Connie Ellefson - A Genealogists Guide to Greek Names: A Reference for First Names from Greece

A Genealogists Guide to Greek NamesA REFERENCE FOR FIRST NAMES FROM GREECEby Connie Ellefson
Cincinnati, Ohio shopfamilytree.com The first Greek in America is said to have been a man named Theodores who sailed with the Spaniards in 1528. Apart from one small, unsuccessful colony begun in Florida in 1767 with a group of 1,400 Greeks and Italians, there was no large-scale Greek immigration until the 1890s, when hundreds of Greeks began arriving each year. They were primarily young men looking for temporary employment who intended to return to their families. Between 1890 and 1920,nearly 370,000 Greeks immigrated, compared to just 13,000 in the prior thirty years. Immigration was spurred by exorbitant taxes and interest rates (up to 70 and 80 percent) and crop failures. Many farmers had destroyed their olive trees to raise more profitable currants.

After the bottom dropped out of that market in the 1890s, farmers had to wait years for olive trees to bear marketable fruit. Very few immigrant Greeks became farmers because it was their intention to make their fortunes and return home as soon as possible. Instead, they became laborers and peddlers of fruits, flowers, cigars, vegetables and candy. Very little cash outlay was required to begin these types of businesses, and a surprising number of Greeks became successful restaurateurs. A number of Greek islanders immigrated to Florida to fish and dive for sponges. Only direst poverty among the Greek immigrants stopped the flow of money home.

A study by the Greek government in 1906 showed that regions that had had greatest emigration became the wealthiest because of money sent from America. Money was sent to pay debts, provide dowries, pay passage of other family members, or invest in the home neighborhood. The massive Greek immigration came to a halt in 1924 when the quota was set at 308 Greeks per year. However, between 1946 and 1960, 56,000 Greeks were allowed to immigrate as refugees from the enormous civil strife in Greece after World War II. Many of the newer immigrants were skilled workers, shipowners, merchants, teachers and students rather than peasant farmers. between 1967 and 1975 to escape the oppressive political climate of a ruthless military dictatorship. between 1967 and 1975 to escape the oppressive political climate of a ruthless military dictatorship.

Altogether, some 600,000 Greeks have immigrated, for primarily economic reasons, although the percentage of political refugees is unusually high. Nearly 40 percent of the immigrants arriving between 1890 and 1920 returned to Greece, but most post-War immigrants came to stay. The current rate of immigration is about 4,000 each year.

First- and sometimes second-generation Greek immigrants attempt to maintain the Greek tradition of naming the first-born child after the paternal grandparent of the same sex. Subsequent children are named after grandparents until all four grandparents have been covered, and then an outside name may be chosen. The names for many generations have been chosen from the saints most revered by the Greek Orthodox Church, and, with this naming pattern of skipping generations, they continue to be the favorites.

Thus, although the Greek language has been a source of hundreds of names that have found their way into use in other countries, very few Greek people bear these names, unless they also happen to be saint names. The Greek name list below includes, for interest, many of the names from Greek antiquity, but it should be noted that the authentic name for a Greek child is likely to be a saint name among the ones listed as most popular and indicated by (St.).

a = ah as in ball ai = ah-ee au - ah-oo e = eh as in late eu = yoo as in youth i = ee as in keep io = yo o = oh as in hope u = oo as in moon y = ee as in keep g = h as in hope Adara beauty Adonia feminine for Adonis (beautiful young man loved by Aphrodite in mythology) Agalia (ah-gah-LEE-ah) brightness, joy Agathi (ah-YAH-tee) good (St.) Akilina (L) eagle (St.) Aleka from Alexandra (Gr) defender of mankind Alethea truth; Alethia, Alithea Anastasia (ahn-ahs-stah-SEE-uh) resurrection (St.) Anatola from the East Andrianna feminine for Andrew; Adara Angele (ahn-YEHL-e) messenger; Angela Angeliki (ahn-yehl-ih-KEE) angelic; Angelica Anna (H) grace; (St.) Anthea flowerlike Antonia (ahn-ton-EE-uh) (L) inestimable Arete (ah-RAY-teh) graceful, lovely Aretha nymph, orchid; Arethusa, Oretha Argiro combination of St. Cosmos and St. Damien; silver Ariadne very holy one Artemisia perfect Aspasia (ahs-pah-SEE-uh) lily; Asphodel Asia star; Astra Athanasia immortal Athena goddess of wisdom Baptista baptizer Berdine bright maiden Calandra lark Calantha beautiful blossom Calida most beautiful; Calla, Callista Calligenia (kah-lee-hehn-EE-ah) daughter of beauty Calypso sea nymph Candace glittering, glowing white; Candice, Candis, Candie Cassandra prophetess; Cass, Cassie Cassia champion Celena daughter of a mythological figure; Selena Charis (KAHR-is) love; Charissa Chloe blossoming Chloris pale Christina (Gr) Christian (St.) Cleopatra glory of the father Clio celebrate Cloris goddess of flowers Cosima order, universe Cyma flourish; Syma Cynthia name for Artemis (goddess of the moon) Damara gentle girl; Damaris, Maris, Mara, Mari Damia goddess of forces of nature Delia goddess of the moon Delphine flower name Dionne daughter of heaven and earth; Dione, Dionis, Diona Dominica (L) of the Lord (St.) Dora gift (St. Theodora) Echo sound Elaine light Electra bright, amber hair Elefteria freedom Elena light; Ellena, Eliae Eleni (eh-LEH-nee) light or torch; Elenitsa, Nitsa Elpida (ehl-PEE-thuh) hope Erianthe sweet as many flowers Eudosia esteemed (St.); Eurocia, Eudokia Euphemia (yoo-fehm-EE-ah) well known (St.) Eurydice mythological figure Eva (H) life Evadne mythological figure; Ariadne Evangelia (eh-vahn-yeh-LEE-ah) one who brings good news; Lia, Litsa, Angel Evangeline (eh-vahn-yeh-LEE-neh) brings good news Evania (eh-vahn-EE-ah) tranquil Evanthe flower Evgenia (ehv-hehn-EE-ah) well born, noble (St.) Fedora divine gift Filia* friendship Fotina (Teut) free Galatea