8 standout rare Greek girl names
These names combine a clear cultural or linguistic connection with current U.S. rarity.
Agapi
A modern Greek name from the Greek word for love, with only a handful of published U.S. births.
2025 U.S.: 5 births · #14,992Peak: 2025 · 5 births
Chara
A Greek name from the word for joy, short and genuinely rare in U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 6 births · #13,546Peak: 1982 · 39 births
Kalliopi
The modern Greek form of Calliope, keeping a distinctly Greek spelling and very low U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 8 births · #11,395Peak: 1973 · 12 births
Ourania
A Greek name meaning “heavenly,” with only a handful of published U.S. births.
2025 U.S.: 5 births · #16,660Peak: 1976 · 12 births
Theodosia
A substantial Greek name with a vintage feel and low current U.S. usage.
2025 U.S.: 35 births · #4,159Peak: 1918 · 45 births
Anthea
A Greek-rooted name with a floral feel, compact and genuinely rare.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #10,179Peak: 1990 · 20 births
Eudora
A Greek-origin name associated with a good gift, literary and uncommon.
2025 U.S.: 25 births · #5,137Peak: 1923 · 71 births
Xanthe
A Greek-origin name associated with yellow or golden coloring, striking and very uncommon.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #7,468Peak: 2025 · 15 births
30 rare names to explore
Rare modern Greek girl names
These names are established in modern Greek usage or are modern Greek forms of older names.
Agapi
A modern Greek name from the Greek word for love, with only a handful of published U.S. births.
2025 U.S.: 5 births · #14,992Peak: 2025 · 5 births
Agathi
The modern Greek form of Agatha, almost absent from current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: no published count
Athanasia
A Greek feminine name related to the idea of immortality, exceptionally uncommon in the U.S.
2025 U.S.: 8 births · #11,061Peak: 1974 · 17 births
Chara
A Greek name from the word for joy, short and genuinely rare in U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 6 births · #13,546Peak: 1982 · 39 births
Galini
A modern Greek name associated with calm or serenity, with no published 2025 U.S. count.
2025 U.S.: no published count
Ioanna
The Greek form of Joanna, familiar in structure but rare in current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: 20 births · #5,996Peak: 2016 · 23 births
Ivi
The modern Greek form of Hebe, compact and exceptionally uncommon in the U.S.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #10,430Peak: 2024 · 17 births
Kalliopi
The modern Greek form of Calliope, keeping a distinctly Greek spelling and very low U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 8 births · #11,395Peak: 1973 · 12 births
Kleio
A modern Greek form connected with Clio, rare and visually distinctive.
2025 U.S.: 10 births · #9,793Peak: 2024 · 10 births
Konstantina
The Greek feminine form related to Constantine, long and traditional but rare in the U.S.
2025 U.S.: 10 births · #9,798Peak: 1977 · 18 births
Ourania
A Greek name meaning “heavenly,” with only a handful of published U.S. births.
2025 U.S.: 5 births · #16,660Peak: 1976 · 12 births
Persefoni
The modern Greek form of Persephone, extremely uncommon in U.S. records.
2025 U.S.: no published count
Polyxeni
The modern Greek form of Polyxena, with no published 2025 U.S. count.
2025 U.S.: no published count
Sevasti
A Greek name associated with “venerable” or “respected,” almost unseen in current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 1980 · 5 births
Theofania
The modern Greek form related to Theophania, with no published 2025 U.S. count.
2025 U.S.: no published count
Varvara
The Greek form of Barbara, familiar in origin but very rare by exact U.S. spelling.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #10,854Peak: 2016 · 17 births
Rare Greek-origin classics
These names come from Greek language or historical forms but remain far outside today’s U.S. mainstream.
Aglaia
An ancient Greek name associated with splendour and beauty, now exceptionally rare in the U.S.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 2006 · 6 births
Aspasia
An ancient Greek name with historical associations and almost no current U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 1926 · 12 births
Olympia
A strong place- and history-linked Greek name that remains well outside the U.S. Top 1,000.
2025 U.S.: 84 births · #2,210Peak: 1981 · 104 births
Pelagia
An ancient Greek-rooted name associated with the sea, nearly absent from 2025 U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 1916 · 10 births
Theodosia
A substantial Greek name with a vintage feel and low current U.S. usage.
2025 U.S.: 35 births · #4,159Peak: 1918 · 45 births
Anthea
A Greek-rooted name with a floral feel, compact and genuinely rare.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #10,179Peak: 1990 · 20 births
Cassia
A Greek- and Latin-linked name with botanical associations, still outside the U.S. Top 1,000.
2025 U.S.: 94 births · #2,022Peak: 2025 · 94 births
Dorothea
A Greek-origin classic meaning “gift of God,” familiar in history but rare in current U.S. births.
2025 U.S.: 113 births · #1,782Peak: 1920 · 1,110 births
Eudora
A Greek-origin name associated with a good gift, literary and uncommon.
2025 U.S.: 25 births · #5,137Peak: 1923 · 71 births
Eulalia
A Greek-origin name associated with sweet or good speech, musical and rare.
