200+ Greek Last Names: History, Meanings & Timeless Heritage

Greek last names carry centuries of history, culture, and storytelling. From ancient mythology to modern families, these surnames reflect bravery, faith, professions, and regional traditions. Many Greek last names end with “-poulos,” “-akis,” “-idis,” or “-opoulos,” which often show lineage or regional roots.

Today, Greek surnames are admired worldwide for their strength, elegance, and connection to heritage. Whether you’re exploring ancestry, looking for character inspiration, or simply fascinated by names, this guide will help you uncover the meanings and importance behind some of the most famous, rare, and powerful Greek last names.

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Classic Greek Last Names

These are traditional surnames that have been passed down for generations and are widely recognized in Greece.

Last Name	Meaning	Origin	Why Choose It?
Papadopoulos	Son of a priest	Greek	One of the most traditional surnames
Nikolaidis	Son of Nikolaos (victory of the people)	Greek	Strong and historic
Christodoulou	Servant of Christ	Greek	Religious and classic
Georgiou	Son of George (farmer)	Greek	Popular and timeless
Konstantinou	Descendant of Constantine	Greek	Royal and historic
Demetriou	Follower of Demeter (goddess of harvest)	Greek	Cultural and agricultural roots
Papanikolaou	Descendant of Father Nikolaos	Greek	Strong religious heritage
Antoniou	Descendant of Antonios	Greek	Noble and classic
Panagiotopoulos	Son of Panagiotis (holy)	Greek	Deeply spiritual
Angelopoulos	Descendant of Angelos (messenger/angel)	Greek	Heavenly and graceful

Common Greek Last Names

Widely used across Greece, these surnames connect to family professions, geography, or lineage.

Last Name	Meaning	Origin	Why Choose It?
Economou	Steward, household manager	Greek	Profession-based surname
Stavros	Cross	Greek	Religious and symbolic
Kosta	Derived from Constantine (steadfast)	Greek	Simple yet strong
Alexiou	Defender, protector	Greek	Easy to pronounce and meaningful
Vasiliou	Descendant of Vasilios (kingly)	Greek	Noble and widely used
Pappas	Priest	Greek	Common and faith-rooted
Andreas	Manly, brave	Greek	Classic and strong
Ioannou	Son of Ioannis (John, God is gracious)	Greek	Biblical and popular
Spiros	Spirit or breath	Greek	Short and meaningful
Karagiannis	Dark/black John	Greek	Unique descriptive name

Unique & Rare Greek Last Names

These surnames are less common, giving them a distinctive and prestigious feel.

Last Name	Meaning	Origin	Why Choose It?
Drakos	Dragon	Greek	Mythical and powerful
Makris	Tall	Greek	Descriptive and rare
Zervas	Left-handed	Greek	Unique and character-based
Doukas	Duke or leader	Greek	Noble and uncommon
Katsaros	Curly-haired	Greek	Distinctive and personal
Stratigos	General, military leader	Greek	Strong and rare
Xanthos	Blond, golden	Greek	Ancient and distinctive
Psomas	Loaf of bread	Greek	Humble and rare
Fokas	Seal (animal)	Greek	Nature-inspired surname
Vlahos	Of Vlach origin (shepherd people)	Greek	Ethnic and historic

Strong & Powerful Greek Last Names

Surnames tied to warriors, leaders, and strength.

Last Name	Meaning	Origin	Why Choose It?
Leonidas	Son of the lion	Greek	Legendary warrior king of Sparta
Stratakis	Small soldier	Greek	Military heritage
Nikos	Victory of the people	Greek	Strong and simple
Manolis	God is with us (Emmanuel root)	Greek	Faith-based strength
Kyriakos	Of the Lord	Greek	Religious and authoritative
Daskalakis	Teacher	Greek	Knowledge and respect
Polemis	Related to war	Greek	Strong and commanding
Alexandros	Defender of men	Greek	Root of Alexander the Great
Theodorakis	Gift of God	Greek	Noble and powerful
Sotiropoulos	Descendant of Savior	Greek	Deep spiritual strength

Greek Last Names from Mythology

These names connect directly to Greek gods, heroes, and myths.

