Male Greek Names and Meanings: A Comprehensive Guide

Looking for a strong and meaningful name for your baby boy? Look no further than Greek mythology and history! Greek names are known for their rich history, beautiful sounds, and powerful meanings. From classic heroes to wise philosophers, the Greek pantheon offers a wealth of options for parents seeking a name that will stand the test of time. This comprehensive list explores the origins and meanings behind popular and lesser-known male Greek names, giving you the perfect starting point for your search.
1. **Agamemnon:** "Very mighty," "Much powerful," "King of men," "Leader of men"; the king of Mycenae in Greek mythology, who led the Greek forces in the Trojan War.
2. **Ajax:** "Eagle," "Strong," "Powerful"; the Greek hero known for his strength and bravery, particularly during the Trojan War.
3. **Alexander:** "Defender of men"; a popular name in many cultures, it was famously borne by Alexander the Great, a Macedonian king who conquered much of the ancient world.
4. **Alcibiades:** "Strength of the people"; a controversial Athenian statesman and general known for his intelligence, charisma, and political maneuvering.
5. **Apollo:** "Destroyer," "He who repels," "He who destroys"; the Greek god of music, poetry, prophecy, healing, light, and truth, renowned for his beauty and athleticism.
6. **Ares:** "Destroyer," "Male warrior," "Slaughter"; the Greek god of war, violence, courage, and bloodshed, often depicted with a helmet, spear, and shield.
7. **Aristarchus:** "Best ruler," "Best leader"; a Greek astronomer known for his theories about the Earth's rotation and the size and distance of the sun.
8. **Aristophanes:** "Most excellent in appearance"; a renowned Greek playwright known for his comedies, which satirized Athenian society.
9. **Aristides:** "Most just," "Most righteous"; an Athenian statesman and general known for his honesty, fairness, and commitment to democracy.
10. **Aristotle:** "Best purpose," "Best goal"; a Greek philosopher and polymath known for his work in logic, ethics, physics, metaphysics, and more.
11. **Artemis:** "Whole," "Unspoiled," "Unharmed"; the Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, the moon, and childbirth, also known for her independence and fierce protection of nature.
12. **Asclepius:** "He who heals," "The god of healing"; the Greek god of medicine, healing, and physicians, known for his ability to cure diseases and revive the dead.
13. **Atlas:** "Bearer," "To bear"; a Titan condemned to hold up the heavens for eternity, known for his strength and endurance.
14. **Cadmus:** "Ancient one," "East," "Oriental"; the legendary founder of Thebes, known for introducing writing to Greece and slaying a dragon.
15. **Cepheus:** "Bright," "Shining"; a king in Greek mythology known for his righteousness and nobility.
16. **Charon:** "Full of grace," "Shining"; the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the River Styx in the Underworld.
17. **Cimon:** "Good," "Fine," "Clever"; a general and statesman in ancient Athens, known for his victories against Persia and his support for Athenian democracy.
18. **Cleon:** "Glory," "Fame," "Renown"; a politician and military leader in Athens during the Peloponnesian War, known for his strong leadership and controversial policies.
19. **Damon:** "To tame," "To conquer"; a famous Greek musician and philosopher who was close friends with Pythagoras.
20. **Demosthenes:** "Strength of the people," "People's strength"; a renowned Athenian orator known for his powerful speeches against the Macedonians.
21. **Diogenes:** "Son of Zeus"; a Cynic philosopher known for his eccentric lifestyle and his criticism of societal conventions.
22. **Dionysus:** "Son of Zeus"; the Greek god of wine, festivity, theater, and religious ecstasy, known for his wild and unpredictable nature.
23. **Eratosthenes:** "Lover of knowledge," "Lover of virtue"; a Greek mathematician, astronomer, and geographer known for his accurate calculation of the Earth's circumference.
24. **Euclid:** "Famous," "Glorious"; a Greek mathematician known as the "Father of Geometry" for his work in Euclidean geometry, which became the foundation for geometry for centuries.
