Mycenaean Names

The names that Homer uses in his epics seem to be taken from Mycenaean times. Many of the names include the typical -eus ending of the period. Names could be formed by adding a suffix to a common noun. Unlike during Classical Greek times, the suffix -ides or -ades ("son") was not used during Mycenaean times. (1)

Female Names

Alexandra -- (1)
Ariadnh -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Eritha -- A priestess (1)
Karpathia -- A Karpathia was listed as a "key-bearer" on the Sphagianes land tablets (Sphagianes is a district of Pylos). Karpathia owned two plots of land. (1)
Korinsia -- The name comes from the adjective of Korinthos (Corinth). There is a Korinthos within the territory of Pylos as well. (1)
Poulxeria -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later.(4)

Male Names

Aiguptios -- Comes from the word for "Egyptian". This was the name of a person at Knossos. (1)
A-ka-re-u -- A man from Phaistos who delivered a lot of spice. (3)
Akhilleus -- This name was found at Pylos and Knossos. (1)
Alektruon -- A man holding this name was from the ruling class of Pylos. (1)
Amphimedes -- This was a landowner in Pylos. (1)
Andronikh - An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Antromaxos - An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
A-ra-na-ro -- Probable Hellenized form of A-ra-na-re. The latter was found on a Linear A tablet from Haghia Triadha. (1)
Argurios -- From the word "arguros" or "silver". (1)
Augewas -- A man bearing this name was a Mycenaean official. (1)
Dhmofanhs -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Di-de-ro -- Probable Hellenized form of Di-de-ru. The latter was found on a Linear A tablet from Haghia Triadha. (1)
Drakokardos -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Drakomaxos -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Ekhinos -- This was the name of a shepherd. The name means "Sea-urchin." (1)
Enkhelyawon -- Possibly the name of wanax or king of Pylos (2)
Eruthros -- "Red". This may be a nickname. (1)
Etewoklewes -- The Mycenaean form of Eteokles. (1)
Eumenes -- (1)
Euruptolemos -- (1)
Filaretos -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean. (4)
Glaukos -- This name means, "Grey-eyed." (1)
Hektor -- This name was found at Pylos. (1)
Khalkeus -- "Smith", an occupational name. (1)
Kleonikh -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean. (4)
Klumenos -- This name was held by a man from Iterewa who was a commander of one sector of the coastguard. (1)
Klymenos -- A man who was a MO-RO-QA, the commander of a military unit, and a KO-RE-TE, another type of local official. Perhaps a variant translation of the above name. (2)
Ku-pi-ri-jo (Kyprios) -- The chief administrative official of the perfumed oil industry at Knossos during Mycenaean times. (3)
Kupridhmos -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Lukios -- This comes from the name for Lycia in southwestern Anatolia. (1)
Makhawon -- From the word "Makha", "to battle". (1)
Nikostratos -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Opilimnios -- (1)
Orestes -- This individual was a subordinate officer at Pylos. (1)
Philowergos -- (1)
Plouteus -- From "ploutos" or "wealth". (1)
Poimen -- This is an occupational name for a shepherd. (1)
Poimnios -- From the word "poimna" or "flock". (1)
Poliwos -- From the word for "grey". It may be a nickname. (1)
Radamanqus -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Tripodiskos -- The name means "little threefoot" or "little tripod (cauldron). (1)
Tripolemos -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)
Tros -- This name occurs at Pylos. (1)
Tulisios -- This name comes from the adjective of the Cretan town, "Tulisos." The name was held by a man at Pylos. (1)
Turios -- This name comes from the place name, "Tyre". (1)
Tu-wi-no-no (Twinon) -- The name of a perfumer at Knossos during Mycenaean times. (3)
Wedaneus -- This was the name of an important man in Pylos. (1)
Xaridhmos -- An "ancient type" name of Crete. Could be Mycenaean or later. (4)

Mycenaean Towns

Halikarnassos -- This may be a Mycenaean outpost. (1)
Miletos -- Miletos or Miletus in Ionia was inhabited by the Mycenaeans. The name "Miletos" does not date to Mycenaean times. (1)

Source:

(1) The Mycenaean World, by John Chadwick, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1976, 1999.

(2) The Linear B Tablets and Mycenaean Social, Political, and Economic Organization

(3) The Knossian Perfume Industry A Linear B tablet from Knossos in the Fitzwilliam Museum , Dr. L.M. Bendall, Faculty of Classics, University of Cambridge, 2004.

(4) Classics Log 9803c, (omega.cohums.ohio-state.edu/mailing_lists/CLA-L/Older/log98/9803c/ 9803c.207.html), by Antreas P. Hatzipolakis, March 18, 1998.

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Last Updated June 2004