List of people from Greece
This is a list of notable Greeks.
Actors/actresses
Ancient period
Adventurers
- Constantine Phaulkon, first counsellor of King Narai of Siam
- Lefteri, bandit
Athletes & sports figures
Ancient period
- Alexander I of Macedon, runner and Olympic winner
- Astylos of Croton
- Pheidippides
- Chionis of Sparta
- Cynisca
- Diagoras of Rhodes, boxer
- Dioxippus, pankration
- Hydna, swimmer and diver
- Kleitomachos, pankration
- Leonidas of Rhodes, ancient runner and Olympic winner
- Milo of Croton, pankration
- Troilus of Elis
- Phillip of Macedon
Modern period
- Emmanouil Karalis, pole vaulter
- Aristidis Akratopoulos, tennis player
- Konstantinos Akratopoulos, tennis player
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, basketball player
- Nikos Alefantos, football player and manager
- Anna Korakaki, sport shooter and Olympic champion
- Anastasios Bakasetas, football player
- Andreas Bouchalakis, football player
- Lampros Choutos, football player
- Fanis Christodoulou, basketball player
- Anton Christoforidis, boxer
- Stephanos Christopoulos, wrestler
- Constantine II, former King of Greece, 1960 Olympic champion in sailing
- Ioannis Chrysafis, gymnast
- Nikos Dabizas, football player
- Evangelos Damaskos, pole vaulter
- Nick "the Greek" Dandolos, gambler
- Eleni Daniilidou, tennis player
- Filipos Darlas, football player
- Stefanos Dedas, basketball head coach in the Israel Basketball Premier League
- Dimitrios Deligiannis, marathoner
- Traianos Dellas, football player
- Hrysopiyí Devetzí, triple jumper and long jumper
- Themistoklis Diakidis, high jumper
- Dimitris Diamantidis, basketball player
- Georgios Diamantis, shooter
- Dimosthenis Dikoudis, basketball player
- Stefanos Dimitrios, middle-distance runner
- Zoi Dimoschaki, swimmer
- Mimis Domazos, football player
- Georgios Donis, football player
- Dimitrios Drivas, swimmer
- Kostas Eleftherakis, football player
- Dimitrios Eleftheropoulos, football player
- Giannoulis Fakinos, football player
- Panagiotis Fasoulas, basketball player
- Giannis Fetfatzidis, football player
- Alexios Fetsios, shooter
- Angelos Fetsis, middle-distance runner
- Giorgos Foiros, football player and manager
- Antonis Fotsis, basketball player
- D. Frangopoulos, tennis player
- Takis Fyssas, football player
- Nikos Galis, basketball player, MVP of Eurobasket 1987
- Konstadinos Gatsioudis, javelin thrower
- Theofanis Gekas, football player
- Georgios Gennimatas, sprinter
- Nikolaos Georgantas, discus thrower
- Grigorios Georgatos, football player
- Giorgios Georgiadis, football player
- Ioannis Georgiadis, fencer
- Evangelos Gerakeris, marathoner
- Panagiotis Giannakis, basketball player, captain of Greek Eurobasket 1987 champion team
- Stelios Giannakopoulos, football player
- Kleopas Giannou, football player
- Herodotos Giorgallas, gymnast
- Giannis Gitsioudis, football player
- Andreas Glyniadakis, basketball player
- Spyros Gogolos, football player
- Dimitrios Golemis, middle-distance runner
- Georgios Gougoulias, football player
- Yannis Goumas, football player
- Anastasios Gousis, sprinter
- Miltiadis Gouskos, shot putter
- Georgios Grigoriou, marathoner
- Efstratios Grivas, chess player
- Faní Halkiá, Olympic champion hurdler
- Vassilis Hatzipanagis, football player
- José Holebas, football player
- Periklis Iakovakis, hurdler
- Georgios Iatridis, fencer
- Miltiades Iatrou, cyclist
- Takis Ikonomopoulos, football player
- Giannis Ioannidis, basketball player and coach
- Leonidas Kabantais, football player
- Pantelis Kafes, football player
- Ilias Kafetzis, marathoner
- Kakhi Kakhiashvili, weightlifter
- Michalis Kakiouzis, basketball player
- Nikos Kaklamanakis, windsurfer
- Stamatis Kalamiotis, football player
- Ioannis Kalitzakis, football player
- Georgios Kalogiannidis, archer
- George Kalovelonis, tennis player
- Marios Kaperonis, boxer
- Michalis Kapsis, football player
- Alexandros Karageorgiou, archer
- Giorgos Karagounis, football player
- Telemachos Karakalos, fencer
- Karakatsanis, shooter
- Konstantinos Karakatsanis, middle-distance runner
- Pantelis Karasevdas, shooter
- Hristos Karipidis, football player
- George Karlaftis, American football player
- Filippos Karvelas, gymnast
- Michalis Kasapis, football player
- Dionysios Kasdaglis, tennis player
- Fanis Katergiannakis, football player
- N. Kartavas, swimmer
- Kostas Katsouranis, football player
- Ioannis Kastritis, former basketball player and coach in the Israel Basketball Premier League
- Anastasía Kelesídou, discus thrower
- Konstantinos Kenteris, European, World and Olympic champion sprinter
- Alexandros Khalkokondilis, sprinter and long jumper
- Hatzidakis, shooter
- Dimitrios Christopoulos, marathoner
- Vassilis Kikilias, basketball player
