Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the gender is masculine; and the number of syllables is 3.
gender
usage
syllables
Manasseh m Biblical
Means "causing to forget" in Hebrew. 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.
Manolo m Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Manuel.
Manuel m Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, Romanian, Late Greek (Latinized)
Spanish and Portuguese form of Emmanuel. In the spelling Μανουήλ (Manouel) it was also used in the Byzantine Empire, notably by two emperors. It is possible this form of the name was transmitted to Spain and Portugal from Byzantium, since there were connections between the royal families (king Ferdinand III of Castile married Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen, who had Byzantine roots, and had a son named Manuel). The name has been used in Iberia since at least the 13th century and was borne by two kings of Portugal.
Marceli m Polish
Polish form of Marcellus.
Marcelin m French
French form of Marcellinus.
Marcellin m French
French form of Marcellinus.
Marcello m Italian
Italian form of Marcellus.
Marcellus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was originally a diminutive of Marcus. This was the name of two popes.
Marcelo m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Marcellus.
Marciano m Portuguese, Spanish, Italian (Rare)
Portuguese, Spanish and Italian form of Marcianus.
María f & m Spanish, Galician, Icelandic
Spanish, Galician and Icelandic form of Maria.... [more]
Maria f & m Italian, Portuguese, Catalan, Occitan, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Faroese, Dutch, Frisian, Greek, Polish, Romanian, English, Finnish, Estonian, Corsican, Sardinian, Basque, Armenian, Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Old Church Slavic
Latin form of Greek Μαρία, from Hebrew מִרְיָם (see Mary). Maria is the usual form of the name in many European languages, as well as a secondary form in other languages such as English (where the common spelling is Mary). In some countries, for example Germany, Poland and Italy, Maria is occasionally used as a masculine middle name.... [more]
Marián m Slovak, Czech, Hungarian (Rare)
Slovak, Czech and Hungarian form of Marianus.
Marian 2 m Polish, Czech, Romanian
Polish, Czech and Romanian form of Marianus. It is sometimes used as a masculine form of Maria.
Mariano m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Marianus. It is also used as a masculine form of Maria.
Marino m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Marinus.
Marinus m Ancient Roman, Dutch
From the Roman family name Marinus, which derives either from the name Marius or from the Latin word marinus "of the sea". Saint Marinus was a 4th-century stonemason who built a chapel on Monte Titano, in the country that is today known as San Marino.
Marion 2 m English
From a French surname that was derived from Marion 1. This was the real name of American actor John Wayne (1907-1979), who was born Marion Robert Morrison.
Marius m Ancient Roman, Romanian, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, French, Lithuanian
Roman family name that was derived either from Mars, the name of the Roman god of War, or else from the Latin root mas, maris meaning "male". Gaius Marius was a famous Roman consul of the 2nd century BC. Since the start of the Christian era, it has occasionally been used as a masculine form of Maria.
Marmaduke m English (British, Rare)
Possibly derived from the Old Irish name Máel Máedóc. This name has been traditionally used in the Yorkshire area of Britain.
Martino m Italian
Italian form of Martinus (see Martin).
Martinus m Ancient Roman, Dutch
Original Latin form of Martin. This is also the official Dutch form of the name, used on birth certificates but commonly rendered Maarten or Marten in daily life.
Masaki m Japanese
From Japanese (masa) meaning "right, proper" and (ki) meaning "tree", as well as other combinations of kanji having the same reading.
Masami f & m Japanese
From Japanese (masa) meaning "become" or (masa) meaning "right, proper" combined with (mi) meaning "beautiful". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji.
Masao m Japanese
From Japanese (masa) meaning "right, proper" or (masa) meaning "government" combined with (o) meaning "hero, manly" or (o) meaning "man, husband". This name can be formed from other kanji combinations as well.
Masaru m Japanese
From Japanese (masaru) meaning "victory" or (masaru) meaning "excellence". Other kanji or kanji combinations can also form this name.
Masashi m Japanese
From Japanese (masa) meaning "government" or (masa) meaning "elegant, graceful" combined with (shi) meaning "will, purpose". Many other kanji combinations can form this name as well.
Masato m Japanese
From Japanese (masa) meaning "right, proper", (masa) meaning "elegant, graceful" or (masa) meaning "real, genuine, true" combined with (to) meaning "person". Other combinations of kanji that have the same pronunciation can also form this name.
Massimo m Italian
Italian form of Maximus.
Masterman m English (Rare)
From an English surname that originally belonged to a person who worked as a servant.
Matéo m French
French form of Mateo or Matteo.
Mateo m Spanish, Croatian
Spanish form of Matthew. This form is also sometimes used in Croatia, from the Italian form Matteo.
