The name given to the woman in Hesiod’s myth means “all-gifted,” and that name is Pandora.
The Greek name Pandora is commonly explained from pan, meaning “all,” and doron, meaning “gift.” Hesiod’s story emphasizes that the gods collectively contribute qualities or gifts to her. This wordplay helps explain why the character’s name became central to the later expression “Pandora’s box.”
Pandora is not originally described simply as an evil woman. In Hesiod’s Works and Days, she is a divinely made figure whose beauty and abilities are part of Zeus’s plan. Her role is connected to a larger myth about why humans experience toil, disease, and other troubles.
Modern retellings often call the object a box, but Hesiod describes a pithos, usually understood as a large storage jar. The name Pandora, however, is stable across translations and later artistic traditions. It has also remained popular as a personal name, independent of the myth.