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Help[Opinions] A name for an old Greek woman
Hi there, I am writing a book (hopefully this is in the right section) set in Greece, there is an elderly woman in the book.
If there's anyone here who knows a lot about Greek names (or maybe a native Greek, that would be even better ;) ), do you know any names for women which were used a long time ago (i mean long enough for her to be still alive, but in old age, if that makes sence) in Greece?
If this helps, this character is supposed to be unasuming at first but turns out to be really scary and holds a horrible secret. Name meanings aren't a priority.
Thanks,
Anastasia E
If there's anyone here who knows a lot about Greek names (or maybe a native Greek, that would be even better ;) ), do you know any names for women which were used a long time ago (i mean long enough for her to be still alive, but in old age, if that makes sence) in Greece?
If this helps, this character is supposed to be unasuming at first but turns out to be really scary and holds a horrible secret. Name meanings aren't a priority.
Thanks,
Anastasia E
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Replies
Maria. Keep it simple and realistic.
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Aikaterine!
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Olympia!
My neighbors growing up were an old Greek couple Nico and Olympia. I lost touch with them after we moved but they'd be in their 80s now. Not sure if that's older than you were looking for or not. If I remember correctly their daughter was called Thea which I am assuming was short for Theodora. She'd be around 50. The only other suggestion I have is Evangelia, the name of one of my student's who was named for her grandmother from Greece. She goes by Evie (EHV-ee)
My neighbors growing up were an old Greek couple Nico and Olympia. I lost touch with them after we moved but they'd be in their 80s now. Not sure if that's older than you were looking for or not. If I remember correctly their daughter was called Thea which I am assuming was short for Theodora. She'd be around 50. The only other suggestion I have is Evangelia, the name of one of my student's who was named for her grandmother from Greece. She goes by Evie (EHV-ee)
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Eleftheria
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Heriklea
We have friends around 60 years old. His mother, born in Greece, was named Heriklea, which he was at pains to make sure I understood how to spell and pronounce correctly (knowing that I am a name nerd).
She pronounced it, "hehr-IK-lee-uh" or "heh-RIK-lee-uh." This surprised me because I thought Hericlea (the only spelling I'd ever seen) was, "hehr-i-KLAY-uh." "No," I was corrected, "hehr-IK-lee-uh" / "heh-RIK-lee-uh." Upon coming to this country (U.S.) she was given the nn Rikki.
That's a long-winded way of telling you I know at least one, authentic, Greek little-old-lady name. I think it's darling.
We have friends around 60 years old. His mother, born in Greece, was named Heriklea, which he was at pains to make sure I understood how to spell and pronounce correctly (knowing that I am a name nerd).
She pronounced it, "hehr-IK-lee-uh" or "heh-RIK-lee-uh." This surprised me because I thought Hericlea (the only spelling I'd ever seen) was, "hehr-i-KLAY-uh." "No," I was corrected, "hehr-IK-lee-uh" / "heh-RIK-lee-uh." Upon coming to this country (U.S.) she was given the nn Rikki.
That's a long-winded way of telling you I know at least one, authentic, Greek little-old-lady name. I think it's darling.
This message was edited 6/4/2012, 5:55 PM
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Most Greek names are pretty old, dating from at least the Byzantine era (often before).
Here are the names of the older Greek women I've known. All were born in Greece except for Maria, who was born in the US to Greek parents. The years are their birth years (and death for the deceased):
Ismini (born 1907) - She's the oldest person I know. She celebrated her 105th birthday last month.
Vasiliki (1926-2010) - She and the two below her are Ismini's daughters.
Thalia (born 1928)
Andromachi (born 1931) - She's the maternal grandmother of one of my co-workers. I love her name!
Anastasia (born 1934) - The wife of Ismini's son Kyriakos, who is younger than all his sisters.
Maria (born 1935) - She worked at my middle school.
Eleni (1926-2012) - The aformentioned co-worker's other grandmother. She died at the start of this year.
Marianna (1934-2012) - She and the two below were various women that I've met. Marianna died back in March.
Chrysanthe (born 1917)
Theodora (born 1935)
My Greek-American co-worker's other great-grandmothers were named Maria, Varvara, and Erato. All of them died years ago. (This co-worker's name is Larissa.)
Here are the names of the older Greek women I've known. All were born in Greece except for Maria, who was born in the US to Greek parents. The years are their birth years (and death for the deceased):
Ismini (born 1907) - She's the oldest person I know. She celebrated her 105th birthday last month.
Vasiliki (1926-2010) - She and the two below her are Ismini's daughters.
Thalia (born 1928)
Andromachi (born 1931) - She's the maternal grandmother of one of my co-workers. I love her name!
Anastasia (born 1934) - The wife of Ismini's son Kyriakos, who is younger than all his sisters.
Maria (born 1935) - She worked at my middle school.
Eleni (1926-2012) - The aformentioned co-worker's other grandmother. She died at the start of this year.
Marianna (1934-2012) - She and the two below were various women that I've met. Marianna died back in March.
Chrysanthe (born 1917)
Theodora (born 1935)
My Greek-American co-worker's other great-grandmothers were named Maria, Varvara, and Erato. All of them died years ago. (This co-worker's name is Larissa.)
This message was edited 6/4/2012, 4:27 PM
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I really like Ismini! I might use that one...
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As someone who's a bit of a "Grecophile" in terms of names, these are ones that I imagine belonging to an elderly woman. (I know nothing about actual name statistics for Greece.)
Adrasteia
Agape
Aglaia
Alecto
Amalthea
Anthousa
Arethousa / Arethusa
Artemis / Artemisia
Athenais
Demostrate
Efrosyni
Eirene
Eleftheria
Elpida
Eos
Erato
Hagne
Iro
Kleio
Leda
Leto
Melete
Metis
Panagiota
Paraskeve / Paraskevi
Pelagia
Polyxena
Praxis
Ptolemais
Rhode
Sophronia
Sostrate
Sotiria
Spyridoula
Stamatia
Thais
Thaleia / Thalia
Xanthippe
Xenia
Zenais
Adrasteia
Agape
Aglaia
Alecto
Amalthea
Anthousa
Arethousa / Arethusa
Artemis / Artemisia
Athenais
Demostrate
Efrosyni
Eirene
Eleftheria
Elpida
Eos
Erato
Hagne
Iro
Kleio
Leda
Leto
Melete
Metis
Panagiota
Paraskeve / Paraskevi
Pelagia
Polyxena
Praxis
Ptolemais
Rhode
Sophronia
Sostrate
Sotiria
Spyridoula
Stamatia
Thais
Thaleia / Thalia
Xanthippe
Xenia
Zenais
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