indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Feminine
Usage Literature, Popular Culture
Other Forms FormsAelswith (Popular Culture), Ealhswiþ, Ealhswith, Ealswitha (Latinized)
Meaning & History
Variant of Ealhswiþ used in Bernard Cornwell's book series "The Saxon Stories," as well as the TV series "The Last Kingdom" based on the series (though in the show it appears as Aelswith, without the æsh).The name of the historical queen is usually written as Ealhswith, from ealh "temple" and swiþ "strong." However, writing it this way turns it into a contracted form of Æðelswiþ, æðele meaning "noble."