2025 U.S.: 57 births · #2,940Peak: 1921 · 108 births
Greek names with a mythic or literary edge
These overlap with ancient stories, but this page focuses on Greek linguistic and cultural origin rather than mythology alone.
Calypso
A Greek mythological name with a lively modern sound and low U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 59 births · #2,865Peak: 2025 · 59 births
Ione
A Greek-origin name associated with the violet flower, short on the page and rare in practice.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #7,265Peak: 1920 · 367 births
Xanthe
A Greek-origin name associated with yellow or golden coloring, striking and very uncommon.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #7,468Peak: 2025 · 15 births
Zenobia
A Greek-form historical name with royal associations and very low current U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 18 births · #6,541Peak: 1923 · 62 births
The data line uses the exact spelling shown. “No published 2025 count” can mean the spelling had zero births or fewer than five, because SSA does not publish counts below five.
Rarity check
Greek names that are not rare in the U.S.
These Greek or Greek-rooted names are strong style references, but all ranked inside the 2025 U.S. Top 1,000.
Lyra
A distinctive choice worth saying aloud with your surname.
2025 U.S.: 711 births · #435Peak: 2025 · 711 births
Melina
A distinctive choice worth saying aloud with your surname.
2025 U.S.: 434 births · #660Peak: 2009 · 681 births
Thalia
A distinctive choice worth saying aloud with your surname.
2025 U.S.: 446 births · #648Peak: 1993 · 700 births
Selene
The Greek goddess or personification of the Moon.
2025 U.S.: 469 births · #623Peak: 2025 · 469 births
Daphne
A distinctive choice worth saying aloud with your surname.
2025 U.S.: 1,740 births · #178Peak: 2025 · 1,740 births
Phoebe
A Titan name in Greek mythology with strong modern usage.
2025 U.S.: 1,885 births · #157Peak: 2025 · 1,885 births
Athena
Greek goddess associated with wisdom and strategic warfare.
2025 U.S.: 2,477 births · #109Peak: 2022 · 3,029 births
Iris
Greek goddess associated with the rainbow and divine messages.
2025 U.S.: 3,729 births · #61Peak: 2025 · 3,729 births
Origin and pronunciation notes
Names can move between languages, spellings and regions. These notes focus on established associations and common English-language pronunciations, while acknowledging that family and regional usage can differ.
Agapi
- Origin or association
- Modern Greek; from αγάπη, “love”
- Common pronunciation
- ah-GHA-pee
A direct Greek word-name connection with exceptionally low U.S. usage.
Chara
- Origin or association
- Greek; means “joy”
- Common pronunciation
- ha-RA
Short, warm and much rarer than its simple spelling suggests.
Aspasia
- Origin or association
- Ancient Greek; associated with “welcome” or “embrace”
- Common pronunciation
- as-PA-see-a
A historical rather than purely mythological Greek choice.
Kalliopi
- Origin or association
- Modern Greek form of Calliope
- Common pronunciation
- kal-lee-O-pee
The Greek spelling and sound differ from the common English treatment of Calliope.
Ourania
- Origin or association
- Greek; associated with “heavenly”
- Common pronunciation
- oo-ra-NEE-a
A celestial meaning with a clearly Greek form.
Dorothea
- Origin or association
- Greek origin; “gift of God”
- Common pronunciation
- dor-oh-THEE-a
Historically familiar but now well outside the U.S. Top 1,000.
Eulalia
- Origin or association
- Greek origin; associated with good or sweet speech
- Common pronunciation
- yoo-LAY-lee-a
A lyrical classical name with very low current U.S. usage.
Xanthe
- Origin or association
- Greek origin; associated with yellow or golden coloring
- Common pronunciation
- ZAN-thee in common English use
Greek pronunciation differs from the common English pronunciation, which is worth knowing.
Pronunciations can vary by language, region and family. We include origin or meaning details only when the association is well established; see our research standards.
Greek names are more than mythology
Athena, Persephone and Calliope dominate many Greek-name lists, but modern Greek usage includes names such as Agapi, Chara, Ioanna, Konstantina and Varvara that tell a different story.
Modern Greek forms deserve their own space
Kalliopi, Persefoni and Ourania preserve Greek forms that can be much rarer in U.S. data than their more familiar English or classical counterparts.
This page measures U.S. rarity only
A name can be traditional or familiar in Greece while remaining almost absent from U.S. national birth records.
Posy's ancient gem
Chara
Only five letters, a joyful meaning and genuinely rare U.S. usage make Chara an easy name to remember.
More names to explore
Sources for this guide
We use these references for popularity, language, origin or historical context. External sources open in a new tab.
Questions parents ask
What are some rare Greek girl names?
Agapi, Chara, Kalliopi, Ourania, Theodosia, Anthea, Eudora, Ione and Xanthe are strong examples outside the 2025 U.S. Top 1,000.
How is this different from the mythological names page?
This guide focuses on Greek language, cultural usage and Greek-origin forms. The mythological guide is organized around figures and stories from myth and legend.
Are all Greek-origin names rare?
No. Daphne, Phoebe, Lyra, Melina, Thalia and Selene all ranked inside the 2025 U.S. Top 1,000 and are separated from the rare list.