaros
  • Ioannis
  • Ion
  • Kimon
  • Konstantinos
  • Leandros
  • Lefteris
  • Leonidas
  • Lysandros
  • Marios
  • Melanthios
  • Michail
  • Miltiadis
  • Myron
  • Nestor
  • Nikandros
  • Niketas
  • Nikolaos
  • Nikiforos
  • Niko
  • Odysseas
  • Orestes
  • Orfeas
  • Paris
  • Panagiotis
  • Pavsanias
  • Periklis
  • Perseas
  • Petros
  • Platon
  • Sokratis
  • Sofoklis
  • Spyridon
  • Stavros
  • Stefanos
  • Tasos
  • Themistoklis
  • Theodoros
  • Theseus
  • Timos
  • Timoleon
  • Vasileios
  • Xanthos
  • Zacharias
  • Zisis

Frequently asked questions about Greek names for boys

What are some ancient Greek names for boys?

Ancient Greek names for boys include Achilleas, Aias, Aristotelis, Ektoras, Herakles, Leonidas, Orfeas, Perseas, and Theseus. Some come from mythology, while others are associated with historical figures, philosophers, and military leaders.

Looking for more Greek names for boys? Ask Quillbot’s AI Chat to suggest names inspired by Greek mythology, philosophy, or history.

What are some unique Greek names for boys?

Unique Greek names for boys include Aion, Alcides, Evander, Hyperion, Leandros, Nikandros, Orion, Timoleon, and Xanthos. These names are less common than traditional favorites but remain rooted in Greek history, mythology, and language.

You can ask Quillbot’s AI Chat to generate unique Greek boy names based on themes such as nature, mythology, strength, or wisdom.

What are some cool Greek names for boys?

Cool Greek names for boys include Aris, Leonidas, Orion, Orestes, Perseas, Niko, Ektoras, and Achilleas. Many are linked to legendary heroes, gods, and historical figures, giving them a strong and memorable feel.

Need more ideas? Ask Quillbot’s AI Chat to suggest cool Greek boy names based on the style you have in mind, such as modern, strong, or easy to pronounce in English.


Other interesting articles

If you want to know more about colors, letters, or the meaning of emojis, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

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