Names Deemed "formal"

This is a list of names in which the community's impression is formal.
gender
usage
impression
Hippolytos m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Means "freer of horses" from Greek ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse" and λύω (luo) meaning "to loosen". In Greek legend he was the son of Theseus who was tragically loved by his stepmother Phaedra. This was also the name of a 3rd-century theologian, saint and martyr.
Hira 1 f & m Urdu, Nepali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Hindi
Derived from Sanskrit हीर (hīra) meaning "diamond". It is typically feminine in Pakistan and unisex in India and Nepal.
Hiram m Biblical, English
From Phoenician 𐤇𐤓𐤌 (Ḥirom) meaning "exalted brother". This was the name of a king of Tyre according to the Old Testament. He may have reigned in the 10th century BC. As an English given name, Hiram came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where it gained some currency.
Hirohito m Japanese
From Japanese (hiro) meaning "abundant" and (hito) meaning "person" or (hito) meaning "compassionate". Hirohito (1901-1989), name written , was the emperor of Japan from 1926 to 1989. Different combinations of kanji can also form this name.
Hiroto m Japanese
From Japanese (hiro) meaning "big, great" or (hiro) meaning "command, esteem" combined with (to) meaning "person", (to) meaning "soar, glide" or (to), which refers to a Chinese constellation. Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Hirsh m Yiddish
Means "deer" in Yiddish, from Old High German hiruz. This was a vernacular form of the Hebrew name Tzvi. The deer is particularly associated with the tribe of Naphtali (see Genesis 49:21).
Hirune f Basque
Variant of Irune.
Hisham m Arabic, Malay
Means "generous" in Arabic, ultimately from هشم (hashama) meaning "to crush". The meaning derives from the traditional Arab act of crushing bread into crumbs in order to share it. This was the name of an 8th-century caliph of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain.
Hjalmar m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Hjálmarr meaning "helmeted warrior" from the element hjalmr "helmet" combined with herr "army, warrior".
Hjördis f Swedish
Swedish form of the Old Norse name Hjǫrdís meaning "sword goddess", derived from the elements hjǫrr "sword" and dís "goddess".
Hjørdis f Danish, Norwegian
Danish and Norwegian form of Hjördis.
Hlengiwe f Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele, Swazi
Means "helped, rescued, redeemed" in Zulu, Xhosa, Ndebele and Swazi.
Hokolesqua m Shawnee
Means "cornstalk" in Shawnee. This was the name of an 18th-century Shawnee chief.
Holger m Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, Carolingian Cycle
From the Old Norse name Hólmgeirr, derived from the elements holmr "small island" and geirr "spear". In Scandinavia and Germany this is the usual name for the hero Ogier the Dane from medieval French romance.
Hollis m & f English
From an English surname that was derived from Middle English holis "holly trees". It was originally given to a person who lived near a group of those trees.
Honor f & m English (Rare)
Variant of Honour, using the American spelling.
Honora f Irish, English
Variant of Honoria. It was brought to England and Ireland by the Normans.
Honorata f Late Roman, Polish
Feminine form of Honoratus.
Honoratus m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "esteemed, distinguished". This was the name of at least seven saints, including a 5th-century archbishop of Arles and a 6th-century bishop of Amiens who is the patron saint of bakers.
Honoré m French
French form of Honoratus or Honorius. A notable bearer was the French author Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850).
Honoria f Late Roman
Feminine form of Honorius. This name was borne by the sister of the Western Roman emperor Valentinian III. After her brother had her engaged to a man she did not like, she wrote to Attila the Hun asking for help. Attila interpreted this as a marriage proposal and subsequently invaded.
Honorine f French
French form of Honorina, a feminine form of the Roman name Honorinus, a derivative of Honorius. Saint Honorina was a 4th-century martyr from the Normandy region in France.
Honorius m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "honour, esteem, dignity". This was the name of an emperor of the Western Roman Empire. It was also borne by a few early saints and four popes.
Honour f & m English (Rare)
From the English word honour, which is of Latin origin. This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century. It can also be viewed as a form of Honoria or Honorata, which are ultimately derived from the same source.
Horace m English, French
English and French form of Horatius, and the name by which the Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus is commonly known those languages. In the modern era it has been used as a given name since the Renaissance, in honour of the poet.
Horacio m Spanish
Spanish form of Horatius.
Horatia f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Horatius.
Horatio m English
Variant of Horatius. Shakespeare used it for a character in his tragedy Hamlet (1600). It was borne by the British admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), famous for his defeat of Napoleon's forces in the Battle of Trafalgar, in which he was himself killed. Since his time the name has been occasionally used in his honour.
Horațiu m Romanian
Romanian form of Horatius.
Horatius m Ancient Roman
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.