Mateusz m Polish
Polish form of Matthew.
Matevos m Armenian (Rare)
Armenian form of Matthew.
Mathéo m French (Modern)
French form of Mateo or Matteo.
Matías m Spanish
Spanish form of Matthias.
Matias m Finnish, Portuguese
Finnish and Portuguese form of Matthias.
Matija m & f Slovene, Croatian, Serbian
Slovene, Croatian and Serbian form of Matthias, used to refer to the apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. It is occasionally used as a feminine name.
Mattéo m French
French form of Matteo or Mateo.
Matteo m Italian
Italian form of Matthew.
Matteus m Swedish, Norwegian
Swedish and Norwegian form of Matthew, used to refer to the evangelist and apostle also known as Levi.
Matthäus m German (Rare)
German form of Matthew, used to refer to the evangelist and apostle also known as Levi.
Matthias m German, French, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From Greek Ματθίας (Matthias), a variant of Ματθαῖος (see Matthew). This form appears in the New Testament as the name of the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot. This was also the name of kings of Hungary (spelled Mátyás in Hungarian), including Matthias I who made important reforms to the kingdom in the 15th century.
Mattia m Italian
Italian form of Matthias.
Mattias m Swedish, Estonian
Swedish and Estonian form of Matthias.
Matyáš m Czech
Czech form of Matthias (via Hungarian Mátyás).
Maurício m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Mauritius (see Maurice).
Mauricio m Spanish
Spanish form of Mauritius (see Maurice).
Maurizio m Italian
Italian form of Mauritius (see Maurice).
Maurycy m Polish
Polish form of Maurice.
Maverick m English
Derived from the English word maverick meaning "independent". The word itself is derived from the surname of a 19th-century Texas rancher who did not brand his calves.
Mavuto m Chewa
Means "troubles, problems" in Chewa.
Maximin m French
French form of Maximinus.
Máximo m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Maximus.
Maximus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin maximus "greatest". Saint Maximus was a monk and theologian from Constantinople in the 7th century.
Mayeso m & f Chewa
Means "test (from God)" in Chewa.
McKinley f & m English
From a Scottish surname, an Anglicized form of Mac Fhionnlaigh, from the given name Fionnlagh. A famous bearer of the surname was the American president William McKinley (1843-1901).... [more]
Melchior m Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend, French (Rare), Dutch (Rare)
Possibly from the Hebrew roots מֶלֶכְ (melekh) meaning "king" and אוֹר ('or) meaning "light". This was a name traditionally assigned to one of the wise men (also known as the Magi, or three kings) who were said to have visited the newborn Jesus. According to medieval tradition he was a king of Persia.
Melchiorre m Italian
Italian form of Melchior.
Mercurio m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Mercury.
Mercury m Roman Mythology (Anglicized)
From the Latin Mercurius, probably derived from Latin mercari "to trade" or merces "wages". This was the name of the Roman god of trade, merchants, and travellers, later equated with the Greek god Hermes. This is also the name of the first planet in the solar system and a metallic chemical element, both named for the god.
Meredith m & f Welsh, English
From the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd, from Old Welsh forms such as Margetud, possibly from mawredd "greatness, magnificence" combined with iudd "lord". The Welsh forms of this name were well used through the Middle Ages. Since the mid-1920s it has been used more often for girls than for boys in English-speaking countries, though it is still a masculine name in Wales. A famous bearer of this name as surname was the English novelist and poet George Meredith (1828-1909).
Meshullam m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "friend, ally" in Hebrew, derived from שָׁלַם (shalam) meaning "to be complete, to be at peace". This is the name of many characters in the Old Testament.
Messiah m Theology, English (Modern)
From the English word meaning "saviour", ultimately from Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ (mashiyach) meaning "anointed". The word appears in the Old Testament referring to a future king of the Jewish people. In the New Testament it is translated as Christ and is used as a title of Jesus.
Metoděj m Czech
Czech form of Methodius.
Metody m Polish (Rare)
Polish form of Methodius.
Micael m Swedish, Portuguese
Swedish and Portuguese variant form of Michael.
Micaiah m & f Biblical
Means "who is like Yahweh?" in Hebrew. This name occurs in the Old Testament in a variety of Hebrew spellings, belonging to both males and females. It is the full name of Micah, both the prophet and the man from the Book of Judges. As a feminine name it belongs to the mother of King Abijah (at 2 Chronicles 13:2), though her name is listed as Maacah in other passages.
Michaël m Dutch, French
Dutch and French form of Michael.
Michael m English, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Czech, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el) meaning "who is like God?". 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]
Michail m Greek, Russian
Modern Greek transcription of Michael. It is also an alternate transcription of Russian Михаил (see Mikhail).
