Eleftherios is a Greek masculine given name. Its origin comes from the Greek word "Eleftheria", which means liberty or freedom. The name has a significant historical context in Greece, as it was given to many children born after the country gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century.
The name Eleftherios is composed of two elements: "Eleuther-" and "-os". "Eleuther-" comes from the Greek adjective "eleutheros", meaning free or liberty, while "-os" is a diminutive suffix used to create names and adjectives. Therefore, Eleftherios could be interpreted as "little free one".
The most notable figure with this name is Eleftherios Venizelos, a prominent Greek statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Greece from 1910 to 1920, and again from 1928 until his death in 1936. He played a significant role in modernizing Greece and expanding its territory during his tenure.
In recent years, Eleftherios has seen a resurgence in popularity as a given name in Greece. However, it remains relatively uncommon compared to other Greek names such as Georgios, Nikolaos, or Andreas. Nevertheless, it continues to be chosen by families who wish to honor the historical significance and meaning of freedom associated with this unique name.
In summary, Eleftherios is a Greek masculine given name that means "little free one". Its origin comes from the Greek word for liberty, and it has been popularized by notable historical figures such as Eleftherios Venizelos. Today, it remains an uncommon but meaningful choice for parents in Greece who wish to bestow their sons with a name rich in history and significance.
The name Eleftherios has been used consistently but infrequently over the past five decades in the United States, with a total of 179 births recorded since 1968. The peak years for this name were 1980 and 2005-2007, each having 11 or more births respectively. However, most years saw fewer than ten births bearing the name Eleftherios. This suggests that while it is not a particularly popular name in the U.S., it has maintained a steady presence within the naming landscape over time.
The statistics show fluctuations from year to year, with no clear upward or downward trend overall. The highest number of births recorded for any single year was 11 in 1980. In recent years (2016-2023), there have been between five and seven births each year bearing the name Eleftherios.
Despite its rarity, this name has been chosen by parents for their children consistently over several decades, indicating that it holds some appeal or significance to a small but steady number of people in the United States.