Aegeus m Greek Mythology (Latinized) Latinized form of Greek
αἴξ (aix) meaning
"goat" (genitive
αἶγες , additionally means
"waves". According to Greek mythology this was the name of a king of Athens. Believing his son
Theseus to have been killed by the Minotaur, he threw himself into the sea and was drowned. The sea was henceforth known as the Aegean.
Aegyptus m Greek Mythology (Latinized) Latinized form of Greek
Egypt). In Greek mythology he was a king of Egypt who forced the marriage of his 50 sons to the 50 daughters of his brother Danaus. The daughters killed all except one of the sons on the wedding night. Æþelbeorht m Anglo-Saxon [1] [2] Old English cognate of
Adalbert (see
Albert). This was the name of a Saxon king of England and two kings of Kent, one of whom was a saint. It became unused after the Normans introduced their form of
Adalbert after their invasion.
Æðelræd m Anglo-Saxon [1] [2] Derived from the Old English elements
æðele "noble" and
ræd "counsel, advice"
[3] [4] . This was the name of two Saxon kings of England including Æðelræd II "the Unready" whose realm was overrun by the Danes in the early 11th century. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
Æðelstan m Anglo-Saxon [1] [2] Derived from the Old English elements
æðele "noble" and
stan "stone"
[3] [4] . This was the name of a 10th-century English king, the first to rule all of England. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, though it enjoyed a modest revival (as
Athelstan ) in the 19th century.
Agilulf m Germanic [1] Old German name derived from the elements
agil meaning "edge, blade" and
wolf meaning "wolf"
[2] . This name was borne by a 6th-century king of the Lombards and by an 8th-century saint (a bishop of Cologne).
Agolant m Carolingian Cycle Possibly a Romance language form of Arabic
الأغلب (al-ʾAghlab), a 9th-century emir of Ifriqiya in North Africa
[1] , which is derived from
أغلب (ʾaghlab) meaning "predominant, supreme". This is the name of a Saracen king in medieval French tales of
Charlemagne and his knights.
Agrippa m & f Ancient Roman [1] , Biblical Roman cognomen of unknown meaning, possibly from a combination of Greek
agrios) meaning "wild" and
hippos) meaning "horse"
[2] or alternatively of Etruscan origin. It was also used as a praenomen, or given name, by the Furia and Menenia families
[3] . In the New Testament this name was borne by
Herod Agrippa (a grandson of Herod the Great), the king of Israel who put the apostle
James to death. It was also borne by the 1st-century BC Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
Ahab m Biblical, Biblical Latin Means
"uncle" in Hebrew, from the combination of
אָח (ʾaḥ) meaning "brother" and
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father". This was the name of a king of Israel, the husband of
Jezebel, as told in the Old Testament. He was admonished by
Elijah for his sinful behaviour. Herman Melville later used this name in his novel
Moby-Dick (1851), where it belongs to a sea captain obsessively hunting for a white whale.
Ailill m Old Irish [1] , Irish Mythology Means
"elf" in Irish. This name was borne by several early Irish kings. It also occurs frequently in Irish legend, borne for example by the husband of Queen
Medb. It was also the name of two saints, both bishops of Armagh in the 6th century.
Aimeric m Germanic [1] Probably a variant of
Heimirich. Aimeric (or Aimery) was the name of several viscounts of Narbonne between the 11th and 13th centuries. It was also borne by the first king of Cyprus (12th century), originally from Poitou, France.
Alaric m Gothic (Anglicized) From the Gothic name *
Alareiks meaning
"ruler of all", derived from the element
alls "all" combined with
reiks "ruler, king". This was the name of a king of the Visigoths who sacked Rome in the 5th century.
Alberich m Germanic [1] , Germanic Mythology Derived from the Old German elements
alb "elf" and
rih "ruler, king"
[2] [3] . It was borne by two Lombard dukes of Spoleto in the 10th century. It was also the name of a 12th-century French saint who helped found the Cistercian Order.
... [more] Albert m English, German, French, Catalan, Polish, Czech, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Romanian, Hungarian, Albanian, Germanic [1] From the Germanic name
Adalbert meaning
"noble and bright", composed of the elements
adal "noble" and
beraht "bright"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . This name was common among medieval German royalty. The Normans introduced it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate
Æþelbeorht [5] . Though it became rare in England by the 17th century, it was repopularized in the 19th century by the German-born Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria
[6] .
... [more] Alboin m Germanic [1] From the Old German elements
alb "elf" and
wini "friend"
[2] [3] [4] . It is a cognate of
Ælfwine. This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Lombards who began the Lombard conquest of Italy.
Alexander m English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Hungarian, Slovak, Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized) Latinized form of the Greek name
[1] [2] [3] from Greek alexo) meaning "to defend, help" and aner) meaning "man" (genitive [4] [5] . In Greek mythology this was another name of the hero Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the New Testament [6] . However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, king of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.... [more] Alf 1 m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Norse Mythology Derived from Old Norse
alfr meaning
"elf" [1] . In Norse legend this was the name of king, the suitor of a reluctant maiden named
Alfhild. She avoided marrying him by disguising herself as a warrior, but when they fought she was so impressed by his strength that she changed her mind.
Alfred m English, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Polish, Dutch, Catalan, Albanian Means
"elf counsel", derived from the Old English name
Ælfræd, composed of the elements
ælf "elf" and
ræd "counsel, advice"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . Alfred the Great was a 9th-century king of Wessex who fought unceasingly against the Danes living in northeastern England. He was also a scholar, and he translated many Latin books into Old English. His fame helped to ensure the usage of this name even after the Norman Conquest, when most Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. It became rare by the end of the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 18th century.
... [more] Alpin m Scottish (Rare) Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name
Ailpean, possibly derived from a Pictish word meaning
"white". This was the name of two kings of Dál Riata and two kings of the Picts in the 8th and 9th centuries.
Amalgaid m Old Irish [1] Old Irish name of uncertain meaning. This was the name of a few early Irish kings.
Amalric m Gothic (Anglicized) [1] From the Visigothic name *
Amalareiks, derived from the Gothic element
amals meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave", also referring to the royal dynasty of the Amali, combined with
reiks meaning "ruler, king"
[2] [3] [4] . This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Visigoths, as well as two 12th-century rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Amaziah m Biblical Means
"Yahweh strengthens" in Hebrew, derived from
אָמֵץ (ʾamets) meaning "to strengthen" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters, including a king of Judah.
Amulius m Roman Mythology Meaning unknown. In Roman mythology Amulius overthrew his brother Numitor, king of Alba Longa, but was eventually deposed by Numitor's grandsons
Romulus and
Remus.
Andrew m English, Biblical English form of the Greek name
ἀνδρεῖος (andreios) meaning
"manly, masculine", a derivative of
aner) meaning "man"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . In the New Testament the apostle Andrew, the first disciple to join
Jesus, is the brother of
Simon Peter. According to tradition, he later preached in the Black Sea region, with some legends saying he was crucified on an X-shaped cross.
Andrew, being a Greek name, was probably only a nickname or a translation of his real Hebrew name, which is not known.
... [more] Anthony m English English form of the Roman family name
Antonius [1] , which is of unknown Etruscan origin
[2] [3] . The most notable member of the Roman family was the general Marcus Antonius (called Mark Antony in English), who for a period in the 1st century BC ruled the Roman Empire jointly with Augustus. When their relationship turned sour, he and his mistress Cleopatra were attacked and forced to commit suicide, as related in Shakespeare's tragedy
Antony and Cleopatra (1606).
... [more] Antiochus m Ancient Greek (Latinized) From the Greek name
ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and
oche) meaning "support"
[1] [2] . This was the name of several rulers of the Seleucid Empire. It was also borne by a 2nd-century Christian martyr, the patron saint of Sardinia.
Aodh m Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Mythology From Old Irish
Áed, which meant
"fire" [1] [2] . This was a very popular name in early Ireland, being borne by numerous figures in Irish mythology and several high kings. It has been traditionally Anglicized as
Hugh .