Hortense f French, English
French form of Hortensia.
Hortensia f Ancient Roman, Spanish
Feminine form of the Roman family name Hortensius, possibly derived from Latin hortus meaning "garden".
Horus m Egyptian Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ὧρος (Horos), the Greek form of Egyptian ḥrw (reconstructed as Heru and other forms) possibly from ḥr "above, over" or ḥrj "distant". In Egyptian mythology Horus was a god of the sky and light, often depicted as a man with the head of a falcon. In some versions of the mythology he was the son of Osiris and Isis, and avenged his father's murder by killing his uncle Seth.
Hossein m Persian
Persian form of Husayn.
Houda f Arabic (Maghrebi)
Alternate transcription of Arabic هدى (see Huda) chiefly used in North Africa.
Houssam m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic حسام (see Husam).
Hovhannes m Armenian
Armenian form of Iohannes (see John).
Howard m English
From an English surname that can derive from several different sources: the Anglo-Norman given name Huard, which was from the Germanic name Hughard; the Anglo-Scandinavian given name Haward, from the Old Norse name Hávarðr; or the Middle English term ewehirde meaning "ewe herder". This is the surname of a British noble family, members of which have held the title Duke of Norfolk from the 15th century to the present. A famous bearer of the given name was the American industrialist Howard Hughes (1905-1976).
Howell m Welsh
Anglicized form of Hywel.
Hristina f Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian
Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian form of Christina.
Hroðgar m Anglo-Saxon
From Old English hroð "fame, glory" and gar "spear", making it a cognate of Hrodger (see Roger). The name became unused after the Normans introduced the continental form. In the Old English poem Beowulf this is the name of the Danish king.
Hroðulf m Anglo-Saxon
From Old English hroð "fame, glory" and wulf "wolf", making it a cognate of Hrodulf (see Rudolf). This name appears in Beowulf belonging to the nephew of Hroðgar.
Huang m & f Chinese
From Chinese (huáng) meaning "bright, shining, luminous" (which is usually only masculine) or (huáng) meaning "phoenix" (usually only feminine). Other Chinese characters are also possible.
Huanglong m Chinese Mythology
From Chinese (huáng) meaning "yellow" and (lóng) meaning "dragon". This is the Chinese name for the Yellow Dragon, who is considered the animal form of the mythical Yellow Emperor Huangdi.
Hubert m English, German, Dutch, French, Polish, Czech, Germanic
Means "bright heart", derived from the Old German elements hugu "mind, thought, spirit" and beraht "bright". Saint Hubert was an 8th-century bishop of Maastricht who is considered the patron saint of hunters. The Normans brought the name to England, where it replaced an Old English cognate Hygebeorht. It died out during the Middle Ages but was revived in the 19th century.
Hugh m English
From the Germanic name Hugo, derived from Old Frankish hugi or Old High German hugu meaning "mind, thought, spirit" (Proto-Germanic *hugiz). It was common among Frankish and French nobility, being borne by Hugh Capet, a 10th-century king of France who founded the Capetian dynasty. The Normans brought the name to England and it became common there, even more so after the time of the 12th-century bishop Saint Hugh of Lincoln, who was known for his charity. This was also the name of kings of Cyprus and the crusader kingdom of Jerusalem. The name is used in Ireland and Scotland as the Anglicized form of Aodh and Ùisdean.
Hugues m French
French form of Hugh.
Huguette f French
Feminine form of Hugues.
Hui f & m Chinese
From Chinese (huì) meaning "intelligent, wise" (which is usually only feminine), (huī) meaning "brightness", besides other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Huld f Norse Mythology
Old Norse variant of Hulda 1.
Humayra f Arabic
Means "red" in Arabic. This was a name given by the Prophet Muhammad to his wife Aisha.
Humbert m French, German (Rare), English (Rare), Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements hun "bear cub" and beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to England, though it has always been uncommon there. It was the name of a 7th-century Frankish saint who founded Maroilles Abbey. It was also borne by two kings of Italy (called Umberto in Italian), who ruled in the 19th and 20th centuries. A notable fictional bearer is Humbert Humbert from Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita (1955).
Humberto m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Humbert.
Humphrey m English
From the Old German elements hun "bear cub" and fridu "peace". The Normans introduced this name to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Hunfrith, and it was regularly used through the Middle Ages. A famous bearer was the American actor Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957), who starred in The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca.
Hunfrid m Germanic
Old German form of Humphrey.
Hunor m Hungarian
Derived from the ethnic term Hun, which refers to the nomadic people from Central Asia who expanded into Europe in the 4th century. The word Hun is from Latin Hunnus, which is possibly of Turkic origin. According to medieval Hungarian legend, the brothers Hunor and Magor were the ancestors of the Huns and the Magyars (Hungarians) respectively.