- Michalis Klokidis, football player
- Frank Klopas, football player
- Ekaterini Koffa, sprinter
- Savvas Kofidis, football player
- Dimitrios Kokotis, high jumper
- Dinos Konstantakis, football player
- Georgios Kolettis, cyclist
- Georgios Koltsidas, football player
- Giorgos Koltzos, football player
- Konstantinos Komninos-Miliotis, fencer
- Aristidis Konstantinidis, cyclist
- Vasilis Konstantinou, football player
- Konstantinos Konstantinou, cyclist
- Michalis Konstantinou, football player
- Dimitrious Konstantopolous, football player
- Georgios Korakakis, football player
- Prodromos Korkizoglou, decathlete
- Anastasia Kostaki, basketball player
- Nikos Kostakis, football player
- Yiorgos Kostikos, football player
- Athanasios Kostoulas, football player
- Vasilios Kotronias, chess player
- Ilias Kotsios, football player
- Stefanos Kotsolis, football player
- Giorgos Koudas, football player
- Dinos Kouis, football player
- Konstantinos Koukodimos, long jumper
- Efthimios Kouloucheris, football player
- Yiannis Kouros, multiple world record-holding ultramarathoner
- Vasilios Koutsianikoulis, football player
- Vaggelis Koutsoures, football player
- Petros Kravaritis, football player
- Ioannis Kyrastas, football player
- Sotirios Kyrgiakos, football player
- Anastasios Kyriakos, football player
- Panagiotis Lagos, football player
- Vasilios Lakis, football player
- Leonidas Langakis, shooter
- Ioannis Lavrentis, marathoner
- Sotiris Leontiou, football player
- Nikolaos Levidis, shooter
- Kostas Linoxilakis, football player
- Spiros Livathinos, football player and manager
- Spiridon Louis, marathoner, winner of first modern Olympic marathon
- Takis Loukanidis, football player
- Konstantinos Loumpoutis, football player
- Dimitrios Loundras, gymnast
- Nikolaos Lyberopoulos, football player
- Nikos Machlas, football player
- Ioannis Malokinis, swimmer
- Miréla Manjani, javelin thrower
- Stelios Manolas, football player
- Vlasios Maras, gymnast
- Nick Markakis baseball, player
- Dimitris Markos, football player
- Stamatios Masouris, marathoner
- Dimitris Mavrogenidis, football player
- Loukas Mavrokefalidis, basketball player
- Thomas Mavros, football player
- Hristos Meletoglou, triple jumper
- Angelos Messaris, football player
- Anastasios Metaxas, shooter
- Athanasios Michalopoulos, volleyball player
- Nikolaos Michopoulos, football player
- Zenon Mikhailidis, shooter
- Kostas Mitroglou, football player
- Ioannis Mitropoulos, gymnast
- Tasos Mitropoulos, football player
- Georgios Mitsibonas, football player
- Antonis Miyiakis, football player
- Vaggelis Moras, football player
- Nikolaos Morakis, shooter
- Irini Mouchou, triathlete
- Andreas Mouratis, football player
- Moustakopoulos, shooter
- Apostolos Nanos, archer
- Evangelos Nastos, football player
- Konstantinos Nebegleras, football player
- Kostas Negrepontis, football player
- Kostas Nestoridis, football player
- Apostolos Nikolaidis, football and volleyball player
- Demis Nikolaidis, football player
- Alexandros Nikolopoulos, weightlifter
- Stamatios Nikolopoulos, cyclist
- Antonios Nikopolidis, football player
- Sotiris Ninis, football player
- Nikos Nioplias, football player
- Georgios Orphanidis, shooter
- Alexandros Pagalis, football player
- Alketas Panagoulias, football player and manager
- Loukas Panourgias, football player
- Pantazidis, shooter
- Anastasios Pantos, football player
- Alexandros Papadimitriou, hammer thrower
- Avraam Papadopoulos, football player
- Dimitrios Papadopoulos, football player
- Lazaros Papadopoulos, basketball player
- Antonios Papaioannou, gymnast
- Mimis Papaioannou, football player
- Lambros Papakostas, high jumper
- Theodoros Papaloukas, basketball player
- Manolis Papamakarios, basketball player
- Christos Papanikolaou, pole vaulter
- Georgios Papasideris, weightlifter
- Eleftherios Papasymeon, marathoner
- Athina Papayianni, race walker
- Charilaos Pappas, football player
- Georgios Paraskevopoulos, cyclist
- Panagiotis Paraskevopoulos, discus thrower
- Mikhail Paskalides, sprinter
- Konstantinos Paspatis, tennis player
- Petros Passalis, football player
- George Patis, badminton player
- Voula Patoulidou, hurdler
- Christos Patsatzoglou, football player
- Patsouris, shooter
- Pavlos Pavlidis, shooter
- Antonios Pepanos, swimmer
- Ioannis Persakis, triple jumper
- Petros Persakis, gymnast
- Aristovoulos Petmezas, gymnast and shooter
- Demetrios Petrokokkinos, tennis player
- Ioannis Phrangoudis, shooter
- Mimis Pierrakos, football player
- Periklis Pierrakos-Mavromichalis, fencer
- Stiliani Pilatou, long jumper
- Platis, shooter
- Hristos Polihroniou, hammer thrower
- Ioannis Poulos, fencer
- Evangelia Psarra, archer
- Leonidas Pyrgos, fencer
- Evangelos Rallis, tennis player
