What does the name “Pandora” mean in ancient Greek tradition?

In ancient Greek tradition, the name “Pandora” means “all-gifted.”

The name comes from Greek elements commonly rendered pan, meaning “all,” and dōron, meaning “gift.” In Hesiod’s account, the gods collectively contribute qualities, skills, adornments, or gifts to the woman Zeus has ordered to be created. Her name therefore reflects the story’s emphasis on divine contributions rather than describing her as the child of a particular god.

The meaning is sometimes simplified into “gift of all” or “the one who has all gifts.” These versions point to the same Greek word formation, though “all-gifted” is the concise standard translation used in many discussions of the myth.

Pandora’s name is separate from the later phrase “Pandora’s box.” Hesiod’s original story involves a jar, and the box image became dominant through later translation and artistic tradition. The name also should not be confused with a patronymic: Greek myth does not define Pandora as Zeus’s daughter. She is a specially created woman associated with the gods’ gifts and with the jar that releases human troubles.