Adele f German, English, Italian German, English and Italian form of
Adela. A famous bearer was the dancer and actress Adele Astaire (1896-1981). It was also borne by the British singer Adele Adkins (1988-), known simply as Adele. Shortly after she released her debut album in 2008 the name reentered the American top 1000 chart after a 40-year absence.
Aifric f Irish From Old Irish
Affraic, possibly from
Afraicc, the Old Irish name of the continent of Africa (see
Africa 1)
[1] . Alternatively, it could be from *
Aithbrecc, an unattested earlier form of
Aithbhreac [2] . This was the name of two abbesses of Kildare in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was also borne by a 12th-century daughter of the king of the Isle of Mann who married the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy.
Akiko f Japanese From Japanese
晶 (aki) meaning "clear, crystal",
明 (aki) meaning "bright, light, clear" or
秋 (aki) meaning "autumn" combined with
子 (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters are possible.
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] 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] Allen m English Variant of
Alan 1, or from a surname that was derived from this same name. A famous bearer of this name was Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), an American beat poet. Another is the American film director and actor Woody Allen (1935-), who took the stage name Allen from his real first name.
Alta f Various Possibly from Latin
altus or Italian/Spanish
alto meaning
"high".
Amanda f English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Hungarian, Latvian, Polish, Ancient Roman [1] In part this is a feminine form of
Amandus. However, it was not used during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century it was recreated by authors and poets who based it directly on Latin
amanda meaning
"lovable, worthy of love" [2] [3] [4] . Notably, the playwright Colley Cibber used it for a character in his play
Love's Last Shift (1696). It came into regular use during the 19th century.
Aneirin m Old Welsh, Welsh Old Welsh name, possibly from the Latin name
Honorius [1] . This was the name of a 6th-century Brythonic poet, also known as Neirin or Aneurin
[2] , who is said to be the author of the poem
Y Gododdin.
Antonia f Italian, Spanish, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Romanian, Greek, Croatian, Bulgarian, Ancient Roman Feminine form of
Antonius (see
Anthony).
Aphra f Various (Rare) Meaning uncertain; possibly a variant of
Afra 1, or possibly a variant of
Aphrah, a biblical place name meaning "dust". This name was borne by the English writer Aphra Behn (1640-1689).
Apollinaire m French (Rare) French form of
Apollinaris. It was adopted as a surname by the Polish-French poet Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), who based it on his Polish middle name Apolinary.
Apollonios m Ancient Greek [1] From an ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek god
Apollo. It was borne by a Greek poet of the 3rd century BC. Several saints have also had this name.
Ardath f English From the name of a plain that appears in the apocryphal book of 2 Esdras (verse 9:26) in some versions of the Old Testament. This place name was used by Marie Corelli for the title of an 1889 novel, which is probably the reason it gained some currency as a given name just after this time.
Ava 1 f English Variant of
Eve. A famous bearer was the American actress Ava Gardner (1922-1990). This name became very popular throughout the English-speaking world in the early 21st century, entering the top ten for girls in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It began to rise sharply after 1997, possibly inspired by the actress Heather Locklear and musician Richie Sambora when they used it for their baby daughter that year.
Ava 3 f German, Germanic [1] Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element
awi , of unknown meaning. This was the name of a 9th-century Frankish saint. It was also borne by a 12th-century poet from Melk, Austria.
Bai m & f Chinese From Chinese
白 (bái) meaning "white, pure",
百 (bǎi) meaning "one hundred, many" or
柏 (bǎi) meaning "cypress tree, cedar" (which is usually only masculine). Other Chinese characters can form this name as well. This name was borne in the 8th century by the Tang dynasty poet Li Bai, whose given was
白.
Baqi m Arabic Means
"eternal" in Arabic. This was the pen name of a 16th-century Turkish poet.
Bashō m History Means
"Japanese banana tree" in Japanese, referring to the species Musa basjoo. This name was borne (as a pen name) by the Japanese haiku poet Matsuo Basho (1644-1694).
