Many Greeks bore names derived from those of gods. Though it was not normal before the Roman period for Greeks to bear exactly the same names as gods, the two most common Greek names (Dionysios and Demetrios; feminine Dionysia and Demetria) were simple adjectival formations from the divine names Dionysos and Demeter. There were also compound theophoric names, formed with a wide variety of suffixes, of which the most common were -doros "gift of" (e.g. Dionysodoros "gift of Dionysos") or -dotos "given by" (Apollodotos). Many names were also based on cult titles of gods: Pythodoros, from Pythios "Apollo". Also common were names formed from the simple theos "god", such as Theodotos/Theodora. All the major gods except the god of war, Ares, and gods associated with the underworld (Persephone, Hades, Plouton [= Latin Pluto]) generated theophoric names, as did some lesser gods (rivers in particular) and heroes. When new gods rose to prominence (Asklepios) or entered Greece from outside (Isis, Sarapis), they too generated theophoric names formed in the normal ways (e.g. Asklepiodotos, Isidoros, Sarapias).R. Parker, 'Theophoric Names and the History of Greek Religion', in S. Hornblower and E. Matthews (eds.), Greek Personal Names. Their Value as Evidence (2000) Proceedings of the British Academy, Volume 104, pp. 53-80