Michele 1 m Italian
Italian form of Michael.
Mickaël m French
French variant form of Michael.
Mieczysław m Polish
Possibly derived from the Slavic elements mečĭ "sword" and slava "glory".
Mihael m Slovene, Croatian
Slovene and Croatian form of Michael.
Mihail m Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Greek
Romanian, Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Michael. This is also an alternate transcription of Greek Μιχαήλ (see Michail).
Mikael m Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Breton
Scandinavian, Finnish and Breton form of Michael.
Mikelo m Esperanto
Modern Esperanto form of Michael.
Mikha'il m Arabic
Arabic form of Michael.
Mikhail m Russian, Belarusian, Bulgarian
Russian and Belarusian form of Michael, and an alternate transcription of Bulgarian Михаил (see 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-).
Mikheil m Georgian
Georgian form of Michael.
Mikołaj m Polish
Polish form of Nicholas.
Mikoláš m Czech
Czech variant form of Nicholas.
Mikuláš m Slovak, Czech
Slovak and Czech form of Nicholas.
Milivoj m Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Derived from the Slavic elements milŭ "gracious" and vojĭ "soldier".
Miłogost m Polish (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements milŭ "gracious, dear" and gostĭ "guest".
Miloslav m Czech, Slovak
Derived from the Slavic elements milŭ "gracious, dear" and slava "glory".
Miłosław m Polish (Rare)
Polish cognate of Miloslav.
Minato m & f Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese (minato) meaning "harbour", as well as other combinations of kanji having the same pronunciation.
Minoru m & f Japanese
From Japanese (minoru) meaning "to bear fruit", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations with the same pronunciation.
Miodrag m Serbian, Croatian
Derived from the element mio, a Serbo-Croatian form of the Slavic element milŭ meaning "dear", combined with dorgŭ meaning "precious".
Miroslav m Czech, Slovak, Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Derived from the Slavic elements mirŭ "peace, world" and slava "glory". This was the name of a 10th-century king of Croatia who was deposed by one of his nobles after ruling for four years.
Mirosław m Polish
Polish form of Miroslav.
Misao m & f Japanese
From Japanese (misao) meaning "chastity, honour". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji.
Moana f & m Maori, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Samoan, Tongan
Means "ocean, wide expanse of water, deep sea" in Maori, Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages.
Modesto m Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Modestus.
Mohamad m Arabic, Malay, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic محمّد (see Muhammad), as well as a Malay and Indonesian variant.
Mohammad m Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Bengali, Tatar
Persian form of Muhammad, as well as an alternate transcription for Arabic and several other languages.
Mohammed m Arabic, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Arabic محمّد or Bengali মুহাম্মদ (see Muhammad).
Moisey m Russian
Russian form of Moses.
Montague m English (Rare)
From an aristocratic English surname meaning "sharp mountain", from Old French mont agu. In Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet (1596) this is the surname of Romeo and his family.
Montana f & m English (Modern)
From the name of the American state, which is derived from Latin montanus "mountainous".
Montgomery m English
From an English surname meaning "Gumarich's mountain" in Norman French. A notable bearer of this surname was Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976), a British army commander during World War II.
Mordecai m Biblical, Hebrew
Means "servant of Marduk" in Persian. In the Old Testament Mordecai is the cousin and foster father of Esther. He thwarted a plot to kill the Persian king, though he made an enemy of the king's chief advisor Haman.
Moreno m Italian, Spanish
Derived from Italian moro or Spanish moreno meaning "dark-skinned".
Morpheus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek μορφή (morphe) meaning "shape", referring to the shapes seen in dreams. In Greek mythology Morpheus was the god of dreams.
Mortimer m English
From an English surname that was derived from the name of a town in Normandy, itself meaning "dead water, still water" in Old French.
Mouses m Biblical Greek
Greek form of Moses.
Moustafa m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic مصطفى (see Mustafa).
Mtendere m & f Chewa
Means "peace" in Chewa.
Muammar m Arabic
Means "given long life" in Arabic, from the root عمر ('amara) meaning "to live long, to thrive". A famous bearer was the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi (1942-2011).
Muammer m Turkish
Turkish form of Muammar.
Mufaddal m Arabic
Means "preferred" in Arabic.
Muhamad m Indonesian, Malay, Avar
Indonesian, Malay and Avar variant of Muhammad.
Muhammad m Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Bengali, Tajik, Uzbek, Indonesian, Malay, Avar
Means "praised, commendable" in Arabic, derived from the root حمد (hamida) meaning "to praise". 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]
Muhammed m Turkish, Arabic
Turkish form of Muhammad, as well as an alternate transcription of the Arabic name.
