100+ Amazing Greek Dog Names and Their Meanings

Written by Micky Moran
Published: January 10, 2024
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Finding the right name for your dog takes time, even though you may have only just met. The ancient Greeks placed substantial importance on this choice for any of their pets since Greek gods saw them as sacred. Dogs have found a place in Greek history for centuries, even in their mythology, because of how special these animals are. Why not honor them with a Greek dog name that similarly embodies their natural spirit?

Greek culture sees dogs as messengers, guardians, and protectors, which is why so many of today’s popular names come from Greek mythology. When you adopt your next puppy, consider one of these amazing Greek dog names to showcase their true selves.

Amazing Male Greek Dog Names From Mythology

A dog in the earth day celebration

Greek mythology includes many male and female names, but there’s at least one that matches a dog’s personality.

©Jim Polakis/Shutterstock.com

If you want to use your dog’s name to pay tribute to Greek culture but aren’t sure where to start, choose one of the Greek gods. Though these names seem bold, that’s exactly why a Greek name could be a good match. Their personalities and the stories during their lives help to shape the story you want to help your dog tell. Do you have a favorite character in Greek mythology, but you aren’t sure where to start? Does your dog hunt with the ferocity of Cerberus but the gentleness of Zephyr? Using a name from Greek mythology pays tribute to the stories while setting the tone for their own.

  • Achilles, the Greek warrior and hero of Homer’s Iliad
  • Adonis, the Greek god of fertility, vegetation, and rebirth
  • Ajax, a Greek hero who died at his own hands out of jealousy
  • Apollo, the Greek and Roman god of beauty, poetry, music, light, healing, and prophesy
  • Ares, the Greek god of war and the spirit of battle
  • Asclepius, a Greek god of medicine and healing
  • Boreas, the Greek god of the North Wind with a bad temper
  • Cerberus, a mythical beast and the guard of Hades with three heads
  • Chronos, the youngest titan and the personification of time
  • Eros, the Greek god of carnal love and desire
  • Griffin, a mythical Greek creature with the body of a lion with a head and wings of an eagle
  • Hades, the king of the underworld
  • Helios, a Greek god who is the personification of the sun
  • Hermes, the son of Zeus and messenger of the gods
  • Peneus, a river god from ancient Thessaly
  • Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea
  • Triton, the Greek god of the sea and the son of Poseidon
  • Zephyr, the Greek god of the gentle West Wind
  • Zeus, the Greek god of the sky and thunder

Amazing Female Greek Dog Names From Mythology

With so many stories, take the time to learn about the personalities of these powerful muses, goddesses, and other female characters to see which one embodies your dog the most. Choosing one of these mythical names gives you a way to show your knowledge of Greek mythology, but it also makes your dog’s name completely unique.

  • Andromeda, the wife of Perseus
  • Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty
  • Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild animals, chastity, childbirth, vegetation, and the hunt
  • Athena, the Greek goddess of war, practical reason, and handicraft
  • Calliope, the Greek goddess of music, song, and dance and the oldest of the Greek muses
  • Clio, the patron and muse of history fell in love with Adonis
  • Daphne, a tree spirit and daughter of Peneus
  • Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and harvest
  • Eos, the daughter of Helios and the personification of dawn
  • Harmonia, the Greek goddess of harmony
  • Hecate, the goddess of magic and spells
  • Hera, the queen of the gods and goddess of marriage, women, the sky, childbirth, and the stars of heaven
  • Lyra, the lyre of Orpheus in Greek mythology
  • Muse, the goddesses of literature, science, and the arts who were all daughters of Zeus 
  • Nike, the Greek goddess of victory gave laurel wreaths to the victors after battle in war
  • Nyx, the child of Chaos and goddess/personification of night
  • Persephone, the beloved daughter of Demeter was kind and loved nature
  • Styx, a river in the Underworld which means “shuddering”
  • Theia, the Greek goddess of sight, vision, and valuable metals

Powerful And Strong Greek Names For Amazing Dogs

Newfoundland Dog, Autumn, Canine - Animal, Cute, Animal

A stoic dog with a Greek name suggests they are strong and powerful, leaving a legacy during their years on earth.

©MartinFredy/ via Getty Images

Though Greek mythology offers a certain weight to the name you choose for your dog, shorter names also command their attention. Greek culture embodies strength and resilience, so any Greek dog name you choose needs to match their energy, whether they are a hardworking German shepherd or a wise border collie.

  • Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher who studied under Plato
  • Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, brought the alphabet to the Greeks from the Phoenicians
  • Caesar, to refer to both Julius Caesar and the Latin word for “hair”
  • Cicero, a Roman philosopher and statesman credited his success to his Greek education and cultural exposure
  • Cleopatra, who came from a Macedonian Greek family
  • Constantine, the name of the last king of Greece until the abolishment of the monarchy in 1964
  • Demetrius, the son of Antigonus I and the king of Macedonia
  • Dorian, the name for the people of Doris in ancient Greece
  • Angela, meaning “messenger”
  • Corban, meaning “gift or offering to God”
  • Evangelos, meaning “good messenger”
  • Damon describes one who tames, subdues, overpowers, or conquers
  • Galenus or Galen, a reference to the prolific Roman-Greek doctor, surgeon, and philosopher
  • Thales, the Greek philosopher, suggested that the earth was a flat disk on a sea
  • Plato, the Greek philosopher of the Classical period who was heavily influenced by Socrates
  • Socrates is a Greek philosopher who is primarily responsible for founding Western philosophy with a focus on ethics.
  • Homer, the author of the Iliad
  • Medea, meaning “cunning ruler”
  • Meg, meaning “pearl”
  • Miles, meaning “destroyer”
  • Maximus, a Greek Orthodox monk and scholar who translated scriptures into Russian

Sweet And Kind Greek Dog Names

bulldog

Since ancient Greek culture focused on names that inspired feeling and conveyed beauty, a sweet dog name might suit your gentle-hearted pup a little better.

©Ezzolo/Shutterstock.com

Because some dogs have a tough demeanor, a sweet Greek name for your dog might better suit their personality. Instead of being chiseled and tough, gentle Greek names suit a sweeter and more playful dog more effectively. These names are rooted in the Greek language, but they can be used for any dog breed.

  • Agatha, meaning “good”
  • Agnes, meaning “chaste”
  • Amara, meaning “everlasting” or “unfading”
  • Bernice, meaning “bringer of victory”
  • Chaos, describing a personality that likes to bring disorder and confusion.
  • Cole, like a plant from the mustard family
  • Dora, meaning “gift”
  • Elena, meaning “shining light”
  • Evangeline, meaning “bringer of good news”
  • Feta, like the soft white cheese from goat’s milk
  • Giles, the 8th-century patron saint of the crippled
  • Gregorius, meaning “watchful, alert”
  • Gyro, like the meaty Greek food served on a pita
  • Hermione, the daughter of the king of Sparta, whose name means “messenger”
  • Kydos, meaning “praise” or “renown”
  • Lyric, referring to the Greek poetry style to express thoughts and feelings

Additional Greek Names For Dogs

If none of these names match your dog’s personality, there are still plenty of Greek dog names that could suit their personality. Before you settle on what to call your new puppy, consider these top Greek names for dogs and their meanings.

  • Atlas, referring to a collection of maps
  • Aura, referring to the character or quality of your dog
  • Basil, an aromatic herb used in many Greek dishes
  • Carissa, a genus of plants with Greek etymological roots
  • Cassia, referring to a type of cinnamon
  • Cressida, meaning “gold”
  • Cyrus, a name for someone who has Greek heritage, meaning “sun”
  • Delia, a shortened variation of Cordelia (meaning “girl” or “maiden”)
  • Delphi, meaning “womb”
  • Dolmadakia, a Greek food that consists of stuffed grape leaves
  • Electra, meaning “bright, shining, or radiant”
  • Eleni, meaning “sun ray”
  • Evander, meaning “good man”
  • Jace, meaning “heal, cure, or healer”
  • Kalamata, like the sweet and meaty olive with a purplish black hue
  • Kosmos, referring to the universe and its order
  • Larissa, meaning “citadel”
  • Leander, meaning “lion man”
  • Leo, referring to the Lion as the zodiac constellation for this sign
  • Libra, meaning “scales” or “balance”
  • Neo, meaning “new”
  • Olive, one of the staples of Greek cuisine
  • Opa, a Greek exclamation used during danging that means “go” to maintain synchronicity
  • Othello, a Greek tragedy named after the hero who brings his own demise
  • Ouzo, a drink that means “to smell”
  • Philo, meaning “lover” or “friend”
  • Pita, meaning “bread” or “cake”
  • Selene, meaning “the moon”
  • Skylos, which is the Greek word for “dog”
  • Sparta, one of the most prominent city-states of ancient Greece

Amazing Greek Dog Names: A Summary

AchillesAdonisAgathaAgnes
AjaxAmaraAndromedaAngela
AphroditeApolloAresAristotle
ArtemisAsclepiusAthenaAtlas
AuraBasilBerniceBoreas
CadmusCaesarCalliopeCarissa
CassiaCerberusChaosChronos
CiceroCleopatraClioCole
ConstantineCorbanCressidaCyrus
DamonDaphneDeliaDelphi
DemeterDemetriusDolmadakiaDora
DorianElectraElenaEleni
EosErosEvanderEvangeline
EvangelosFetaGalenus or GalenGiles
GregoriusGriffinGyroHades
HarmoniaHecateHeliosHera
HermesHermioneHomerKalamata
KydosLarissaLeanderLeo
LibraLyraLyricMaximus
MedeaMegMilesMuse
NeoNikeNyxOlive
OpaOthelloPeneusPersephone
PlatoSeleneSocratesThales
ZephyrZeusStyxOuzo
PhiloPitaPoseidonSkylos
SpartaTheiaTriton 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © allbuyzpics/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Micky Moran is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering mammals, travel, marine life, and geography. He has been writing and researching animals and nature for over 5 years. A resident of Arizona, he enjoys spending time with family, going on adventures across the United States with his wife and kids by his side.

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