Blake m & f English From an English surname that was derived from Old English
blæc "black" or
blac "pale". A famous bearer of the surname was the poet and artist William Blake (1757-1827). It was originally a mainly masculine name but in 2007 actress Blake Lively (1987-) began starring in the television series
Gossip Girl, after which time it increased in popularity for girls.
Bragi m Norse Mythology, Icelandic Derived from Old Norse
bragr meaning
"first, foremost" or
"poetry". In Norse mythology Bragi is the god of poetry and the husband of
Iðunn.
Bridget f Irish, English Anglicized form of the Irish name
Brighid, Old Irish
Brigit, from old Celtic *
Brigantī meaning
"the exalted one" [1] [2] [3] . In Irish mythology this was the name of the goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom, the daughter of the god the
Dagda. In the 5th century it was borne by Saint Brigid, the founder of a monastery at Kildare and a patron saint of Ireland. Because of the saint, the name was considered sacred in Ireland, and it did not come into general use there until the 17th century
[4] . In the form
Birgitta this name has been common in Scandinavia, made popular by the 14th-century Saint Birgitta of Sweden, patron saint of Europe.
Bronwen f Welsh Seemingly derived from Welsh
bron "breast" and
gwen "white, blessed", though it has sometimes occurred as a variant spelling of the legendary name
Branwen [1] . It has been used as a given name in Wales since the 19th century. It is borne by a character in Richard Llewellyn's 1939 novel
How Green Was My Valley, as well as the 1941 movie adaptation.
Caedmon m History (Ecclesiastical) Meaning unknown, though the first element is likely connected to Brythonic
kad meaning "battle". Saint Caedmon was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon poet who supposedly received his poetic inspiration from a dream. Our only knowledge of him is through the 8th-century writings of the historian Bede.
Cameron m & f English From the Scottish surname
Cameron meaning
"crooked nose", derived from Gaelic
cam "crooked" and
sròn "nose"
[1] . As a given name it is mainly used for boys. It got a little bump in popularity for girls in the second half of the 1990s, likely because of the fame of actress Cameron Diaz (1972-). In the United States, the forms
Camryn and
Kamryn are now more popular than
Cameron for girls.
Charity f English From the English word
charity, ultimately derived from Late Latin
caritas "dearness, esteem, love", from Latin
carus "dear, beloved".
Caritas was in use as a Roman Christian name. The English name
Charity came into use among the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. It is currently most common in parts of English-influenced Africa.
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] Charlotte f French, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch French feminine diminutive of
Charles. It was introduced to Britain in the 17th century
[1] . It was the name of a German-born 18th-century queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland. Another notable bearer was Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855), the eldest of the three Brontë sisters and the author of
Jane Eyre and
Villette. A famous fictional bearer is the spider in the children's novel
Charlotte's Web (1952) by E. B. White.
... [more] Charmaine f English Meaning unknown, perhaps a combination of
Charmian or the English word
charm with the
aine suffix from
Lorraine. It was (first?) used for a character in the play
What Price Glory (1924), which was made into a popular movie in 1926.
Chrétien m French (Archaic) Medieval French form of
Christian. A famous bearer of this name was the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes, known for his Arthurian romances.
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] Claribel f English Combination of
Clara and the common name suffix
bel, from Latin
bella "beautiful". This name was used by Edmund Spenser in his poem
The Faerie Queene (1590; in the form
Claribell) and by Shakespeare in his play
The Tempest (1611). Alfred Tennyson also wrote a poem entitled
Claribel (1830).
Clarinda f English Combination of
Clara and the popular name suffix
inda. It was first used by Edmund Spenser in his epic poem
The Faerie Queene (1590).
Clotilde f French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish French form of
Chrodechildis, the Latin form of a Frankish name composed of the elements
hruod "fame, glory" and
hilt "battle"
[1] [2] [3] . Saint Clotilde (whose name was originally recorded in forms such as
Chrodechildis or
Chrotchildis in Latin sources
[4] ) was the wife of the Frankish king Clovis, whom she converted to Christianity. It was also borne by others in the Merovingian royal family. In the Middle Ages this name was confused with
Chlodechilda, in which the first element is
hlut "famous, loud"
[5] [6] .
