Greek Names For Girls And Their Meanings

Greek names for girls have charmed us for decades. Greek culture is undeniably the framework of Western civilization. 

Its art, politics, philosophy, literature and mythology are scattered throughout Europe, as well as parts of Africa and Asia. Its comedies and tragedies are still read and studied around the world, and its names of characters who stole our hearts are still used to this day.

So, if you love classical literature and mythology, or you simply want to name your daughter after a goddess, then this article is perfect for you. 

We will provide a comprehensive list of some of the most traditional and beautiful Greek names for girls.

Greek names for girls

Greek names throughout the literature

About 800 years before the birth of Christ, the development of Greek literature began. The poems of Homer and Hesiod, and the fables of Aesop, set examples of beautiful tales that would give birth to Western literature.

Since then,  names such as Cressida, Briseis, Helen, Athena, Andromache and many others have been used and popularized. Hundreds of years later, well into the 21st century, they are still frequently used.

However, Greek maiden names also spread beyond the West, thanks to the religion of ancient Greece and its gods of Olympus. Artemis, Aphrodite, Hera, and others, have been used to give girls names with a strong appearance and a rich cultural history.

Now, we will present  a list of names for girls that have become popular through Greek culture, as well as their meanings. 

List of Greek names for girls

• Hestia: a goddess associated with love, home, food and architecture. Girls with this name will often include some of the best qualities associated with home.
• Helen: there is no name that is more prevalent than the beautiful name of Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta. This name means “a light that shines in darkness.”
• Nereid: this name comes from the beautiful daughters, born of Doris and Nereus.
• Briseis: one of the most famous characters in Homer’s Iliad. 
• Athena: the goddess of peace, wisdom, science and justice. These qualities make it one of the most popular names from mythology.
• Isaura: this name was given to women who inhabited the Greek region, Isuaria, near Cyprus.

• Cassandra: she was the beautiful prophet who, along with Laocoon, foresaw the famous, deceitful Trojan horse.
• Talia: one of the muses in the theater. Etymologically, her name means abundance.
• Clio: this name also belongs to one of the 9 muses. Clio represents stories and poems.
• Chloe: this name owes some of its popularity to the Greek short story, Daphnis and Chloe.
• Andromeda: her name means “governor of men”. She was the daughter of a royal, and the wife of Perseus.

Several names to choose from

• Ariadne: known in Greek mythology as a Cretan princess. Etymologically speaking, her name means “the purest”.

• Artemis: best known as the goddess of hunting. Artemis is also the protector of nature.
• Megara: best known as Hercules’ wife.
• Nymph: nymphs are important figures in Greek mythology and literature. Furthermore, they live in forests, enchanted places and rivers.
• Eurydice: this nymph was the protagonist of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, which is widely represented in lyrical operas.
• Phaedra: a Cretan princess who fell in love with her stepson, Hippolytus. The popularity of her name is due to the literary work based on her story, written by Euripides.
• Hippolyta: famous for her strength and for confronting Hercules. She possessed a magical belt of fire, which she had received from her father, Ares. In modern comedy books, Hippolyta and the Amazons were an important part of the mythology that surrounded Wonder Woman.
• Antigone: the daughter of Jocasta and Oedipus. She was a major figure in Sophocles’ legendary history; Oedipus Rex .

• Parthenope: one of the most beautiful sirens. Her name means “the voice of the young lady”. This name also belonged to an old settlement, which is now home to Naples.
• Caryatid: this name refers to the beautiful female figures carved in stone that act as pillars and pillars.

We are sure that this selection of Greek names for girls will make it difficult to choose just one. 

The most interesting part, of choosing one of these names for your daughter, is the historical and literary significance, which will differ from the rest.