The Greek element eu — which means “well, good” — is featured in a number of familiar words, such as euphoria and euphemism.
It’s also featured in quite a few personal names. These eu-names may not be stylish right now, but they could be a good option if you’re searching for something uncommon and rather formal-sounding.
Below are some examples, plus definitions. (I stuck to feminine versions of the names just to keep things consistent.)
| Name (feminine form) | Meaning |
| Euangelia | “good news” |
| Eudoxia | “good fame” |
| Eugenia | “well-born” |
| Eulalia | “good talk” |
| Eunice | “good victory” |
| Eunomia | “good order” |
| Euodia | “good odor” |
| Euphemia | “good speech” |
| Euphrasia | “good cheer” |
| Euphronia | “good state of mind” |
| Eupraxia | “good practice” |
| Eusebia | “good reverence” |
| Eustacia | “good harvest” |
| Eustathia | “well-built” |
| Eustorgia | “good family-love” |
| Euthalia | “good bloom” |
| Euthymia | “good mood” |
| Eutropia | “good bend” |
| Eutychia | “good fortune” |
English-speakers tend to pronounce that first syllable yoo, but I’m pretty sure the Greeks articulated each vowel in the diphthong separately (something like eh-oo).
Do you like Eu-names? Which ones are your favorites?
great blog! I love the name Euthalia as the saints feast day is august 27, my late grandmothers birthday and I want a way to honour her :-) Do u know how its pronounced?
According to the source I just checked, it should be pronounced with 3 syllables, stress on the second syllable. Something like yoo-THAL-ya.
And here’s a quick guide to some of the others:
Eudoxia: yoo-DOKS-ya
Eugenia: yoo-JEEN-ya
Eunomia: yoo-NOM-ya (just like “gnome” – long o)
Euphemia: yoo-FEEM-ya
Eusebia: yoo-SEEB-ya
Eutropia: yoo-TROP-ya (just like “trope” – long o)
These are my interpretations of the pronunciations listed in An Explanatory and Phonographic Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language by William Bolles, published in 1845.
I didn’t realized that my daughter’s name – Eusebia, meant something. Very cool.
So, I’m greek and my name is Efrosini. However it greek it is spelt with an “EU” instead of an “EF/EV”.
In greek, the EU combination is pronounced as “EV” like: Evangeline.
I know this because it my family you wouldn’t believe how many “EV/EF” name I have:
– Euphemia (EV-THEE-MEE-UH) – goes by Effie
– Eustathia (EV-STA-THEE-UH) – goes by Esther
– Euphalia (EV-THA-LEE-UH) – goes by Thalia
– Eugenia (EV-YEN-KNEE-UH) – goes by Nia
– Euphrosini (EV-FRO-SEE-KNEE) – goes by Rosine and me Frances :)