In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Pandora’s name literally means “all-gifted.” The name combines the Greek words pan, meaning “all,” and doron, meaning “gift” or “present.”
The name reflects the myth’s account of Pandora’s creation. The gods contribute different qualities or gifts to her, while Hephaestus forms her body at Zeus’s command. Other deities give her adornment, skill, charm, speech, or persuasive abilities, creating a figure presented as a divine gift to humanity.
The name is sometimes interpreted in another grammatical sense as “the gift of all,” but “all-gifted” is the usual concise translation in English. Modern retellings often focus on Pandora’s curiosity and the opened jar, while the original name emphasizes the gods’ collective role in making her.