Husayn m Arabic
Diminutive of Hasan. Husayn ibn Ali (also commonly transliterated Hussein) was the son of Ali and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. His older brother was named Hasan. The massacre of Husayn and his family was a major event in the split between Shia and Sunni Muslims, which continues to this day. In more recent times this was the name of a king of Jordan (1935-1999).
Husni m Arabic
Derived from Arabic حسْن (ḥusn) meaning "beauty, excellence, goodness".
Hussain m Arabic, Urdu, Dhivehi
Alternate transcription of Arabic حسين (see Husayn), as well as the usual Urdu and Dhivehi transcription.
Hyacinth 2 f English (Rare)
From the name of the flower (or the precious stone that also bears this name), ultimately from Greek hyakinthos (see Hyacinthus).
Hyacinthe m & f French
French masculine and feminine form of Hyacinthus.
Hyacinthus m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ὑάκινθος (Hyakinthos), which was derived from the name of the hyacinth flower. In Greek legend Hyakinthos was accidentally killed by the god Apollo, who mournfully caused this flower to arise from his blood. The name was also borne by several early saints, notably a 3rd-century martyr who was killed with his brother Protus.
Hyeon m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean (hyeon) meaning "virtuous, worthy, able" or other characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
Hyeon-Jeong f Korean
From Sino-Korean (hyeon) meaning "virtuous, worthy, able" or (hyeon) meaning "shine, glitter" combined with (jeong) meaning "courtyard" or (jeong) meaning "virtuous, chaste, loyal". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Hypatia f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ὕπατος (hypatos) meaning "highest, supreme". Hypatia of Alexandria was a 5th-century philosopher and mathematician, daughter of the mathematician Theon.
Hyperion m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ὑπέρ (hyper) meaning "over". In Greek myth this was the name of a Titan who presided over the sun and light. By Theia he was the father of the sun god Helios, the moon goddess Selene, and the dawn goddess Eos.
Hyun-Joo f & m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 현주 (see Hyeon-Ju).
Iacchus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Ἴακχος (Iakchos), derived from ἰάχω (iacho) meaning "to shout". This was the name of an obscure Greek god worshipped in the Eleusinian mysteries and later identified with Dionysos.
Iacob m Romanian, Biblical Latin
Romanian form of Jacob (or James). This is also the form of Jacob found in the Latin Old Testament (and the New Testament when referring to the patriarch).
Iacomus m Late Roman
Late Latin form of James.
Ianthe f Greek Mythology
Means "violet flower", derived from Greek ἴον (ion) meaning "violet" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower". This was the name of an ocean nymph in Greek mythology.
Ianus m Roman Mythology
Latin form of Janus.
Iapetos m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ἰάπτω (iapto) meaning "to wound, to pierce". In Greek mythology this was the name of a Titan, the father of Atlas, Prometheus and Epimetheus.
Ibraheem m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic إبراهيم (see Ibrahim).
Ibrahim m Arabic, Malay, Indonesian, Pashto, Urdu, Kazakh, Tatar, Bashkir, Avar, Bosnian, Dhivehi, Albanian, Hausa, Swahili
Arabic form of Abraham, also used in several other languages. This form appears in the Quran.
Ibtisam f Arabic
Means "a smile" in Arabic, from the root بسم (basama) meaning "to smile".
Icarus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Ἴκαρος (Ikaros), of unknown meaning. In Greek myth Icarus was the son of Daedalus, locked with his father inside the Labyrinth by Minos. They escaped from the maze using wings devised from wax, but Icarus flew too close to the sun and the wax melted, plunging him to his death.
Ichabod m Biblical
Means "no glory" in Hebrew, from the roots אִי (ʾi) meaning "not" and כָּבַד (kavaḏ) meaning "to be glorious". In the Old Testament this is the grandson of Eli and the son of Phinehas. He was named this because his mother despaired that "the glory has departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4:21).... [more]
Idalia f Germanic (Latinized), Greek Mythology, Polish (Rare)
Probably from a Germanic name derived from the element idal, an extended form of id possibly meaning "work, labour". Unrelated, this was also an epithet of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, given because the city of Idalion on Cyprus was a center of her cult.... [more]
Idonea f English (Archaic)
Medieval English name, probably a Latinized form of Iðunn. The spelling may have been influenced by Latin idonea "suitable". It was common in England from the 12th century.
Idril f Literature
Means "sparkle brilliance" in the fictional language Sindarin. In the Silmarillion (1977) by J. R. R. Tolkien, Idril was the daughter of Turgon, the king of Gondolin. She escaped the destruction of that place with her husband Tuor and sailed with him into the west.
