Why did Greece dispute the use of the name Macedonia?

Greece’s dispute over the name "Macedonia" stemmed from concerns regarding national identity, historical heritage, and territorial implications. Because Greece contains its own region named Macedonia and claims a direct cultural and historical continuity with Alexander the Great and the ancient Macedonians, it strongly objected to a neighboring state using the same name.1

Greece argued that the use of the name by a state with a majority Slavic population constituted an attempt to appropriate Greek history and symbols. Consequently, Greece sought to protect its exclusive claim to this heritage, fearing that the neighboring country's use of the name implied territorial ambitions or a false historical connection.1

This "name issue" led to significant diplomatic friction, with Greece blocking the neighboring state's entry into the European Union and NATO until the dispute was resolved through the 2018 Prespa Agreement. Under this agreement, the country was renamed North Macedonia, and both nations formally acknowledged that their respective uses of "Macedonia" referred to distinct histories and cultural heritages.1