aristocratic problem

[sinhakumara]

Ancient Greek names like ARISTOTLE, ARISTOPHENES, and ARISTOCLES (Plato) - all of them begin with an ARISTO. How is the word formed and what does it mean ? An early response please !
sinhakumara.

[Lex]

Here is a Greek-English dictionary. See if you can't figure it out from there.

[sinhakumara]

My query has two aspects to it. First, Could every Greek in ancient times append an aristo as part of his name ? or was it a privilege denoting Class ? Secondly, 'Aryah' means superior (person) and 'stu' means commendable in Sanskrit , Is it exactly the same in Greek or is it a bit different ?
sinhakumara.

[Lex]

My query has two aspects to it. First, Could every Greek in ancient times append an aristo as part of his name ? or was it a privilege denoting Class ?

I don't know about this question.

Secondly, 'Aryah' means superior (person) and 'stu' means commendable in Sanskrit , Is it exactly the same in Greek or is it a bit different ?
sinhakumara.

etymonline.com says, in the entry under "aristocracy":

...Gk. aristokratia "government, rule of the best," from aristos "best" (originally "most fitting," from PIE *ar-isto-, superlative form of *ar- "to fit together")...

Under "arete":

important concept in Gk. philosophy, "virtue, excellence," lit. "that which is good." The comp. form is areion, the superl. is aristos (cf. aristocracy).