Last Name	Meaning/Reference	Origin	Why Choose It?
Olympios	From Mount Olympus	Greek	Divine connection
Dionysiou	Follower of Dionysus (god of wine)	Greek	Mythical and festive
Apollonios	Follower of Apollo (god of sun)	Greek	Light and wisdom
Herakleous	Descendant of Heracles (Hercules)	Greek	Heroic and legendary
Perseos	From Perseus (mythical hero)	Greek	Brave and historic
Athenakis	Linked to Athena (goddess of wisdom)	Greek	Wise and noble
Poseidonas	Of Poseidon (god of the sea)	Greek	Strong maritime heritage
Hadesios	Of Hades (god of the underworld)	Greek	Dark and powerful
Artemisios	Linked to Artemis (goddess of the hunt)	Greek	Mythical and rare
Kronidis	Descendant of Cronus (Titan)	Greek	Ancient and mighty

Noble & Aristocratic Greek Last Names

Surnames associated with prestige, aristocracy, and leadership.

Last Name	Meaning	Origin	Why Choose It?
Mavroyiannis	Black John	Greek	Distinctive aristocratic surname
Doukakis	Little duke	Greek	Noble and prestigious
Kontos	Short in stature	Greek	Classic family surname
Filippakis	Lover of horses	Greek	Aristocratic and ancient
Archontis	Lord, ruler	Greek	Noble and historical
Basilopoulos	Son of the king	Greek	Royal connection
Kyriazis	Lordly, master	Greek	Elegant and aristocratic
Sarantopoulos	Descendant of Sarantos	Greek	Family legacy
Argyros	Silver	Greek	Wealth and nobility
Stathopoulos	Son of Stathis (to stand firm)	Greek	Noble and respected

Religious & Spiritual Greek Last Names

Surnames deeply tied to Christianity and Greek Orthodoxy.

Last Name	Meaning	Origin	Why Choose It?
Theologos	One who speaks of God	Greek	Religious authority
Evangelopoulos	Descendant of the bringer of good news	Greek	Strong spiritual roots
Christakis	Follower of Christ	Greek	Faithful and enduring
Agapios	Love (Christian virtue)	Greek	Warm and meaningful
Sotiriou	Savior	Greek	Deep spiritual meaning
Kyrillos	Lordly	Greek	Religious and historic
Angelidis	Son of the angel	Greek	Heavenly and symbolic
Panagopoulos	Descendant of the all-holy	Greek	Orthodox heritage
Lazarou	From Lazarus (resurrected)	Greek	Biblical and hopeful
Apostolou	Of the apostles	Greek	Deeply Christian

Famous Greek Last Names in History & Pop Culture

Surnames associated with leaders, philosophers, and cultural icons.

Last Name	Famous For	Why Choose It?
Socrates	Ancient philosopher	Wisdom and philosophy
Aristotle	Philosopher and scientist	Knowledge and reason
Plato	Philosopher, student of Socrates	Classic and intellectual
Pericles	Statesman of Athens	Leadership and power
Homer	Epic poet of Iliad & Odyssey	Literary greatness
Zorba	Zorba the Greek (novel/film)	Cultural vibrancy
Kazantzakis	Author of Zorba the Greek	Literary prestige
Onassis	Aristotelis Onassis (shipping tycoon)	Wealth and influence
Papandreou	Greek Prime Minister family	Political legacy
Seferis	Nobel Prize-winning poet	Cultural brilliance

Tips for Understanding Greek Last Names

Look for suffixes → “-poulos” (descendant of), “-akis” (small/little), “-idis” (son of).
Connect to regions → Names often link to villages or towns.
Family traditions → Passed down with strong lineage pride.
Religious influence → Many surnames reflect Christianity.
Say it aloud → Greek names often sound musical and elegant.

FAQs about Greek Last Names

Q1: Why do many Greek last names end with “-poulos” or “-akis”?
These suffixes indicate lineage or regional origins. For example, Papadopoulos means “son of a priest.”

Q2: Are Greek last names tied to religion?
Yes, many surnames have Christian and Orthodox roots, such as Christodoulou or Panagopoulos.

Q3: What are the most common Greek last names today?
Popular surnames include Papadopoulos, Pappas, Ioannou, Georgiou, and Nikolaidis.

Q4: Do Greek last names connect to mythology?
Absolutely. Names like Herakleous, Apollonios, and Olympios trace back to gods and heroes.

Q5: Can non-Greeks use Greek surnames?
Yes, especially for storytelling, creative projects, or honoring cultural heritage.

Conclusion

Greek last names are more than just identifiers—they carry history, family pride, and timeless meaning. From strong warrior names like Leonidas, to noble surnames like Doukas, and spiritual names like Christodoulou, each one tells a story of heritage and resilience.

Whether you’re exploring genealogy, naming a character, or simply fascinated by Greek culture, these surnames offer a window into one of the world’s richest traditions.