In Greek mythology’s Pandora story, what does the name “Pandora” mean?

In Greek mythology’s Pandora story, the name “Pandora” means “all-gifted.”

The Greek name Πανδώρα (Pandōra) combines pan, meaning “all,” with dōron, meaning “gift.” The name reflects the myth’s account of Pandora’s creation: several gods contribute qualities or gifts to the first woman made by the Olympians.

Hesiod presents Pandora in Works and Days as part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire. He also describes her as a “gift” whose arrival brings suffering to humans. The name therefore carries an ironic meaning: Pandora receives gifts from the gods, but her story is associated with the release of troubles from a sealed container.

“Pandora” is sometimes loosely interpreted as “all-giving,” but “all-gifted” is the standard translation for the personal name in discussions of the Greek myth. The later expression “Pandora’s box” comes from a Renaissance translation of the original jar, not from the literal Greek wording.