- Kurt Rambis, basketball player, won four NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers
- Flora Redoumi, hurdler
- Dimitrios Regas, sprinter
- Efthimios Rentzias, basketball player
- Elpida Romantzi, archer
- Nicolas Rossolimo, chess player
- Georgios Roubanis, pole vaulter
- Sakis Rouvas, pole vaulter
- Maria Sakkari, tennis player
- Dimitris Salpingidis, football player
- Georgios Samaras, football player
- Sanidis, shooter
- Miltiadis Sapanis, football player
- Dimitris Saravakos, football player
- Nikos Sarganis, football player
- Georgios Saridakis, race walker
- Sofoklis Schortsanitis, basketball player
- Yourkas Seitaridis, football player
- Ioannis Sfairopoulos, basketball coach in the Israeli Basketball Premier League and EuroLeague
- Giorgos Sideris, football player
- Nikolaos Siranidis, diver
- Athanasios Skaltsogiannis
- Giannis Skopelitis, football player
- Georgios Skoutarides, sprinter and hurdler
- Vasileios Spanoulis, basketball player
- Konstantinos Spetsiotis, race walker
- Spiridon Stais, shooter
- Andreas Stamatiadis, football player
- Ieroklis Stoltidis, football player
- Aryiro Strataki, heptathlete
- Dimosthenis Tampakos, gymnast
- Giannis Taralidis, football player
- Alexandros Tatsis, football player
- Efstathios Tavlaridis, football player
- Miltos Tentoglou, long jumper
- Irini Terzoglou, shot putter
- Ekateríni Thánou, sprinter
- Stefanos Theodoridis, football player
- Georgios Theodoridis, sprinter
- Ioannis Theodoropoulos, pole vaulter
- Alexandros Theofilakis, shooter
- Ioannis Theofilakis, shooter
- Dimitrios Tomprof, middle-distance runner
- Vasilis Torosidis, football player
- Nicolaos Trikupis, shooter
- A. Tryfiatis-Tripiaris, cyclist
- Jake Tsakalidis, basketball player
- Kostas Tsartsaris, basketball player
- Loúis Tsátoumas, long jumper
- Dimitrios Tsiamis, triple jumper
- Paraskeví Tsiamíta, triple jumper
- Nikos Tsiantakis, football player
- Vasilios Tsiartas, football player
- Konstantinos Tsiklitiras, Olympic champion standing long jumper
- Leonidas Tsiklitiras, gymnast
- Aggeliki Tsiolakoudi, javelin thrower
- Chris Tsiprailidis, poker player
- Georgios Tsitas, wrestler
- Stefanos Tsitsipas, tennis player
- Athanasia Tsoumeleka, race walker
- Tryfon Tzanetis, football player
- Alexandros Tziolis, football player
- Stavros Tziortziopoulos, football player
- Alexandros Tzorvas, football player
- Danai Varveri, free diver
- Olga Vasdeki, triple jumper
- Spyridon Vasdekis, long jumper
- Charilaos Vasilakos, marathoner
- Panagiotis Vasilopoulos, basketball player
- Kostas Vassiliadis, basketball player
- Fotini Vavatsi, archer
- Vavis, shooter
- Theodoros Velkos, badminton player
- Stylianos Venetidis, football player
- Tassos Venetis, football player
- Anna Verouli, javelin thrower
- Sotirios Versis, weightlifter
- Kleanthis Vikelides, football player
- Ekateríni Vóggoli, discus thrower
- Ioannis Vourakis, shooter
- Athanasios Vouros, fencer
- Ian Vouyoukas, basketball player
- Ioannis Vrettos, marathoner
- Zisis Vryzas, football player
- Loukas Vyntra, football player
- Níki Xánthou, long jumper
- Thomas Xenakis, gymnast
- Vasilios Xydas, pole vaulter
- Theodoros Zagorakis, football player, captain of Greek team which won 2004 European Championship
- Akis Zikos, football player
- Nikos Zisis, basketball player
- Khristos Zoumis, triple jumper
Clerics
Medieval period
- Saints Cyril and Methodius, monks and scholars, inventors of the Cyrillic script
- Saint Nicholas, 4th-century Christian saint and Greek Bishop of Myra in Lycia
- Michael Cerularius, Patriarch of Constantinople
- John Chrysostom, Christian bishop and orator
- Photios I of Constantinople, Patriarch of Constantinople and writer
- Pope Evaristus, fourth Pope
- Pope Stephen I
- Pope Agatho
- Pope John VI
- Pope John VII
- Pope Alexander V, Roman Catholic Antipope in the Pisan line
Modern period
- Jacob Palaeologus, Dominican friar, later antitrinitarian theologian;
- List of [Constantinople patriarchs]
- List of Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem
- List of Archbishops of Athens
- List of Archbishops of Cyprus
Entrepreneurs
- Giannis Alafouzos, ship-owner, TV station owner, owner of Panathinaikos F.C.
- Yiannis Carras, ship-owner, creator of Porto Carras Resort
- John D. Chandris and family, shipping industry, cruises
- Yiannis (Giannis) Dritsas, inventor of Frappe
- Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, entrepreneur, EasyJet founder
- Arianna Huffington, media mogul, Huffington Post founder
- Socrates Kokkalis, telecommunications magnate, former owner of Olympiacos F.C.
- John Latsis, shipping magnate
- Spiro Latsis, banking and shipping magnate
- Evangelos Marinakis, shipowner, TV station owner, owner of the football clubs Olympiacos F.C. and Nottingham Forest F.C.