Aonghus m Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Mythology From Old Irish
Óengus, possibly meaning
"one strength" from
óen "one" and
guss "force, strength"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Aonghus (sometimes surnamed
Mac Og meaning "young son") was an Irish god of love and youth, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He was the son of the
Dagda and
Boann. The name was also borne by an 8th-century Pictish king, several Irish kings, and a few saints, including a 9th-century bishop of Tallaght.
Ara m Armenian, Armenian Mythology Meaning unknown, possibly of Sumerian origin. In Armenian legend this was the name of an Armenian king who was so handsome that the Assyrian queen
Semiramis went to war to capture him. During the war Ara was slain.
Aragorn m Literature Meaning unexplained, though the first element is presumably Sindarin
ara "noble, kingly". This is the name of a character in
The Lord of the Rings (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien. In the book Aragorn is the heir of the Dúnedain kings of the north.
Ashurbanipal m Ancient Assyrian (Anglicized) From Akkadian
Ashur-bani-apli meaning
"Ashur is creator of a son". This was the name of one of the final kings of the Assyrian Empire, reigning late in the 7th century BC. He appears in the Old Testament under the name
Asnappar .
Athanagild m Gothic (Anglicized) [1] From the Gothic name *
Aþanagild, derived from the elements
aþn meaning "year" combined with
gild meaning "payment, tribute, compensation". Athanagild was a 6th-century king of Visigothic Spain.
Athanaric m Gothic (Anglicized) [1] From the Gothic name *
Aþanareiks, derived from the element
aþn meaning "year" combined with
reiks meaning "ruler, king". Athanaric was a 4th-century ruler of the Visigoths.
Athaulf m Gothic (Modernized) [1] Contemporary spelling of the Gothic name *
Aþawulfs, derived from the elements
aþals "nobility" and
wulfs "wolf" (making it a cognate of
Adolf). Alternatively, the first element could be
atta "father". This was the name of a 5th-century king of the Visigoths.
Augustus m Ancient Roman, Dutch (Rare) Means
"exalted, venerable", derived from Latin
augeo meaning "to increase"
[1] . Augustus was the title given to
Octavian, the first Roman emperor
[2] . He was an adopted son of Julius Caesar who rose to power through a combination of military skill and political prowess. In 26 BC the senate officially gave him the name
Augustus, and after his death it was used as a title for subsequent emperors. This was also the name of three kings of Poland (called
August in Polish).
Aurelius m Ancient Roman [1] Roman family name that was derived from Latin
aureus meaning
"golden, gilded" [2] . Marcus Aurelius was a 2nd-century Roman emperor and philosophical writer. This was also the name of several early saints.
Baldwin m English, Germanic [1] Means
"bold friend", derived from the Old German elements
bald "bold, brave" and
wini "friend"
[2] [3] [4] . In the Middle Ages this was a popular name in Flanders and among the Normans, who brought it to Britain. It was borne by one of the leaders of the First Crusade, an 11th-century nobleman from Flanders. After the crusaders conquered Jerusalem, he was crowned as the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Balor m Irish Mythology Meaning uncertain. In Irish mythology Balor was a giant king of the Fomorians. He had an evil eye that could destroy opposing armies, though it took four men to pull open the eyelid. In battle with the Tuatha Dé Danann he slew their king
Nuada, but was himself killed when the hero
Lugh shot a stone into his eye.
Bård m Norwegian Norwegian form of the Old Norse name
Bárðr, which was derived from the elements
bǫð "battle" and
friðr "peace".
Béla m Hungarian The meaning of this name is not known for certain. It could be derived from Hungarian
bél meaning
"guts, bowel" or Old Slavic
bělŭ meaning
"white". This was the name of four Hungarian kings. It was also borne by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók (1881-1945).
Belshazzar m Babylonian (Anglicized), Biblical From
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (Belshatstsar), the Hebrew form of the Akkadian name
Bel-sharra-usur meaning "
Bel protect the king". This was the name of the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Babylonian Empire before the Persians conquered it in the 6th century BC. In the Old Testament Book of Daniel Belshazzar is the last king of Babylon who sees the mystical handwriting on the wall, which is interpreted by Daniel to portend the end of the empire.
Beowulf m Anglo-Saxon Mythology Possibly means
"bee wolf" (in effect equal to "bear") from Old English
beo "bee" and
wulf "wolf"
[1] [2] . Alternatively, the first element may be
beadu "battle". This is the name of the main character in the anonymous 8th-century epic poem
Beowulf. Set in Denmark, the poem tells how he slays the monster Grendel and its mother at the request of King
Hroðgar. After this Beowulf becomes the king of the Geats. The conclusion of the poem tells how Beowulf, in his old age, slays a dragon but is himself mortally wounded in the act.
Berengar m Germanic [1] Old German name derived from the elements
bern "bear" and
ger "spear"
[2] [3] . This was the name of two medieval kings of Italy and a Holy Roman emperor.
Bharata m Hinduism Means
"being maintained" in Sanskrit. This is one of the names of
Agni, the Hindu god of fire, and is also the name of a brother of
Rama in the Hindu epic the
Ramayana. It was also borne by a legendary king, the son of
Dushyanta and
Shakuntala. The official name of the country of India, Bharat, derives from him.
Bleddyn m Welsh From Welsh
blaidd "wolf" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an 11th-century king of Gwynedd and Powys.
Bolesław m Polish Derived from Slavic
boľe "more, greater" and
slava "glory"
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of kings of Poland, starting in the 11th century with the first Polish king Bolesław the Brave.
Boris m Bulgarian, Russian, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak, Georgian, German, French From a Bulgar Turkic name, also recorded as
Bogoris, perhaps meaning
"short" or
"wolf" or
"snow leopard" [1] . It was borne by the 9th-century Boris I of Bulgaria, who converted his realm to Christianity and is thus regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church. To the north in Kievan Rus it was the name of another saint, a son of
Vladimir the Great who was murdered with his brother
Gleb in the 11th century. His mother may have been Bulgarian.
... [more] Bors m Arthurian Cycle From French
Bohort, probably from Old French
behort or
bohort meaning
"jousting" or
"jousting lance" [1] [2] . First appearing in the 13th-century Lancelot-Grail Cycle, Bors was one of Arthur's knights who quested for the Holy Grail. His father, the king of Gaunnes, was also named Bors.
Brân m Welsh Mythology Means
"raven" in Welsh. According to the Second Branch of the
Mabinogi [1] , Brân the Blessed (called
Bendigeidfran ) was a giant king of Britain. He was the son of the divine figure
Llŷr. After his sister
Branwen was mistreated by her husband the Irish king Matholwch, Brân led an attack on Ireland (the text says that he was so big he was able to wade there). Although victorious, the British lost all except seven men with Brân being mortally wounded by a poisoned spear. He asked the survivors to cut off his head and return with it to Britain. The head continued to speak for many years until it was buried in London.
Brian m English, Irish, Old Irish [1] Meaning uncertain, possibly related to the old Celtic root *
brixs "hill, high" (Old Irish
brí ) or the related *
brigā "might, power" (Old Irish
bríg )
[2] [3] [4] . It was borne by the Irish king Brian Boru, who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. He was slain in the Battle of Clontarf, though his forces were decisively victorious. This name was common in Ireland after his time, and it was introduced to northern England by Norse-Gael settlers. It was also used in Brittany, and was brought to England by Bretons in the wake of the Norman Conquest. Though it eventually became rare in the English-speaking world, it was strongly revived in the 20th century, becoming a top-ten name for boys in most regions.
Brochfael m Medieval Welsh From Old Welsh
Brochmail, from a Brythonic name *
Broccomaglos, derived from Celtic *
brokkos "badger" and *
maglos "chief". This was the name of a 6th-century king of Powys, also known as
Brochwel.
Bruce m Scottish, English From a Scottish surname, of Norman origin, which probably originally referred to the town of Brix in France
[1] . The surname was borne by Robert the Bruce, a Scottish hero of the 14th century who achieved independence from England and became the king of Scotland. It has been in use as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century, becoming especially popular in the 1940s and 50s. Notable bearers include Chinese-American actor Bruce Lee (1940-1973), American musician Bruce Springsteen (1949-), and American actor Bruce Willis (1955-). It is also the real name of the comic book superheroes Batman (Bruce Wayne), created 1939, and the Hulk (Bruce Banner), created 1962.
