Entry № 2205 · Greek origin

Fotini Fotini — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ foh-TEE-nee /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Greek
Meaning
"Light (Greek + Saint Photini Samaritan woman)"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Greek)

A name that means "light (greek + saint photini samaritan woman)".

Fotini is from the Modern Greek Φωτεινή (Fōteinḗluminous, full of light) — foundational from Greek phōs (light). A modern American baby name in the broader Greek-Orthodox heritage aesthetic. Fotini is one of the foundational Greek feminine names — central to traditional Greek Orthodox heritage. The foundational Greek phōs (light) is foundational central to foundational Greek-Christian theological-naming heritage; foundational also foundational central to foundational Saint Photini / Saint Fotini of Samaria (~1st c. CE) — foundational legendary foundational Samaritan Woman at the Well + foundational central to foundational Gospel of John 4:1-42 — foundational Jesus's encounter with foundational Samaritan woman at foundational Jacob's Well in foundational Sychar / Shechem + foundational gave me to drink + foundational living water + foundational first foundational Samaritan + first foundational woman foundational evangelist in foundational Christian tradition + foundational central to foundational pan-Orthodox + Eastern Christian hagiographic heritage + foundational Equal-to-the-Apostles foundational rank + foundational feast day February 26 (Greek Orthodox) / March 20 (Western); foundational also foundational central to foundational photosynthesis (foundational light-synthesis) + foundational photography (foundational light-writing) + foundational photon (foundational quantum of light) + foundational central to foundational pan-scientific heritage; foundational also foundational Christos Phōs foundational central Greek Orthodox liturgical-iconographic title foundational Christ the Light; foundational also foundational Phōs Hilaron foundational oldest known Christian hymn outside Bible (~3rd c. CE) — foundational O Joyous Light foundational central to foundational Greek-Orthodox Vespers heritage. Foundational Greek feminine name reflecting Greek-Orthodox + scientific heritage.

Featured throughout Greek heritage.

Light (Greek). Foundational Greek-Orthodox feminine + foundational Modern Greek Fōteinḗ luminous + full of light + foundational from Greek phōs light + foundational Greek-Christian theological-naming heritage + foundational Saint Photini / Saint Fotini of Samaria ~1st c. CE + foundational legendary Samaritan Woman at the Well + foundational Gospel of John 4:1-42 + foundational Jesus's encounter with Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well in Sychar / Shechem + foundational gave me to drink + foundational living water + foundational first Samaritan + first woman evangelist in Christian tradition + foundational pan-Orthodox + Eastern Christian hagiographic heritage + foundational Equal-to-the-Apostles foundational rank + foundational feast day February 26 Greek Orthodox / March 20 Western + foundational photosynthesis foundational light-synthesis + foundational photography foundational light-writing + foundational photon foundational quantum of light + foundational pan-scientific heritage + foundational Christos Phōs foundational central Greek Orthodox liturgical-iconographic title + foundational Christ the Light + foundational Phōs Hilaron foundational oldest known Christian hymn outside Bible ~3rd c. CE + foundational O Joyous Light + foundational Greek-Orthodox Vespers heritage.

The name in its native script.

Φωτεινή
Transliteration
Fōteinḗ
Pronunciation
/ foʊˈtiː.ni /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Fotini stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Fotini · last year
88 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Fotinis before her.

Real people

In fiction
Saint Photini / Saint Fotini of Samaria
Samaritan Woman at the Well + Gospel of John 4:1-42 + Jesus's encounter at Jacob's Well in Sychar + first Samaritan + first woman evangelist + Equal-to-the-Apostles + feast day February 26.
~1st c. CE

Names connected to Fotini.

The number behind Fotini.

5

The Free Spirit

Fotini reduces to five.

Why families chose this name.

"Greek light. Six letters. Fotini."
Nyssa · Mother of one · Samaria