Galatea \g(a)-la-tea\ as a girl's name is pronounced gal-ah-TEE-ah. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Galatea is "white as milk". Mythology: Galatea was a statue loved by the sculptor Pygmalion. She was brought to life for him by Aphrodite. The myth, via G.B. Shaw's play "Pygmalion", is the source of the musical "My Fair Lady".