Greek City Name Generator
Ancient poleis, colonies, and modern Greek cities
Generate authentic Greek city names, from classical poleis like Athens, Sparta, and Corinth to far-flung colonies such as Syracuse and Byzantium and modern cities like Thessaloniki and Patras. Built for historical fiction, mythology retellings, and strategy-game maps.
About Greek city names
The ancient Greek world was a network of poleis, independent city-states that stretched far beyond mainland Greece. Athens, Sparta, Thebes, and Corinth are the famous ones, but Greek cities also lined the coast of Asia Minor (Miletus, Ephesus, Halicarnassus), the Black Sea (Sinope, Olbia, Byzantium), Sicily and southern Italy (Syracuse, Taras, Croton), North Africa (Cyrene, Naucratis), and even southern France and Spain (Massalia, Emporion). Many names honor gods or founders, such as Apollonia for Apollo, Poseidonia for Poseidon, and Alexandria for Alexander, while others describe the site: Megalopolis is 'great city', Neapolis is 'new city', and Naupactus is 'shipyard'.
Spelling is worth a moment's thought. English usually inherits the Latinized forms (Corinth, Mycenae, Halicarnassus), but the Greek transliterations (Korinthos, Mykenai, Halikarnassos) with k instead of c and -os instead of -us feel more authentic for stories told from a Greek point of view. Modern Greek cities like Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion, and Kalamata follow modern transliteration and are perfect for contemporary settings.
This collection covers all of these layers: classical poleis, colonies across the Mediterranean, Cretan and island cities, and today's major Greek cities. Use it for mythology retellings, historical novels, Total War or Civilization-style campaigns, or any fantasy world that borrows a Hellenic flavor.
How to choose Greek city names
- Decide on a transliteration style and stick to it: Latinized (Corinth, Syracuse, Cnidus) reads classic and familiar; direct Greek (Korinthos, Syrakousai, Knidos) reads scholarly and immersive.
- Match the era: Mycenae, Tiryns, and Pylos suit the Bronze Age and the Trojan War; Athens, Sparta, and Miletus fit the classical period; Alexandria, Antioch, and Pergamon are Hellenistic.
- Colony names hint at geography. Cities on the Black Sea (Sinope, Trapezus, Olbia) or in Sicily (Akragas, Gela, Selinus) tell readers your story has left the Aegean.
- To invent a Greek-sounding city, use a god or founder plus -polis, -eia, or -ia (Artemisia, Heraclea, Demetrias), or a landscape word plus a Greek ending (Leukopolis for 'white city').
- For modern Greece, use current names (Heraklion not Candia, Thessaloniki not Salonica) unless your story is deliberately historical.
Frequently asked questions
Are these real ancient Greek cities?
Yes. The list mixes real classical poleis, real Greek colonies around the Mediterranean and Black Sea, and real modern Greek cities. Nothing here is invented.
Why are some cities spelled with a C and others with a K?
English traditionally uses Latin spellings (Corinth, Cnidus), while direct transliteration from Greek uses K (Korinthos, Knidos). Both are correct; the K forms simply feel closer to how the Greeks wrote them.
What does polis mean, and how is it different from a town?
A polis was a self-governing city-state with its own laws, army, and coinage, and it usually controlled surrounding villages and farmland. In this generator, cities are those major centers, while the companion Greek Town Name Generator covers smaller towns and villages.
Can I use these names in a game or novel?
Yes. Historical and modern place names are free to use, and Greek city names appear in countless published novels, films, and strategy games.
