Entry № 1926 · Greek origin

Photini Photini — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ foh-TEE-nee /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Greek
Meaning
"Luminous (the Samaritan woman at the well)"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Greek)

A name that means "luminous (the samaritan woman at the well)".

Photini (Φωτεινή) is from the Greek phōs (light) — "luminous, enlightened." In Eastern Orthodox tradition, **Photini is the name given to the unnamed Samaritan woman who spoke with Jesus at Jacob's Well in John 4** — venerated as the great evangelist of Samaria and martyred under Nero. **Equal-to-the-Apostles in Orthodox tradition.**

Among the most popular Greek feminine names.

Luminous. The Samaritan woman at the well — Equal-to-the-Apostles in Orthodoxy.

The name in its native script.

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

Where Photini stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Photini · last year
87 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 · —

Photinis before her.

Real people
Saint Photini
Samaritan woman at the well.
1st c.
In fiction
Photini
John 4 (Orthodox tradition).

Names connected to Photini.

The number behind Photini.

1

The Pioneer

Photini reduces to one — the number of luminous evangelist.

Why families chose this name.

"Samaritan woman. Seven letters. Photini."
Eleni · Mother of one · Athens