25. **Eurydice:** "Wide Justice"; a queen in Greek mythology, known for her tragic love story with Orpheus.
26. **Hades:** "Invisible," "Unseen"; the Greek god of the Underworld, death, and riches, often depicted with a helmet of invisibility and a three-headed dog.
27. **Hector:** "Holding fast," "Holding firm"; a Trojan prince and warrior in Greek mythology, known for his valor and loyalty to his family and city.
28. **Hermes:** "Messenger," "Interpreter"; the Greek god of travel, trade, communication, and messengers, known for his speed and cunning.
29. **Herodotus:** "Gift of Hera," "God's gift"; a Greek historian known as the "Father of History" for his detailed accounts of the Persian Wars.
30. **Hippocrates:** "He who is helpful," "He who listens"; a Greek physician considered the "Father of Medicine" for his groundbreaking work in medical diagnosis, prognosis, and ethics.
31. **Homer:** "Blind," "Hostage," "Pledged," "The blind poet"; a legendary ancient Greek poet known for his epic poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey.
32. **Leonidas:** "Son of the lion," "Lion-like"; a Spartan king who famously led the 300 Spartans in their heroic stand against the Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae.
33. **Lycurgus:** "Wolf-slayer," "Wolf-slayer"; a Spartan lawgiver and reformer known for his strict laws and military training system.
34. **Menelaus:** "He who holds the people," "He who holds the house"; a king in Greek mythology, known for his role in the Trojan War.
35. **Miltiades:** "Strong warrior," "Strong fighter"; an Athenian general who led the Greek forces to victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon.
36. **Nestor:** "He who comes home," "He who returns"; a wise and experienced king in Greek mythology, known for his eloquence and leadership.
37. **Odysseus:** "Full of anger," "Full of wrath," "Full of rage"; a cunning and resourceful Greek hero known for his adventures after the Trojan War.
38. **Olympias:** "Daughter of Olympus," "One who belongs to Olympus"; the mother of Alexander the Great, known for her powerful personality and influence over her son.
39. **Pan:** "All," "Everything"; the Greek god of the wild, shepherds, flocks, and rustic music, often depicted with the legs and horns of a goat.
40. **Pericles:** "Surrounded by glory," "Very famous"; an Athenian statesman and general known for his leadership during the Golden Age of Athens.
41. **Philoctetes:** "Lover of fame," "Lover of glory"; a Greek hero in the Trojan War known for his skill as an archer and his role in the capture of Troy.
42. **Plato:** "Broad," "Wide," "Flat"; a Greek philosopher known for his dialogues and theories on the nature of reality, justice, and knowledge.
43. **Pythagoras:** "Pythian prophet," "Oracle of Apollo"; a Greek philosopher and mathematician known for his contributions to mathematics, music, and astronomy, as well as his influential mystical ideas.
44. **Socrates:** "He who helps," "He who aids," "He who saves"; a Greek philosopher known for his method of questioning and his influence on Western philosophy.
45. **Solon:** "He who is wise," "He who is prudent"; an Athenian statesman and lawgiver known for his reforms that helped stabilize Athens.
46. **Themistocles:** "Powerful in battle," "Strong in battle"; an Athenian general known for his victory over the Persians at the Battle of Salamis.
47. **Theseus:** "Set on," "Put in place," "Placed"; a Greek hero known for his strength and courage, his slaying of the Minotaur, and his role in the founding of Athens.
48. **Thrasybulus:** "Brave and strong," "Strong in courage"; an Athenian general who led the democratic resistance against the Thirty Tyrants and restored democracy to Athens.
49. **Zeus:** "Sky," "Bright," "Shining," "Father"; the king of the gods in Greek mythology, known for his power, strength, and his role as the ruler of the universe.
50. **Zeno:** "Living," "Life," "He who lives"; a Stoic philosopher known for his paradox about motion, which influenced philosophers for centuries.