Idris 1 m Arabic, Malay, Indonesian
Possibly means "interpreter, teacher" in Arabic, related to the root درس (darasa) meaning "to study, to learn". According to the Quran this was the name of an ancient prophet. He is traditionally equated with the Hebrew prophet Enoch.
Idris 2 m Welsh
Means "ardent lord" from Old Welsh iudd "lord" combined with ris "ardent, enthusiastic". This name was borne by Idris the Giant, a 7th-century king of Meirionnydd.
Ignace m French
French form of Ignatius.
Ignacia f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Ignatius.
Ignacio m Spanish
Spanish form of Ignatius.
Ignacy m Polish
Polish form of Ignatius.
Ignat m Russian, Bulgarian
Russian and Bulgarian form of Ignatius.
Ignatia f Late Roman
Feminine form of Ignatius.
Ignatius m Late Roman
From the Roman family name Egnatius, meaning unknown, of Etruscan origin. The spelling was later altered to resemble Latin ignis "fire". This was the name of several saints, including the third bishop of Antioch who was thrown to wild beasts by Emperor Trajan, and by Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Jesuits, whose real birth name was in fact Íñigo.
Ignazio m Italian
Italian form of Ignatius.
Igraine f Arthurian Cycle
Meaning unknown, from Igerna, the Latinized form of Welsh Eigyr. In Arthurian legend she is the mother of King Arthur by Uther Pendragon and the mother of Morgan le Fay by Gorlois. The Welsh form Eigyr or Eigr was rendered into Latin as Igerna by the 12th-century chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Ihintza f Basque
From Basque ihintz meaning "dew". It is a Basque equivalent of Rocío.
Iker m Basque
Means "visitation" in Basque. It is an equivalent of the Spanish name Visitación, coined by Sabino Arana in his 1910 list of Basque saints names.
Ilanit f Hebrew
Feminine form of Ilan.
Ilaria f Italian
Italian feminine form of Hilarius.
Ilarion m Bulgarian (Rare), Macedonian (Rare)
Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Hilarion.
Ildefonso m Spanish
Spanish form of the Visigothic name *Hildifuns, which meant "battle ready", derived from the Gothic elements hilds "battle" and funs "ready". This was the name of a 7th-century saint, an archbishop of Toledo.
Ildikó f Hungarian
Possibly a form of Hilda. This name was borne by the last wife of Attila the Hun.
Ileana f Romanian, Spanish, Italian
Possibly a Romanian variant of Elena. In Romanian folklore this is the name of a princess kidnapped by monsters and rescued by a heroic knight.
Ilenia f Italian
Meaning unknown, possibly an elaborated variant of Elena.
Ilham f & m Arabic, Indonesian, Uyghur
Means "inspiration" in Arabic.
Ilia m Georgian, Russian, Bulgarian, Belarusian, Old Church Slavic
Georgian form of Elijah. It is also an alternate transcription of Russian Илья or Belarusian Ілья (see Ilya) or Bulgarian Илия (see Iliya).
Ilithyia f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Εἰλείθυια (Eileithyia), which was derived from εἰλήθυια (eilethyia) meaning "the readycomer". This was the name of the Greek goddess of childbirth and midwifery.
Illarion m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Hilarion.
Illya m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Elijah.
Ilma 1 f Finnish (Rare)
Means "air" in Finnish.
Ilmar m Estonian
Estonian form of Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen m Finnish Mythology
Derived from Finnish ilma meaning "air". Ilmarinen is an immortal smith in Finnish mythology, the creator of the sky and the magic mill known as the Sampo. He is one of the main characters in the Finnish epic the Kalevala.
Ilmatar f Finnish Mythology
Derived from Finnish ilma "air" combined with a feminine suffix. In Finnish mythology Ilmatar was a semi-androgynous goddess of the heavens. She was the mother of Ilmarinen, Väinämöinen and Lemminkäinen.
Imam m Arabic, Indonesian
Means "leader" in Arabic.
Imanol m Basque
Basque form of Emmanuel.
Imelda f Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Irmhild. The Blessed Imelda Lambertini was a young 14th-century nun from Bologna.
Imhotep m Ancient Egyptian
From Egyptian jj-m-ḥtp meaning "he comes in peace". This was the name of a 27th-century BC architect, priest, physician and chief minister to the pharaoh Djoser. Imhotep apparently designed the step pyramid at Saqqara, near Memphis.
Immacolata f Italian
Italian cognate of Inmaculada.
Immaculada f Catalan
Catalan cognate of Inmaculada.
Immanuel m Hebrew, German (Rare), Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Form of Emmanuel used in most translations of the Old Testament. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) was a German philosopher of the Enlightenment who is sometimes called the father of modern philosophy.
Inácio m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Ignatius.
Inderpal m & f Indian (Sikh)
Means "protector of Indra" from the name of the god Indra combined with Sanskrit पाल (pāla) meaning "protector".