- Stavros Niarchos, shipping magnate
- Aristotle Onassis, shipping magnate
- Christina Onassis, shipping magnate
- Athina Onassis, granddaughter of Aristotle Onassis
- Ioannis Pangas, merchant and philanthropist
- Georgios Sinas, banker, diplomat and philanthropist
- Simon Sinas, banker, diplomat and philanthropist
- Basil Zaharoff, arms trader and financier
- Evangelis and Konstantinos Zappas, entrepreneurs and forefathers of modern Olympics
- Georgios Zarifis, banker
- Christakis Zografos, banker
Explorers
Ancient period
- Androsthenes of Thasos
- Archias of Pella
- Colaeus
- Demodamas
- Eudoxus of Cyzicus
- Euthymenes
- Hippalus
- Megasthenes
- Nearchus
- Patrocles the Geographer
- Pytheas
- Scylax
- Simmias
Medieval period
Early Modern
Modern
Fashion designers
- Dimitris Parthenis
- Nikos Apostolopoulos, fashion designer
- Sophia Kokosalaki, haute couture, women, designer for the 2004 Summer Olympics
- Jean Dessès
- Mary Katrantzou
Fashion models
- Marios Lekkas
- Anna Rezan
- Julia Alexandratou
- Evagelia Aravani
- Elena Asimakopoulou
- Marietta Chrousala
- Isavella Dara
- Mara Darmousli
- Valentini Daskaloudi
- Aliki Diplarakou
- Katerina Georgiadou
- Jenny Hiloudaki
- Olympia Hopsonidou
- Valia Kakouti
- Katerina Kanonidou
- Irini Karra
- Alex Kavadias
- Vicky Kaya
- Demetres Koutsavlakis
- Olga Kypriotou
- Christina Lekka
- Katia Margaritoglou
- Katerina Michalopoulou
- Anna Nanousi
- Evelina Papantoniou
- Chrissoula Rodi
- Panayiotis Simopoulos
- Irene Skliva, Miss World 1996
- Maria Spiridaki
- Katerina Stikoudi
- Marina Tsintikidou, Miss Europe 1992
- Doukissa Nomikou
- Zeta Makrypoulia
- Corinna Tsopei, Miss Universe 1964
Filmmakers
- Theo Angelopoulos, writer and director
- Michael Cacoyannis, writer, producer and director
- Costa-Gavras (Constantinos Gavras), writer, producer and director
- Elia Kazan, director in theatre and film
- Nikos Koundouros
- Thodoros Maragos
- Nikos Nikolaidis, writer, producer, and director
- Yorgos Lanthimos, Alps, Dogtooth, The Lobster
- John Cassavetes, Faces, ''A Woman Under the Influence''
Military and political figures
Ancient period
- Agis III, Spartan king who rebelled against Macedon in 331 BCE
- Alcibiades, Athenian general and statesman
- Alexander the Great King of Macedon, and conqueror of the Persian Empire
- Antiochus III the Great, Seleucid Monarch
- Antipater, Macedonian noble and Alexander the Great's regent in Macedon
- Aristides, Athenian statesman
- Cimon, Athenian leader and statesman
- Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, Queen of Egypt, from the Hellenistic Ptolemaic Dynasty
- Demosthenes, politician and orator
- Dionysius I, ruler of the Syracusan empire
- Epaminondas, Theban general and statesman
- Eucratides, ruler of the Bactrian Greeks
- Leonidas, Spartan king, killed defending Greece from the Persians
- Lycurgus, semi-legendary Spartan lawgiver
- Lysander, Spartan general and hero during the Peloponnesian War
- Memnon of Rhodes, Greek mercenary general in Persian army under Darius III
- Miltiades, Athenian statesman and general
- Nearchus, Alexander's naval commander
- Peisistratus, Athenian tyrant
- Pericles, Athenian leader and statesman
- Philip II of Macedon, Macedonian king and father of Alexander the Great
- Polycrates, Samian ruler
- Ptolemy I, Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, founded a dynasty in Egypt
- Pyrrhus of Epirus, invaded Italy, became known for victories of dubious value
- Seleucus I, Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, founded dynasty in Persia
- Solon, Athenian lawmaker and archon
- Themistocles, Athenian statesman and admiral
- Xenophon, mercenary general, led and recounted march from Persia
- Saint George, soldier in the Roman army, venerated as a Christian martyr
Medieval period
- Constantine Lascaris, promoters of the revival of Greek learning in the Italian peninsula
- Gemistus Pletho, one of the chief pioneers of the revival of learning in Western Europe
- Manuel Chrysoloras, one of the pioneers in introducing Greek literature to western Europe
- Johannes Bessarion, bishop and cardinal
- Marcus Musurus, professor of Greek language at the University of Padua
- Saint Cyril, Byzantine monk, developed the Glagolitic alphabet
- Theodora, Byzantine Empress, and wife of Justinian I
- Belisarius? Byzantine commander who served under Justinian I. Reconquered Italy and North Africa after the fall of the Western Roman Empire
- Heraclius, Byzantine Emperor, won the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628
- Irene, Byzantine Empress, instrumental in the restoration of icons, later sanctified
- Constantine VII, Byzantine Emperor and scholar, born in the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus
- Basil II, Byzantine Emperor, known as the 'Bulgar-Slayer'
- Nikephoros II Phokas, Byzantine Emperor and general
- Alexios I Komnenos, Byzantine Emperor
- Romanos IV Diogenes, lost the fateful Battle of Manzikert
- Manuel I Komnenos, Byzantine Emperor, was responsible for a distinct revival of Byzantine fortunes until his defeat at Myriokephalon
- Michael VIII Palaiologos, Nicene and Byzantine Emperor, recaptured Constantinople from the Latins
- Constantine XI Palaiologos, last Byzantine Emperor, died at the fall of Constantinople
Ottoman Empire period
- Atik Sinan, architect for Mehmed II and Mustafa III
- Barbarossa, famous privateer, older brother of Khair ad Din;
- Laskarina Bouboulina, privateer, naval commander, Greek nationalist fighter
- İbrahim Ethem Pasha, Greek-born Grand Vizier
- Khair ad Din, Greek-born Ottoman Turkish Admiral, also known as Barbarossa;
- Pargalı İbrahim Pasha, Suleyman the Magnificent's first appointed Grand Vizier, who left an important landmark on his reign.
- Alexandra Mavrokordatou, salonist and intellectual.
