100 Greek Surnames and What They Mean

Greek last names read like a map of the country itself, pointing back to ancient gods, island villages, family trades, and the saints people were named after. A surname ending in -poulos or -akis can tell you which region an ancestor came from long before you open a single record.

This list gathers 100 Greek last names with their origins and meanings, from common family names you will hear across Athens to rarer ones tied to specific islands and mountain towns. Each entry explains where the name comes from and what it originally described, whether a father’s name, a job, or a place.

Scroll through to trace your own roots or just to enjoy the stories packed into these 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: A soaring surname tied to aetos, the Greek word for “eagle,” great for high flyers.
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 sparkling surname meaning “diamonds,” shared by Welsh Greek singer Marina Diamandis.
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 melodic surname rooted in evangelos, meaning “bringer of good news,” the same word behind “gospel.”
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 patronymic for a “son of Markos,” the Greek form of Marcus, a name tied to Mars, the Roman god of war.
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: An occupational surname from metaxi, meaning “silk,” given to families who worked with silk or bred 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 spelling of Economou meaning “steward” or “household manager,” and one of the most common surnames in Greece.
67. Onasis: A distinctive, romantic-sounding surname made famous by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
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,” the “-akis” suffix marks a Cretan origin, making this one of the island’s most common surnames.
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 meaning “son of Father Nikolaos,” borne by Georgios Papanikolaou, the Greek physician who invented the Pap smear.
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: A descriptive surname meaning “beardless” or “clean-shaven,” carried by the Spanos family, 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: A patronymic meaning “son of Stephanos,” recognizable from American broadcaster George Stephanopoulos.
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.”

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