Murtada m Arabic
Means "chosen" in Arabic. This is an epithet of Ali, the fourth caliph.
Murtaza m Urdu, Arabic
Urdu form of Murtada, as well as an alternate transcription of the Arabic name.
Mustafa m Arabic, Turkish, Bosnian, Urdu
Means "the chosen one" in Arabic, an epithet of Muhammad. This was the name of four Ottoman sultans. Another famous bearer was Mustafa Kemal (1881-1938), also known as Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.
Mustapha m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic مصطفى (see Mustafa).
Mu'tamid m Arabic
Means "relying on, leaning on" in Arabic. Al-Mu'tamid was a 9th-century Abbasid caliph. This was also the name of an 11th-century Abbadid ruler of Seville, who was a patron of the arts and a poet.
Mu'tasim m Arabic
Means "taking refuge in" in Arabic.
Mykolas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Michael.
Nālani f & m Hawaiian
Means "the heavens" or "the chiefs" from Hawaiian , a definite article, and lani "heaven, sky, chief".
Naoki m Japanese
From Japanese (nao) meaning "straight, direct" and (ki) meaning "tree", as well as other combinations of different kanji with the same pronunciations.
Naomi 2 f & m Japanese
From Japanese (nao) meaning "straight, direct" and (mi) meaning "beautiful" (usually feminine) or (mi) meaning "self" (usually masculine). Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Naphtali m Biblical
Means "my struggle, my strife" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is a son of Jacob by Rachel's servant Bilhah, and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Narciso m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Narcissus. This is also the word for the narcissus flower in those languages.
Narcissus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Late Roman, Biblical
Latinized form of Greek Νάρκισσος (Narkissos), possibly derived from νάρκη (narke) meaning "sleep, numbness". Narkissos was a beautiful youth in Greek mythology who stared at his own reflection for so long that he eventually died and was turned into the narcissus flower.... [more]
Natale m Italian
Masculine form of Natalia.
Natalio m Spanish
Masculine form of Natalia.
Nathanael m Biblical, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name נְתַנְאֵל (Netan'el) meaning "God has given", from the elements נָתַן (natan) meaning "to give" and אֵל ('el) meaning "God". It is borne by several minor characters in the Old Testament, typically spelled Nethanel or Nethaneel. In the New Testament this is the name of an apostle, probably another name of the apostle called Bartholomew.
Nathaniel m English, Biblical
Variant of Nathanael. It has been regularly used in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. This has been the most popular spelling, even though the spelling Nathanael is found in most versions of the New Testament. The American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864), author of The Scarlet Letter, was a famous bearer of this name.
Nazaret f & m Spanish, Armenian
From Nazareth, the town in Galilee where Jesus lived. This name is primarily feminine in Spanish and primarily masculine in Armenian.
Nazario m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Nazarius.
Nedeljko m Croatian, Serbian
Derived from Croatian nedjelja and Serbian недеља (nedelja) meaning "Sunday".
Nekoda m Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Means "marked" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of the head of a family of temple servants.
Nereo m Italian, Spanish (Latin American)
Italian and Spanish form of Nereus.
Nereus m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Derived from Greek νηρός (neros) meaning "water". In Greek myth this was the name of a god of the sea, the father of the Nereids. It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament, belonging to a Christian in Rome. This was also the name of a Roman saint of the 1st century, a member of the army, who was martyred with his companion Achilleus because they refused to execute Christians.
Neriah m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "lamp of Yahweh" in Hebrew, from נֵר (ner) meaning "lamp, light" and יָה (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of the father of Baruch in the Old Testament.
Nestori m Finnish
Finnish form of Nestor.
Nevada f & m English
From the name of the American state, which means "snow-capped" in Spanish.
Nicanor m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical, Biblical Latin, Spanish
From the Greek name Νικάνωρ (Nikanor), which was derived from νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man". This name was borne by several notable officers from ancient Macedon. It is also mentioned in the New Testament as belonging to one of the original seven deacons of the church, considered a saint.
Niccolò m Italian
Italian form of Nicholas. Famous bearers include Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527), a Florentine political philosopher, and Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), a Genoese composer and violinist.
Nicholas m English
From the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) meaning "victory of the people", derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and λαός (laos) meaning "people". Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century bishop from Anatolia who, according to legend, saved the daughters of a poor man from lives of prostitution. He is the patron saint of children, sailors and merchants, as well as Greece and Russia. He formed the basis for the figure known as Santa Claus (created in the 19th century from Dutch Sinterklaas), the bringer of Christmas presents.... [more]
Nicola 1 m Italian
Italian form of Nicholas. A notable bearer was the 13th-century sculptor Nicola Pisano.
