Greek Boy Names That Mean Royalty
Greek boy names that mean royalty cluster around one ancient root word for crown, plus a handful of gods and kings pulled straight from myth.
Names117
OriginGreek
MeaningRoyalty
GenderBoy
Five names on this list trace back to the same Greek word, stephanos, meaning crown or wreath: Steven, Stephen, Esteban, Stefan, and Stephan. Each language reshaped the sound differently, but the crown at the center never moved.
The rest of the list reaches royalty through myth and history rather than the word "crown" itself: Zeus ruled as king of the gods, Leonidas was a real Spartan king, and Nestor was the wise elder king of Pylos in the Iliad.
Why One Greek Word Produced So Many Greek Boy Names That Mean Royalty
The pattern here is really one name wearing five outfits. Stephen is the English form, Steven its alternate spelling, Esteban the Spanish version, and Stefan and Stephan the Germanic and Scandinavian forms. All of them descend from Greek stephanos, and all of them share a namesake: the first Christian martyr, whose crown gave the word its royal weight for two thousand years.
The Kings, Gods, and Well-Born Names on This List
The rest earn royalty through story rather than etymology. Zeus is literally the king of the gods, Titan names the elder gods he overthrew to take that throne, and Eugene means well-born, the old Greek word for aristocratic stock. Caspian and Darian arrive from outside Greek — a literary prince and a Persian royal name — proof that parents chasing this meaning end up borrowing from more than one ancient language.
Names List
Cyrus#268 in the U.S.Sun; far-sighted; possibly throne or youngPronounced SY-rus▶Steven#271 in the U.S.Crown; wreath; English form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos (crown, wreath)Pronounced STEE-ven▶Onyx#365 in the U.S.From the Greek 'onyx', meaning claw or fingernail (because the stone's colors resemble a fingernail) — a Pronounced ON-iks▶Stephen#383 in the U.S.From Greek Stephanos meaning crown or garland, the symbol of victory and honor in classical antiquityPronounced STEE-ven▶Esteban#461 in the U.S.Spanish form of Stephen/Steven, from Greek 'Stephanos' meaning 'crown' or 'garland'; the Greek name was bPronounced es-TEH-ban▶Caspian#491 in the U.S.From the Latin Caspius/Greek Kaspios, referring to the Caspian Sea region; possibly from the ancient CaspPronounced KAS-pee-un▶Leonidas#510 in the U.S.From Greek Leonidas, derived from leon (lion) + the patronymic suffix -idas meaning 'son of,' thus 'son oPronounced lee-ON-ih-das▶Philip#528 in the U.S.From Greek Philippos, a compound of philos ('loving') and hippos ('horse'), meaning 'lover of horses' or Pronounced FIL-ip▶Nikolai#605 in the U.S.Russian form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos, composed of nike ('victory') and laos ('people'), meaning Pronounced NIK-oh-ly▶Kyro#611 in the U.S.Variant of Cyrus, from Greek Kyros which may derive from Persian Kūruš meaning 'sun' or 'like the sun,' oPronounced KY-roh▶Phillip#651 in the U.S.From Greek Philippos, composed of philein meaning to love and hippos meaning horse; the name was borne byPronounced FIL-ip▶Darius#788 in the U.S.Possessor of goodness or he who upholds good; from Old Persian Darayavahush, combining daraya meaning to Pronounced deh-RY-us▶Darian#928 in the U.S.Variant of Darius, from Old Persian Dārayavahush, composed of daraya (to hold, to maintain) and vahu (gooPronounced DAIR-ee-un▶Eugene#943 in the U.S.From Greek Eugenios, composed of eu meaning good or well and genos meaning birth, race, or family, thus mPronounced YOO-jeen▶Felipe#955 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Philip, from Greek Philippos composed of philos meaning lover or friend anPronounced feh-LEE-pay▶Stefan#1000 in the U.S.Crown; wreath; the