Are the words "Δημάρχης" & "Στελεχάρχης" from "Δήμαρχος" and "Στέλεχος " correct? Please analyze.

Question

Could you please answer the following:

Are the words "Δημάρχης" & "Στελεχάρχης" from "Δήμαρχος" and "Στέλεχος " correct? Please analyze.

Answer 1

As far as I know, the word “δημάρχης” does not exist in modern Greek. We use the word “δήμαρχος” (= mayor). I don't know if in some areas in Greece the word "δημάρχης" is used idiomatically instead of "δήμαρχος"or with another meaning. I have never heard it.

The word “στελεχάρχης” appears in current Greek in texts that have to do with business administration. It seems to be a neologism (a newly created word) which means “director, chief of other executives”.

Etymology: “στελεχάρχης” is a compound word, which comes from the words “στέλεχος” (= executive) and the ending “-άρχης”. Τhe ending “-άρχης” comes from the ancient Greek verb “άρχω” (= to lead, to be a chief).

Comments

We have the word "Νομός" which means the areas that Greece is divided and from there we derive "Νομάρχης". Now, why from the word "Δήμος", which means mayor of a city, we cannot derive the word "Δημάρχης"? Is there any rule of the Greek grammar that doen't allow that? I understand that the word "Δημάρχης" is not common but is it wrong and why?

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There is no specific grammar rule why we say “δήμαρχος” and not “δημάρχης”, while we say “νομάρχης”.

I suppose that when the word “δήμαρχος” was created, the ending -αρχος was more common, but when the word “νομάρχης” was created (in a different period of time and in a different area) the ending άρχης was probably more common and it prevailed.