The name “Pandora” is most commonly interpreted in English as “all-gifted.” It comes from the Greek elements pan, meaning “all,” and doron, meaning “gift” or “present.”
The name reflects the mythic idea that Pandora receives gifts or attributes from the gods. In Hesiod’s account, different deities contribute qualities to the woman fashioned by Hephaestus, making the name part of the story’s wordplay and symbolism.
Scholars have discussed alternative ways to analyze the name and its relationship to older Greek religious ideas. Some interpretations connect Pandora with the earth or with a figure who gives all things, but “all-gifted” remains the standard translation in general reference works and popular retellings.
The name is sometimes confused with “all-giving.” That phrase can appear in discussions of related mythology, but it is not the usual literal English rendering of Pandora’s name in the jar story.