I have often pondered on Greek baby girl names; well, I have one. My name is beautiful BUT you have to take my word for it. It has been butchered every day since 2012 when I left Greece, and even when people make the effort to get it right it’ s random meaningless syllables to them. Such is the case with countless Greek girl names: they’re so lovely and so hard to say out loud correctly. When I found out I was pregnant with my first half Greek – half Scouse baby it got me thinking. What am I looking for in a baby name?
– I want a Greek baby name that hints at my daughter’s heritage
So I set out to compile a list of lovely Greek baby girl names that shine in English, as much as they do in Greek. I was having a mixed heritage baby – I didn’t want to name her Rose. On the other hand I didn’t want to name her Feta* as my brother-in-law (jokingly?) suggested. (Plus she was born in Edinburgh so she couldn’t be called feta under EU regulations).
*not an actual name
– Can I shout this baby name out loud in both a Greek and British playground without heads turning?
As all seasoned mums will have you know, you will shout your kid’s name a lot. Even though big cities in the UK are quite multicultural and people are accepting of foreign names, two things came to mind: 1. That is not always the case in Greece. 2. It was important to me the name inspired a sense of belonging in both cultures. Even if I picked a purely Greek baby name, I wanted an international-sounding ending to it, with the emphasis on the penultimate syllable.
– Both extended families can pronounce my baby’s name correctly
With my own personal experience of an untranslatable name, I set out to make a list of Greek baby girl names simple to pronounce and spell without issues in both languages.
My first port of call was of course a Google search for Greek baby girl names
Before I started creating my list of Greek / English baby names I decided to warm up with some light-hearted googling. My search for ‘Greek baby girl names’ returned hundreds of results, with some lists as long as 200 names. I don’t know what databases they pulled those names out of but most of them I had never ever heard in my life – and I’m Greek. The rest, with very few exceptions, were unusable, unpronounceable or even made up.
Here are my favourite gems from around the web:
Greek baby girl names according to the internet
Aidoio (literally means vulva)
Drew (Sorry what?)
Daffodil (not Greek, not a name)
Lyssa (a personal favourite, Greek for ‘rabies’)
Nemesis (I mean, yes, you can name your baby Nemesis. But at some point in your life you might have to say this sentence: “I think Nemesis has pooped again.”)
Medusa (no comment)
If you don’t want to accidentally name your baby ‘vulva’ read on
There are plenty of beautiful anglicised versions of Greek baby names. (See my list of whimsical Greek girl names). But this one here is a list of names handpicked for sounding the same or almost the same in both Greek and English.
They are not ‘Grecian-inspired’, they don’t include obscure deities that nobody knows and I didn’t stumble upon them on a random Google search. They are names actually used in Greece, all solid choices for English / Greek speaking families, and guaranteed to be pronounced correctly by both sets of grandparents.
18 Greek baby girl names that sound the same in English
Maria and Mary
By far the most popular female name in Greece, Maria is the ultimate timeless name. Straightforward to spell and pronounce in both languages, Maria is a classic choice across the western world. It is elegant, multicultural and one of the 2 good reasons to visit Greece it August.
Anna
If you’re looking for a name that will never date, Anna is a wonderful choice. A simple and classic name with an international vibe. Annita is also a popular form (and before you say that sounds twee, I know a judge over in Greece wearing it quite well).
Marianna
Marianna is a melodic sounding Greek girl name, and the blending of the two classic names mentioned above. It’s a name that can carry a sense of tradition and sophistication while still feeling fresh and modern and it would grow well with a bicultural baby.
Martha
Traditional and feminine, Martha is one of a handful of names only that transcribe between English and Greek with the correct spelling in both languages. A biblical name and on the traditional side, Martha is associated with the joy of homemaking and domesticity.
Marina
Although Marina is not of Greek origin (it is of Latin origin meaning ‘of the sea’) it is widely used in Greece and it is another one of the very few girl names that sound the same in Greek and English. Marina brings to mind blue waters and the sea breeze and would suit a summer baby.
Alexandra
A strong ancient Greek name meaning ‘defender of mankind’ with a plethora of variations deriving from it. Skipping all the usual short forms used in Latin cultures, we’re noting here the slavic form Sasha which is also a popular a pet name for Greek Alexandras.
Chloe
One of the epithets used for Demeter, the ancient Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility. Chloe is a fresh and earthy name meaning ‘soft green meadow’ or ‘young green sprout’.
