Greece, the mother of western philosophy, Democracy and culture from three thousand years ago, inspires many people today. A new trend puts this ancient society on the naming map. 

Many parents are naming their kids names of Greek origin. Modern Greek names have conquered many parent hearts. One user wrote, "I named my baby Zoë which means life. It has a beautiful ring to it, and has a significant meaning."  Why did these names from the land of Plato and the Olympics stay relevant?

One of the reasons is that many names that are trendy today actually originate in Greece.  Girl names such as Zoë, Chloe, Andrea, and boy names such as Alec, Damian, Elias and Jason are all examples. Many parents are not aware of this origin because these names have become extremely common in the Western society. One of our visitors wrote: "I named my son Jason. I had no idea that it was derived form the Greek word healer. It gives the name a whole new meaning, emotional and spiritual". Ancient Greek culture is still dominant today.  From sports to language to philosophy, the Greek way of life has been subconsciously engraved into the very details of our daily lives.  

Greek society was an agrarian one, dependent of regular harvests and temperate weather. Hence, a lot of names reflect these topics. Popular names for girls in this category are Chloe, which means "young shoot or sprout," the name Thalia, which means "to bloom," Rhea, which means "earth" and Phyllicia which means "foliage."

The Greeks were interested in the life cycle and the meaning of life.  The ancient Greeks believed that the gods of mount Olympus controlled their destiny, their harvests and their way of life. Many names were invented to glorify the gods, trying to assure that the gods were on their side. Some of the names are  Timothy, which means "to honor God," Theodore, meaning "divine gift" or the girl name Theonie,  which means "divine."

For inspiration and answers the Greeks looked at the stars, the sky and the moon, and the duality of physical fitness and intelligence was held as an ideal.  Many names celebrated these attributes and elements. Some of the names are: Anatoly, a boy name meaning  "dawn"
Selena a girl's name meaning "moon"
Sibelle meaning "female prophet"
Sophia meaning "wisdom"
Spiro meaning "spirit"
Andrea meaning "warrior"
Astraia meaning "star"

The Greeks were interested in everything around them, from a tree to the stars. Their sense of inquisitiveness as a society made them the foundation  for all Western civilization. Naming your baby assures a timeless, meaningful name, which is as universal as the legacy that the Greeks left behind.

Did you find the origin of a name you did not know of?

Related Articles and Links:

• Greek Names Meanings
• Baby Names trends

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