Nicolaas m Dutch
Dutch form of Nicholas.
Nicolás m Spanish
Spanish form of Nicholas.
Nicolas m French
French form of Nicholas.
Nicolau m Portuguese, Galician, Catalan
Portuguese, Galician and Catalan form of Nicholas.
Nicolaus m German, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Nikolaos (see Nicholas). This form is also used in Germany as a variant of Nikolaus. A notable bearer was the German-speaking Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543). This was his Latin name; his German name was recorded in various spellings such as Niklas Koppernigk.
Nicolò m Italian
Italian variant form (particularly Sicilian) of Nicholas.
Nikita 1 m Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian
Russian form of Niketas. This form is also used in Ukrainian and Belarusian alongside the more traditional forms Mykyta and Mikita. A notable bearer was the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971).
Nikodem m Polish
Polish form of Nicodemus.
Nikola 1 m Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Czech, Basque
Form of Nicholas in several languages. Note, in Czech this is also a feminine name (see Nikola 2). A famous bearer was the Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla (1856-1943).
Nikolaas m Dutch (Rare)
Dutch variant of Nicolaas.
Nikolai m Russian, Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Russian/Bulgarian Николай (see Nikolay).
Nikolaj m Danish, Slovene
Danish and Slovene form of Nicholas.
Nikolas m Greek, English
Variant of Nikolaos (Greek) or Nicholas (English).
Nikolasz m Hungarian (Modern)
Hungarian form of Nicholas. This form is a modern adaptation (based on the spelling in English or another foreign language), as opposed to the traditional form Miklós.
Nikolaus m German
German form of Nicholas.
Nikolay m Russian, Bulgarian
Russian and Bulgarian form of Nicholas. A notable bearer was the Russian-Ukrainian novelist Nikolay Gogol (1809-1852).
Nikoloz m Georgian
Georgian form of Nicholas.
Noboru m Japanese
From Japanese (noboru) meaning "rise, ascend" or other kanji pronounced in the same way.
Noburu m Japanese (Rare)
From Japanese (noburu) meaning "extend, stretch" or other kanji having the same pronunciation.
Norberto m Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Norbert.
Nur ad-Din m Arabic
Means "light of religion", from Arabic نور (nur) meaning "light" combined with دين (din) meaning "religion, faith".
Nursultan m Kazakh
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" and сұлтан (sultan) meaning "sultan, king" (both words of Arabic origin).
Nuruddin m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic نور الدين (see Nur ad-Din).
Nurullah m Arabic, Turkish
Means "light of Allah", from Arabic نور (nur) meaning "light" combined with الله (Allah).
Nyyrikki m Finnish Mythology
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a Finnish god of the hunt, the son of Tapio.
Oberon m Literature
Variant of Auberon. Oberon and Titania are the king and queen of the fairies in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595). A moon of Uranus bears this name in his honour.
Octavio m Spanish
Spanish form of Octavius.
Odissey m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Odysseus.
Odysseus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek ὀδύσσομαι (odyssomai) meaning "to hate". In Greek legend Odysseus was one of the Greek heroes who fought in the Trojan War. In the Odyssey Homer relates Odysseus's misadventures on his way back to his kingdom and his wife Penelope.
Oedipus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Οἰδίπους (Oidipous), meaning "swollen foot" from οἰδέω (oideo) meaning "to swell" and πούς (pous) meaning "foot". In Greek mythology Oedipus was the son of the Theban king Laius and his wife Jocasta. Laius received a prophesy that he would be killed by his son, so he left the newborn to die of exposure. Oedipus was however rescued and raised in the home of the Corinthian king Polybus. After he had grown and learned of the same prophesy, Oedipus left Corinth so that he would not be a danger to Polybus, whom he assumed was his father. On the road to Delphi he chanced upon his real father Laius and slew him in a petty disagreement, thus fulfilling the prophecy. He then correctly answered the Sphinx's riddle, winning the now vacant throne of Thebes and marrying the widowed Queen Jocasta, his own mother. Years later they learned the truth of their relationship, prompting Jocasta to commit suicide and Oedipus to blind himself.
Oktawian m Polish
Polish form of Octavianus (see Octavian).
Oktawiusz m Polish
Polish form of Octavius.
Ólafur m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Olaf.
Olavi m Finnish, Estonian
Finnish and Estonian form of Olaf.
Olavo m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Olaf.
Ólavur m Faroese
Faroese form of Olaf.
Oleguer m Catalan
Catalan form of Olegario.
Olivér m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Oliver.
Oliver m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Catalan, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak, Carolingian Cycle
From Old French Olivier, which was possibly derived from Latin oliva "olive tree". 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. 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]
Olivier m French, Dutch, Carolingian Cycle
French and Dutch form of Oliver. This is also a French word meaning "olive tree".
