In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Hermes gave Pandora her name after the gods bestowed their gifts.
Hesiod describes Pandora as a woman fashioned by the gods at Zeus’s command. Several deities contribute abilities or adornments, and Hermes is the figure associated with naming her. The name is traditionally explained from Greek elements meaning “all” and “gifts,” reflecting the many divine contributions made to her appearance and character.
The naming detail is easy to confuse with Pandora’s creation. Hephaestus is the craftsman who forms her, while Hermes is the messenger god connected with giving her the name and presenting her in the narrative. Zeus remains the authority behind the plan, but he is not the answer to the naming question.
Hesiod’s account is an early literary source for Pandora, and later retellings often simplify or alter its details. Modern versions may describe every god as giving a specific trait, but the ancient poem’s presentation is more compact and does not function exactly like a modern character-origin story.