Brychan m Old Welsh Derived from Welsh
brych meaning
"speckled, freckled" combined with a diminutive suffix. Brychan Brycheiniog was a legendary Welsh king, said to be Irish by birth, the founder of the kingdom of Brycheiniog in central Wales. He reputedly fathered dozens of children, many of whom are regarded as saints.
Cadell m Welsh (Rare) [1] From Old Welsh
Catell, derived from
cat "battle" and a diminutive suffix. This was the name of two early kings of Powys in Wales.
Cadeyrn m Welsh (Rare) From Old Welsh
Catigirn meaning
"battle king", derived from
cat "battle" and
tigirn "king, monarch". This was the name of a 5th-century king of Powys in Wales, the son of
Vortigern.
Cadfan m Old Welsh [1] From an Old Welsh name, recorded in Latinized forms such as
Catamanus, meaning
"battle peak" from
cat "battle" and
bann "peak". Saint Cadfan, from Brittany, was a 6th-century missionary to Wales.
Cadwaladr m Welsh From Old Welsh
Catgualatr (also recorded in many other spellings) meaning
"leader of the battle", from
cat "battle" and
gwaladr "leader". This was the name of a 7th-century king of Gwynedd. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth he was the last king of all of the Britons. This name was also borne by a 7th-century Welsh saint.
Cairbre m Irish Means
"charioteer" in Irish. This was the name of two semi-legendary high kings of Ireland.
Cambyses m Old Persian (Latinized), History Latin form of
𐎣𐎲𐎢𐎪𐎡𐎹 (Kabujiya), which is of uncertain meaning, possibly related to the geographical name
Kamboja, a historical region in Central Asia
[1] . Two Persian kings bore this name, including Cambyses II, the second ruler of the Achaemenid Empire, who conquered Egypt.
Carl m German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, English German and Scandinavian variant of
Karl (see
Charles). Noteworthy bearers of the name include the Swedish biologist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), who founded modern taxonomy, the German mathematician Carl Gauss (1777-1855), who made contributions to number theory and algebra as well as physics and astronomy, and the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung (1875-1961), who founded analytical psychology. It was imported to America in the 19th century by German immigrants.
Casimir m English, French English form of the Polish name
Kazimierz, derived from the Slavic element
kaziti "to destroy" combined with
mirŭ "peace, world"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . Four kings of Poland have borne this name, including Casimir III the Great, who greatly strengthened the Polish state in the 14th century. It was also borne Saint Casimir, a 15th-century Polish prince and a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania. The name was imported into Western Europe via Germany, where it was borne by some royalty.
Caspian m Literature Used by author C. S. Lewis for a character in his
Chronicles of Narnia series, first appearing in 1950. Prince Caspian first appears in the fourth book, where he is the rightful king of Narnia driven into exile by his evil uncle Miraz. Lewis probably based the name on the Caspian Sea, which was named for the city of Qazvin, which was itself named for the ancient Cas tribe.
Cathal m Irish, Old Irish [1] Derived from Old Irish
cath "battle" and
fal "rule". This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint. It was also borne by several Irish kings. It has sometimes been Anglicized as
Charles .
Cearbhall m Irish From Old Irish
Cerball, probably from
cerb meaning
"pointed, sharp, cutting". This was the name of a few medieval Irish kings.
Charibert m Germanic [1] Old German (Frankish) variant of
Haribert. This name was borne by two Merovingian kings of the Franks (6th and 7th centuries).
Charlemagne m History From Old French
Charles le Magne meaning
"Charles the Great". This is the name by which the Frankish king Charles the Great (742-814) is commonly known.
Charles m English, French French and English form of
Carolus, the Latin form of the Germanic name
Karl, which was derived from a word meaning
"man" (Proto-Germanic *
karlaz )
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . However, an alternative theory states that it is derived from the common Germanic name element *
harjaz meaning "army"
[6] [7] .
... [more] Chlodomer m Germanic [1] Frankish name derived from the elements
hlut "famous, loud" and
mari "famous". This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Franks (a son of
Clovis).
Chobin m History From Persian
چوبین (Chūbīn), Middle Persian
𐭰𐭥𐭡𐭩𐭭 (Čoben) meaning
"spear-like". Bahram Chobin was a 6th-century Sasanian general and, for a short period, the king. He received this nickname because he was tall and thin. He appears in the 10th-century Persian epic the
Shahnameh.
Christian m English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian From the medieval Latin name
Christianus meaning
"a Christian" (see
Christos 1 for further etymology)
[1] [2] . In England it has been in use since the Middle Ages, during which time it was used by both males and females
[1] , but it did not become common until the 17th century. In Denmark the name has been borne by ten kings since the 15th century.
... [more] Christopher m English From the Late Greek name
Christ" [1] [2] [3] , derived from φέρω (phero) meaning "to bear, to carry" [4] . Early Christians used it as a metaphorical name, expressing that they carried Christ in their hearts. In the Middle Ages, literal interpretations of the name's etymology led to legends about a Saint Christopher who carried the young Jesus across a river. He has come to be regarded as the patron saint of travellers.... [more] Cináed m Medieval Scottish, Old Irish [1] Possibly from Old Irish
cin "respect, esteem, affection" or
cinid "be born, come into being" combined with
áed "fire"
[2] [3] [4] , though it might actually be of Pictish origin
[5] . This was the name of the first king of the Scots and Picts (9th century). It is often Anglicized as
Kenneth . The originally unrelated name
Coinneach is sometimes used as the modern Scottish Gaelic form.
Clovis m History, French Contemporary spelling, via the Latinized form
Clodovicus, of the Germanic name
Hludwig (see
Ludwig). Clovis was a Frankish king who united the Franks under his rule in the 5th century. The name was subsequently borne by two further Merovingian kings.
Conchobar m Old Irish [1] , Irish Mythology Derived from Old Irish
cú "hound, dog, wolf" (genitive
con) and
cobar "desiring"
[2] [3] [4] . It has been in use in Ireland for centuries and was the name of several Irish rulers. It was borne by the Ulster king Conchobar mac Nessa, one of the central characters in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, known for his tragic desire for
Deirdre and his war with Queen
Medb of Connacht.
Conrad m English, German, Germanic [1] Means
"brave counsel", derived from the Old German elements
kuoni "brave" and
rat "counsel, advice"
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of a 10th-century saint and bishop of Konstanz, in southern Germany. It was also borne by several medieval German kings and dukes, notably Conrad II, the first of the Holy Roman Emperors from the Salic dynasty. In England it was occasionally used during the Middle Ages, but has only been common since the 19th century when it was reintroduced from Germany.
Constantine 1 m History From the Latin name
Constantinus, a derivative of
Constans [1] [2] . Constantine the Great (272-337), full name Flavius Valerius Constantinus, was the first Roman emperor to adopt Christianity. He moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople (modern Istanbul).
Cormac m Irish Mythology, Irish From Old Irish
Cormacc or
Corbmac, of uncertain meaning, possibly from
corb "chariot, wagon" or
corbbad "defilement, corruption" combined with
macc "son". This is the name of several characters from Irish legend, including the semi-legendary high king Cormac mac Airt who supposedly ruled in the 3rd century, during the adventures of the hero
Fionn mac Cumhaill. This name was also borne by a few early saints.
Cunobelinus m Brythonic (Latinized) Latinized form of a Brythonic name, possibly from old Celtic *
kū "dog, hound" (genitive *
kunos) combined with either the name of the god
Belenus or another Celtic root meaning "strong". This was the name of a 1st-century king of southeastern Britain. He is known from Roman historians such as Suetonius
[1] and medieval Welsh histories, as well as from coins bearing his name.
Dachi m Georgian Of uncertain meaning, probably of Persian origin, possibly from a name composed of Old Persian
duvara "gate, court" and
cithrah "seed, origin". This was the name of a 6th-century king of Georgia, of the Chosroid dynasty (Iranian).
Dáithí m Irish Means
"swiftness, nimbleness" in Irish. This was the name of a semi-legendary high king of Ireland, also called
Nathí. It is sometimes Anglicized as
David .
