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Very nice Pavlos... (more)
What are your thoughts on transliterating modern Greek names? Do you favour the same formula used for transliterating the older names, or rather one that reflects modern pronunciation?In the Greek name day list I'm currently using, we have Varvara, Evfemia, Ariadni, and Elisavet. As a Greek, would you rather see Barbara, Euphemia, Ariadne, and Elisabet?
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Thanks Mike! I definitely prefer female names ending with an "eta" to be transliterated with an "e" rather then an "i" (eg. Ariadne rather than Ariadni). Concerning "betas", "V" is phonetically closer than "B". However, again, I think "Basilis" is more elegant than "Vasilis". Hence, better Phoebe than Phoevi! Things become more complex with diphthongs: for example "au" (alpha upsilon) may be pronounced either as "av" of "aph". Hence I transliterate my name as "Pavlos" rather than "Paulos".
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Here come the etymologies......of some of the above names not included in BtN:Achillios M – Variation of Achilles
Agape F - Love
Agapios M - Love
Agapitos M - Beloved
Agathaggelos M – good (“agathos”) angel
Agathodoros M – Good gift
Agathonikos M – good victory
Aggelos M - Angel
Aglaia F – Bright/shining (from “aglaos”)
Akakios M – “non-evil” (“a – kakon”)
Alphaios M – he who “brings in, fetches” (from “alphaio”)
Anargyros, Argyris M – “without silver”, i.e. poor
Anatolios M – Male version of Anatole
Andronikos M – Male victory
Anthimos M – Flowery (from “anthos”)
Aphrodisios M – Related to Aphrodite
Apostolos, Apostolis M - Apostle
Archelaos M – Leader of the people
Archippos M – Leader of the horses
Aristarchos M - “best leader”
Asterios M – Related to stars
Athenagoras M – He who lectures (“agoreuo”) in Athens
Auxentios M – he who grows (“auxesis” – growth)
Benediktos M - Benedict
Chara F Happiness
Charalampos M – He who shines (“Lampsis”) from happiness (“chara”)
Chariklia F Happiness
Charitine F – Grace from “Chare”
Chariton M – Grace from “Chare”
Christodoulos M –slave (“doulos”) of Christ
Chrysanthe F – golden (“chryson”) flower
Chrysanthos M – golden (“chryson”) flower
Chrysostomos M – golden mouth (“stoma”)
Dareia F – from OPers. Dârayavauð 'upholder of the Good'),
Despoina F – mistress, lady queen – used in the sense of the Latin Madonna
Dorotheos M – see Dorothy
Elpida F - hope

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Would you say that all of these are used in modern Greece? Or are some of them archaic?
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IN CONTEMPORARY USE:
Agape F - Love
Agapios M - Love
Aggelos M - Angel
Aglaia F – Bright/shining (from “aglaos”)
Akakios M – “non-evil” (“a – kakon”)
Anargyros, Argyris M – “without silver”, i.e. poor
Apostolos, Apostolis M - Apostle
Asterios M – Related to stars
Chara F Happiness
Charalampos M – He who shines (“Lampsis”) from happiness (“chara”)
Chariklia F Happiness
Charitine F – Grace from “Chare”
Chrysanthe F – golden (“chryson”) flower
Chrysanthos M – golden (“chryson”) flower
Dareia F – from OPers. Dârayavauð 'upholder of the Good'),
Despoina F – mistress, lady queen – used in the sense of the Latin Madonna
Dorotheos M – see Dorothy
Elpida F - hope
Eulampios, Lampis M – he who shines brightly
Euphrosyne, Phroso F - mirth, merriment, name of one of the graces
Eustathios, Stathis M – he who is stable – a Hellenic version of the Latin Constantine
Euthalia, Thalia F - bloom, flower
Glykeria F - Sweet
Kyriake, Kiki F – of the Lord (Kyrios)
Laurentios M - Laurence
Panteleimon, Pantelis M – all (“pan”) merciful (“eleimon”)
Parakseue M – “preparation” – later the name of Friday
Phanourios, Fanouris M – shining, beaming, radiant (from “phanos”)
Photios, Photis M – Bright (“phos” – light)
Sotiria F salvation
Sotiris M salvation, Greek version of Salvator
Stavros M Cross
Styliane, Stella F - She who carries a mast (stylis)
Stylianos, Stelios M - He who carries a mast (stylis)
Theodosia F – given to/from God
Theophania, Phane F – Shining (“phanos”) of God
Theophanis, Phanis – Shining (“phanos”) of God

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