Cleaning out some of my old university lecture notes yesterday, I came across the stash of names I had dutifully scribbled down from my Ancient Greece modules to pore over at a later date.
Here are some of the delights used for women in Greek society that you aren't likely to find in a baby name book (although there were plenty of Alexandras). Most are taken from tomb reliefs or stelae. In many cases the masculine form of the name is most recognisable, but these were all borne by the women of Greek society, some more commonly than others.
I'll start with the many that begin with A.
Abronike
αβρος "delicate, refined" + νικη "victory"
Abrosune / Abrosyne
"delicacy"
Lit. αβρος "delicate, refined" + συνη "joined with, perceived with"
Agathemeris
αγαθος "good"+ μερος "parts, pieces"
Agathoboule
αγαθος "good"+ βουλη "will, determination, counsel"
Agathokleia
αγαθος "good"+ κλεος "fame, glory"
Aglaotime
άγλαος "bright, shining" + τιμη "honour, virtue, worth"
Agne
αγνος "pure"
Agnodike
αγνος "pure" + δικη "justice"
Agnothea
αγνος "pure" + θεα "goddess"
Agnokrite
αγνος "pure" + κριτης "judge"
Agnostrate
αγνος "pure" + στρατος "army"
Alexibia
αλέξω "defender, protector" + βιος "life"
Alexippa
αλέξω "defender, protector" + ιππος "horse"
Alkestis
αλκη "strength, courage"
Alkinoa
αλκη "strength, courage" + νους "mind, intellect"
Ameinodora
ἄμεινον "better" + δωρον "gift"
Ameinokleia
ἄμεινον "better" + κλεος "fame, glory"
Amphikrateia
ἀμφί "concerning, about" + κρατος "power"
Archedike
ἄρχω "rule, command" + δικη "justice"
Archestrate
ἄρχω "rule, command" + στρατος "army"
Aristagora
αριστος "best, noble" + αγορα "market, meeting place"
Aristeia
"excellence, the best one can be"
Aristodike
αριστος "best, noble" + δικη "justice"
Aristonike
αριστος "best, noble" + νικη "victory"
Aristomache
αριστος "best, noble" + μαχη "battle"
Artemidora
Αρτεμις "Artemis" + δωρον "gift"
Asklepigeneia
Ἀσκληπιός "Asklepios" + γενης "born"
Athenagora
Αθηναις "Athens" + αγορα "market, meeting place"
Athenodora
Αθηνη "Athena" + δωρον "gift"
Auge / Ayge
"dawn"
N.B. Final 'e' is always pronounced (as in Zoe or Phoebe).