Germanic/Scandinavian form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos (crown, wreath)Pronounced STEF-un▶Titan#1016 in the U.S.Great one; powerful ruler; from Greek Titan, the elder generation of gods in Greek mythology who precededPronounced TY-tun▶Zeus#1073 in the U.S.Sky; shine; from Proto-Indo-European *dyeu- (to shine, the sky), giving Greek Zeus (king of the gods, godPronounced ZOOS▶Nestor#1715 in the U.S.from the Greek 'Nestor', associated with 'nostos' ('homecoming, return'); in Greek myth, the wise elder kPronounced NES-ter▶Stephan#1723 in the U.S.A variant of Stephen, from Greek 'stephanos' meaning 'crown' or 'garland'.Pronounced STEF-uhn▶Basil#2009 in the U.S.From Greek Basileios 'royal, kingly', from basileus 'king'Pronounced BAS-eel▶Stefano#2301 in the U.S.crown, garlandPronounced steh-FAH-noh▶Demian#2340 in the U.S.To tame; subdue; from Greek Damianos (from damao: to tame, to subdue), or a variant of Damian; also evokiPronounced deh-mee-AN▶Stevie#2982 in the U.S.Crown or wreath; a diminutive of Steven or Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos meaning crown or garlandPronounced STEE-vee▶Kyrell#3069 in the U.S.Modern American name, likely a blend or elaboration of Cyril (from Greek Kyrillos, meaning 'lord') and DaPronounced ky-REL▶Rion#3368 in the U.S.Variant of Ryan — from Irish Ó Riain, 'descendant of Rian', often glossed 'little king' — or a clipped foPronounced RY-ən▶Kitt#3416 in the U.S.Double-t form of Kit, the medieval pet form of Christopher — Greek 'bearer of Christ' — with surname and Pronounced KIT▶Kalon#3635 in the U.S.From Greek kalon, 'the beautiful, the good, the noble' (the ideal of beauty); also a modern Ka-/-lon coinPronounced KAY-lon▶Etienne#3900 in the U.S.French form of Stephen — Greek stephanos, 'crown, wreath' — the first martyr's laurelsPronounced eh-TYEN▶Midas#3941 in the U.S.The Phrygian king of the golden touch — etymology pre-Greek and uncertainPronounced MY-dəs▶Aleksandar#4061 in the U.S.Slavic form of Alexander — Greek alexein, 'to defend', plus aner, 'man' — 'defender of the people'Pronounced ah-lek-SAHN-dar▶Alexios#4062 in the U.S.From Greek alexein, 'to defend, help' — borne by Byzantine emperorsPronounced ah-LEK-see-os▶Eryx#4219 in the U.S.From Greek Eryx — a mythical son of Aphrodite and king/boxer, and a mountain in Sicily; etymology uncertaPronounced AIR-iks▶Aristede#4763 in the U.S.Aristede is a form of Aristide, the French and Italian version of the Greek Aristides, from aristos, 'besPronounced ar-iss-TEED▶Anubis#4881 in the U.S.From the Greek form of Egyptian Anpu — the jackal-headed god of mummification and the afterlife; possiblyPronounced ə-NOO-biss▶Stiven#5015 in the U.S.Latina phonetic spelling of Steven/Stephen — from Greek Stephanos, 'a crown, a garland'Pronounced STEE-vən▶Arien#5239 in the U.S.From Arion (a Greek poet/the constellation; linked to 'very holy'); also echoes Aryan/Arian, 'noble'; herPronounced AIR-ee-ən▶Ariston#5240 in the U.S.From Greek aristos, 'the best, the noblest, the most excellent' (the superlative of agathos, 'good')Pronounced AIR-iss-ton▶Archimedes#5444 in the U.S.From Greek Archimedes — 'master of thought; ruler of the mind' (arche, 'ruler', plus medos, 'thought, minPronounced ar-kih-MEE-deez▶Basilio#5918 in the U.S.The Spanish/Italian form of Basil — from Greek basileios, 'kingly, royal' (from basileus, 'a king')Pronounced bah-SEE-lee-oh▶Stephano#6117 in the U.S.An Italian form of Stephen (Stefano) — from Greek stephanos, 'a crown, a garland; that which surrounds'Pronounced steh-FAH-noh▶Vasilios#6138 in the U.S.The Greek form of Basil — from Greek basileios, 'kingly, royal' (from basileus, 'a king')Pronounced vah-SEE-lee-os▶Aristos#6189 in the U.S.From Greek aristos, 'the best; excellent; noblest' (the root of aristocrat)Pronounced ah-RIS-tos▶Baz#6490 