Corinna f German, Italian, English, Ancient Greek (Latinized) Latinized form of the Greek name
κόρη (kore) meaning
"maiden" [1] [2] . This was the name of a Greek lyric poet of the 5th century BC. The Roman poet
Ovid used it for the main female character in his book
Amores [3] . In the modern era it has been in use since the 17th century, when Robert Herrick used it in his poem
Corinna's going a-Maying [4] .
Cornelius m Ancient Roman [1] , English, Dutch, German, Biblical Roman family name that possibly derives from Latin
cornu meaning
"horn" [2] . In Acts in the New Testament Cornelius is a centurion who is directed by an angel to seek
Peter. After speaking with Peter he converts to Christianity, and he is traditionally deemed the first gentile convert. The name was also borne by a few early saints, including a 3rd-century pope. In England it came into use in the 16th century, partly due to Dutch influence.
Dafydd m Welsh Welsh form of
David. This name was borne by Dafydd ap Gruffydd, a 13th-century Welsh ruler, and Dafydd ap Gwilym, a 14th-century poet.
Dante m Italian Medieval short form of
Durante. The most notable bearer of this name was Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), the Italian poet who wrote the
Divine Comedy.
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] Dearbháil f Irish From Old Irish
Derbáil meaning
"daughter of Fál", derived from the prefix
der meaning "daughter" and
Fál, a legendary name for Ireland.
Deirbhile f Irish Means
"daughter of a poet" from Old Irish
der "daughter" and
fili "poet" (genitive
filed). This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint, also called Dervla.
Diệu f & m Vietnamese From Sino-Vietnamese
妙 (diệu) meaning
"mysterious, subtle, exquisite".
Dilys f Welsh Means
"genuine" in Welsh. It has been used since the late 19th century.
Dylan m Welsh, English, Welsh Mythology From the Welsh prefix
dy meaning "to, toward" and
llanw meaning "tide, flow"
[1] [2] [3] . According to the Fourth Branch of the
Mabinogi [4] , Dylan was a son of
Arianrhod and the twin brother of
Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Immediately after he was baptized he took to the sea, where he could swim as well as a fish. He was slain accidentally by his uncle
Gofannon. According to some theories the character might be rooted in an earlier and otherwise unattested Celtic god of the sea.
... [more] 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).
Edith f English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch From the Old English name
Eadgyð, derived from the elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
guð "battle"
[1] [2] [3] . It was popular among Anglo-Saxon royalty, being borne for example by Saint Eadgyeth;, the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceful. It was also borne by the Anglo-Saxon wife of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I. The name remained common after the Norman Conquest. It became rare after the 15th century, but was revived in the 19th century.
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] Edna f English, Hebrew, Biblical Means
"pleasure" in Hebrew, a derivative of
עָדַן (ʿaḏan) meaning "to delight". This name appears in the Old Testament Apocrypha, for instance in the Book of Tobit belonging to the wife of
Raguel. It was borne by the American poet Edna Dean Proctor (1829-1923). It did not become popular until the second half of the 19th century, after it was used for the heroine in the successful 1866 novel
St. Elmo by Augusta Jane Evans
[1] . It peaked around the turn of the century and has declined steadily since then, falling off the American top 1000 list in 1992.
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] Egilhard m Germanic [1] Old German name derived from the elements
agil "edge, blade" and
hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy"
[2] . Usually called Eilhart, this was a medieval German poet who wrote an early version of the Tristan and Iseult tale.
Eliot m English From a surname that was a variant of
Elliott. A famous bearer of the surname was T. S. Eliot (1888-1965), an Anglo-American poet and dramatist, the writer of
The Waste Land. As a given name, it was borne by the American mob-buster Eliot Ness (1903-1957).
Eloise f English From the Old French name
Héloïse, which was probably from the Germanic name
Helewidis, composed of the elements
heil meaning "healthy, whole" and
wit meaning "wide"
[1] [2] [3] . It is sometimes associated with the Greek word
helios) meaning "sun" or the name
Louise , though there is no etymological connection. This name was borne by the 12th-century French scholar and philosopher Héloïse. Secretly marrying the theologian Peter Abelard at a young age, she became a nun (and eventually an abbess) after Abelard was violently castrated by order of her uncle Fulbert.
