100 Powerful Greek Last Names: With Cool Meanings

Curious about the meanings behind Greek last names? Whether you are researching your own heritage or simply love Mediterranean history, Greek family names carry fascinating stories.

Many of these surnames tie back to ancient gods, traditional occupations, or specific regions in Greece. We gathered the most popular and unique Greek surnames to explain their origins and meanings. Let’s look at the history behind these powerful names.

100 Glorious Greek Last Names

Discover the unique meanings behind these Greek last names for mighty, mythical, Mediterranean girls and boys.

1. Adamos: Means “son of Adam,” after the classic, biblical Hebrew male name.
2. Aeotos: For high flyers, this powerful name meaning “eagle” hits the mark.
3. Agathangelou: A Greek Cypriot surname associated with Agathangelos, named after various ancient figures and bringers of “good news.”
4. Andino: A popular surname said to mean “manly.”
5. Angelopoulos: A heavenly name for a “son of Angelos.”
6. Angelos: A Greek male name also used as a surname meaning “angel, messenger of God.”
7. Antoniou: A confident patronymic name for a “son of Antonios,” also seen as Antonis.
8. Argyris: A gorgeous name meaning “silver.”
9. Ariti: A friendly name that references the ancient Greek concept of Arete, meaning “excellence” or “virtue.”
10. Artino: A sleek surname for someone originating from the city of Arta.
11. Athanasiou: An “immortal” choice among everlasting Greek family names.
12. Bakirtzis: A smart occupational surname with Greek and Turkish roots, meaning “coppersmith.”
13. Calimeris: Derived from the phrase “Kalimera,” meaning “Good Morning.”
14. Castellanos: This is very similar to a Spanish surname but means “castle” or “fort” as a Greek option.
15. Chloros: A vivid color option meaning green.
16. Christodoulopoulos: A spiritual choice for a “child of the servant of Christ.”
17. Cirillo: Meaning “lordly” or “masterful,” sounding as though it belongs to a wise elder.
18. Condos: A descriptive Greek surname meaning “short.”
19. Danielopoulos: A masculine surname for a “son of Daniel.”
20. Diakos: A well-known name with the honorable meaning of “deacon.”
21. Diamandis: A glittering entry among Greek surnames meaning “diamonds.”
22. Dimas: A saintly surname after a biblical figure, showcasing Greek, Spanish, and Portuguese influences.
23. Dimitriou: A patronymic for a “son of Demetrios,” rooted in the Greek goddess Demeter.
24. Dimopoulos: A very common Greek family name meaning “son of the people” or “son of Dimos.”
25. Dougenis: A historical name often borne by a “servant.”
26. Drakos: This “dragon” surname appeals to fans of magic and mythology.
27. Economou: A common surname meaning “housekeeper” or “steward.”
28. Evangelatos: A rare yet beautiful surname with religious ties.
29. Filo: Much like the pastry, this shorter Greek surname is a form of Filip, meaning “lover of horses.”
30. Floros: This name holds the bird-inspired meaning of “greenfinch.”
31. Fotos: Also seen as Fotopoulos, this snappy name represents a family full of “light.”
32. Frangos: Traditionally used to refer to a Western European person or a “Frank.”
33. Galanis: Perfect for a family with bright blue eyes, this surname means “azure.”
34. Galatas: A sweet occupational name meaning “milk seller.”
35. Gavriilidis: This standout surname shares a stem with the Hebrew name Gabriel.
36. Georgiadis: Also spelled Georgiou, meaning “son or kin of George” or “Georgios.”
37. Giannopoulos: This means “son of Giannis,” a modern Greek form of John.
38. Grammatikopoulos: A remarkably long Greek surname said to mean “secretary.”
39. Hasapis: A less common surname with the occupational meaning of “butcher.”
40. Ioannidis: A frequent patronymic name for a “son of Ioannis,” a Greek variant of John.
41. Iordanou: Symbolic of the Jordan River, this Hebrew-rooted Greek name means “to descend.”
42. Iraklidis: Meaning “son of Herakles,” this name projects immense mythological strength.
43. Kallis: This name means “most beautiful,” reminding us of the mythological nymph Kallisto.
44. Kalogeropoulos: This unique surname departs from the typical “Papa” prefix and means “son of a monk.”
45. Karagiannis: Combines the Greek name Giannis with the Turkish prefix “Kara,” meaning dark.
46. Katsaros: This surname historically describes a “curly-haired” family.
47. Kokkinos: This fun surname means “red,” often given to redheaded families.
48. Konstantinidis: A strong patronymic surname meaning “son of Konstantinos.”
49. Kontos: Another spelling variation for the surname meaning “short.”
50. Kouris: A topographic surname for a forest-dwelling family.
51. Lagoudakis: An animal-inspired surname meaning “bunny” or “hare.”
52. Leos: Much like the international surnames Lyon or Leon, this name means “lion.”
53. Loverdos: An uncommon surname of unknown meaning with a highly romantic spelling.
54. Lykaios: A nature-inspired surname meaning “wolf” or “wolflike.”
55. Makedonas: A regional name for someone from Macedonia.
56. Makris: This common surname means “long” or “tall.”
57. Markopoulos: A name for a “son of Mark,” rooted in the Greek god Mars.
58. Matthiou: A handsome surname for a “son of Matthias” or “Matthew.”
59. Megalos: This grand Greek last name literally means “big” or “great.”
60. Metaxas: Given to a family that works with silk or breeds silkworms.
61. Moustakas: A descriptive Greek last name indicating a family known for mustaches.
62. Mylonas: An occupational Greek name for a “miller,” with Mylona serving as the female form.
63. Nanos: An unusual option derived from a term meaning “dwarf.”
64. Nephus: A surname rich in religion and mythology.
65. Nikolaou: A common Cypriot surname meaning “victor of the people.”
66. Oikonomou: A variant of Economou meaning “housekeeper” or “steward,” featuring a distinct spelling.
67. Onasis: A unique surname with the romantic meaning of “lover.”
68. Pagonis: Meaning “peacock,” this name is often tied to a proud or vain family.
69. Panagiotopoulos: An “all-holy” choice among spiritual Greek family names for a “son of Panagiotis.”
70. Pantazis: This surname acts like a blessing, translating to “live forever.”
71. Papachristodoulopoulos: A religious pick and one of the longest Greek last names in existence.
72. Papadakis: Meaning “son of the priest,” with the “-akis” suffix denoting a Crete origin.
73. Papadimitriou: A handsome, priestly name that means “son of Father Dimitrios.”
74. Papadopoulos: The most commonly heard Greek last name, which also means “son of the priest.”
75. Papageorgiou: Meaning “son of Father George,” combining a patronymic with the priestly “Papa” prefix.
76. Papamichael: Another prefixed name for a “son of Father Michael.”
77. Papanikolaou: A priestly patronymic name meaning “son of Father Nikolaos.”
78. Papoutsis: A charming occupational name for a “shoemaker.”
79. Pappas: The Greek word for “priest” makes for a humble, spiritual surname.
80. Persopoulos: A Greek surname given to individuals of Persian descent.
81. Psomas: This Greek surname is traditionally given to a “baker” or their descendants.
82. Raptis: Much like the English surname Taylor, this occupational name means “tailor.”
83. Samaras: A pretty, slightly exotic-sounding entry used to denote a saddle maker.
84. Sideras: A tough surname meaning “smith,” great for a hardworking family.
85. Socrates: A rare surname famously associated with the prominent Greek moral philosopher.
86. Spanos: This name notably belongs to the Greek American owners of the Los Angeles Chargers.
87. Sparta: Also seen as Spartalis, this is a great option for Spartan families.
88. Stamos: A popular celebrity surname of Greek origin meaning “stop.”
89. Stassinopoulos: A prominent name belonging to Arianna Huffington, the Greek American co-founder of The Huffington Post.
90. Stavros: Derived from the Greek given name referencing the cross of Christ.
91. Stefanidis: A patronymic surname for a “son of Stefanos,” also spelled Stephanidis.
92. Stephanopoulos: Another well-recognized surname for a “son of Stephan.”
93. Taskasaplidis: A strong entry believed to have derived from an area in modern-day Turkey.
94. Teresi: A Greek and Italian surname uniquely formed as a metronymic name from the female Teresa.
95. Theodoropoulos: A longer name for a “son of Theodore,” meaning “gift of God.”
96. Tsitak: This surname means “king” or “god,” traditionally reserved for regal families.
97. Vasiliou: Also seen as Vasiliadis, this means “son of Vasilios,” sharing roots with the name Basil.
98. Vlahos: Meaning “Vlach,” referencing an old term for Balkan and Eastern Romance language speakers.
99. Vouvali: Meaning “buffalo,” this surname is strong and deeply rooted in nature.
100. Xanthopoulos: A stylish surname meaning “son of Xanthos,” with Xanthos translating to “yellow” or “golden.”