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All 500 Greek city names
A: 69 names
- Abdera
- Abydos
- Acharnai
- Actium
- Adana
- Adramyttion
- Adria
- Aegae
- Aegina
- Aegium
- Agathe
- Agrinio
- Agyrion
- Ai Khanoum
- Aigeira
- Aigiale
- Aigosthena
- Ainos
- Aitna
- Akanthos
- Akragas
- Akrai
- Alalia
- Alexandreia Arachosia
- Alexandreia Areion
- Alexandreia Eschate
- Alexandria
- Alexandroupoli
- Alopekonnesos
- Alyzeia
- Amaseia
- Amathus
- Ambracia
- Amisus
A, continued
- Amorgos
- Amphipolis
- Amphissa
- Amyklai
- Anaktorion
- Anaphe
- Andros
- Anemourion
- Ankon
- Antandros
- Anthedon
- Antigoneia
- Antioch
- Antiocheia Margiane
- Antipolis
- Apameia
- Aphrodisias
- Aphytis
- Apollonia
- Apollonia Kyrenaike
- Apollonia Pontica
- Apros
- Argilos
- Argos
- Arkesine
- Asine
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Astakos
- Astypalaia
- Atarneus
- Athens
- Attaleia
- Aulis
- Aulon
B: 13 names
- Baktra
- Barca
- Bargylia
- Berenike
- Beroe
- Beroia
- Bisanthe
- Bizye
- Boura
- Bouthroton
- Brauron
- Byllis
- Byzantium
C: 22 names
- Carystus
- Catana
- Chaeronea
- Chalcedon
- Chalcis
- Chalkida
- Chania
- Chersonesus
- Chios
- Clazomenae
- Cnidus
- Colophon
- Corcyra
- Corfu
- Corinth
- Cos
- Croton
- Cumae
- Cyme
- Cyrene
- Cythera
- Cyzicus
D: 17 names
- Daphne
- Dekeleia
- Delos
- Delphi
- Demetrias
- Didyma
- Dikaiarcheia
- Dion
- Dionysopolis
- Dioskourias
- Dodona
- Doriskos
- Doura Europos
- Drabeskos
- Drama
- Dyme
- Dyrrhachion
E: 18 names
- Edessa
- Edessa Osroene
- Eion
- Elaia
- Elaious
- Elateia
- Elea
- Eleusis
- Eleutherai
- Elis
- Emporion
- Ephesus
- Epidamnus
- Epidaurus
- Eretria
- Erythrae
- Eryx
- Euhesperides
G: 10 names
- Galepsos
- Gargara
- Gela
- Golgoi
- Gomphoi
- Gonnoi
- Gorgippia
- Gortyn
- Gryneion
- Gytheion
H: 21 names
- Halaisa
- Haliartos
- Halicarnassus
- Halieis
- Halonnesos
- Helike
- Hemeroskopeion
- Heraclea Pontica
- Heraia
- Heraion Teichos
- Herakleia Minoa
- Herakleia Trachinia
- Herakleion
- Heraklion
- Hermione
- Hermonassa
- Himera
- Hipponion
- Histria
- Hyampolis
- Hydrous
I: 12 names
- Ialysos
- Iasos
- Idalion
- Ikaria
- Ilion
- Ioannina
- Iolcus
- Ios
- Ioulis
- Issos
- Istros
- Ithaca
K: 63 names
- Kabeira
- Kabyle
- Kalakte
- Kalamata
- Kallatis
- Kallipolis
- Kalos Limen
- Kalydon
- Kalymna
- Kamarina
- Kameiros
- Kanopos
- Kardia
- Karpathos
- Karteria
- Karthaia
- Kasmenai
- Kasos
- Kassandreia
- Kassiope
- Kassope
- Kaulonia
- Kaunos
- Kavala
- Kebren
- Kelenderis
- Kenchreai
- Kentoripa
- Keos
- Kephallenia
- Kephaloidion
K, continued
- Kepoi
- Kerasous
- Kerkinitis
- Keryneia
- Kimmerikon
- Kios
- Kirrha
- Kition
- Klaros
- Kleitor
- Kleonai
- Knossos
- Komana Pontica
- Komotini
- Korakesion
- Koresia
- Koroneia
- Korykos
- Kotyora
- Kourion
- Kozani
- Kranae
- Krane
- Krannon