David m English, Hebrew, French, Scottish, Welsh, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Slovene, Russian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Biblical, Biblical Latin [1] From the Hebrew name
דָּוִד (Dawiḏ) [2] , which was derived from
דּוֹד (doḏ) meaning
"beloved" or
"uncle" [3] . David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of
Goliath, a giant Philistine. According to the New Testament,
Jesus was descended from him.
... [more] Decebal m Romanian Means
"powerful, brave" in Dacian. This was the name adopted by Diurpaneus, a 1st-century king of Dacia. For many years he successfully resisted Roman expansion into his territory but was finally defeated by the forces of Emperor Trajan in 106.
Demetrius m Ancient Greek (Latinized) Latinized form of the Greek name
[1] [2] , which was derived from the name of the Greek goddess Demeter 1. Kings of Macedon and the Seleucid kingdom have had this name. This was also the name of several early saints including Demetrius of Thessalonica, a martyr of the 4th century who is regarded as a warrior. Desiderius m Late Roman Derived from Latin
desiderium meaning
"longing, desire". It was the name of several early saints. It was also borne in the 8th century by the last king of the Lombard Kingdom.
Diarmaid m Irish, Irish Mythology Meaning unknown, though it has been suggested that it means
"without envy" in Irish. In Irish legend this was the name of a warrior who became the lover of
Gráinne. It was also the name of several ancient Irish kings.
Dilipa m Hinduism Means
"protector of Delhi" from Sanskrit
Delhi) combined with pa) meaning "protecting". According to Hindu scripture this was the name of a king who was an ancestor of Rama. Donald m Scottish, English From the Scottish Gaelic name
Dòmhnall meaning
"ruler of the world", composed of the Old Irish elements
domun "world" and
fal "rule"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . This was the name of two 9th-century kings of the Scots and Picts. It has traditionally been very popular in Scotland, and during the 20th century it became common in the rest of the English-speaking world. This is the name of one of Walt Disney's most popular cartoon characters, Donald Duck, introduced 1931. It was also borne by Australian cricket player Donald Bradman (1908-2001) and American president Donald Trump (1946-).
Drupada m Hinduism Means
"wooden pillar" or
"firm footed" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the
Mahabharata this is the name of a king of Panchala, the father of
Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna.
Drust m Pictish Pictish name probably derived from the old Celtic root *
trusto- meaning
"noise, tumult". This name was borne by several kings of the Picts, including their last king Drust X, who ruled in the 9th century.
Duncan m Scottish, English Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name
Donnchadh, derived from Old Irish
donn "brown" and
cath "battle"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . This was the name of two kings of Scotland, including the one who was featured in Shakespeare's play
Macbeth (1606).
Eadberht m Anglo-Saxon [1] [2] Derived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
beorht "bright"
[3] [4] . This was the name of an 8th-century king of Northumbria and three kings of Kent.
Edgar m English, French, Portuguese, German Derived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
gar "spear"
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of a 10th-century English king, Edgar the Peaceful. The name did not survive long after the Norman Conquest, but it was revived in the 18th century, in part due to a character by this name in Walter Scott's novel
The Bride of Lammermoor (1819), which tells of the tragic love between Edgar Ravenswood and Lucy Ashton
[4] . Famous bearers include author and poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), French impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917), and author Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950).
Edmund m English, German, Polish Means
"rich protection", from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
mund "protection"
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of two Anglo-Saxon kings of England. It was also borne by two saints, including a 9th-century king of East Anglia who, according to tradition, was shot to death with arrows after refusing to divide his Christian kingdom with an invading pagan Danish leader. This Old English name remained in use after the Norman Conquest (even being used by King Henry III for one of his sons), though it became less common after the 15th century.
... [more] Edward m English, Polish Means
"rich guard", derived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
weard "guard"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . This was the name of several Anglo-Saxon kings, the last being Saint Edward the Confessor shortly before the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. He was known as a just ruler, and because of his popularity his name remained in use after the conquest when most other Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. The 13th-century Plantagenet king Henry III named his son and successor after the saint, and seven subsequent kings of England were also named Edward.
... [more] Egbert m English, Dutch Means
"bright edge" from the Old English elements
ecg "edge, blade" and
beorht "bright"
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of kings of Kent and Wessex as well as two English saints. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest but was revived in the 19th century.
Einion m Welsh From the Old Welsh name
Enniaun, probably from the Latin name
Ennianus, a derivative of
Ennius (see
Ennio). It is also a modern Welsh word meaning "anvil". This was the name of a few early Welsh rulers including Einion Frenin (5th century), who is considered a saint in some Christian traditions.
Eliakim m Biblical Means
"God raises" in Hebrew, from the roots
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise". In the Old Testament this is the name of the master of
Hezekiah's household.
Elisedd m Old Welsh Derived from Welsh
elus meaning
"kind, benevolent". This was the name of two kings of Powys in Wales.
Eochaidh m Medieval Irish [1] From the Old Irish name
Eochaid meaning
"horseman", derived from
ech "horse". This name was borne by many historical and legendary Irish kings.
Epiphanes m Ancient Greek [1] Means
"appearing, manifesting" in Greek
[2] . This was an epithet of two 2nd-century BC Hellenistic rulers: the Seleucid king Antiochus IV and the Ptolemaic king Ptolemy V.
Éremón m Irish Mythology Meaning unknown. According to medieval Irish legend he was one of the sons of Míl Espáine who participated in the Milesian conquest of Ireland, becoming one of the first Gaelic kings.
Eric m English, Swedish, German, Spanish Means
"ever ruler", from the Old Norse name
Eiríkr, derived from the elements
ei "ever, always" and
ríkr "ruler, king"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . A notable bearer was Eiríkr inn Rauda (Eric the Red in English), a 10th-century navigator and explorer who discovered Greenland. This was also the name of several early kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
... [more] Erik m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian, Hungarian, German, Dutch, English, Spanish Scandinavian form of
Eric. This was the name of kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. King Erik IX of Sweden (12th century) is the patron saint of that country.
Ermenrich m Germanic [1] From the Gothic name *
Airmanareiks, from the elements
airmans "great, immense" and
reiks "ruler, king"
[2] [3] [4] . Ermenrich (also often called Ermanaric) was a 4th-century Gothic king.
Euric m Gothic (Anglicized) [1] From the Gothic name *
Aiwareiks, derived from
aiws "eternity, age" and
reiks "ruler, king". This was the name of a 5th-century king of the Visigoths.
Faramund m Germanic [1] Derived from the Old German elements
fara "journey" and
munt "protection"
[2] [3] . This was the name of a semi-legendary 5th-century king of the Franks.
Feidlimid m & f Old Irish [1] , Irish Mythology Traditionally said to mean
"ever good", it might be related to Old Irish
feidil "enduring, constant". This was the name of three early kings of Munster. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint, typically called Saint Felim. In Irish legend, it was the name of the father of
Deirdre.
Fergus m Irish, Scottish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish [1] Means
"man of vigour", derived from the Old Irish elements
fer "man" and
guss "vigour, strength, force"
[2] [3] [4] . This was the name of several early rulers of Ireland and Dál Riata, as well as many characters from Irish legend. Notably it was borne by the hero Fergus mac Róich, who was tricked into giving up the kingship of Ulster to
Conchobar. However, he remained loyal to the new king until Conchobar betrayed
Deirdre and
Naoise, at which point he defected to Connacht in anger. The name was also borne by an 8th-century saint, a missionary to Scotland.
... [more] Fiachra m Irish, Irish Mythology From Old Irish
Fiachrae, possibly from
fiach "raven" or
fích "battle" combined with
rí "king". This was the name of several legendary figures, including one of the four children of
Lir transformed into swans for a period of 900 years. This is also the name of the patron saint of gardeners: a 7th-century Irish abbot who settled in France, usually called Saint Fiacre.
Fionn m Irish, Irish Mythology From the Old Irish name
Finn, derived from
finn meaning
"white, blessed" [1] . It occurs frequently in Irish history and legends, the most noteworthy bearer being Fionn mac Cumhaill, the central character of one of the four main cycles of Irish mythology, the Fenian Cycle. Fionn was born as
Deimne, and acquired his nickname because of his fair hair. He grew all-wise by eating an enchanted salmon, and later became the leader of the Fianna after defeating the fire-breathing demon Áillen. He was the father of
Oisín and grandfather of
Oscar.
