Greek cypriot girl names..please help!

[chelleyk]

I'm in desperate need of suggestions for a baby girl name. DH is Greek Cypriot, I'm English. I'd quite like something of Greek Cypriot origin if possible but have yet to find any I absolutely love. If it's a boy I've already agreed we can name after FIL (not thrilled but we have to compromise somewhere). Though I'd love something meaningful I haven't come across any on DH's side of family (or mine for that matter) that I really like enough (names in his family include Androulla, Despina, Helen, Marina, Mary etc). Would love something that also has a Greek name day.

My current shortlist is, er, short:
Sophia or Evangelia, but both Sophia and Eva seem to be topping the popular baby names list right now....

I had always wanted Ella for a girl but unfortunately in Greek it means "come here" or hi so I just can't name a girl after a beckoning call!

Suggestions please!

I used to know an Anthoula and a Savoula - not sure of the spellings.

I have a Greek Cypriot friend called Stefani. Which I think is quite nice.

Iliana?

My greek friends are called Stephanie and Angela.

Anna
Georgia
Cassia
Xanthe
Phoebe
Sapphira
Selena
Theodora
Melissa
Anastasia
Charis
Ivy
Penelope
Talia
Dianthe
Callidora
Zoe
Philippa
Lillian
Elina
Kara
Anthea
Katherine
Sybil
Alyssa
Charissa
Hera
Karen
Jacinta
Alexandra
Alcina
Isadora
Ianthe
Athena
Vanessa
Adara
Christina
Eugenia
Elodie

Eleni? Close to Ella

When are you due? Have you looked up the namedays for the fortnight on either side of your due date?

My first thought was Evangelia ("good news"), before I even read your post. Nameday is March 25th, for the Annunciation. Don't worry about her nickname being popular, she may prefer a more common nickname to hide behind. Also, I know a few Evangelias who go by Lia.

Despina ("lady", as in the Virgin Mary) and Maria are both lovely, and you can pick any one of the four feast days of the Virgin for her name day. There are four: her Nativity on September 8, Presentation on November 21, Annunciation on March 25, or her Dormition on August 15. There are also a ton of feast days for her wonderworking icons. Let me know if you need help finding those.

Others:
Anastasia (Easter Sunday name day -- Tasia, Anna, Anya and Tia all nicknames)
Chrysanthe (nn Chryssa) (19 March - from a male saint name, not sure if you prefer a female saint)
Daria (19 March)
Elene/Eleni (21 May)
Petra (29 June - from a male saint name, not sure if you prefer a female saint)
Xenia (24 January)

Thanks so much everyone and thanks for the info on name days oikopolis! I'm due at the end of Feb but I think I would want a name day on a different day to the birthday (another excuse for cake!)

Eleni could be a good choice for a middle name so thanks to those who suggested it (Helen being his sisters name, Ellen being my mums middle name and May 21 being our wedding anniversary). I think it goes better with Sophia than Evangelia. Any thoughts? Or more suggestions on a first name that would go well with Eleni?

I have relatives Christalla, Christalou, Melanie, Androula, Katerina, Orthodoxia

IMO an "-a" ending would flow well...

Calista Eleni
Calista means "most beautiful", Eleni means "torch" (i.e., bright, lovely), not sure if you're into meanings. Nameday for Calista is 14 Oct.

Sophia Eleni is nice enough.
Nameday for Sophia ("wisdom") is 15 May.

Georgia Eleni
Nameday for Georgia ("farmer"/"tiller of earth") is 23 April. I can almost guarantee you'll be honoring a million of DH's forbears with that one...

Gabriella Eleni
Nameday is either 25 March, or 29 September with the other archangels.

Raphaela Eleni
Nameday 29 September, with the other archangels.

Theodora Eleni
Nameday 14 November.

You're right, Evangelia Eleni is a bit much with the "E".

Gabriella = "God is my strength"
Raphaela = "God heals"
Theodora = "gift from God"

I love Eleni but DH who is English poo pooed it. I so would have gone for it.

I have a Zoe which means life and isn't too Greek sounding.

I was going to go with Sophia when I had DS but went off it due to the popularity of Sophia. I also had Helena and Alexa on my list.

Chrystalla is another good one. I have relatives called Kia, Andrianna (sp?), Ellena, Natalia, Safo, Maroulla / Mary, Theodora.

Eleni
Litza

I love Eleni for these reasons: 'Helen being his sisters name, Ellen being my mums middle name and May 21 being our wedding anniversary' - such significance!

I'm not GC but know many GC families.

I know a little Evangelina nn Angelie, an Anastasia nn Tess, a Chrystalla nn Tally, several Sophias and Alexias and a beautiful little Athena nn Thea (Tee-ah)

Has someone been looking for information on the name Maywood. My mother was a Maywood

................................... Zombie Thread

Theodora and Xanthe are gorgeous

When I was in Cyprus I knew an Anthie, Monica, Androula, Artemis, Simona, Maria, Petra, Andrea and a Christina. The Petra doll is the Greek version of Barbie. I think Artemis is particularly pretty.

My dad is greek cypriot and I LOVE Evangelia!

In my family we have:
Helena
Athena
Epiphani
Christina
Evy (pronounced like "heavy" without the "h")

I think Sophia is really overdone although it's a nice enough name...

I'd go with Elena or Helena, rather than Eleni.

Theodora/Thora

Antigone (gorgeous in Greek)

Zoe (means life)

Katerina

Anastasia

Eek, just realised this thread is from 2011 - oops.
Wonder what they called their DD

Theodora is a beautiful name