... [more] Elysia f Various From
Elysium, the name of the realm of the dead in Greek and Roman mythology.
Emily f English English feminine form of
Aemilius (see
Emil)
[1] [2] [3] . It was used by Chaucer in the form
Emelye in his 14th-century story
The Knight's Tale (one of
The Canterbury Tales). In the English-speaking world it was not common until after the German House of Hanover came to the British throne in the 18th century; the princess Amelia Sophia (1711-1786) was commonly known as
Emily in English, even though
Amelia is an unrelated name
[2] .
... [more] Emmeline f English From Old French
Emeline, a diminutive of Germanic names beginning with the element
amal meaning
"unceasing, vigorous, brave" [1] [2] [3] . The Normans introduced this name to England.
Emre m Turkish Means
"friend, brother" in Turkish. This name was borne by the 13th-century Turkish poet Yunus Emre.
Enheduanna f Sumerian From Sumerian
En-hedu-anna, derived from
𒂗 (en) meaning "lady, high priestess" combined with
𒃶𒌌 (hedu) meaning "ornament" and the god's name
An 2. This was the Sumerian title of a 23rd-century BC priestess and poet, identified as a daughter of
Sargon of Akkad. Presumably she had an Akkadian birth name, but it is unrecorded. She is regarded as one of the earliest known poets.
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.
Evanthia f Greek Modern Greek feminine form of
Euanthe. This was the name of a 1st-century martyr from Skepsis who is considered a saint in the Orthodox Church. Ezra m English, Hebrew, Biblical Means
"help" in Hebrew
[1] [2] . Ezra is a prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezra. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. The American poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) was a famous bearer.
Farid m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali Means
"unique, precious" in Arabic, derived from
فرد (farada) meaning "to be unique, to be alone"
[1] . This was the name of a 13th-century Persian poet.
Fay f & m English In part from the English word
fay meaning
"fairy", derived from Middle English
faie meaning "magical, enchanted", ultimately (via Old French) from Latin
fata meaning "the Fates". It appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's chronicles in the name of
Morgan le Fay. In some cases it may be used as a short form of
Faith. It has been used as a feminine given name since the 19th century.
... [more] Ferdowsi m History From Persian
فردوسی (Ferdōsī) meaning "paradisiacal, heavenly", derived from Arabic
فردوس (firdaws), itself of Iranian origin
[1] [2] . Ferdowsi was the pen name of a 10th-century poet and historian, the author of the epic
Shahnameh, which tells the history of Persia.
Flora f English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, French, Greek, Albanian, Roman Mythology Derived from Latin
flos meaning
"flower" (genitive case
floris)
[1] . Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, the wife of Zephyr the west wind. It has been used as a given name since the Renaissance, starting in France. In Scotland it was sometimes used as an Anglicized form of
Fionnghuala .
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.
Fu m & f Chinese From Chinese
富 (fù) meaning "abundant, rich, wealthy",
芙 (fú) meaning "hibiscus, lotus" or
甫 (fǔ) meaning "begin, man, father", in addition to other characters with a similar pronunciation. A famous bearer was the 8th-century Tang dynasty poet Du Fu, whose given name was
甫.
Garrett m English From an English surname that was derived from the given name
Gerald or
Gerard. A famous bearer of the surname was Pat Garrett (1850-1908), the sheriff who shot Billy the Kid.
Geoffrey m English, French From a Norman French form of a Frankish name. The second element is Old German
fridu "peace", while the first element could be *
gautaz "Geat" (a North Germanic tribe),
gawi "territory" or
walah "foreigner"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . It is possible that two or more names merged into a single form
[5] [6] . In the later Middle Ages
Geoffrey was further confused with the distinct name
Godfrey .
... [more] 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] Gerard m English, Dutch, Catalan, Polish Derived from the Old German element
ger meaning "spear" combined with
hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . This name was borne by saints from Belgium, Germany, Hungary and Italy. The Normans introduced it to Britain. It was initially much more common there than the similar name
Gerald [5] , with which it was often confused, but it is now less common.