- Mimar Sinan, architect for Suleiman the Magnificent
- Kosem Sultan
- İshak Pasha, Grand Vizier
- Turgut Reis, Ottoman Admiral
- Al-Husayn I ibn Ali founder of the Husainid Dynasty of Tunisia
Modern period
Greece
- Ioannis Kapodistrias, first President of the free and unified Greek state, last President of the first Greek republic
- Georgios Hatzianestis, General
- Konstantinos Kanaris, freedom fighter, admiral, and Prime Minister of Greece
- Constantine I, King of Greece
- Constantine II, King of Greece
- George II, King of Greece
- Paul, King of Greece
- Nikolaos Gioulekas, Captain in the Greek War of Independence of 1821
- Konstantinos Karamanlis, President of Greece and four-time prime minister
- Kostas Karamanlis, Prime Minister of Greece and leader of the New Democracy party – Greek-Macedonian
- Dimitris Plapoutas, Greek General in the Greek War of Independence against the rule of the Ottoman Empire and later a Politician
- Theodoros Kolokotronis, Greek general in the Greek War of Independence against the rule of the Ottoman Empire
- Pavlos Kountouriotis, admiral, war hero and later President of Greece
- Alexandros Mavrokordatos
- Pavlos Melas, hero of Greek Struggle for Macedonia
- Ioannis Metaxas, dictator of Greece before and during the first part of its participation in World War II
- Andreas Papandreou, economist, politician, and three-time prime minister
- George Andreas Papandreou, current leader of the PASOK political party and former Foreign Minister of Greece.
- Aleka Papariga, current General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece
- Karolos Papoulias, current President of Greece
- Kostas Simitis, former prime minister of Greece
- Kostis Stephanopoulos, former president of Greece
- Aris Velouchiotis, born Athanasios Klaras, leader of Ethnikos Laikos Apeleftherotikos Stratos, the communist segment of Greek guerrilla resistance during World War II
- Maria Theofili, diplomat, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations
- Eleftherios Venizelos, Prime Minister of Greece during Balkan Wars and First World War
- Nikos Zachariadis, former Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece
Northern Epirus
- Apostolos Arsachis Greek-Vlach politician and philanthropist, born in Northern Epirus
- Pyrros Dimas retired weightlifter, considered as one of the greatest of all time, having been three times Olympic champion and three times World Champion.
- Dimitris Nanopoulos, world-renowned physicist, of a Northern Epirotian descent
- Georgios Sinas, entrepreneur, banker and national benefactor, founder of the Athens National Observatory
- Evangelos Zappas, businessman and philanthropist, recognized today as the founder of the modern Greek Olympic Games
- Georgios Christakis-Zografos, politician, president of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
Canada
France
- Marietta Karamanli, Socialist Party
Romania
- Iannis Pharmakis, revolutionary fighter
- Cantacuzene family, governors of Bessarabia and Walachia
Spain
- Queen Sofía of Spain, wife of Spain's king Juan Carlos
United Kingdom
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of UK's queen Elizabeth II, born on the island of Corfu
Australia
- Petro Georgiou, federal politician
- Maria Vamvakinou, politician
United States
- George Christopher, Mayor of San Francisco, California from 1956 to 1964
- Arianna Huffington, liberal pundit and blogger
Musicians
Ancient period
Modern period
- Rita Abatzi, musician
- Maurice Abravanel, conductor
- Haris Alexiou, singer
- Louis Demetrius Alvanis, pianist
- Costas Andreou, composer and musician
- Steve Angello, DJ, producer, member of Swedish House Mafia
- Theodore Antoniou, composer and conductor
- Grigoris Asikis, singer and lyricist
- Nikolas Asimos, singer and composer
- Nicolas Astrinidis, Romanian-born composer who settled in Thessaloniki
- Gina Bachauer, pianist
- Yiorgos Batis, musician
- Grigoris Bithikotsis, popular singer and lyricist
- Miltiades Caridis, conductor
- Pavlos Carrer, composer
- Petros Christo, guitarist
- Nikos Christodoulou, composer and conductor
- Jani Christou, composer
- Christos Dantis, singer and musician
- Dionysios Demetis, composer
- Odysseas Dimitriadis, conductor
- Marina Diamandis, singer for Marina and the Diamonds
- Dimitris Dragatakis, composer
- Antiochos Evangelatos, composer and conductor
- Kostas Exarhakis, musician
- Maria Farantouri, singer
- Yorgos Foudoulis, guitarist and composer
- Eleni Foureira, singer
- Gus G, guitarist
- Katy Garbi, singer
- Michalis Genitsaris, singer and composer
- Christos Govetas, musician
- Manos Hadjidakis, composer
- Alkinoos Ioannidis, singer and composer
- Sotiris Kakisis, poet
- George Kallis, composer
- Manolis Kalomiris, composer
- Iakovos Kambanelis, poet and lyricist
- Alex Kapranos, frontman of the Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand
- Eleni Karaindrou, composer
- Herbert von Karajan, Austrian conductor of Greek origin
- Nikos Karvelas, composer
- Antonios Katinaris, musician
- Bob Katsionis, musician
- Akis Katsoupakis, musician, composer, and record producer
- Leonidas Kavakos, violinist
- Stelios Kazantzidis, singer
- Areti Ketime, musician
- Panayiotis Kokoras, musician and composer
- Iakovos Kolanian, guitarist
- George Kollias, drummer
- Maria Kolokouri, black metal vocalist and multi-instrumentalist
- Yannis Kotsiras, singer and songwriter
- Stavros Koujioumtzis, composer and lyricist
- Rena Kyriakou, pianist
- Andreas Lagios, guitarist