Oliwer m Polish
Polish form of Oliver.
Oliwier m Polish
Polish form of Oliver.
Omega m & f Various
From the name of the last letter in the Greek alphabet, Ω. It is often seen as a symbol of completion.
Onofre m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Onuphrius.
Orazio m Italian
Italian form of Horatius.
Oreste m Italian
Italian form of Orestes.
Orestes m Greek Mythology
Means "of the mountains", derived from Greek ὄρος (oros) meaning "mountain" and ἵστημι (histemi) meaning "to stand". In Greek myth he was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. He killed his mother and her lover Aegisthus after they killed his father.
Orfeo m Italian, Spanish (Rare)
Italian and Spanish form of Orpheus.
Origen m History
From the Greek name Ὠριγένης (Origenes), which was possibly derived from the name of the Egyptian god Horus combined with γενής (genes) meaning "born". Origen was a 3rd-century theologian from Alexandria. Long after his death some of his writings were declared heretical, hence he is not regarded as a saint.
Oriol m Catalan
From a Catalan surname meaning "golden". It has been used in honour of Saint Joseph Oriol (1650-1702).
Orion m Greek Mythology
Meaning uncertain, but possibly related to Greek ὅριον (horion) meaning "boundary, limit". Alternatively it may be derived from Akkadian Uru-anna meaning "light of the heavens". This is the name of a constellation, which gets its name from a legendary Greek hunter who was killed by a scorpion sent by the earth goddess Gaia.
Orlando m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Carolingian Cycle
Italian form of Roland, as used in the epic poems Orlando Innamorato (1483) by Matteo Maria Boiardo and the continuation Orlando Furioso (1532) by Ludovico Ariosto. In the poems, Orlando is a knight in Charlemagne's army who battles against the invading Saracens. A character in Shakespeare's play As You Like It (1599) also bears this name, as does a city in Florida.
Orpheus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps related to Greek ὄρφνη (orphne) meaning "the darkness of night". In Greek mythology Orpheus was a poet and musician who went to the underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice. He succeeded in charming Hades with his lyre, and he was allowed to lead his wife out of the underworld on the condition that he not look back at her until they reached the surface. Unfortunately, just before they arrived his love for her overcame his will and he glanced back at her, causing her to be drawn back to Hades.
Osama m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic أسامة (see Usama).
Osamu m Japanese
From Japanese (osamu) meaning "discipline, study", as well as other kanji that have the same pronunciation.
Osiris m Egyptian Mythology (Hellenized)
Greek form of the Egyptian wsjr (reconstructed as Asar, Usir and other forms), which is of unknown meaning, possibly related to wsr "mighty" or jrt "eye". In Egyptian mythology Osiris was the god of fertility, agriculture, and the dead and served as the judge of the underworld. In one tale he was slain by his brother Seth, but restored to life by his wife Isis in order to conceive their son Horus, who would go on to avenge his father.
Oskari m Finnish
Finnish form of Oscar.
Osvaldo m Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Oswald.
Otakar m Czech
Czech form of Odoacer. This was the name of two kings of Bohemia.
Otello m Italian
Italian form of Othello. This was the name of an 1887 opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on Shakespeare's play.
Othello m Literature
Perhaps a diminutive of Otho. William Shakespeare used this name in his tragedy Othello (1603), where it belongs to a Moor who is manipulated by Iago into killing his wife Desdemona.
Othniel m Biblical
Meaning uncertain, possibly "lion of God" or "strength of God" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is a nephew or brother of Caleb who becomes the first of the ruling judges of the Israelites.
Otokar m Czech
Czech variant form of Odoacer.
Ottavio m Italian
Italian form of Octavius.
Ovidio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Ovidius (see Ovid).
Paavali m Finnish (Rare)
Finnish form of Paul used in the Bible.
Pádraigín f & m Irish
Diminutive of Pádraig, also used as a feminine form.
Pancrazio m Italian
Italian form of Pancratius.
Pánfilo m Spanish
Spanish form of Pamphilos.
Pankrati m Russian (Rare)
Alternate transcription of Russian Панкратий (see Pankratiy).
Panteley m Bulgarian (Rare), Russian (Rare)
Bulgarian and Russian form of both Panteleimon and Pantaleon.
Paolo m Italian
Italian form of Paulus (see Paul). Paolo Uccello and Paolo Veronese were both Italian Renaissance painters.
Paquito m Spanish
Diminutive of Francisco.
Parsifal m Arthurian Romance
Form of Parzival used by Richard Wagner for his opera Parsifal (1882).