Gertrude f English, French, German Means
"spear of strength", derived from the Old German elements
ger "spear" and
drud "strength"
[1] [2] [3] [4] . Saint Gertrude the Great was a 13th-century nun and mystic writer from Thuringia. It was probably introduced to England by settlers from the Low Countries in the 15th century. Shakespeare used the name in his play
Hamlet (1600) for the mother of
Hamlet. Another famous bearer was the American writer Gertrude Stein (1874-1946).
Gilbert m English, French, Dutch, Germanic [1] Means
"bright pledge", derived from the Old German elements
gisal "pledge, hostage" and
beraht "bright"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . The Normans introduced this name to England, where it was common during the Middle Ages. It was borne by a 12th-century English saint, the founder of the religious order known as the Gilbertines.
Giordano m Italian Italian form of
Jordan. A notable bearer was the cosmologist Giordano Bruno (1548-1600), who was burned at the stake by the Inquisition.
Giovanni m Italian Italian form of
Iohannes (see
John). This name has been very common in Italy since the late Middle Ages, as with other equivalents of
John in Europe. The Renaissance writer Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), the painter Giovanni Bellini (1430-1516) and the painter and sculptor Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) were famous bearers of the name.
Goran m Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian, Bulgarian Derived from South Slavic
gora meaning "mountain". It was popularized by the Croatian poet Ivan Goran Kovačić (1913-1943), who got his middle name because of the mountain town where he was born.
Gregory m English English form of Latin
Gregorius, which was from the Late Greek name
γρήγορος (gregoros) meaning
"watchful, alert", itself a derivative of Ancient Greek
[1] [2] . This name was popular among early Christians, being borne by a number of important saints including Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus (3rd century), Saint Gregory the Illuminator (4th century), Saint Gregory of Nyssa (4th century), Saint Gregory of Nazianzus (4th century), and Saint Gregory of Tours (6th century). It was also borne by the 6th-century pope Saint Gregory I the Great, a reformer and Doctor of the Church, as well as 15 subsequent popes.... [more] Gretel f German, Literature Diminutive of
Grete. It is well-known as a character from an 1812 Brothers Grimm fairy tale who is captured, with her brother
Hansel, by a witch. The Grimm's story was based on earlier European folktales.
Guadalupe f & m Spanish From a Spanish title of the Virgin
Mary,
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, meaning "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Guadalupe is a Spanish place name, the site of a famous convent, derived from Arabic
وادي (wādī) meaning "valley, river" possibly combined with Latin
lupus meaning "wolf". In the 16th century Our Lady of Guadalupe supposedly appeared in a vision to a native Mexican man, and she is now regarded as a patron saint of the Americas.
Guido m Italian, German Latinized form of
Wido. Notable bearers include the music theorist Guido d'Arezzo (c. 991-1033), poet Guido Cavalcanti (c. 1250-1300), and Baroque painter Guido Reni (1575-1642).
Gülten f Turkish Means
"rose skin" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian
گل (gol) meaning "flower, rose" and
تن (tan) meaning "skin, body".
Gwalchmai m Welsh Mythology Derived from Welsh
gwalch "hawk", possibly combined with
Mai "May (month)" or
mai "field, plain". This is the name of a character in Welsh legend (appearing in
Culhwch and Olwen for example). He is probably the antecedent of
Gawain from later Arthurian romance.
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.
Heddwyn m Welsh Derived from Welsh
hedd "peace" and
gwyn "white, blessed". This name has been given in honour of the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans (1887-1917), who used Hedd Wyn as his bardic name
[1] .
Helen f English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Greek Mythology (Anglicized) English form of the Greek
[1] [2] [3] , probably from Greek [4] [5] [6] , or possibly related to selene) meaning "moon" [7] . In Greek mythology Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose kidnapping by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War. The name was also borne by the 4th-century Saint Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, who supposedly found the True Cross during a trip to Jerusalem.... [more] Helvius m Ancient Roman [1] Roman family name derived from either Latin
helvus meaning
"honey-yellow, blond" or from the name of the Helvii, a Celtic tribe who lived west of the Rhône river. Gaius Helvius Cinna was a Roman poet of the 1st century BC.
