Amyntas is a male given name, a variation of ἀμύντης (amyntes), derived from the Ancient Greek: ἀμύντωρ (amyntor) 'defender, helper' and ultimately from the verb ἀμύνω 'to ward off, to defend'. It was particularly widespread in ancient Macedon, and was given to several prominent ancient Macedonian and Hellenistic figures. It later became a stock name for lovelorn shepherds in 16th-century pastoral literature.