Parthalán m Irish Mythology
Modern Irish form of Partholón.
Pasquale m Italian
Italian form of Pascal.
Patrício m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Patricius (see Patrick).
Patricio m Spanish
Spanish form of Patricius (see Patrick).
Patrizio m Italian
Italian form of Patricius (see Patrick).
Patroclus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Πάτροκλος (Patroklos) meaning "glory of the father", derived from πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός) and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". In Greek legend he was one of the heroes who fought against the Trojans. His death at the hands of Hector drew his friend Achilles back into the war.
Paulinho m Portuguese
Portuguese diminutive of Paulo.
Paulino m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of the Roman family name Paulinus, which was itself derived from Paulus (see Paul). Saint Paulinus of Nola was a 5th-century nobleman from Gaul who gave up his wealthy lifestyle and became bishop of Nola. He was also noted for his poetry. Another saint by this name was a 7th-century missionary to England who became the first bishop of York.
Pegasus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Πήγασος (Pegasos), possibly either from πηγός (pegos) meaning "strong" or πηγαῖος (pegaios) meaning "from a water spring". In Greek mythology Pegasus was the winged horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa after she was killed by Perseus. There is a constellation in the northern sky named after the horse.
Pelayo m Spanish
Spanish form of Pelagius. This was the name of the founder of the kingdom of Asturias in the 8th century.
Pemphero m & f Chewa
Means "prayer" in Chewa.
Pepito m Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Joseph.
Percival m Arthurian Romance, English
Created by the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes for his poem Perceval, the Story of the Grail. Chrétien may have derived the name from Old French perce val "pierce the valley", or he may have based it loosely on the Welsh name Peredur. In the poem Perceval is a boy from Wales who hopes to become a knight under King Arthur. Setting out to prove himself, he eventually comes to the castle of the Fisher King and is given a glimpse of the Grail.
Peredur m Welsh Mythology, Arthurian Romance
Meaning uncertain. It possibly means "hard spears" from Welsh peri "spears" and dur "hard, steel". In early Welsh poetry and histories, the brothers Peredur and Gwrgi were chieftains in Cumbria who defeated Gwenddoleu at the Battle of Arfderydd. This name was later used by the 12th-century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth in the Latin form Peredurus for an early (fictitious) king of Britain. Entering into Arthurian romance, Peredur is an aspiring knight in the 14th-century Welsh tale Peredur son of Efrawg (an adaptation or parallel of Chrétien de Troyes' hero Percival).
Peregrine m English (Rare)
From the Late Latin name Peregrinus, which meant "traveller". This was the name of several early saints.
Perica m Croatian, Serbian
Croatian diminutive of Petar.
Pericles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Περικλῆς (Perikles), which was derived from Greek περί (peri) meaning "around, exceedingly" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian statesman and general. It is also the name of the central character in the play Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608) written (or co-written) by William Shakespeare.
Perseus m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πέρθω (pertho) meaning "to destroy". In Greek mythology Perseus was a hero who was said to have founded the ancient city of Mycenae. He was the son of Zeus and Danaë. Mother and child were exiled by Danaë's father Acrisius, and Perseus was raised on the island of Seriphos. The king of the island compelled Perseus to kill the Gorgon Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who gazed upon her was turned to stone. After obtaining winged sandals and other tools from the gods, he succeeded in his task by looking at Medusa in the reflection of his shield and slaying her in her sleep. On his return he defeated a sea monster in order to save Andromeda, who became his wife.
Petteri m Finnish
Finnish form of Peter.
Phanuel m Biblical, Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Form of Penuel used in the New Testament, where it is borne by the father of Anna the prophetess. It also appears in the apocryphal Book of Enoch belonging to an angel.
Philemon m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Means "affectionate" in Greek, a derivative of φίλημα (philema) meaning "kiss". Philemon was the recipient of one of Paul's epistles in the New Testament.
Philetus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Greek name Φίλητος (Philetos) meaning "beloved". In the New Testament, Philetus is a heretic in the church at Ephesus denounced by Paul.
Philibert m French, Germanic
Early variant of Filibert altered by association with Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover". A famous bearer was Philibert de l'Orme (1510-1570), a French Renaissance architect.
Phineas m Biblical
Variant of Phinehas used in some English versions of the Old Testament.
Phinehas m Biblical
Probably means "Nubian" from the Egyptian name Panhsj, though some believe it means "serpent's mouth" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Phinehas is a grandson of Aaron who kills an Israelite because he is intimate with a Midianite woman, thus stopping a plague sent by God. Also in the Bible this is the son of Eli, killed in battle with the Philistines.
Pierino m Italian
Diminutive of Piero.
Pietari m Finnish
Finnish form of Peter used in the Bible.