Hildegard f German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Germanic [1] Derived from the Old German elements
hilt "battle" and
gart "enclosure, yard"
[2] [3] . This was the name of the second wife of
Charlemagne (8th century). Also, Saint Hildegard was a 12th-century mystic from Bingen in Germany who was famous for her writings and poetry and also for her prophetic visions.
Horatius m Ancient Roman [1] Roman family name that was possibly derived from Latin
hora meaning
"hour, time, season", though the name may actually be of Etruscan origin. A famous bearer was Quintus Horatius Flaccus, a Roman lyric poet of the 1st century BC who is better known as Horace in the English-speaking world.
Hugo m Spanish, Portuguese, English, Dutch, German, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Latvian, Germanic [1] Old German form of
Hugh. As a surname it has belonged to the French author Victor Hugo (1802-1885), the writer of
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and
Les Misérables.
Jacob m English, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Jewish, Biblical From the Latin
Iacob, which was from the Greek
יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov). In the Old Testament Jacob (later called
Israel) is the son of
Isaac and
Rebecca and the father of the twelve founders of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was born holding his twin brother
Esau's heel, and his name is explained as meaning
"holder of the heel" or
"supplanter" [1] [2] , because he twice deprived his brother of his rights as the firstborn son (see
Genesis 27:36). Other theories claim that it is in fact derived from a hypothetical name like
יַעֲקֹבְאֵל (Yaʿaqovʾel) meaning
"may God protect" [3] .
... [more] Jada 1 f English Elaborated form of
Jade. This name came into general use in the 1960s, and was popularized in the 1990s by actress Jada Pinkett Smith (1971-).
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] Jayadeva m Sanskrit Means
"divine victory" from Sanskrit
jaya) meaning "victory" and
deva) meaning "god". This was the name of a 12th-century Indian poet.
Jefimija f Serbian Serbian form of
Euphemia. This name was adopted by a 14th-century Serbian poet (born Jelena Mrnjavčević).
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] Joy f English Simply from the English word
joy, ultimately derived from Norman French
joie, Latin
gaudium. It has been regularly used as a given name since the late 19th century.
Joyce f & m English From the medieval masculine name
Josse, which was derived from the earlier
Iudocus, which was a Latinized form of the Breton name
Judoc meaning
"lord" [1] . The name belonged to a 7th-century Breton saint, and Breton settlers introduced it to England after the Norman Conquest. It became rare after the 14th century, but was later revived as a feminine name, perhaps because of similarity to the Middle English word
joise "to rejoice". This given name also became a surname, as in the case of the Irish novelist James Joyce (1882-1941).
Kalidasa m Sanskrit Means
"servant of Kali" from the name of the Hindu goddess
Kali 1 combined with Sanskrit
dāsa) meaning "servant". Kalidasa (or Kālidāsa) was a 4th-century Indian poet and dramatist, the author of the
Abhijnanashakuntalam and other works.
Kalliope f Greek Mythology Means
"beautiful voice" from Greek
kallos) meaning "beauty" and
ops) meaning "voice"
[1] [2] . In Greek mythology she was a goddess of epic poetry and eloquence, one of the nine Muses.
Kamaria f Comorian From Arabic
qamar meaning
"moon", also the root of the name of the island country of the Comoros.
Kendrick m English From a surname that has several different origins. It could be from the Old English given names
Cyneric "royal power" or
Cenric "bold power", or from the Welsh name
Cynwrig "chief hero". It can also be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname
Mac Eanraig meaning "son of
Henry".
... [more] Khayyam m Arabic Means
"tent maker" in Arabic. This was the surname of the 12th-century Persian poet Umar Khayyam.
Kizzy f English Diminutive of
Keziah. This particular spelling was repopularized in the late 1970s by a character in the book and miniseries
Roots (1977).
Lawrence m English Variant of
Laurence 1. This spelling of the name is now more common than
Laurence in the English-speaking world, probably because
Lawrence is the usual spelling of the surname. The surname was borne by the author and poet D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930), as well as the revolutionary T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935), who was known as Lawrence of Arabia.
