Panayiotis

Meaning & origin

Panayiotis is a distinctly Greek name that has maintained steady, if modest, presence among U.S. births since it was first recorded in 1976. In its peak year of 2003, the name saw its highest usage, but it has been on a gradual decline since 2002, reflecting broader trends in naming among Greek-American families. Currently, the name is given to roughly 1 in 341,615 newborns, ranking 12,008 in 2025. The name carries strong religious and cultural significance through its connection to the Orthodox veneration of the Virgin Mary as Panagia. While no single U.S. state stands out as a top state for the name, its usage is most common in areas with established Greek communities. Panayiotis is often shortened to the friendly nicknames Panos or Pan, and its traditional variant Panagiotis remains widely used in Greece.

Panayiotis is a modern Greek given name derived from the Greek adjective 'panagios' (παναγιος), meaning 'all-holy' or 'most holy'. The name is closely associated with the Virgin Mary, who is often referred to as Panagia (Παναγια) in Greek Orthodox tradition. Historically, it has been a common name in Greece and among Greek diaspora communities, often given to boys born on or near religious feast days. Its use in the United States reflects Greek immigration patterns, with peak popularity in the early 2000s.