François m French French form of
Franciscus (see
Francis). François Villon (1431-1463) was a French lyric poet. This was also the name of two kings of France.
Franz m German German form of
Franciscus (see
Francis). This name was borne by the Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828), the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) and the Austrian-Czech author Franz Kafka (1883-1924), whose works include
The Trial and
The Castle. It was also the name of rulers of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire.
Frederick m English English form of an Old German name meaning
"peaceful ruler" [1] [2] [3] , derived from
fridu "peace" and
rih "ruler, king"
[4] [5] . This name has long been common in continental Germanic-speaking regions, being borne by rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Germany, Austria, Scandinavia, and Prussia. Notables among these rulers include the 12th-century Holy Roman emperor and crusader Frederick I Barbarossa, the 13th-century emperor and patron of the arts Frederick II, and the 18th-century Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great.
... [more] Friedrich m German German form of
Frederick. This was the name of several rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria and Prussia. The philosophers Friedrich Engels (1820-1895) and Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) are two other famous bearers of this name.
Fyodor m Russian Russian form of
Theodore. It was borne by three tsars of Russia. Another notable bearer was Fyodor Dostoyevsky (or Dostoevsky; 1821-1881), the Russian author of such works as
Crime and Punishment and
The Brothers Karamazov.
Gaiseric m Vandalic (Latinized) From
Gaisericus, the Latin form of the Vandalic name *
Gaisarīx, derived from the Germanic elements *
gaizaz "spear" and *
rīks "ruler, king"
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of a 5th-century king of the Vandals, a Germanic tribe. He led his people through Hispania and established a kingdom in North Africa.
Garsea m Medieval Spanish Meaning unknown, possibly related to the Basque word
hartz meaning
"bear". This was the name of several medieval kings of Navarre and Leon.
Genghis m History From the title
Genghis (or
Chinggis)
Khan, meaning "universal ruler", which was adopted by the Mongol Empire founder
Temujin in the late 12th century. Remembered both for his military brilliance and his brutality towards civilians, he went on to conquer huge areas of Asia and Eastern Europe.
Gentius m Albanian Possibly means
"to beget" in Illyrian. This was the name of a 2nd-century BC Illyrian king who went to war with Rome.
George m English, Romanian, Indian (Christian) From the Greek name
γεωργός (georgos) meaning
"farmer, earthworker" [1] [2] [3] , itself derived from the elements
ge) meaning "earth" and
ergon) meaning "work"
[4] [5] . Saint George was a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Cappadocia who was martyred during the persecutions of Emperor
Diocletian. Later legends describe his defeat of a dragon, with which he was often depicted in medieval art.
... [more] Gilgamesh m Sumerian Mythology, Semitic Mythology Possibly means
"the ancestor is a hero", from Sumerian
𒉋𒂵 (bilga) meaning "ancestor" and
𒈩 (mes) meaning "hero, young man". This was the name of a Sumerian hero, later appearing in the Akkadian poem the
Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, with his friend
Enkidu, battled the giant Humbaba and stopped the rampage of the Bull of Heaven, besides other adventures. Gilgamesh was probably based on a real person: a king of Uruk who ruled around the 27th century BC.
Gotarzes m Parthian (Hellenized) Greek form of Parthian
𐭂𐭅𐭕𐭓𐭆 (Gotarz), from an Old Iranian name *
Gautarza meaning
"ox crusher". This name was borne by two kings of Parthia.
Graham m Scottish, English From a Scottish surname, originally derived from the English place name
Grantham, which probably meant
"gravelly homestead" in Old English
[1] [2] . The surname was first taken to Scotland in the 12th century by the Norman baron William de Graham
[3] . A famous bearer of the surname was Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), the Scottish-Canadian-American inventor who devised the telephone. A famous bearer of the given name was the British author Graham Greene (1904-1991).
... [more] Gruffudd m Welsh From the Old Welsh name
Grifud, the second element deriving from Old Welsh
iudd "lord, prince" but the first element being of uncertain meaning (possibly
cryf "strong"). This was a common name among medieval Welsh royalty. Gruffudd (or Gruffydd) ap Llywelyn was an 11th-century Welsh ruler who fought against England.
Guntram m German Means
"war raven" from the Old German elements
gunda "war" and
hram "raven"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish king, sometimes called Gontrand, who is considered a saint.
Gurgen m Armenian, Georgian Derived from Middle Persian
𐭢𐭥𐭫𐭢 (gurg) meaning
"wolf" combined with a diminutive suffix. This name was borne by several Georgian kings and princes.
Gwenddoleu m Welsh Mythology From Old Welsh
Guendoleu, possibly derived from
gwyn meaning "white, blessed" and
dol (plural
dolau) meaning "meadow". This was the name of a semi-legendary 6th-century king of Arfderydd in Cumbria. His defeat at the Battle of Arfderydd caused his bard
Myrddin to go mad with grief.
Gwrtheyrn m Old Welsh (Modernized) From Old Welsh
Guorthigirn meaning
"supreme king", from
guor meaning "over" and
tigirn meaning "king, monarch". It is possible that this is not a name, but a title. According to medieval chroniclers, Gwrtheyrn (also known as Vortigern) was a 5th-century king of the Britons. It was he who invited the brothers
Hengist and
Horsa to Britain, which eventually led to the Anglo-Saxon conquest of England.
Håkon m Norwegian Modern Norwegian form of the Old Norse name
Hákon, derived from the element
hár "high" or
hǫð "battle, combat" combined with and
konr "son, descendant"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . This was the name of seven kings of Norway.
Halfdan m Norwegian, Danish From the Old Norse name
Hálfdan meaning
"half Danish", composed of the elements
hálfr "half" and
Danr "Dane", originally a nickname for a person who was half Danish. This was the name of a legendary Danish king, the father of
Helgi and
Hróarr.
Harold m English From the Old English name
Hereweald, derived from the elements
here "army" and
weald "powerful, mighty"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . The Old Norse cognate
Haraldr was also common among Scandinavian settlers in England
[5] . This was the name of five kings of Norway and three kings of Denmark. It was also borne by two kings of England, both of whom were from mixed Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon backgrounds, including Harold II who lost the Battle of Hastings (and was killed in it), which led to the Norman Conquest. After the conquest the name died out, but it was eventually revived in the 19th century.
Harthacnut m History From the Old Norse byname
Harðaknútr meaning
"tough knot". This was the name of a semi-legendary 10th-century king of Denmark, as well as an 11th-century king of both Denmark and England.
Hasan m Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay, Albanian, Bosnian, Uzbek, Tajik Means
"handsome" in Arabic, from the root
حسن (ḥasuna) meaning "to be beautiful, to be good"
[1] [2] . Hasan was the son of
Ali and the grandson of the Prophet
Muhammad. He was poisoned by one of his wives and is regarded as a martyr by Shia Muslims. This was also the name of two kings of Morocco. It is sometimes transcribed as
Hassan, though this is a distinct name in Arabic.
Hazael m Biblical Means
"God sees" in Hebrew, from
חָזָה (ḥaza) meaning "to see" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of a king of Aram in the Old Testament.
Henry m English From the Germanic name
Heimirich meaning
"home ruler" [1] [2] [3] , composed of the elements
heim "home" and
rih "ruler"
[4] [5] . It was later commonly spelled
Heinrich, with the spelling altered due to the influence of other Germanic names like
Haganrich, in which the first element is
hag "enclosure".
... [more] Herla m Anglo-Saxon Mythology Meaning uncertain, though connections to various Germanic words have been proposed. According to the 12th-century author Walter Map, who was likely expanding on older Germanic tales, Herla was a king of the Britons who became the leader of the Wild Hunt.
Hezekiah m Biblical From the Hebrew name
חִזְקִיָהוּ (Ḥizqiyahu), which means
"Yahweh strengthens", from the roots
חָזַק (ḥazaq) meaning "to strength" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name was borne by a powerful king of Judah who reigned in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Also in the Old Testament, this is the name of an ancestor of the prophet
Zephaniah.