Leonard m English, Dutch, German, Polish, Romanian, Germanic [1] Means
"brave lion", derived from the Old German elements
lewo "lion" (of Latin origin) and
hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy"
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Noblac who is the patron of prisoners and horses. The Normans brought this name to England, where it was used steadily through the Middle Ages, becoming even more common in the 20th century.
Lewis m English Medieval English form of
Louis. A famous bearer was Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), the author of
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This was also the surname of C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), the author of the
Chronicles of Narnia series.
Líadan f Irish (Rare) Possibly from Old Irish
líath meaning
"grey". According to an Irish tale this was the name of a poet who became a nun, but then missed her lover Cuirithir so much that she died of grief. The name was also borne by a 5th-century saint, the mother of Saint Ciarán the Elder.
Ling f & m Chinese From Chinese
灵 (líng) meaning "spirit, soul",
铃 (líng) meaning "bell, chime", or other Chinese characters that are pronounced similarly.
Loredana f Italian, Romanian Used by the French author George Sand for a character in her novel
Mattea (1833) and later by the Italian author Luciano Zuccoli in his novel
L'amore de Loredana (1908). It was possibly based on the Venetian surname
Loredan, which was derived from the place name
Loreo.
Lorna f English Created by the author R. D. Blackmore for the title character in his novel
Lorna Doone (1869), set in southern England, which describes the dangerous love between John Ridd and Lorna Doone. Blackmore may have based the name on the Scottish place name
Lorne or on the title
Marquis of Lorne (see
Lorne).
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] Lowell m English From an English surname that was derived from a Norman French nickname, from
lou "wolf" and a diminutive suffix. The surname was borne by American poet and satirist James Russell Lowell (1819-1891).
Lucan m History From the Roman cognomen
Lucanus, which was derived from the name of the city of Luca in Tuscany (modern Lucca)
[1] . Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, commonly called Lucan, was a 1st-century Roman poet.
Lydia f English, German, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek [1] Means
"from Lydia" in Greek. Lydia was a region on the west coast of Asia Minor, said to be named for the legendary king
Lydos. In the New Testament this is the name of a woman converted to Christianity by Saint
Paul. In the modern era the name has been in use since the Protestant Reformation.
Mak m Bosnian Means
"poppy (flower)" in Bosnian. It is most often given in honour of the Bosnian poet Mehmedalija Dizdar (1917-1971), whose pseudonym was Mak.
Marguerite f French French form of
Margaret. This is also the French word for the daisy flower (species Leucanthemum vulgare).
Marilyn f English Combination of
Mary and the common name suffix
lyn . It was very rare before the start of the 20th century
[1] . It was popularized in part by the American stage star Marilyn Miller (1898-1936), who was born Mary Ellen Reynolds and took her stage name from a combination of her birth name and her mother's middle name
Lynn. It became popular in the United States during the 1920s, reaching a high point ranked 13th in 1936. Famous bearers include American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962; real name Norma Jeane Mortenson) and American opera singer Marilyn Horne (1934-).
Martial m French, History From the Roman cognomen
Martialis, which was derived from the name of the Roman god
Mars [1] . The name was borne by Marcus Valerius Martialis, now commonly known as Martial, a Roman poet of the 1st century.
Marvin m English, German, Dutch From an English surname that was derived from the Welsh given name
Merfyn or the Old English name
Mærwine. As an American given name, it steadily rose in popularity through the beginnings of the 20th century and peaked in the early 1930s (closely mirroring the similar-sounding but unrelated name
Melvin ). A famous bearer was the American musician Marvin Gaye (1939-1984).
Maximianus m Ancient Roman [1] Roman cognomen that was derived from Latin
maximus "greatest". This was the name of a 3rd-century Roman emperor (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus) who ruled jointly with
Diocletian.
Mehetabel f Biblical From the Hebrew name
מְהֵיטַבְאֵל (Meheṭavʾel) meaning
"God makes happy", derived from the roots
יָטַב (yaṭav) meaning "to be happy" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Meraud f Cornish Meaning unknown, perhaps based on Cornish
mor "sea".
