Sumerian Submitted Names

These names were used in ancient Sumer.
gender
usage
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Akurgal 𒀀𒆳𒃲 m Sumerian
Means "descendant of the great mountain", deriving from the Sumerian elements 𒀀 a ("offspring, father"), 𒆳 kur ("mountain, highland"), and 𒃲 gal ("large, mighty, great")... [more]
Ama-e f Sumerian
Possibly deriving in part from the Sumerian element ama ("mother"). Name borne by a Sumerian businesswoman who lived during the reign of Sargon of Akkad.
Bara-irnun f Sumerian
Etymology uncertain, possibly deriving in part from the Sumerian element bára, meaning "throne dais, ruler". Name borne by a queen of the city of Umma (fl. 2400 BCE).
Baranamtarra f Sumerian
Etymology unknown, possibly deriving from Sumerian elements nam meaning "(area of) responsibility; destiny, fate, lot" and tar meaning "deliberate, judicious". Name borne by a queen of Lagash (circa 2384 BCE), known for her involvement in the trade of wool, silver, and bronze between Lagash, Dilmun, and Umma.
Ea-niša f Sumerian, Ancient Near Eastern
Of uncertain etymology, possibly deriving from the name of the god Ea, and the Sumerian element nisig ("beautiful, blue, green"). Ea-niša was a lesser wife of Shulgi, a king of Ur who ruled during the Neo-Sumerian period.
Enpap-X m Sumerian
Possibly one of the earliest names recorded. He was mentioned on a tablet dated 3200-3100 BC. He was one of two Sumerian slaves owned by Gal-Sal.
Enshakushanna 𒂗𒊮𒊨𒀭𒈾 m Sumerian
Possibly deriving from Sumerian elements en meaning "dignitary; lord; high priest", ur-saĝ meaning "hero, warrior" and an meaning "sky, heaven; the god An". Name of a King of Uruk (c... [more]
Entemena 𒂗𒋼𒈨𒈾 m Sumerian
Of uncertain etymology, possibly deriving in part from the Sumerian element en, meaning "lord, high priest, dignitary". Name borne by a king of Lagash, notable for being named in the earliest known peace treaty between two kings.
Etana 𒂊𒋫𒈾 m Sumerian
The thirteenth god-king of the Sumerian dynasty ruling the city of Kish. He was appointed by Anu himself. Etana had no son and prayed daily to Shamash, the sun-god, to grant him a child... [more]
Gal-Sal m Sumerian
Possibly one of the earliest names recorded. It occurs on a tablet dated ca 3200-3100 BC. Gal-Sal was a slave owner.
Geme-ninlilla f Sumerian, Ancient Near Eastern
Of uncertain etymology, however the last element is likely derived from the goddess Ninlil. Geme-Ninlilla was a wife of King Shulgi during the final years of his reign.
Kushim m Sumerian
Kushim is possibly the earliest given name recorded. He is mentioned on the Kushim Tablet (ca 3200 BC). He was probably a scribe or a kind of "accountant" among Sumerians.
Lugal-kinishe-dudu 𒈗𒆠𒉌𒂠𒌌𒌌 m Sumerian
Etymology uncertain, likely deriving in part from the Sumerian element lugal ("master, king"). Name borne by a king of Uruk and Ur who ruled at the end of the 25th century BCE.
Lugal-kisalsi 𒈗𒆦𒋛 m Sumerian
Possibly deriving from Sumerian element lugal, meaning "king, owner, master", and tar " to cut; to decide". Name of a King of Uruk and Ur (some contemporary sources also place him as King of Kish), circa 2400 BCE.
Lugalsilâsi 𒈗𒋻𒋛 m Sumerian
Means "The lord fills the streets", deriving from the Sumerian elements 𒈗 lugal ("king, master, lord"), 𒋻𒋛 silâ ("street, path"), and 𒋛 si ("to fill up"). Name borne by a king of Uruk and Kish that ruled in the Early Dynastic III period (2500-2350 BCE).
Ninella f Sumerian
A name for Ninella as "lady of the earth".... [more]
Nin-kalla f Sumerian
Means "precious sister", deriving from the Sumerian elements nin ("sister") and níĝ-kal-la ("precious"). Name borne by many prominent high-status women during the Neo-Sumerian Empire.
Ninšatapada f Ancient Near Eastern, Sumerian
Means "Lady Chosen by (means of) the Heart (Omens)", deriving from the Sumerian elements nin ("queen, mistress") and saĝ ("to chose"). Name borne by a high-priestess of Meslamta-ea (fl... [more]
Shulgi 𒀭𒂄𒄀 m Sumerian
Of uncertain etymology, name borne by a king of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, who ruled for 48 years circa 2094 BC to 2046 BC.
Sukkalgir m Sumerian
Possibly one of the earliest names recorded. His name occurs on a tablet dated 3200-3100 BC. He was one of two Sumerian slaves of Gal-Sal.
Turgunu-Sanga m Sumerian
Turgunu-Sanga (3100 BC) seems to have been a Sumerian accountant for the Turgunu family. His names is one of the earliest names recorded.
Ubartum f Ancient Near Eastern, Sumerian
Of uncertain etymology, possibly derived from the Sumerian element tum, meaning "wind; cardinal point" or "to bring; to carry away; to obtain". Ubartum was a female physician of the Neo-Sumerian Empire, who lived in Garšana.
Ur-nanshe 𒌨𒀭𒀏 m Sumerian
Possibly meaning "Servant of Nanshe", deriving from Sumerian element ur, meaning " servant; young man, warrior". Name borne by the first king of the dynasty of Lagash, who ruled in the Early Dynastic Period III of Sumer.
Urzage 𒌨𒍠𒌓𒁺 m Sumerian
Etymology uncertain, possibly deriving from the Sumerian elements 𒌨 ur ("servant, warrior"), and zàg ("to choose, chosen").
Usuramassu m & f Near Eastern Mythology, Sumerian Mythology, Sumerian
Means "Heed His Word". Originally a given masculine name, it was also the name of a minor Babylonian god, considered to be the son of Adad. Later, Usuramassu was viewed as a female deity of justice, however she was still a child of Adad... [more]
Zisutra m Sumerian, Near Eastern Mythology
Variant of Ziusudra. A Sumerian priest-king during the great flood.
Ziusudra m Near Eastern Mythology, Sumerian
Meaning, "life of long days." The name of a king listed in the Sumerian king list; listed as the last king of Sumer prior to the deluge and subsequently recorded as the hero of the Sumerian flood epic... [more]