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Revision as of 14:45, 23 July 2008

Greek given names can be derived from the Greco-Roman gods, along with Ancient Greek traditions, or from the Old and New Testament and early Christian traditions. Some of the names are often, but not always, anglicised. Male names usually end in -ης and -ος, along with -α and -ων. If a name ends in -ήλ, it is a Hebrew name which has been translated into Greek. Female names always end in -α and -η.

Ancient Names

Old and New Testament Names

Early Christian Names

Traditions

It is a Greek tradition for parents to name their newborn children after their own parents. This shows a continuation of the names in the family line. Yet, new names are also introduced into the family, with the Greek language have a very large list of male and female names.

Greek Surnames

Greek surnames are most commonly patronymics. Occupation, characteristic and location/origin-based surnames names also occur. Here are some examples of common Greek suffixes:

• -opoulos: this suffix is very spread mostly throughout the whole Greece and is original from the Peloponessus in particular.

Examples include: Angelopoulos, Fotopoulos, Papadopoulos.

• -idis and -iadis: both very ancient last names and clan forms used in the Pontus and Asia Minor regions.

Examples include: Athanasiadis, Dimitriadis, Ioannidis, Stefanidis.

• -akis: associated primarily with Crete and the Aegean Islands.

Examples include: Mitsotakis, Theodorakis.

• -ou: mainly from Cyprus.

Examples include: Evangelou, Loizou, Pavlou.

• -oglou: a Turkish root ending seen in immigrants from Asia Minor.

Examples include: Mihaloglou, Sarafoglou.

• -as: from Macedonia and Epirus.

Examples include: Folias, Minas, Sioufas.

Other suffixes include: -is, -os and -akos.

Some examples of Greek prefixes are:

• Chondro-: meaning fat.

Examples include: Chodroyiannis.

• Papa-: indicating ancestry from a priest.

Examples include: Pappas, Papadimitriou.

Other prefixes include: Archi-, Gero-, Hatz-, Kondo-, Makro-, Mastro-, Ts- and Tz-.

See also

• List of Greek place names
• Names of the Greeks

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