Hilderic m Germanic [1] Derived from the Old German elements
hilt "battle" and
rih "ruler, king"
[2] [3] . Hilderic was a 6th-century king of the Vandals. This name was also borne by three early Merovingian Frankish kings, though their name is usually spelled as
Childeric.
Hilperic m Germanic [1] Derived from the Old German elements
helfa "help" and
rih "ruler, king"
[2] [3] . This name was borne by two Burgundian kings and two Frankish kings (usually called
Chilperic).
Hiram m Biblical, English From Phoenician
𐤇𐤓𐤌 (Ḥirom) meaning
"exalted brother". This was the name of a king of Tyre according to the Old Testament. He may have reigned in the 10th century BC. As an English given name,
Hiram came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where it gained some currency.
Hoshea m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew [1] From the Hebrew name
הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hosheaʿ) meaning
"salvation", from the root
יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save". In the Old Testament at
Numbers 13:16,
Moses gives the spy Hoshea the new name
Yehoshuaʿ (see
Joshua), which has a related origin. This name was also borne by an 8th-century BC king of Israel, who was the last ruler of that state before it was conquered by Assyria.
Houshang m Persian Mythology, Persian From the Avestan name
𐬵𐬀𐬊𐬱𐬌𐬌𐬀𐬢𐬵𐬀 (Haošiiangha), possibly from
𐬵𐬎 (hu) meaning "good" combined with a second element meaning either "dwelling" or "choice"
[1] . This is the name of an ancient king in the
Avesta, with a longer story in the 10th-century Persian epic the
Shahnameh, where he is the grandson and successor of
Keyumars.
Hrachya m Armenian Means
"eyes of fire", from Old Armenian
Hróarr m Old Norse [1] [2] Old Norse name, derived from the element
hróðr "praise, fame" combined with either
geirr "spear" (making it a relation of
Hróðgeirr),
herr "army, warrior" or
varr "aware, cautious"
[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] . This is the name of a legendary Danish king, the same one who is featured in the Anglo-Saxon poem
Beowulf with the name
Hroðgar .
Hroðgar m Anglo-Saxon [1] [2] From Old English
hroð "fame, glory" and
gar "spear"
[3] [4] , making it a cognate of
Hrodger (see
Roger). The name became unused after the Normans introduced the continental form. In the Old English poem
Beowulf this is the name of the Danish king. The same character is named in Scandinavian sources as
Hróarr .
Hugh m English From the Germanic name
Hugo, derived from Old Frankish
hugi or Old High German
hugu meaning
"mind, thought, spirit" (Proto-Germanic *
hugiz )
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . It was common among Frankish and French nobility, being borne by Hugh Capet, a 10th-century king of France who founded the Capetian dynasty. The Normans brought the name to England and it became common there, even more so after the time of the 12th-century bishop Saint Hugh of Lincoln, who was known for his charity. This was also the name of kings of Cyprus and the crusader kingdom of Jerusalem. The name is used in Ireland and Scotland as the Anglicized form of
Aodh and
Ùisdean .
Humbert m French, German (Rare), English (Rare), Germanic [1] Derived from the Old German elements
hun "bear cub" and
beraht "bright"
[2] [3] [4] . The Normans introduced this name to England, though it has always been uncommon there. It was the name of a 7th-century Frankish saint who founded Maroilles Abbey. It was also borne by two kings of Italy (called
Umberto in Italian), who ruled in the 19th and 20th centuries. A notable fictional bearer is Humbert Humbert from Vladimir Nabokov's novel
Lolita (1955).
Hye m Korean From Sino-Korean
慧 (hye) meaning "bright, intelligent" or other characters that are pronounced in the same way. Although it does appear rarely as a single-character name, it is more often used in combination with another character. A notable bearer was a 6th-century king of Baekje.
Hywel m Welsh From Old Welsh
Higuel meaning
"eminent, prominent" (literally
"well-seen"). This was the name of a few Welsh kings, including the 10th-century Hywel the Good who was known for establishing laws.
Iago m Welsh, Galician, Portuguese Welsh and Galician form of
Iacobus (see
James). This was the name of two early Welsh kings of Gwynedd. It is also the name of the villain in Shakespeare's tragedy
Othello (1603).
Idwal m Welsh From the Old Welsh name
Iudgual, derived from
iudd "lord" combined with
gual "ruler, leader".
Il-seong m Korean From Sino-Korean
日 (il) meaning "sun, day" and
成 (seong) meaning "completed, finished, succeeded". Other hanja character combinations are possible. A notable bearer was Kim Il-sung (1912-1994), the first leader of North Korea.
Inge f & m Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Dutch, Estonian Short form of Scandinavian and German names beginning with the element
ing, which refers to the Germanic god
Ing [1] . In Sweden and Norway this is primarily a masculine name, elsewhere it is usually feminine.
István m Hungarian Hungarian form of
Stephen. This was the name of the first king of Hungary. Ruling in the 11th century, he encouraged the spread of Christianity among his subjects and is considered the patron saint of Hungary.
James m English, Biblical, Dutch (Modern) English form of the Late Latin name
Iacomus, a variant of the Biblical Latin form
Iacobus, from the Hebrew name
Yaʿaqov (see
Jacob)
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of two apostles in the New Testament. The first was Saint James the Greater, the apostle
John's brother, who was beheaded under Herod Agrippa in the Book of Acts. The second was James the Lesser, son of
Alphaeus. Another James (known as James the Just) is also mentioned in the Bible as being the brother of
Jesus.
... [more] Jamshid m Persian, Uzbek, Persian Mythology Modern Persian form of Avestan
𐬫𐬌𐬨𐬀⸱𐬑𐬱𐬀𐬉𐬙𐬀 (Yima Xšaēta), which meant
"shining Jam" [1] . This was the name of a mythological king of Persia who ruled during a golden age. He appears in the 10th-century epic the
Shahnameh. He is known as either
Jamshid or
Jam, where
Jamshid is a combination of his original name and an honorific.
Jan 1 m Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Polish, Slovene, German, Catalan, Sorbian Form of
Johannes used in various languages. This name was borne by the Czech church reformer Jan Hus (1370-1415), the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck (1390-1441), and the Dutch painters Jan Steen (1626-1679) and Jan Vermeer (1632-1675).
Janaka m Hinduism, Sinhalese Means
"father" in Sanskrit. According to the Hindu epic the
Ramayana he was the king of Videha in northeastern India. He was the father of
Sita.
Jehoash m Biblical From the Hebrew name
יְהוֹאָשׁ (Yehoʾash), an extended form of
יוֹאָשׁ (see
Joash). According to the Old Testament, this was the name of a king of Israel (sometimes called Joash). He probably reigned in the 8th century BC.
Jehoiachin m Biblical Means
"Yahweh will establish" in Hebrew, from the roots
יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and
כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah. Also known as
Jeconiah , he was imprisoned in Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar after a brief reign in the early 6th century BC.
Jehoiakim m Biblical Means
"Yahweh raises up" in Hebrew, from the roots
יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and
קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah. He lived in the 7th century BC, and was the son of
Josiah and the father of
Jehoiachin.
Jehoram m Biblical From the Hebrew name
יְהוֹרָם (Yehoram) meaning
"exalted by Yahweh", derived from
יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and
רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah and a king of Israel, both of whom ruled at about the same time in the 9th century BC.
Jehoshaphat m Biblical Means
"Yahweh has judged" in Hebrew, from the roots
יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and
שָׁפַט (shafaṭ) meaning "to judge". According to the Old Testament he was the fourth king of Judah, noted for having a generally peaceful and prosperous reign.
Jehu m Biblical Means
"Yahweh is he" in Hebrew, from the roots
יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and
הוּא (hu) meaning "he". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Israel. He ruled in the 9th century BC, coming to power by overthrowing
Jehoram. This was also the name of a prophet during the reign of the king Baasha.
Jeroboam m Biblical From the Hebrew name
יָרָבְעָם (Yarovʿam) meaning
"the people will contend", derived from the roots
רִיב (riv) meaning "to strive, to contend" and
עַם (ʿam) meaning "people, nation". According to the Old Testament, this was the name of the leader of the revolt against King
Rehoboam of Israel. The kingdom was split into Judah in the south and Israel in the north, with Jeroboam becoming the first king of the latter.
