The Greek name Pandora means “all-gifted” and belongs to the woman created by the gods in Greek mythology.
The name comes from the Greek elements pan, meaning “all,” and doron, meaning “gift.” Hesiod’s Works and Days connects Pandora’s name with the gifts bestowed on her by the Olympian gods. Each deity contributes something to her appearance, abilities, or adornment, making the name a fitting description of the divine contributions.
Pandora’s name is sometimes interpreted as “all-giving,” but “all-gifted” is the standard translation in discussions of Hesiod’s story. The distinction matters because Pandora is presented as receiving gifts, not as personally giving every gift to humanity.
The familiar English phrase “Pandora’s box” comes from a later translation tradition. Hesiod describes a large storage jar, usually identified by the Greek word pithos, rather than a small box. The name Pandora itself, however, belongs to the earliest surviving literary versions of the myth.