- Alexandre Lagoya, guitarist
- Leo Leandros, musician and composer
- Tommy Lee, drummer
- Manos Loizos, composer
- Sokratis Malamas, singer and musician
- Nikolaos Mantzaros, composer
- Giannis Markopoulos, composer
- Kostas Martakis, singer
- Marinella, singer-songwriter
- Thanos Mikroutsikos, composer
- Dimitri Minakakis, former singer for mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan
- Dimitris Mitropanos, laïkó singer
- Dimitris Mitropoulos, conductor
- Kostas Mountakis, musician
- Takis Mousafiris, composer and songwriter
- Georges Moustaki, Greek-French singer and lyricist
- Sarah P., musician, lyricist, singer
- Orianthi Panagaris, singer
- Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, singer-songwriter
- Tzimis Panousis, musician
- Lefteris Papadimitriou, composer and performer
- Lefteris Papadopoulos, poet and lyricist
- Thanassis Papakonstantinou, singer and lyricist
- Helena Paparizou, singer, winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2005
- Apostolos Paraskevas, composer and classical guitarist
- Stelios Perpiniadis, musician
- Yannis Philippakis, frontman of British rock band Foals
- Phivos, lyricist
- Sadahzinia, musician
- Sakis Rouvas, singer and guitarist
- Spyros Samaras, composer
- Kalomira Sarantis, singer-songwriter, winner of second Fame Story season, third place at Eurovision Song Contest 2008
- Dionysis Savvopoulos, singer, composer and lyricist
- Kyriakos Sfetsas, composer
- Dimitris Sgouros, pianist
- Pavlos Sidiropoulos, musician
- Nikos Skalkottas, composer
- Kostas Skarvelis, composer
- Camille-Marie Stamaty, Greek-French composer-pianist
- Paschalis Terzis, singer
- Mikis Theodorakis, composer
- Sonia Theodoridou, opera singer
- Giorgos Theofanous, composer
- Marios Tokas, composer of Cypriot origin
- Sakis Tolis, musician
- Tatiana Troyanos, mezzo-soprano
- Eleni Tsaligopoulou, singer
- Iovan Tsaous, musician and composer
- Vassilis Tsitsanis, popular composer
- Markos Vamvakaris, popular composer of rebetiko
- Despina Vandi, singer
- Vangelis, musician and composer
- Anna Rezan, performer and lyricist
- Marios Varvoglis, composer
- Anna Vissi, singer
- Haris Xanthoudakis, composer
- Stavros Xarhakos, composer and MEP
- Iannis Xenakis, composer
- Nikos Xilouris, singer and composer
- Nikos Xydakis, pianist and singer
- Spyridon Xyndas, composer and guitarist
- Mirka Yemendzakis, musician
- Yanni, composer, pianist, keyboardist
- Savvas Ysatis, musician
- George Zervanos, operatic tenor
Painters
Ancient period
Renaissance
- El Greco, born Domenicos Theotokopoulos
- Antonio Vassilacchi
Modern period
- Theophilos Hatzimihail
- Demetrios Galanis
- Nicholaos Gysis
- Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas
- Christos Kapralos
- Nikiphoros Lytras
- Nikos Nikolaou
- Konstantinos Parthenis
- Yannis Tsarouchis
- Odysseus Yakoumakis
- Spyros Vassiliou
Philosophers
Ancient period
- Anaxarchus of Abdera
- Anaximander
- Anaximenes of Miletus
- Archimedes
- Aristotle
- Athenagoras of Athens, early Christian apologist
- Celsus
- Democritus
- Diogenes of Sinope
- Empedocles
- Epictetus
- Epicurus
- Epimenides, semi-mythical Greek seer
- Eratosthenes, mathematician, geographer, poet, astronomer, and music theorist
- Gregory of Nazianzus
- Gregory of Nyssa
- Hecataeus of Abdera
- Heraclitus
- Hypatia of Alexandria
- Irenaeus
- Leucippus
- Parmenides
- Pherecydes of Syros
- Plato
- Plotinus
- Protagoras
- Pyrrho, founder of Pyrrhonism
- Pythagoras
- Sextus Empiricus
- Socrates
- Thales of Miletus
- Theagenes of Patras
- Theophrastus
- Xenophanes
- Zeno of Citium
- Zeno of Elea
Medieval period
Modern period
- Kostas Axelos
- Cornelius Castoriadis
- Takis Fotopoulos
- Anthimos Gazis
- Nikos Kazantzakis
- Adamantios Korais
- Helle Lambridis
- Michail Papageorgiou
- Nicos Poulantzas
- Ioannis Theodorakopoulos
- Christos Yannaras
Scientists, engineers, and academics
Ancient period
- Anaximander
- Apollonius of Perga
- Archimedes
- Archytas
- Aristarchos of Samos
- Aristotle
- Autolycus of Pitane
- Ctesibius
- Diophantus
- Echephyllides, Ancient Greek grammarian or historian
- Eratosthenes
- Euclid
- Eudoxus of Cnidus
- Eupalinos
- Galen
- Heron of Alexandria
- Herophilos
- Hipparchos
- Hippocrates
- Meton of Athens
- Parmenides
- Posidonios
- Ptolemy
- Pythagoras of Samos
- Sostratus of Cnidus
- Strabo
- Thales of Miletus
- Theon
- Theopompus
Medieval period
- Anthemius of Tralles, involved in the construction of the Haghia Sophia
- Isidore of Miletus, 6th-century polymath, principally in charge of design and construction of the Haghia Sophia
- Paul of Aegina, 7th-century physician best known for writing the medical encyclopedia Medical Compendium in Seven Books
- Leon the Mathematician, 9th-century geometer, subject of a bidding war between the Byzantine Emperor and Caliph al-Mamun
- Callinicus of Heliopolis, engineer and inventor of Greek fire
Modern period
- Manolis Andronikos, archaeologist
- Helene Ahrweiler, byzantinologist
- Chris Argyris, organisational theorist
- Ioannis Argyris, mathematician, Finite Element Method
- Phaedon Avouris, nanotechnologist
- Konstantinos Axelos, 1960s Situationist
- Apostolos Athanassakis, classicist
- Constantin Carathéodory, mathematician
- Demetrios Christodoulou, mathematical physicist
- George P. Chrousos, clinical investigator in pediatrics
- George Constantinides, economist
- Constantinos Daskalakis, computer scientist
- Michael L. Dertouzos, former Director of the M.I.T. Laboratory for Computer Science