Cassandra
The name of a mythical Trojan princess, cursed by Apollo (for not putting out) to utter true prophecies but never to be believed. Cassandra has an obscure etymology but one possible meaning is ‘shining among men’. Ancient scripts also refer to this name as ‘Alexandra’. Despite the tragic mythological back story (which is the case with many Greek names anyway) Cassandra is an elegant name with strong witchy vibes and enigmatic charm.
Artemis
A beautiful name of the ancient Greek pantheon, belonging to the powerful goddess of wilderness and hunt.
Phoebe
Artemis was a multi tasking goddess: apart from hunting she had more responsibilities on mount Olympus as the goddess of the moon. In that aspect she was also referred to as Phoebe, meaning shining, an epithet that she shared with her twin brother Apollo.
Daphne
In Greek mythology, Daphne was a water nymph, transformed into a laurel tree to escape the pursuit of the god Apollo. (After the similar incident with Cassandra mentioned earlier, it is obvious Apollo could do with a sexual harassment seminar. But that’s a story for another day.) The name itself means “laurel” in Greek, and the laurel tree is often seen as a symbol of victory and honour in ancient cultures. Daphne has a classic and poetic sound, making it a popular choice for parents looking for a Greek baby girl name with mythological and natural connotations.
Ariadne
The name of the mythical heroine who helped Theseus escape the labyrinth. The Italian form ‘Ariana’ is also an attractive variation of Ariadne, easy to spell and pronounce in various cultures.
Elena
Elena is a popular variation of Eleni, a Greek name so ancient that has been in use babies for millennia. The world has a mysterious etymology but one theory suggests it meant bright, shining in the ancient times. The anglicised forms would be Ellen and Helen. This name doesn’t sound exactly the same in Greek and English, (Elena has the emphasis on the first syllable in Greek) but I chose to include it in this list as one of the most iconic and sung Greek girl names. Read my favourite poem Helen, by Greek Nobel laureate G. Seferis.
Angela
Angela derives from the Greek word “angelos,” which means “messenger” or “angel. In Greece it is a popular short form of the given name Angeliki (meaning angelic). Angela carries a sense of purity, kindness, and grace, qualities often associated with angels. Fair warning, naming your baby Angela will not stop her from turning into a demon when she turns two. (Just joking, two is a miraculous, sweet phase of toddlerhood).
Sophia and Sofía
Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom and its popularity in the UK is well explained: a truly classic and elegant name with a beautiful meaning. A beloved name for centuries, Sophia consistently ranks high on popularity charts across various cultures. Pet name Sophie is also popular in Greece. The Greek character Φ transcribes as ‘ph’ in English, but also as ‘f’ in other languages.
Christina and Tina
Trending downwards in the UK, is this beautiful name due a comeback? Christina is a the female form of the Latin name Christian and is of Greek origin. Different cultures across the world use this name widely, with some variations in spelling, such as Kristina or Cristina. Greek Christinas have an extra reason to celebrate on Christmas day, as it is also their name day! It is without doubt one of the most Christmas-y girl names.
Dora
Dora is a popular short form of the Greek name Theodora meaning gift of God. Theodora was the name of a woman from humble origins who rose to be Empress of Byzantium and one of the most powerful and influential women in Byzantine history. Note that ‘thea’ doesn’t sound like a name in Greece (it means ‘aunt’ as a noun or ‘holy’ as an adjective).
Zoe
Meaning “life” in Greek, it resonates for its vibrant, upbeat sound. It sounds almost the same in both languages, with the emphasis shifting back and forth between the vowels. Zoe is a delightful and meaningful choice for a baby girl. It symbolises the essence of life and the joy that comes with it.
Final thoughts on Greek baby girl names
So there you have it, a list of Greek baby girl names that sound pretty much the same in modern Greek and in English. Is this list too much on the down-to-earth side ? Well, not everyone’s comfort level allows for a baby Gaia or Ifigeneia, picking her nose in the back seat of the car, but for more girl name inspiration on the whimsical side check my list of Whimsical Greek girl names.
PS. Are you looking for a pretty Greek name but your other half insists on his mum’s name? Do you have an unpronounceable name? Did your parents almost name you feta? Did I forget anything? Let me know in the comments!
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Great post! I loved the unique ideas for finding meaningful names. They’re perfect for exploring for the best choice.