in the U.S.Variously a pet of Basil (Greek, 'kingly; royal') or Sebastian, and the Arabic/Persian baz, 'a falcon'; rPronounced BAZ▶Estiven#6546 in the U.S.A Latina phonetic spelling of Steven/Stephen — from Greek Stephanos, 'a crown; a garland; that which surrPronounced es-TEE-ven▶Tyrian#6777 in the U.S.From 'Tyrian' — 'of Tyre' (the ancient Phoenician city), best known for 'Tyrian purple', a prized royal dPronounced TEER-ee-en▶Eugen#7641 in the U.S.Eugen is the German and Scandinavian shape of Eugene, which comes from the Greek Eugenios, built from eu,Pronounced oy-GAYN▶Stefen#7648 in the U.S.A spelling of Stephen — from Greek Stephanos, 'a crown; a garland; a wreath'Pronounced STEF-en▶Stevan#7649 in the U.S.A Serbian form of Stephen — from Greek Stephanos, 'a crown; a garland; a wreath'Pronounced STEH-van▶Socrates#7688 in the U.S.Socrates is the classical Greek name Sokrates, usually explained from sos, safe, sound or whole, and kratPronounced SOK-ruh-teez▶Priam#8146 in the U.S.From the Greek Priamos, variously 'ransomed; redeemed' — the king of Troy in Homer's Iliad; we note the lPronounced PRY-am▶Stefon#8215 in the U.S.A form/spelling of Stephen/Stefan — from the Greek stephanos, 'a crown; a garland; a wreath'Pronounced STEH-fon▶Glauk#8526 in the U.S.An Albanian name from the Greek Glaukos, 'gleaming; bluish-grey; silvery' (a king of Illyria, Glaukias); Pronounced GLOWK▶Philippos#8660 in the U.S.The Greek form of Philip, from Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos, 'loving,' and hippos, 'horse'). A clPronounced fih-LIP-os▶Porfirio#8776 in the U.S.From the Spanish Porfirio (Greek Porphyrios) — from porphyra, 'purple; porphyry (a purple stone)' (a coloPronounced por-FEE-ree-oh▶Stefanos#8853 in the U.S.The Greek form of Stephen — from stephanos, 'a crown; a garland; a wreath (of victory)'Pronounced steh-FAH-nos▶Stolas#8855 in the U.S.From the Greek stolas, linked to 'a crow/owl' — also the name of an owl-shaped figure/prince in Western dPronounced STOH-lus▶Demetry#8952 in the U.S.Demetry is a streamlined spelling of Dmitri or Demetrius, from the Greek Demetrios, 'devoted to Demeter,'Pronounced duh-MEE-tree▶Ezekias#9170 in the U.S.The Greek form of Hezekiah, from the Hebrew Hizqiyahu, 'the Lord strengthens' — the name of a righteous kPronounced eh-zeh-KYE-us▶Gennady#9269 in the U.S.Gennady is the anglicized form of the Russian Gennadiy, from the Greek gennadas, 'noble' or 'high-born' (Pronounced GEN-uh-dee▶Kristoph#9339 in the U.S.Kristoph is a clipped, Continental-looking form of Christopher, via the German/Slavic Kristof/Krzysztof. Pronounced KRIS-tof▶Stevenson#9721 in the U.S.An English surname, 'son of Steven' (Steven/Stephen, from the Greek stephanos, 'a crown/garland')Pronounced STEE-ven-sun▶Vasili#9779 in the U.S.A Greek/Russian form of Basil — from the Greek basileios, 'kingly; royal; of a king'Pronounced vah-SEE-lee▶Xylus#9810 in the U.S.A modern name, from the Greek xylo-, 'wood/of the forest'; a coinage evoking 'a woodland one'; routes uncPronounced ZY-lus▶Zoen#9856 in the U.S.A modern name, variously an echo of Zoe ('life', Greek) and Owen ('a young warrior/noble', Welsh); routesPronounced ZOH-en▶Adonus#9886 in the U.S.A modern form of Adonis, the strikingly beautiful youth loved by Aphrodite in Greek myth; his name becamePronounced uh-DOH-nus▶Eustacio#9891 in the U.S.Eustacio is the Spanish form of Eustace, from Greek Eustachys ('fruitful, rich in grain') or Eustathios (Pronounced ews-TAH-see-oh▶Esteven#10039 in the U.S.Esteven fuses the Spanish Esteban with the English Steven, both descended from the Greek Stephanos, meaniPronounced es-TEH-ven▶Dardan#10086 in the U.S.From the Albanian Dardan — 'of Dardania (an ancient Illyrian kingdom, from dardhe, 'a pear')'; a name of Pronounced DAR-dahn▶Estefan#10173 in the