- Helen Fessas-Emmanouil, architect
- Athanassios S. Fokas, mathematician, integrable nonlinear partial differential equations
- Dimitrios Galanos, Sanskrit translator and Indologist
- John Iliopoulos, physicist
- Fotis Kafatos, biologist and founding president of the European Research Council
- Anthony Kaldellis, historian
- Jannis Kallinikos, organisational theorist
- Dimitri Kitsikis, historian and political scientist, Turkologist, Sinologist, poet
- Andreas Mandelis, photonics expert
- Spyridon Marinatos, archaeologist
- Doula Mouriki, Byzantine art historian
- Dimitrios Nanopoulos, astrophysicist
- Nicholas Negroponte, Greek-American founder and Chairman Emeritus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab
- Christos Papadimitriou, computer scientist
- Irena Papadopoulos, author and professor of transcultural nursing
- Christos Papakyriakopoulos, mathematician
- Georgios Papanikolaou, doctor, Pap smear inventor
- John S. Paraskevopoulos, astronomer
- Nicholas A. Peppas, chaired professor in Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
- Sotirios Prapas, cardiac surgeon
- Raphael Salem, mathematician
- Linos-Alexander Sicilianos, jurist
- Joseph Sifakis, computer scientist
- Catharine Titi, jurist
- Vladimir Triandafillov (Triantafyllidis), military strategist
- Haridimos Tsoukas, organisational theorist
- George Vithoulkas, teacher of homeopathic medicine
- Panayiotis Zavos, geneticist
- Xenophon Zolotas, economist
Sculptors
Ancient period
- Agesandros, Athanadoros and Polidoros, composed the Laocoön group
- Agasias
- Callicrates, relief artist, worked on the Parthenon under the direction of Pheidias
- Lysippus
- Myron
- Phidias, sculptor of the colossal statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World
- Polyclitus
- Polyeuctes
- Pheidias
- Praxiteles
- Scopas
Modern period
- Constantine Andreou
- Jannis Kounellis
- Kyveli Makri
- Memos Makris
- Thodoros Papadimitriou
- Nikolaos Pavlopoulos
- Panayiotis Vassilakis
- Electros Vekris
- Lydia Venieri
- Constantin Xenakis
- Takis
Tycoons
- Socratis Kokkalis, telecommunications
- Paris Latsis, shipping
- Yiannis Latsis, shipping
- George Livanos, shipping
- Stavros Niarchos, shipping
- Aristotle Onassis, shipping
- John Paul Papanicolaou, shipping
Writers
Ancient period
- Aeschylus
- Aesop
- Alcaeus
- Alcman
- Alexander Aetolus
- Anacreon
- Apollodorus
- Apollonius Rhodius
- Aristarchus of Samothrace
- Aristophanes
- Aristophanes of Byzantium
- Callimachus
- Cassius Dio
- Dionysius Thrax
- Euripides
- Eusebius of Caesarea
- Hecataeus of Miletus
- Hecataeus of Abdera
- Hesiod
- Homer
- Lycophron
- Lysias
- Longus
- Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, frequently called Lucan
- Menander
- Pausanias
- Philitas of Cos
- Pindar
- Plutarch
- Polybius
- Polycarp
- Sappho
- Sophocles
- Theocritus
- Thucydides
- Zenodotus
Medieval period
- Anna Comnena
- Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus
- Isaac of Nineveh
- John of Damascus
- Michael Psellos
- Procopius
- Zozimus
Modern period
- Aris Alexandrou
- Manolis Anagnostakis
- Iason Athanasiadis
- Constantine P. Cavafy
- Athanasios Christopoulos
- Kiki Dimoula
- Maro Douka
- Odysseus Elytis, winner of the 1979 Nobel Prize in Literature
- Andreas Embirikos
- Nikos Engonopoulos
- Jeffrey Eugenides
- Michalis Fakinos
- Rigas Feraios
- Nikos Gatsos
- Kostis Gimossoulis
- Demetris Th. Gotsis
- Sotiris Kakisis
- Andreas Kalvos
- Iakovos Kambanelis
- M. Karagatsis
- Nikos Karouzos
- Kostas Karyotakis
- Nikos Kavvadias
- Nikos Kazantzakis
- Antigone Kefala
- Yannis Kondos
- Menis Koumantareas
- Napoleon Lapathiotis
- Christoforos Liontakis
- Dimitris Lyacos
- Jenny Mastoraki
- Stratis Myrivilis
- Kostis Palamas
- Alexandros Panagoulis
- Alexandros Papadiamantis
- George Pavlopoulos
- George Pelecanos
- Maria Polydouri
- Lefteris Poulios
- Ioannis Psycharis
- Yannis Ritsos
- Miltos Sachtouris
- David Sedaris
- Giorgos Seferis, poet and Nobel laureate
- Angelos Sikelianos
- Takis Sinopoulos
- Giannis Skarimpas
- Dionysios Solomos
- Alexandros Soutsos
- Alexis Stamatis
- Theodore Stephanides
- Vassilis Steriadis
- George Tsimbidaros-Fteris
- Nanos Valaoritis
- Kostas Varnalis
- Vassilis Vassilikos
- Haris Vlavianos
General
- Manolis Andronikos, archaeologist, discovered the Macedonian tombs in Vergina
- Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, President of organising committee for Athens 2004 Olympic Games
- Marie Aspioti, M.B.E, distinguished Corfiote magazine publisher and cultural figure who influenced the literary and cultural life of post-war Corfu
- Patriarch Athenagoras, former Patriarch of Constantinople
- Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, Greek-Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch
- George Bizos, Greek-South African human rights advocate
- Moisis Michail Bourlas, member of World War II Greek resistance
- Maria Callas, soprano
- Cornelius Castoriadis, economist and philosopher
- Zoe Cruz, co-president of Morgan Stanley
- Michael Dertouzos, internet pioneer
- Odysseas Elytis, poet and Nobel prize winner
- Mario Frangoulis, opera singer
- Ioanna-Maria Gertsou, activist
- Manolis Glezos, World War II veteran, grassroots democracy activist and politician
- Nikos Hadjinikolaou, television news anchor and journalist
- Iakovos, Archbishop of America, late primate of the Greek-Orthodox Archdiocese of America
- Hipparch
- Hipparchus
- Sir Alec Issigonis, British-Greek creator of the Mini car
