Ancient Greek Names

DAIDALOS Δαιδαλος m Greek Mythology

Greek form of DAEDALUS.

DAMOCLES Δαμοκλης m Greek Mythology (Latinized)

Latinized form of the Greek name Δαμοκλης (Damokles), which was derived from δαμος (damos) "the
people", a Doric Greek variant of δημος (demos), and κλεος (kleos)"glory". In Greek legend Damocles
was a member of the court of Dionysius the Elder, the king of Syracuse. Damocles expressed envy of
the king's station so Dionysius offered to switch roles with him for a day. To illustrate to Damocles
the peril of a man in his position he suspended a sword over the throne.

DAMOKLES Δαμοκλης m Greek Mythology

Original Greek form of DAMOCLES.

DAMON Δαμων m Greek Mythology, English

Derived from Greek δαμαζω (damazo) meaning "to tame". According to Greek legend, Damon and
Pythias were friends who lived on Syracuse in the 4th century BC. When Pythias was sentenced to
death, he was allowed to temporarily go free on the condition that Damon take his place in prison.
Pythias returned just before Damon was to be executed in his place, and the king was so impressed
with their loyalty to one another that he pardoned Pythias. As an English given name, it has only
been regularly used since the 20th century.

DANAË Δαναη f Greek Mythology

From Δαναοι (Danaoi), a word used by Homer to designate the Greeks. In Greek mythology Danaë
was the daughter of the Argive king Acrisius. It had been prophesized to her father that he would
one day be killed by Danaë's son, so he attempted to keep his daughter childless.
However, Zeus came to her in the form of a shower of gold, and she became the mother of Perseus.
Eventually the prophecy was fulfilled and Perseus killed Acrisius, albeit accidentally.

DAPHNE Δαφνη f Greek Mythology, English, Dutch

Means "laurel" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was a nymph turned into a laurel tree by her father
in order that she might escape the pursuit of Apollo. It has been used as a given name in the English-
speaking world since the end of the 19th century.

DARDANOS Δαρδανος m Greek Mythology

Possibly from Greek δαρδαπτω (dardapto) "to devour". In Greek mythology Dardanos was a son
of Zeus and Electra. He was the founder of the city of Dardania in Asia Minor.

DEIMOS Δειμος m Greek Mythology

Means "terror" in Greek. This was one of the sons of the Greek god Ares. Also, a moon of Mars bears
this name.
DELIA (1) Δηλια f English, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Greek Mythology
Means "of Delos" in Greek. This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Artemis, given because she and
her twin brother Apollo were born on the island of Delos. The name appeared in several poems of
the 16th and 17th centuries, and it has occasionally been used as a given name since that time.

DEMETER (1) Δημητηρ f Greek Mythology

Possibly means "earth mother", derived from Greek δα (da) "earth" and μητηρ (meter) "mother". In
Greek mythology Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, the daughter of Cronus, the sister of Zeus,
and the mother of Persephone.

DESPOINA Δεσποινα f Greek Mythology, Greek

Means "mistress, lady" in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a daughter of Demeter
and Poseidon.

DIKE Δικη f Greek Mythology

Means "justice" in Greek. In Greek mythology Dike was the goddess of justice, one of
the ‘Ωραι (Horai).

DIOMEDES Διομηδης m Greek Mythology

Derived from Greek Διος (Dios) meaning "of ZEUS" and μηδομαι (medomai) meaning "to think, to
plan". In Greek legend Diomedes was one of the greatest heroes who fought against the Trojans.
With Odysseus he entered Troy and stole the Palladium. After the Trojan War he founded the cities
of Brindisi and Arpi in Italy.

DIONE (1) Διωνη f Greek Mythology

From Greek Διος (Dios) meaning "of ZEUS". By extension, it means "goddess". This was the name of
an obscure Greek goddess who, according to some legends, was the mother of Aphrodite.

DIONYSOS Διονυσος m Greek Mythology

From Greek Διος (Dios) meaning "of ZEUS" combined with NYSA, the name of the region where
young Dionysos was said to have been raised. In Greek mythology Dionysos was the god of wine,
revelry, fertility and dance. He was the son of Zeus and Semele.

DIONYSUS Διονυσος m Greek Mythology (Latinized)

Latin form of DIONYSOS.

DORIS Δωρις f English, German, Croatian, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology

From the ancient Greek name Δωρις (Doris) which meant "Dorian woman". The Dorians were a Greek
tribe who occupied the Peloponnese starting in the 12th century BC. In Greek mythology Doris was a
sea nymph, one of the many children of Oceanus and Tethys. It began to be used as an English name
in the 19th century. A famous bearer is the American actress Doris Day (1924-).

ECHO Ηχω f Greek Mythology

Means "echo" from the word for the repeating reflected sound, which derives from
Greek ηχη (eche) "sound". In Greek mythology Echo was a nymph given a speech impediment
by Hera, so that she could only repeat what others said. She fell in love with Narcissus, but her love
was not returned, and she pined away until nothing remained of her except her voice.
EILEITHYIA Ειλειθυια f Greek Mythology
Greek form of ILITHYIA.

EIRENE Ειρηνη f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek

Original Greek form of IRENE.