Merle m & f English, Estonian From the English word
merle or the French surname
Merle, which both mean
"blackbird" (from Latin
merula). It was borne by the devious character Madame Merle (in fact her surname) in Henry James' novel
The Portrait of a Lady (1880).
... [more] Merrill m English From an English surname that was derived either from the given name
Muriel or from place names meaning "pleasant hill".
Michael m English, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech, Hebrew, Biblical, Biblical Latin [1] , Biblical Greek [2] From the Hebrew name
מִיכָאֵל (Miḵaʾel) meaning
"who is like God?" [3] [4] , derived from the interrogative pronoun
מִי (mi) combined with
ךְּ (ke) meaning "like" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God"
[5] [6] . This is a rhetorical question, implying no person is like God. Michael is one of the archangels in Hebrew tradition and the only one identified as an archangel in the Bible. In the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament he is named as a protector of Israel (see
Daniel 12:1). In the Book of Revelation in the New Testament he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies in the war against Satan, and is thus considered the patron saint of soldiers in Christianity.
... [more] Mikhail m Russian, Belarusian, Bulgarian Russian and Belarusian form of
Michael, and an alternate transcription of Bulgarian
Mihail). This was the name of two Russian tsars. Other notable bearers include the Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841), the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (1931-2022), and the Latvian-Russian-American dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948-). Muhammad m Arabic [1] , Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Bengali, Tajik, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Indonesian, Malay, Avar, Quranic Means
"praised, commendable" in Arabic
[1] , derived from the root
حمد (ḥamida) meaning "to praise"
[2] . This was the name of the prophet who founded the Islamic religion in the 7th century. According to Islamic belief, at age 40 Muhammad was visited by the angel
Gabriel, who provided him with the first verses of the Quran. Approximately 20 years later he conquered Mecca, the city of his birth, and his followers controlled most of the Arabian Peninsula at the time of his death in 632.
... [more] Muriel f English, French, Irish, Scottish, Medieval Breton (Anglicized) Anglicized form of Irish
Muirgel and Scottish
Muireall. A form of this name was also used in Brittany, and it was first introduced to medieval England by Breton settlers in the wake of the Norman Conquest. In the modern era it was popularized by a character from Dinah Craik's novel
John Halifax, Gentleman (1856).
Myfanwy f Welsh From the Welsh prefix
my- meaning "my, belonging to me" (an older form of
fy) combined with either
manwy meaning "fine, delicate" or
banwy meaning "woman" (a variant of
banw). This was the name of an 1875 Welsh song composed by Joseph Parry.
Nevio m Italian Italian form of the Roman family name
Naevius, which was derived from Latin
naevus "mole (on the body)". A famous bearer was the 3rd-century BC Roman poet Gnaeus Naevius.
Ogden m English (Rare) From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning
"oak valley" in Old English. A famous bearer was the humorous American poet Ogden Nash (1902-1971).
Oisín m Irish, Irish Mythology Means
"little deer", derived from Old Irish
oss "deer, stag" combined with a diminutive suffix. In Irish legend Oisín was a warrior hero and a poet, the son of
Fionn mac Cumhaill and the narrator in many of his tales.
Olegario m Spanish From
Olegarius, the Latinized form of a Germanic name, possibly
Aldegar or a metathesized form of
Odalgar. This was the name of a 12th-century saint, a bishop of Barcelona.
Oliver m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Catalan, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Slovene, Czech, Slovak, Carolingian Cycle From Old French
Olivier, which was possibly derived from Latin
oliva "olive tree" [1] . Alternatively there could be an underlying Germanic name, such as Old Norse
Áleifr (see
Olaf) or Frankish
Alawar (see
Álvaro), with the spelling altered by association with the Latin word
[2] [3] . In the Middle Ages the name became well-known in Western Europe because of the French epic
La Chanson de Roland, in which Olivier is a friend and advisor to the hero
Roland.
... [more] Omar 1 m Arabic, Bosnian, Kazakh, Malay, Bengali, English, Spanish, Italian Alternate transcription of Arabic
عمر (see
Umar). This is the usual English spelling of the name of the 12th-century poet Umar Khayyam. In his honour it has sometimes been used in the English-speaking world, notably for the American general Omar Bradley (1893-1981).