Indira f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil
Means "beauty" in Sanskrit. This is another name of Lakshmi, the wife of the Hindu god Vishnu. A notable bearer was India's first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi (1917-1984).
Indrajit m Hinduism, Bengali, Hindi
Means "conqueror of Indra" from the name of the god Indra combined with Sanskrit जिति (jiti) meaning "victory, conquering". In the Hindu epic the Ramayana this is another name of Meghanada, the son of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. He was given this name by Brahma after he defeated Indra.
Indrani f Hinduism, Bengali, Hindi
Means "wife of Indra" in Sanskrit. This is a Vedic Hindu goddess who is the wife of Indra. She is associated with beauty and jealousy.
Inés f Spanish
Spanish form of Agnes.
Inessa f Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Inés.
Ingeborg f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German
From the Old Norse name Ingibjǫrg, which was derived from the name of the Germanic god Ing combined with bjǫrg meaning "help, save, rescue". This name was borne by a Danish princess who married Philip II of France in the 12th century.
Ingegerd f Swedish
From the Old Norse name Ingigerðr, which was derived from the name of the Germanic god Ing combined with garðr meaning "enclosure, yard".
Ingemar m Swedish
From the Old Norse name Ingimárr, derived from the name of the Germanic god Ing combined with mærr "famous".
Ingibjörg f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Ingeborg.
Ingmar m Swedish
Variant of Ingemar. This name was borne by the Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007).
Ingomar m German (Rare), Germanic
From the name of the Germanic god Ing combined with Old German mari "famous", making it a cognate of Ingemar. Ingomar (or Inguiomer) was a 1st-century leader of the Cherusci, a Germanic tribe.
Ingram m Germanic, English (Rare)
Germanic name composed of either the element angil, from the name of the Germanic tribe of the Angles, or engil meaning "angel" combined with hram meaning "raven". This name was brought to England by the Normans, though it died out after the medieval era. These days it is usually inspired by the surname that was derived from the medieval name.
Ingrid f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, German, Dutch
From the Old Norse name Ingríðr meaning "Ing is beautiful", derived from the name of the Germanic god Ing combined with fríðr "beautiful, beloved". A famous bearer was the Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982).
Ingvar m Swedish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Yngvarr, which was derived from the name of the Germanic god Yngvi combined with herr meaning "army, warrior".
Ingvild f Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Yngvildr, derived from the name of the Norse god Yngvi combined with hildr "battle".
Íñigo m Spanish
Medieval Spanish form of Eneko. This was the birth name of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who changed it in honour of Saint Ignatius of Antioch. As such, this name is sometimes regarded as a form of Ignatius.
Inmaculada f Spanish
Means "immaculate" in Spanish. This name is given to commemorate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
Intan f Indonesian, Malay
Means "diamond" in Malay and Indonesian.
Ioannes m Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Yoḥanan (see John).
Ioannis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Ἰωάννης (see John).
Iokua m Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Joshua.
Iolanthe f Various (Rare)
Probably a variant of Yolanda influenced by the Greek words ἰόλη (iole) meaning "violet" and ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower". This name was (first?) used by Gilbert and Sullivan in their comic opera Iolanthe (1882).
Iomhar m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Ivor.
Iordan m Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Bulgarian Йордан (see Yordan).
Iorwerth m Welsh, Old Welsh
Means "worthy lord" from Old Welsh ior "lord" and gwerth "value, worth". This name was used by medieval Welsh royalty, including the prince Iorwerth Goch of Powys, who is mentioned in the tale the Dream of Rhonabwy. It has sometimes been Anglicized as Edward.
Iosif m Russian, Romanian, Greek
Russian, Romanian and Greek form of Joseph.
Iphigeneia f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ἴφιος (iphios) meaning "strong, stout" and γενής (genes) meaning "born". In Greek myth Iphigenia was the daughter of King Agamemnon. When her father offended Artemis it was divined that the only way to appease the goddess was to sacrifice Iphigenia. Just as Agamemnon was about to sacrifice his daughter she was magically transported to the city of Taurus.... [more]
Ippolito m Italian
Italian form of Hippolytos.
Iraklis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Herakles.
Irenaeus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Εἰρηναῖος (Eirenaios), which meant "peaceful". Saint Irenaeus was an early bishop of Lyons for whom the Greek island of Santorini is named.
Irène f French
French form of Irene.
Irene f English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, German, Dutch, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirene), derived from a word meaning "peace". This was the name of the Greek goddess who personified peace, one of the Ὥραι (Horai). It was also borne by several early Christian saints. The name was common in the Byzantine Empire, notably being borne by an 8th-century empress, who was the first woman to lead the empire. She originally served as regent for her son, but later had him killed and ruled alone.... [more]
Irénée m & f French
French form of Irenaeus, also occasionally a feminine form.
