In Greek mythology, Pandora means “all-gifted,” a name associated with the many gifts given to her by the gods.
The name comes from Greek elements commonly translated as pan, meaning “all,” and doron, meaning “gift.” Hesiod’s account presents Pandora as a specially fashioned woman whom the gods equip with different qualities and adornments.
Her name reflects the myth’s emphasis on divine gifts, but later retellings often focus almost entirely on the container she opens. That shift is one reason the phrase Pandora’s box has become more famous than the original story’s details.
The expression “Pandora’s box” is also technically a later translation tradition. Hesiod described a pithos, usually understood as a large storage jar, not a small box.