In Greek mythology, Hermes gave Pandora her name after the gods endowed her with gifts.
Hesiod describes Hermes as the messenger who gives Pandora her deceptive nature and speech, and he names her Pandora. The name expresses the idea that she has been given gifts by all the gods. This makes Hermes an important link between the separate divine contributions and the completed figure sent into the human world.
The myth’s structure resembles a divine commission. Zeus directs the punishment, Hephaestus shapes Pandora, and other gods provide qualities or ornaments. Hermes then helps define how she will operate among mortals. His role is not the same as Hephaestus’s: Hephaestus is the maker, while Hermes is associated with naming and communication.
Modern retellings often shorten the episode to “Pandora opened the box,” leaving out the naming scene. They may also treat the name as a title rather than a Greek personal name. In Hesiod, it is both: a personal name and a pointed description of her origin as a figure assembled from divine gifts.