Joash m Biblical From the Hebrew name
יוֹאָשׁ (Yoʾash), possibly meaning
"fire of Yahweh". In the Old Testament this name is borne by several characters including the father of
Gideon, a king of Judah, and a son of King
Ahab of Israel. It also occurs in the Bible in its extended form
Jehoash .
John m English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, Biblical English form of
Iohannes, the Latin form of the Greek name
יוֹחָנָן (Yoḥanan). It means
"Yahweh is gracious", from the roots
יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God and
חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . The Hebrew form occurs in the Old Testament (spelled
Johanan or
Jehohanan in the English version), but this name owes its popularity to two New Testament characters, both highly revered saints. The first is John the Baptist, a Jewish ascetic who is considered the forerunner of
Jesus. He baptized Jesus and was later executed by
Herod Antipas. The second is the apostle John, who is traditionally regarded as the author of the fourth gospel and Revelation. With the apostles
Peter and
James (John's brother), he was part of the inner circle of Jesus.
... [more] Joram m Biblical Contracted form of
Yehoram (see
Jehoram). This name belongs to several minor characters in the Old Testament, as well as being another name for the kings Jehoram of Israel and Jehoram of Judah.
Josiah m Biblical, English From the Hebrew name
יֹאשִׁיָהוּ (Yoshiyahu) meaning
"Yahweh supports", from
אָשְׁיָה (ʾashya) meaning "support" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God
[1] [2] [3] . In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah famous for his religious reforms. He was killed fighting the Egyptians at Megiddo in the 7th century BC. In England this name came into use after the Protestant Reformation.
Jotham m Biblical Means
"Yahweh is perfect" in Hebrew, derived from
יוֹ (yo) referring to the Hebrew God and
תָּם (tam) meaning "perfect, complete". In the Old Testament this is the name of both a son of
Gideon and a king of Judah.
Julius m Ancient Roman [1] , English, German, Finnish, Lithuanian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech Roman family name that was possibly derived from Greek
[2] . Alternatively, it could be related to the name of the Roman god Jupiter. This was a prominent patrician family of Rome, who claimed descent from the mythological Julus, son of Aeneas. Its most notable member was Gaius Julius Caesar, who gained renown as a military leader for his clever conquest of Gaul. After a civil war he became the dictator of the Roman Republic, but was eventually stabbed to death in the senate.... [more] Kálmán m Hungarian Probably of Turkic origin, meaning
"remainder". This was the name of a 12th-century king of Hungary. It was also borne in the 13th-century by the first king of Galicia-Volhynia, who was also a member of the Hungarian Árpád royal family. This name has been frequently confused with
Koloman .
Karl m German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, English, Finnish, Estonian, Germanic [1] , Old Norse [2] [3] German and Scandinavian form of
Charles. This was the name of seven rulers of the Franks and the Holy Roman Empire. It was also borne by a beatified emperor of Austria (1887-1922), as well as ten kings of Sweden. Other famous bearers include the German philosophers Karl Marx (1818-1883), a political theorist and socialist, and Karl Jaspers (1883-1969), an existentialist and psychiatrist.
Kenneth m Scottish, English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian Anglicized form of both
Coinneach and
Cináed [1] . This name was borne by the Scottish king Kenneth (Cináed) mac Alpin, who united the Scots and Picts in the 9th century. It was popularized outside of Scotland by Walter Scott, who used it for the hero in his 1825 novel
The Talisman [2] . A famous bearer was the British novelist Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932), who wrote
The Wind in the Willows.
Knut m Swedish, Norwegian, German Derived from Old Norse
knútr meaning
"knot" [1] . Knut the Great was a Danish prince who defeated
Æðelræd II, king of England, in the early 11th century and became the ruler of Denmark, Norway and England.
Lajos m Hungarian Hungarian form of
Louis. It was borne by two Hungarian kings, starting with the 14th-century Lajos I the Great, who was named after his French uncle.
Lasha m Georgian Possibly from a Northwest Caucasian word meaning
"light". This was a name of Giorgi IV, a 13th-century king of Georgia.
László m Hungarian Hungarian form of
Vladislav. Saint László was an 11th-century king of Hungary, looked upon as the embodiment of Christian virtue and bravery.
Laurin m Germanic Mythology, German Meaning uncertain, possibly from Latin
laurinus "of laurel", a derivative of
laurus. According to medieval German legend this was the name of a dwarf king who lived in the Dolomite Alps (northern Italy).
Leir m Literature The name of an early king of the Britons, according to the 12th-century chronicles
[1] of Geoffrey of Monmouth. Leir's name may be connected to the city where he reigned, Leicester (named
Kaerleir by Geoffrey). Alternatively it might be derived from the name of the legendary Welsh figure
Llŷr. The story of Leir and his daughters was later adapted by Shakespeare for his play
King Lear (1606).
Lemuel m Biblical, English, Mormon, Biblical Hebrew [1] Means
"for God" in Hebrew, from the proposition
לְמוֹ (lemo) combined with
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This was the name of a king briefly mentioned in Proverbs in the Old Testament. In the Book of Mormon it is the name of a rebellious son of
Lehi and
Sariah. It is also borne by the hero of Jonathan Swift's novel
Gulliver's Travels (1726).
Leo m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, English, Croatian, Armenian, Ancient Roman [1] Derived from Latin
leo meaning
"lion" [2] , a cognate of
Leon. It was popular among early Christians and has been the name of 14 popes, including Saint Leo the Great who asserted the dominance of the Roman bishops (the popes) over all others in the 5th century. It was also borne by six Byzantine emperors and five Armenian kings. Another famous bearer was the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), name spelled
... [more] Leonidas m Greek, Ancient Greek [1] Derived from Greek
leon) meaning "lion" combined with the patronymic suffix
ides) [2] [3] . Leonidas was a Spartan king of the 5th century BC who sacrificed his life and his army defending the pass of Thermopylae from the Persians. This was also the name of a 3rd-century saint and martyr, the father of Origen, from Alexandria.
Leopold m German, Dutch, English, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Polish Derived from the Old German elements
liut "people" and
bald "bold, brave"
[1] [2] [3] . The spelling was altered due to association with Latin
leo "lion"
[4] . This name was common among German royalty, first with the Babenbergs and then the Habsburgs. Saint Leopold was a 12th-century Babenberg margrave of Austria, who is now considered the patron of that country. It was also borne by two Habsburg Holy Roman emperors, as well as three kings of Belgium. Since the 19th century this name has been occasionally used in England, originally in honour of Queen Victoria's uncle, a king of Belgium, after whom she named one of her sons. It was later used by James Joyce for the main character, Leopold Bloom, in his novel
Ulysses (1922).
Lleu m Welsh Mythology Probably a Welsh form of
Lugus. In the Fourth Branch of the
Mabinogi [1] , Lleu Llaw Gyffes is the son of
Arianrhod. He was raised by his uncle
Gwydion, who helped him overcome the curses that his mother placed upon him. His wife
Blodeuwedd and her lover
Gronw conspired to overcome his near invincibility and murder him, but they were not successful. Eventually he became the king of Gwynedd.
Llywelyn m Welsh Probably a Welsh form of an unattested old Celtic name *
Lugubelinos, a combination of the names of the gods
Lugus and
Belenus, or a compound of
Lugus and a Celtic root meaning "strong". Alternatively it may be derived from Welsh
llyw "leader". This was the name of several Welsh rulers, notably the 13th-century Llywelyn the Great who fought against the English.
Lóegaire m Irish Mythology, Old Irish Means
"calf herder", derived from Old Irish
lóeg "calf". In Irish legend Lóegaire Búadach was an Ulster warrior. He saved the life of the poet
Áed, but died in the process. This was also the name of several Irish high kings.
Lot 2 m Arthurian Cycle From the name of the region of
Lothian in southern Scotland, of unknown meaning. A king of Lothian by this name appears in early Latin and Welsh texts (as
Leudonus and
Lewdwn respectively). He was inserted into Arthurian legend by the 12th-century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth, who makes him the father of
Gawain.
