In Hesiod’s Greek myth of Pandora, Hermes gave her the name meaning “all-gifted.” Hesiod’s Works and Days describes the gods contributing qualities and gifts to the woman created at Zeus’s command.
The Greek name Pandora is commonly explained from pan, “all,” and doron, “gift,” producing the sense “all-gifted” or “given by all.” Hermes, the messenger of the gods, is identified in the myth as the deity who gives her this name and teaches her deceptive speech.
Other gods contribute different attributes. Athena gives her skill, Aphrodite gives grace, and the Graces and Horae adorn her, according to Hesiod’s account. These details explain why Pandora’s name can sound positive even though her arrival is part of Zeus’s punishment.
Modern retellings often treat Pandora as the sole giver or opener of the container, but the name itself refers to the gifts she receives from the gods. The myth’s wordplay is therefore central to understanding the character’s construction.