U.S.A Spanish form of Stephen/Esteban — from the Greek stephanos, 'a crown; a garland/wreath'; borne by SaintPronounced ES-teh-fahn▶Kron#10436 in the U.S.A modern given name whose sound echoes the Greek Cronus (the Titan of time) and 'crown'; no single fixed Pronounced KRON▶Kyros#10445 in the U.S.A spelling of Cyrus, from the Persian Kurush (via the Greek Kyros), variously 'lord; the sun; young'; thePronounced KY-ros▶Nicanor#10475 in the U.S.Nicanor is a Greek name from nike, victory, and aner or andros, man, meaning victorious man; it appears iPronounced nee-kah-NOR▶Therron#10614 in the U.S.Therron is a double-r spelling of Theron, from Greek theron, 'hunter.' It was the name of a ruler of anciPronounced THAIR-on▶Steffan#10652 in the U.S.A Welsh and German spelling of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown, garland, wreath' — the victor'sPronounced STEF-un▶Stepan#10653 in the U.S.The Russian and Ukrainian form of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garland; wreath.' A classic Pronounced steh-PAHN▶Steffon#10732 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Stephen/Stefan, from Greek Stephanos, 'crown, garland.' The variant spelling givesPronounced STEF-un▶Aedon#10796 in the U.S.Aedon is generally a stylized respelling of Aiden, the Irish name meaning little fire (from Aodh, a fire Pronounced AY-din▶Cassander#11137 in the U.S.The masculine counterpart of Cassandra, from the Greek Kassandros, joining elements often read as 'to excPronounced kuh-SAN-der▶Cristhofer#11173 in the U.S.A Latin American respelling of Christopher, from the Greek Christophoros, 'bearing Christ' (Christos + phPronounced kris-TOH-fur▶Dennys#11223 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Dennis, from the Greek Dionysius, 'follower of Dionysus' — the god of wine and festPronounced DEN-iss▶Ector#11242 in the U.S.Ector is a medieval form of Hector, from the Greek Hektor, 'holding fast' or 'steadfast'. In Arthurian lePronounced EK-tor▶Leonidus#11747 in the U.S.Leonidus is a variant spelling of Leonidas, from Greek leon ('lion'), meaning 'lion-like' or 'son of the Pronounced lee-ON-ih-dus▶Thales#11867 in the U.S.Thales is an ancient Greek name connected to the verb thallein, 'to bloom, to flourish,' and so understooPronounced THAY-leez▶Nikkolas#11885 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Nicholas, from the Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike + laos). Borne thPronounced NIK-uh-lus▶Steban#12113 in the U.S.Steban is a form of the Spanish Esteban (Stephen), from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garland.' A warm herPronounced steh-BAHN▶Steeve#12114 in the U.S.Steeve is a respelling of Steve, the short form of Stephen/Steven, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garlPronounced STEEV▶Urian#12198 in the U.S.Urian may be a form of the Welsh Urien, a legendary sixth-century king of Rheged in Arthurian tradition, Pronounced YOOR-ee-an▶Zeferino#12213 in the U.S.Zeferino is the Spanish form of Zephyrinus, a Latin name worn by an early pope and saint. It goes back toPronounced seh-feh-REE-noh▶Basile#12365 in the U.S.The French form of Basil, from the Greek Basileios, 'king; royal; kingly.' Long used in France; also the Pronounced bah-ZEEL▶Artreus#12397 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Atreus, the Greek mythic king and father of Agamemnon and Menelaus (also familiaPronounced AHR-troos▶Bazil#12470 in the U.S.A respelling of Basil, from the Greek Basileios, 'king; royal' — the same word behind the basil herb. NotPronounced BAZ-il▶Atreides#12480 in the U.S.Atreides is the name of the noble house in Frank Herbert's Dune, drawn from the ancient Greek patronymic Pronounced ah-TRAY-deez▶Colyn#12491 in the U.S.Colyn is an older-looking spelling of Colin, which began as