Louis m French, English, Dutch French form of
Ludovicus, the Latinized form of
Ludwig [1] . This was the name of 18 kings of France, starting with Louis I the son of
Charlemagne. Others include Louis IX (Saint Louis) who led two crusades and Louis XIV (called the Sun King) who was the ruler of France during the height of its power, the builder of the Palace of Versailles, and the longest reigning monarch in the history of Europe. It was also borne by kings of Germany (as
Ludwig), Hungary (as
Lajos), and other places.
... [more] Lucius m Ancient Roman [1] , Biblical, English Roman praenomen, or given name, which was derived from Latin
lux "light" [2] [3] . This was the most popular of the praenomina. Two Etruscan kings of early Rome had this name as well as several prominent later Romans, including Lucius Annaeus Seneca (known simply as Seneca), a statesman, philosopher, orator and tragedian. The name is mentioned briefly in the New Testament belonging to a Christian in Antioch. It was also borne by three popes, including the 3rd-century Saint Lucius. Despite this, the name was not regularly used in the Christian world until after the Renaissance.
Ludwig m German From the Germanic name
Hludwig meaning
"famous in battle", composed of the elements
hlut "famous, loud" and
wig "war, battle"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . This was the name of three Merovingian kings of the Franks (though their names are usually spelled as
Clovis ) as well as several Carolingian kings and Holy Roman emperors (names often spelled in the French form
Louis ). Other famous bearers include the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), who contributed to logic and the philosophy of language.
Lughaidh m Irish Mythology From Old Irish
Lugaid, a combination of the name of the mythological figure
Lugh and Old Irish
dech "honour, better"
[1] . This was the name of several characters in Irish legend, including the king Lugaid mac Con.
Lydos m Ancient Greek [1] Meaning unknown. This was the name of the semi-legendary king who gave his name to the region of
Lydia in Asia Minor.
Macbeth m History Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic given name
Mac Beatha meaning
"son of life", implying holiness. This was the name of an 11th-century Scottish king who came to power after defeating and killing King
Duncan in battle. Years later he was himself slain in battle with Duncan's son
Malcolm. Shakespeare based his play
Macbeth (1606) loosely on this king's life, drawing from the tales related in
Holinshed's Chronicles (1587).
Maelgwn m Medieval Welsh From Old Welsh
Mailcun, from a Brythonic name *
Maglocunos meaning
"chief of hounds", derived from Celtic *
maglos "chief" and *
kū "dog, hound" (genitive *
kunos). This was the name of several early Welsh rulers, notably Maelgwn Gwynedd, a 6th-century king of Gwynedd.
Máel Sechnaill m Old Irish Means
"disciple of Saint Seachnall" in Irish. This was the name of two Irish high kings: Máel Sechnaill mac Máele Ruanaid who ruled all of Ireland in the 9th century; and Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill (called Malachy) who defeated the Norse of Dublin in the 10th century.
Magnus m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Ancient Roman [1] Roman cognomen meaning
"great" in Latin. It was borne by a 7th-century saint who was a missionary in Germany. It became popular in Scandinavia after the time of the 11th-century Norwegian king Magnus I
[2] , who was said to have been named after
Charlemagne, or Carolus Magnus in Latin (however there was also a Norse name
Magni ). The name was borne by six subsequent kings of Norway as well as three kings of Sweden. It was imported to Scotland and Ireland during the Middle Ages.
Malcolm m Scottish, English Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic
Máel Coluim, which means
"disciple of Saint Columba". This was the name of four kings of Scotland starting in the 10th century, including Malcolm III, who became king after killing
Macbeth, the usurper who had defeated his father
Duncan. The character Malcolm in Shakespeare's tragedy
Macbeth (1606) is loosely based on him. Another famous bearer was Malcolm X (1925-1965), an American civil rights leader.
Manasseh m Biblical From the Hebrew name
מְנַשֶּׁה (Menashshe) meaning
"causing to forget", a derivative of
נָשָׁה (nasha) meaning "to forget"
[1] . In the Old Testament this is the name of the oldest son of
Joseph and
Asenath and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It was also borne by a 7th-century BC king of Judah, condemned in the Bible for allowing the worship of other gods.
Martin m English, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Russian, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Finnish From the Roman name
Martinus, which was derived from
Martis, the genitive case of the name of the Roman god
Mars [1] [2] [3] . Saint Martin of Tours was a 4th-century bishop who is the patron saint of France. According to legend, he came across a cold beggar in the middle of winter so he ripped his cloak in two and gave half of it to the beggar. He was a favourite saint during the Middle Ages, and his name has become common throughout the Christian world.
... [more] Maximilian m German, English, Swedish, Norwegian (Rare), Danish (Rare) From the Roman name
Maximilianus, which was derived from diminutive form of Latin
maximus "greatest" [1] [2] [3] . It was borne by a 3rd-century saint and martyr. In the 15th century the Holy Roman emperor Frederick III gave this name to his son and eventual heir. In this case it was a blend of the names of the Roman generals Fabius Maximus and Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus (see
Emiliano), whom Frederick admired
[4] . It was subsequently borne by a second Holy Roman emperor, two kings of Bavaria, and a short-lived Habsburg emperor of Mexico.
Menahem m Biblical, Hebrew From the Hebrew name
מְנַחֵם (Menaḥem) meaning
"comforter", a derivative of
נָחַם (naḥam) meaning "to comfort". This was the name of a king of Israel, appearing in the Old Testament. His reign was noted for its brutality.
Menander m Ancient Greek (Latinized) Latinized form of the Greek name
μένω (meno) meaning "to stay, to last" or
menos) meaning "mind, strength, force" combined with
aner) meaning "man" (genitive
[1] [2] [3] . This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek dramatist. It was also borne by a 2nd-century BC Indo-Greek king who expanded the realm to its greatest extent. Menelaus m Greek Mythology (Latinized) From the Greek name
μένω (meno) meaning "to stay, to last" or
menos) meaning "mind, strength, force" combined with
laos) meaning "people"
[1] [2] [3] . In Greek legend he was a king of Sparta and the husband of
Helen. When his wife was taken by
Paris, the Greeks led by his brother
Agamemnon besieged the city of Troy in an effort to get her back. After the war Menelaus and Helen settled down to a happy life.
Menes m Ancient Egyptian (Hellenized) Greek form of Egyptian
mnj probably meaning
"he who endures", derived from
mn "to endure". According to tradition, Menes was the Egyptian pharaoh who first united Upper and Lower Egypt around the 31st century BC. He is probably the same as the pharaoh known as
Narmer; Menes could have been his throne name.
Merfyn m Welsh From an Old Welsh name (recorded variously as
Mermin,
Merhin or
Merwin [1] ), of uncertain meaning. It is possibly from
mer "bone marrow" or
mor "sea" with the second element possibly
mynawg "eminent, noble"
[2] ,
mynnu "wish, desire"
[3] or
myn "young goat, kid"
[4] . This was the name of a 9th-century king of Gwynedd, Merfyn Frych.
Meurig m Welsh From Old Welsh
Mouric, possibly a Welsh form of the Latin name
Mauritius (see
Maurice). This was the name of a few early Welsh kings (such as the 5th-century Meurig ap Tewdrig).
Mieszko m Polish Probably an old diminutive form of
Mieczysław, now used independently. This was the name of three rulers of Poland including Mieszko I, the first Christian ruler (10th century).
Milan m Czech, Slovak, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian, Polish (Modern), Dutch (Modern), German (Modern), French (Modern) From the Slavic element
milŭ meaning
"gracious, dear" [1] [2] , originally a short form of names that began with that element
[3] . It was originally used in Czech, Slovak, and the South Slavic languages, though it has recently become popular elsewhere in Europe.
... [more] Minos m Greek Mythology Possibly from a Cretan word or title meaning
"king". This was the name of a king of Crete in Greek mythology. He was the son of
Zeus and
Europa. Because Minos had refused to sacrifice a certain bull to
Poseidon, the god had caused his wife
Pasiphaë to mate with the bull, which produced the half-bull creature called the
Minotaur. Minos had
Daedalus construct the Labyrinth to house the beast, but it was eventually slain by
Theseus. After his death, Minos became one of the three judges of the dead.