- Eleni Konsolaki, archaeologist who researched Methana and the Troezen area in 1990
- Vissarion Korkoliacos, Greek Orthodox monk
- Polyvios Kossivas, bystander who became famous in the 2004 Olympic Games for helping a runner
- Makarios III, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Cyprus
- Spyridon Marinatos, archaeologist
- Melina Mercouri, actress, singer and politician
- Lefteris Papadopoulos, lyricist and journalist
- Dimitris Varos, poet and journalist
- Dimitris Papaioannou, director and choreographer, creator of the 2004 Summer Olympics ceremonies
- Peisistratos
- Saint Philomena, patron saint of the children of Mary and Catholic saint and martyr
- Nicos Poulantsas, political theorist
- Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos, world-famous magician and illusionist that created Mindfreak
- Athanasios Sakellarios, educator, scholar and folklorist
- George Sava, entertainment lawyer
- Angelos Sikelianos, poet
- Spyros Skouras, Greek-American movie mogul, president of 20th Century Fox
- Alex Spanos, Greek-American magnate
- Iannis Xenakis, modernist composer
- Adamantios Vassilakis, diplomat
List of Greeks who were born outside modern Greece
This is a list of ethnic Greeks who were born after the Declaration of the Greek War of Independence, outside the borders of the Greek state. The list does not include Greeks born in the diasporan communities or Greeks of Cyprus, but only Greeks born in the traditional Greek homelands.Actors/actresses
- Cybele : Smyrna, Ottoman Empire
- Manos Katrakis : Crete, then an autonomous province of the Ottoman Empire
- Alexis Minotis : Chania, Crete, then part of the Ottoman Empire
- Sotiris Moustakas : Limassol, Cyprus, then part of the British Empire
- Sapfo Notara : Crete, then an autonomous province of the Ottoman Empire
- Nikos Stavridis : Samos, Principality of Samos, then an autonomous principality under Ottoman suzerainty
Athletes
- Pyrros Dimas : Himara, Albania
- Leonidas Sampanis : Korytsa, Albania
- Apostolos Nikolaidis : Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Clerics
- Archbishop Chrysanthus of Athens : Gratini, Thrace, then part of the Ottoman Empire
- Archbishop Spyridon of Athens : Chili, Ottoman Empire
- Ecumenical Patriarch Joachim III of Constantinople : Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
- Ecumenical Patriarch Maximus V of Constantinople : Sinope, Ottoman Empire
- Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople : Vasilikón, Ioannina, Epirus, then part of the Ottoman Empire
- Archbishop Iakovos of America : Imbros, Ottoman Empire
- Makarios III : Panagia, Paphos, Cyprus, then part of the British Empire
- Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrius I of Constantinople : Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople : Imbros, Turkey
Entrepreneurs
- John D. Chandris : Chios, then part of the Ottoman Empire
- Aristotle Onassis : Smyrna, Ottoman Empire
- Basil Zaharoff : Muğla, Ottoman Empire
Fashion designers
- Sotirios Boulgaris : Paramythia, Epirus, then part of the Ottoman Empire
Filmmakers
- Elia Kazan : Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
- Michael Cacoyannis : Limassol, Cyprus, then part of the British Empire
Military and political leaders
- Stephanos Skouloudis : Constantinople, Ottoman Empire; Prime Minister of Greece
- Georgios Theotokis : Corfu, United States of the Ionian Islands then part of the British Empire; Prime Minister of Greece
- Spyridon Lambros : Corfu, United States of the Ionian Islands then part of the British Empire; Prime Minister of Greece
- Themistoklis Sophoulis : Vathy, Samos, then an autonomous principality under Ottoman suzerainty; Prime Minister of Greece
- Eleftherios Venizelos : Mournies, Chania, Crete, then part of the Ottoman Empire; Prime Minister of Greece
- Emmanouil Tsouderos : Rethymno, Crete, then part of the Ottoman Empire; Prime Minister of Greece
- Konstantinos Tsaldaris : Alexandria, Khedivate of Egypt, Prime Minister of Greece
- Alexandros Svolos : Krusevo, Ottoman Empire, Prime Minister of Greece
- Sophoklis Venizelos : Chania, Crete, then part of the Ottoman Empire; Prime Minister of Greece
- Evripidis Bakirtzis : Kozani, Macedonia; then part of the Ottoman Empire; leader of the Political Committee of National Liberation during World War II
- Konstantinos Karamanlis : Proti, Serres, then part of the Ottoman Empire; Prime Minister and then President of Greece
Musicians
- Manolis Kalomiris : Smyrna, Ottoman Empire
- Rita Abatzi : Smyrna, Ottoman Empire
- Marios Tokas : Limassol, Cyprus, then part of the British Empire
Painters
- Theophilos Hatzimihail : Vareia, Lesbos, then part of the Ottoman Empire
Philosophers
Scientists and engineers
- Manolis Andronikos : Prousa, Ottoman Empire
- Panayiotis Zavos : Tricomo, Cyprus then part of the British Empire
Sculptors
- Pavlos Prosalentis : Corfu, Republic of Venice
- Konstantinos Dimitriadis : Stenimachos, Eastern Rumelia
- Costas Valsamis : Symi, Ottoman Empire
- Dimitra Tserkezou : Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Singers
- Alkistis Protopsalti : Alexandria, Egypt
- Anna Vissi : Larnaca, Cyprus then part of the British Empire
- Elena Paparizou : Borås, Sweden
Tycoons
Writers
- Constantine P. Cavafy : Alexandria, Ottoman Egypt
- Nikos Kazantzakis : Heraklion, Crete, then part of the Ottoman Empire
- Giorgos Seferis : Urla, Smyrna, Ottoman Empire
- Odysseas Elytis : Crete, then an autonomous province of the Ottoman Empire