Ireneusz m Polish
Polish form of Irenaeus.
Irida f Greek
Greek variant of Iris, from the genitive form Ἴριδος (Iridos).
Irine f Georgian
Georgian form of Irene.
Irinushka f Russian
Russian diminutive of Irina.
Irmgard f German
German contracted form of Ermengard.
Irmhild f German
Derived from the Old German elements irmin "whole, great" and hilt "battle". It is a cognate of the Old English name Eormenhild.
Irmtraud f German
German contracted form of Ermendrud.
Irvin m English
From a surname that is a variant of either Irving or Irwin.
Irvine m English, Scottish
From a surname that was a variant of Irving.
Irving m English, Jewish
From a Scottish surname that was derived from the town of Irvine in North Ayrshire, itself named for the River Irvine, which is derived from Brythonic elements meaning "green water". Historically this name has been relatively common among Jews, who have used it as an American-sounding form of Hebrew names beginning with I such as Isaac, Israel and Isaiah. A famous bearer was the Russian-American songwriter and lyricist Irving Berlin (1888-1989), whose birth name was Israel Beilin.
Irwin m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old English given name Eoforwine.
Iryna f Ukrainian, Belarusian
Ukrainian and Belarusian form of Irene.
Isaak m Greek, Russian (Rare), German (Rare), Biblical Greek
Greek, Russian and German form of Isaac.
Isabeau f Medieval French, French (Rare), Dutch (Modern)
Medieval French variant of Isabel. A famous bearer of this name was Isabeau of Bavaria (1385-1422), wife of the French king Charles VI.
Isabel f Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, German, Dutch
Medieval Occitan form of Elizabeth. It spread throughout Spain, Portugal and France, becoming common among the royalty by the 12th century. It grew popular in England in the 13th century after Isabella of Angoulême married the English king John, and it was subsequently bolstered when Isabella of France married Edward II the following century.... [more]
Isabell f German
German variant of Isabel.
Isabella f Italian, German, English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Romanian
Latinate form of Isabel. This name was borne by many medieval royals, including queens consort of England, France, Portugal, the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary, as well as the powerful ruling queen Isabella of Castile (properly called Isabel).... [more]
Isadora f English, Portuguese
Variant of Isidora. A famous bearer was the American dancer Isadora Duncan (1877-1927).
Isadore m English
Variant of Isidore.
Isagani m Tagalog
Possibly from Tagalog masaganang ani meaning "bountiful harvest". This is the name of a character in the novel El Filibusterismo (1891) by José Rizal.
Isaiah m English, Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yeshaʿyahu) meaning "Yahweh is salvation", from the roots יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. Isaiah is one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament, supposedly the author of the Book of Isaiah. He was from Jerusalem and probably lived in the 8th century BC, at a time when Assyria threatened the Kingdom of Judah. As an English Christian name, Isaiah was first used after the Protestant Reformation.
Isaías m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Isaiah.
Isaias m Biblical
Late Latin form of Isaiah used in some versions of the Bible.
Isamu m Japanese
From Japanese (isamu) meaning "brave" or other kanji having the same pronunciation.
Iseabail f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Isabel.
Iset f Egyptian Mythology (Hypothetical)
Reconstructed Egyptian form of Isis.
Iseul f & m Korean
Means "dew" in Korean.
Iseult f Arthurian Cycle
The origins of this name are uncertain, though some Celtic roots have been suggested. It is possible that the name is ultimately Germanic, from a hypothetical name like *Ishild, composed of the elements is "ice" and hilt "battle".... [more]
Isibéal f Irish
Irish form of Isabel.
Isidor m German (Rare), Russian (Rare)
German and Russian form of Isidore.
Isidora f Spanish, Serbian, Portuguese (Rare), Italian (Rare), English (Rare), Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Isidore. This was the name of a 4th-century Egyptian saint and hermitess.
Isidore m English, French, Georgian (Rare), Jewish
From the Greek name Ἰσίδωρος (Isidoros) meaning "gift of Isis", derived from the name of the Egyptian goddess Isis combined with Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift". Saint Isidore of Seville was a 6th-century archbishop, historian and theologian.... [more]
Isidoro m Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Isidore.
Iskandar m Arabic, Indonesian, Malay
Arabic, Indonesian and Malay form of Alexander.
İskender m Turkish
Turkish form of Alexander.
Islwyn m Welsh
From the name of a mountain in Wales that means "below the forest" from Welsh is "below" and llwyn "forest, grove".
Ismaël m French
French form of Ishmael.
Ismahel m Biblical Latin
Form of Ishmael used in the Latin Old Testament.
Isma'il m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic إسماعيل (see Ismail).