Greek Last Names FAQs

What Are Some Common Greek Last Names?

Papadopoulos is the most common Greek surname. Names such as Georgiou, Pappas, Nikolau, Dimitriou, Karagiannis, and Ioannidis are also commonly-heard picks.

How Do Greek Surnames Work?

In modern-day Greece, naming culture usually consists of a given name followed by a family name. Like in English, these Greek family names also come from occupations, places, characteristics, or patronymics.

It’s worth noting that ancient Greeks usually had a single name, which is why the great gladiators, philosophers, and Spartans of long ago didn’t have surnames.

Are Greek Surnames All Long?

It’s true that a lot of Greek surnames are long, with standout names such as Grammatikopoulos, Christodoulopoulos, and Panagiotopoulos in this list. Papachristodoulopoulos is an especially long name! However, there are also many shorter surnames, with familiar options such as Stamos, Pappas, Floros, Vlahos, and even Filo, all rooted in Greek.

What Does the Suffix -opoulos Mean in Greek Names?

The suffix -opoulos means “son of” or “descendant of.” It is a highly common patronymic ending found in many Greek family names.

What Does the Suffix -akis Mean in Greek Surnames?

The suffix -akis translates to “little” and typically denotes a family origin from the island of Crete.

Can You Tell Where a Greek Family Is From by Their Last Name?

Yes, many Greek surnames contain regional suffixes. For example, names ending in -akis often come from Crete, while names ending in -idis typically trace back to Asia Minor or Pontus.

Did Ancient Greeks Have Last Names?

No, ancient Greeks usually had a single given name. To differentiate between people with the same name, they often used their father’s name, their hometown, or a personal nickname.

Why Do Greek Last Names Change Depending on Gender?

Greek language relies heavily on grammar rules for gender. Women typically use the genitive female version of a family surname, meaning the ending of the name changes slightly compared to the male version.

Are Greek Surnames Tied to Occupations?

Yes, many Greek family names stem from historical jobs. Surnames like Mylonas for a miller, Hasapis for a butcher, and Raptis for a tailor directly describe the trades of early ancestors.

Do Greek Women Keep Their Maiden Name After Marriage?

Yes, under Greek law established in 1983, women are required to keep their maiden surnames for life. They can choose to add their husband’s name socially, but legal documents use their birth name.