Pikachu m Popular Culture
From Japanese ピカチュウ (Pikachuu), derived from the onomatopoeic words ピカピカ (pikapika), a sparkly sound, and チュウチュウ (chuuchuu), a mouse sound. This is the name of a Pokémon, a yellow rodent-like creature who can summon electricity, from a series of video games starting 1996. This is technically the name of the species, though it is used as a given name for the creature in some contexts.
Plácido m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Placidus (see Placido).
Placido m Italian
Italian form of the Late Latin name Placidus meaning "quiet, calm". Saint Placidus was a 6th-century Italian saint, a disciple of Saint Benedict.
Polikarp m Russian (Rare), Ukrainian (Rare)
Russian and Ukrainian form of Polycarp.
Polycarp m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Πολύκαρπος (Polykarpos) meaning "fruitful, rich in fruit", ultimately from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and καρπός (karpos) meaning "fruit". Saint Polycarp was a 2nd-century bishop of Smyrna who was martyred by being burned at the stake and then stabbed.
Pomare m & f Tahitian
Means "night cough", from Tahitian "night" and mare "cough". This name was borne by four kings and a queen of Tahiti. The first king adopted the name after his child died of a cough in the night.
Pompeius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Pompey.
Pompeo m Italian
Italian form of Pompeius (see Pompey).
Pontius m Ancient Roman, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Roman family name. The family had Samnite roots so the name probably originated from the Oscan language, likely meaning "fifth" (a cognate of Latin Quintus). Alternatively, it could be derived from the name of the ancient province of Pontus in Asia Minor, itself probably from Greek πόντος (pontos) meaning "sea". A notable bearer of this name was Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea who appears in the New Testament.
Porfirio m Spanish, Italian (Rare)
Derived from the Greek name Πορφύριος (Porphyrios), which was derived from the word πορφύρα (porphyra) meaning "purple dye". This was the name of several early saints.
Porfiriy m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Porphyrios (see Porfirio).
Poseidon m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πόσις (posis) meaning "husband, lord" and δᾶ (da) meaning "earth". The name first appears in Mycenaean Greek inscriptions as po-se-da-o. In Greek mythology Poseidon was the unruly god of the sea and earthquakes, the brother of Zeus. He was often depicted carrying a trident and riding in a chariot drawn by white horses.
Přemysl m Czech
From an Old Slavic name that meant "trick, stratagem", from the prefix pre "over, again, very" and myslĭ "thought, idea". This was the name of the legendary founder of the Přemyslid dynasty, which ruled Bohemia from the 9th to the 14th century.
Priamos m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Priam.
Priapus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a Greek god of fertility, gardens, and the phallus.
Prokopiy m Russian
Russian form of Prokopios.
Prokopy m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Прокопий (see Prokopiy).
Prometheus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek προμήθεια (prometheia) meaning "foresight, forethought". In Greek myth he was the Titan who gave the knowledge of fire to mankind. For doing this he was punished by Zeus, who had him chained to a rock and caused an eagle to feast daily on his liver, which regenerated itself each night. Herakles eventually freed him.
Próspero m Spanish (Rare)
Spanish form of Prosper.
Prospero m Italian
Italian form of Prosper. This is the name of the main character, a shipwrecked magician, in The Tempest (1611) by William Shakespeare.
Proteus m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek πρῶτος (protos) meaning "first". In Greek mythology this was the name of a prophetic god of the sea. Shakespeare later utilized it for a character in his play The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).
Prudencio m Spanish
Spanish form of Prudentius.
Przemysław m Polish
Medieval variant of Przemysł, with the addition of the Slavic element slava "glory".
Ptolemy m History
From the Greek name Πτολεμαῖος (Ptolemaios), derived from Greek πολεμήϊος (polemeios) meaning "aggressive, warlike". Ptolemy was the name of several Greco-Egyptian rulers of Egypt, all descendants of Ptolemy I Soter, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. This was also the name of a 2nd-century Greek astronomer.
Publius m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "public" in Latin. This was among the more common of the Roman praenomina, being borne by (among others) the emperor Hadrian and the poet Virgil.
Purnama f & m Indonesian
Means "full moon" in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit पूर्णिमा (purnima).
Quirino m Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Quirinus.
Quirinus m Roman Mythology, Late Roman
Possibly derived from the Sabine word quiris meaning "spear". Quirinus was a Sabine and Roman god, sometimes identified with Romulus. He declined in importance after the early Republican era. The name was also borne by several early saints.
Radomil m Czech
Derived from the Slavic elements radŭ "happy, willing" and milŭ "gracious, dear".
Radomił m Polish (Rare)
Polish form of Radomil.