Alcibiades
/ˌæl.sɪˈbaɪ.ə.diːz/noun
A Greek masculine name, especially associated with the Athenian statesman and general Alcibiades (c. 450–404 BCE).
Did you know?Alcibiades was portrayed in ancient sources as brilliant, charismatic, scandalous, and politically shape-shifting—an almost archetypal figure of power without restraint.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Greek
Greek
*alki-biadēs
“A reconstructed personal-name formation probably combining elements associated with strength and force; the exact interpretation is uncertain.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Ἀλκιβιάδης (Alkibiádēs)
“The personal name of the Athenian statesman Alcibiades; its traditional components suggest strength or protection and force, though ancient naming elements are not always transparently literal.”
5th Century BCE
Attic Greek
Ἀλκιβιάδης
“The name borne by Alcibiades, an influential Athenian politician, general, and aristocrat during the Peloponnesian War.”
Latin Antiquity
Latin
Alcibiades
“The Greek proper name preserved in Latin historical and philosophical writing.”
Medieval–Early Modern English
English
Alcibiades
“A learned classical name used in translations and historical writing.”
Modern English
English
Alcibiades
“The conventional English form of the Greek name, chiefly referring to the Athenian statesman.”