a medieval pet form of Nicholas (Greek NikolaPronounced KOL-in▶Crystian#12587 in the U.S.Crystian is a respelling of Cristian and Christian, from the Latin Christianus, a follower of Christ, thrPronounced KRIS-chun▶Collis#12705 in the U.S.Collis is an English surname most often traced to Coll, a medieval short form of Nicholas (Greek 'victoryPronounced KOL-iss▶Demitrus#12721 in the U.S.Demitrus is a respelling of Demetrius, the Greek name meaning 'follower of Demeter' or 'devoted to DemetePronounced duh-MEE-trus▶Estiben#12826 in the U.S.Estiben is a phonetic spelling of the Spanish Esteban, the Spanish form of Stephen, from the Greek StephaPronounced es-tee-BEN▶Georg#12986 in the U.S.Georg is the German and Scandinavian form of George, from the Greek Georgios, built on 'ge' (earth) and 'Pronounced GAY-org▶Leonte#13298 in the U.S.A modern given name echoing Leon and Leontes ('lion'; the king in The Winter's Tale). As used here its roPronounced lee-ON-tay▶Pedrohenrique#13650 in the U.S.Pedrohenrique runs together Pedro and Henrique, a hugely popular Brazilian double name. Pedro is the PortPronounced PED-roh-en-REE-kee▶Serapio#13672 in the U.S.Serapio is the Spanish form of the Latin Serapion, a name built on Serapis, the Greco-Egyptian deity worsPronounced seh-RAH-pee-oh▶Philopater#13690 in the U.S.From Greek Philopator — philos ('loving') and pater ('father') — 'father-loving.' It was an epithet of PtPronounced fil-oh-PAY-ter▶Leonce#13772 in the U.S.Leonce is the French form of the Latin Leontius, drawn from the Greek leon, lion; it was borne by severalPronounced lay-ONS▶Theophile#13847 in the U.S.Theophile is the French form of Theophilus, from the Greek 'theos' (god) and 'philos' (loved, friend), giPronounced TAY-oh-feel▶Sotirios#13899 in the U.S.Sotirios is a Greek masculine name meaning 'savior,' from soter (genitive soteros), the same root behind Pronounced so-TEE-ree-os▶Ulysse#13902 in the U.S.Ulysse is the French form of Ulysses, itself the Latin name for the Greek hero Odysseus - the wandering kPronounced yoo-LEES▶Steeven#13925 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Steven, from Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garland' — the name of Saint Stephen, the fiPronounced STEE-vun▶Stephone#13928 in the U.S.A modern American form of Stephon, itself a reshaping of Stephen — from Greek Stephanos, 'crown; garland'Pronounced steh-FOHN▶Stepfon#13942 in the U.S.Stepfon is a phonetic spelling of Stephon, itself a modern variant of Stephen. Stephen comes from the GrePronounced STEF-on▶Vasily#14036 in the U.S.Vasily is the Russian form of Basil, which comes from the Greek Basileios, 'royal' or 'kingly,' from basiPronounced vuh-SEE-lee▶Vasile#14064 in the U.S.The Romanian form of Basil, from Greek basileios, 'kingly; royal', itself from basileus, 'king'. A very cPronounced vah-SEE-leh▶AreusAreus was the name of a king of Sparta in the ancient world; it also echoes Ares, the Greek god of war. TPronounced AIR-ee-us▶AtraeusAtraeus echoes Atreus, the mythical Greek king, father of Agamemnon and Menelaus, whose line the House ofPronounced uh-TRAY-us▶GanymedeFrom the Greek Ganymedes, variously 'glad to be a prince; gladdening; rejoicing in manhood' (ganymai, 'toPronounced GAN-uh-meed▶LaiosLaios is the Greek form of Laius, the mythic king of Thebes and father of Oedipus - noted honestly. ModerPronounced LY-os▶OedipusFrom the Greek Oidipous, 'swollen foot' (oidein, 'to swell', + pous, 'a foot'); the tragic king of ThebesPronounced ED-ih-pus▶
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Frequently Asked
What is the most common Greek boy name that means royalty?
The crown cluster is the most common: Stephen and its many forms, including Steven and Esteban, all come from Greek stephanos and have topped naming charts for centuries.