In Hesiod’s account, what does the name “Pandora” literally mean?

In Hesiod’s account, the name Pandora literally means “all-gifted.”

The name comes from Greek elements meaning “all” and “gifts.” Hesiod presents Pandora as receiving contributions from several gods, so the name describes her as endowed with gifts from the divine community. The details of those gifts differ between Hesiod’s poems, but the name’s basic wordplay is consistent with the myth’s construction of her character.

This meaning is sometimes confused with the idea that Pandora herself gives everything. In the myth, she is primarily the recipient of divine gifts, while Zeus uses her creation in a punishment directed at humanity. The name’s meaning is therefore descriptive rather than a statement that she possesses every possible object or ability.

Pandora’s name also shows how ancient Greek myth often uses meaningful names to signal a character’s role. Her story is not simply about a curious woman and a container. It connects divine craftsmanship, gifts, deception, and the origins of human suffering. Modern retellings frequently shorten the name’s explanation, but “all-gifted” remains the standard literal gloss.