Ismail m Arabic, Malay, Indonesian, Urdu, Bengali, Uyghur, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Chechen, Avar, Albanian, Dhivehi
Arabic form of Ishmael, also used in several other languages. According to the Quran and Islamic tradition Ismail was a prophet and the founder of the Arab people.
Ismene f Greek Mythology
Possibly from Greek ἰσμή (isme) meaning "knowledge". This was the name of the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta in Greek legend.
Isobel f Scottish
Anglicized form of Iseabail.
Isocrates m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἰσοκράτης (Isokrates) meaning "equal power", derived from ἴσος (isos) meaning "equal" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Athenian orator.
Isolda f Arthurian Cycle
Latinate form of Iseult.
Isolde f German, Arthurian Cycle
German form of Iseult, appearing in the 13th-century German poem Tristan by Gottfried von Strassburg. In 1865 the German composer Richard Wagner debuted his popular opera Tristan und Isolde and also used the name for his first daughter.
Issachar m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Possibly means "man of hire" or "there is reward", from Hebrew שָׁכַר (shaḵar) meaning "hire, wage, reward". In the Old Testament this is the name of one of the twelve sons of Jacob (by Leah) and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. A justification for the name's meaning is given in Genesis 30:18.
Issur m Yiddish (Rare)
Alternate transcription of Yiddish איסר (see Iser).
István m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Stephen. This was the name of the first king of Hungary. Ruling in the 11th century, he encouraged the spread of Christianity among his subjects and is considered the patron saint of Hungary.
Italus m Roman Mythology
Means "of Italy" in Latin. In Roman legend Italus was the father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. He supposedly gave his name to the region known as Italia or Italy (in fact the region may have gotten its name from Oscan Víteliú meaning "land of bulls").
Ithamar m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name אִיתָמָר (ʾIṯamar) meaning "date palm island", derived from אִי (ʾi) meaning "island" and תָּמָר (tamar) meaning "date palm". This is the name of a son of Aaron in the Old Testament.
Ithiel m Biblical
Possibly means "God is with me" in Hebrew. This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Iðunn f Norse Mythology, Old Norse, Icelandic
Probably derived from the Old Norse prefix ið- "again, repeated" and unna "to love". In Norse mythology Iðunn was the goddess of spring and immortality whose responsibility it was to guard the gods' apples of youth.
Itxaso f Basque
Diminutive of Itsaso.
Iuliana f Romanian, Ancient Roman
Latin and Romanian form of Juliana.
Iuno f Roman Mythology
Latin form of Juno.
Iustinus m Late Roman
Latin form of Justin.
Iva 2 f Czech, Slovak, Slovene
Short form of Ivana.
Ivan m Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Serbian, Macedonian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, English, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian
Newer form of the Old Church Slavic name Іѡаннъ (Ioannŭ), which was derived from Greek Ioannes (see John). This was the name of six Russian rulers, including the 15th-century Ivan III the Great and 16th-century Ivan IV the Terrible, the first tsar of Russia. It was also borne by nine emperors of Bulgaria. Other notable bearers include the Russian author Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883), who wrote Fathers and Sons, and the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), who is best known for his discovery of the conditioned reflex.
Ivanna f Ukrainian
Ukrainian feminine form of Ivan.
Ivano m Italian
Italian form of Ivan.
Ivar m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian
Scandinavian form of Ivor.
Ivette f Catalan
Catalan form of Yvette.
Ivona f Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian
Form of Yvonne in several languages.
Ivonne f German, Dutch
German and Dutch variant of Yvonne.
Ivor m Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English (British)
From the Old Norse name Ívarr, which was probably derived from the elements ýr "yew tree, bow" and herr "army, warrior". During the Middle Ages it was brought to Britain by Scandinavian settlers and invaders, and it was adopted in Ireland (Irish Íomhar), Scotland (Scottish Gaelic Iomhar) and Wales (Welsh Ifor).
Izabela f Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovene
Polish, Czech, Slovak and Slovene form of Isabella.
Izabella f Hungarian, Polish
Hungarian and Polish form of Isabella.
Izanagi m Japanese Mythology
Probably means "male who invites" in Japanese, from (izana) meaning "invite, lure, attract". In Japanese mythology the god Izanagi was the husband of Izanami. When she died he unsuccessfully journeyed to the underworld to retrieve her. In the purifying rites that followed his return, the gods of the sun, moon and wind were created.
Izanami f Japanese Mythology
Probably means "female who invites" in Japanese, from (izana) meaning "invite, lure, attract". In Japanese mythology she was a creator goddess, the wife of Izanagi. She died giving birth to Kagutsuchi, the god of fire.
Izdihar f Arabic
Means "blossoming, prospering" in Arabic, a derivative of زهر (zahara) meaning "to shine, to bloom".
