In Greek mythology, what was Pandora’s name intended to mean?

In Greek mythology, Pandora’s name was intended to mean “all-gifted.” The Greek name Πανδώρα combines pan, meaning “all,” with dōron, meaning “gift.” It reflects the story’s claim that the gods each gave Pandora a quality or talent.

Hesiod presents Pandora as the first woman in Greek mythology. Different gods contribute different gifts: Athena teaches her crafts, Aphrodite gives her beauty, and Hermes gives her speech and a deceptive character. The gifts are therefore part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus steals fire.

The name is sometimes interpreted more broadly as “the one who receives all gifts,” because the Greek wording can support more than one grammatical nuance. “All-gifted” is the standard English gloss.

Pandora’s name is not the origin of the expression “Pandora’s box” by itself. Hesiod describes a jar, and the box wording became common later through translation and cultural retelling.