Giorgis

Giorgis is a masculine given name used in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is commonly rendered as Giyorgis or Giorgis in Latin-alphabet transliterations of local forms rooted in the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition. The name honors Saint George, who is venerated in Ethiopian and Eritrean churches and has inspired a number of place names, churches, and institutions in the region.

The root of Giorgis goes back to the Greek Georgios, from ge (“earth”) and ergon (“work”), meaning “earth-worker” or “farmer.” The form Giyorgis is the Ge’ez/Amharic rendering of the saint’s name, and Giorgis is a Latinized or alternative transliteration used in diaspora communities.

In Ethiopia, a number of churches and monasteries bear the name Giyorgis, and the saint’s feast day is widely celebrated, influencing naming practices. The name has also spread to diaspora populations, where it may appear as a first name and, less commonly, as a surname through patronymic or family naming traditions.

Related names include Georgios (Greek), George (English), Giorgios (another transliteration), and Giyorgis (the Ethiopian form).