- Kremna
- Krenides
- Kydonia
- Kyllene
- Kynaitha
- Kypsela
- Kyrrhos
- Kythnos
L: 28 names
- Lakedaimon
- Lamia
- Lampsacus
- Laodikeia
- Laos
- Lapethos
- Larissa
- Larymna
- Lato
- Lebadeia
- Lebedos
- Lechaion
- Ledra
- Leontini
- Lepreon
- Lerna
- Leros
- Leucas
- Leuctra
- Leukai
- Lilybaion
- Limyra
- Lindos
- Lissos
- Locri
- Lychnidos
- Lykosoura
- Lysimacheia
M: 37 names
- Madytos
- Magnesia
- Mainake
- Mantinea
- Marathon
- Marcianopolis
- Marion
- Maroneia
- Massalia
- Medma
- Megalopolis
- Megara
- Megara Hyblaia
- Melos
- Mende
- Mesembria
- Messana
- Messene
- Metapontum
- Methone
- Methymna
- Midea
- Mieza
- Miletus
- Minoa
- Monoikos
- Mopsouestia
- Motye
- Mycenae
- Mykonos
- Mylai
- Mylasa
- Myous
- Myra
- Myrina
- Myrmekion
- Mytilene
N: 18 names
- Nafplio
- Naissos
- Naucratis
- Naupactus
- Nauplia
- Naxos
- Neapolis
- Nemea
- Neokaisareia
- Neonteichos
- Nicopolis
- Nikaia
- Nikomedeia
- Nikonion
- Nisibis
- Nisyros
- Notion
- Nymphaion
O: 13 names
- Odessos
- Oia
- Oiniadai
- Oinoe
- Oisyme
- Olbia
- Olympia
- Olynthus
- Opous
- Orchomenus
- Oricum
- Oropos
- Ortygia
P: 56 names
- Pagasai
- Pale
- Panormos
- Panticapaeum
- Paphos
- Paphos Nea
- Parion
- Paros
- Patara
- Patmos
- Patrae
- Patras
- Paxos
- Pelagonia
- Pella
- Pellene
- Pelousion
- Peparethos
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Perinthus
- Phaistos
- Phanagoria
- Pharai
- Pharsalus
- Phaselis
- Phasis
- Pheneos
- Pherae
- Phigaleia
- Philippi
- Philippopolis
- Phlius
- Phocaea
- Phoinike
- Pholegandros
- Piraeus
- Pisa
- Pitane
- Pithekoussai
- Pityous
- Plataea
- Pleuron
- Poiessa
- Poseidonia
- Potidaea
- Priapos
- Priene
- Pronnoi
- Prousa
- Psophis
- Ptolemais Hermiou
- Ptolemais Kyrenaike
- Pydna
- Pylos
- Pyxous
R: 7 names
- Rethymno
- Rhamnous
- Rhegium
- Rheneia
- Rhode
- Rhodes
- Rhypes
S: 47 names
- Sagalassos
- Salamis
- Same
- Samos
- Sane
- Sardis
- Sebasteia
- Segesta
- Seleucia
- Seleukeia Pieria
- Seleukeia Tigris
- Selge
- Selinus
- Selymbria
- Serdike
- Seriphos
- Serres
- Sestos
- Sicyon
- Side
- Sikinos
- Sillyon
- Sinope
- Siphnos
- Siris
- Skandeia
- Skepsis
- Skiathos
- Skillous
- Skione
- Skopelos
- Skotoussa
- Skylletion
- Skyros
- Smyrna
- Soli
- Soloeis
- Sounion
- Sparta
- Spina
- Stagira
- Stobi
- Stratos
- Stymphalos
- Sybaris
- Syracuse
- Syros
T: 41 names
- Tamassos
- Tanagra
- Tanais
- Taras
- Tarsus
- Taucheira
- Tauromenion
- Tegea
- Telmessos
- Telos
- Temesa
- Temnos
- Tenea
- Tenos
- Teos
- Terina
- Termessos
- Thasos
- Thebes
- Theodosia
- Thera
- Thermai Himeraiai
- Thermon
- Thermopylae
- Thespiae
- Thessaloniki
- Thisbe
- Thorikos
- Thurii
- Tiryns
- Tomis
- Torone
- Trachis
- Tralles
- Trapezus
- Trikka
- Tripoli
- Tritaia
- Troezen
- Tyras
- Tyritake
V: 2 names
- Veria
- Volos
X: 2 names
- Xanthi
- Xanthos