Izidor m Slovene
Slovene form of Isidore.
Izolda f Georgian, Russian, Hungarian, Polish (Rare)
Georgian, Russian, Hungarian and Polish form of Iseult.
Izz al-Din m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic عزّ الدين (see Izz ad-Din).
Jáchym m Czech
Czech form of Joachim.
Jacinthe f French (Rare)
French cognate of Hyacinth 2.
Jacira f Tupi
Means "honey moon" in Tupi, from îasy "moon" and yra "honey".
Jacobine f Norwegian (Archaic), Dutch (Rare)
Norwegian and Dutch feminine form of Jacob.
Jacobus m Dutch, Late Roman
Latin form of Jacob, also used in Dutch.
Jacomina f Dutch
Dutch feminine form of Iacomus (see James).
Jacqueline f French, English
French feminine form of Jacques, also commonly used in the English-speaking world.
Jacques m French
French form of Iacobus, the New Testament Latin form of James.
Jacquette f French (Rare)
Feminine diminutive of Jacques.
Jadwiga f Polish
Polish form of Hedwig. This was the name of a 14th-century ruling queen of Poland who has recently been canonized as a saint.
Jafar m Arabic, Persian
Means "stream" in Arabic. Jafar ibn Abi Talib was a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad who was killed fighting against Byzantium in the 7th century. Another notable bearer was Jafar al-Sadiq, the sixth Shia imam.
Jagadisha m Hinduism
Means "ruler of the world" from Sanskrit जगत् (jagat) meaning "world" and ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler, lord". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu or his avatar Krishna.
Jagannath m Hindi
Modern form of Jagannatha.
Jalal m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali
Means "greatness" in Arabic, from the root جلّ (jalla) meaning "to be great".
James m English, Biblical
English form of the Late Latin name Iacomus, a variant of the Biblical Latin form Iacobus, from the Hebrew name Yaʿaqov (see Jacob). 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]
Jamesina f Scottish
Feminine form of James.
Jameson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of James".
Jamshed m Urdu, Tajik
Urdu and Tajik form of Jamshid.
Jamyang m & f Tibetan, Bhutanese
Means "gentle song" in Tibetan, from འཇམ ('jam) meaning "gentle, soft" and དབྱངས (dbyangs) meaning "song, voice".
Janetta f English (Rare)
Elaborated form of Janet.
Januarius m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "January" in Latin. The name of the month derives from the name of the Roman god Janus. Saint Januarius, the patron saint of Naples, was a bishop who was beheaded during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century.
Janus m Roman Mythology
Means "archway" in Latin. Janus was the Roman god of gateways and beginnings, often depicted as having two faces looking in opposite directions. The month of January is named for him.
Janvier m French
French form of Januarius. Though now rare in France, it is more common in French-speaking parts of Africa.
Japheth m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יֶפֶת (Yefeṯ) meaning "enlarged". In the Old Testament he is one of the three sons of Noah, along with Shem and Ham. He was the ancestor of the peoples of Europe and northern Asia.
Jarlath m Irish
Anglicized form of Iarlaithe.
Jarogniew m Polish (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements jarŭ "fierce, energetic" and gněvŭ "anger".
Jaromír m Czech, Slovak
Derived from the Slavic elements jarŭ "fierce, energetic" and mirŭ "peace, world". This name was borne by an 11th-century duke of Bohemia.
Jaromir m Polish
Polish form of Jaromír.
Jaroslav m Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of Yaroslav.
Jarosław m Polish
Polish form of Yaroslav.
Jaswinder m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit यशस् (yaśas) meaning "fame, praise, glory" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra.
Javier m Spanish
Spanish form of Xavier.
Jazbiya f Arabic (Rare)
Alternate transcription of Arabic جاذبيّة (see Jazibiyya).
Jean-Baptiste m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Baptiste, referring to Saint John the Baptist.
Jean-Charles m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Charles.
Jean-Claude m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Claude.
Jean-François m French
Combination of Jean 1 and François.
Jean-Jacques m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Jacques. This name was borne by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778).
Jean-Luc m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Luc. A famous bearer is the French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard (1930-2022).
Jean-Marie m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Marie.
Jean-Paul m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Paul. A famous bearer was the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980).
Jean-Pierre m French
Combination of Jean 1 and Pierre.
Jeconiah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh will establish" in Hebrew, from the roots כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is another name (with the same meaning) of the Judean king Jehoiachin.
Jefferson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Jeffrey". It is usually given in honour of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third president of the United States and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
Jehiel m Biblical
Means "God will live" in Hebrew, from חָיָה (ḥaya) meaning "to live" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of several people in the Old Testament, including one of King David's lute players.
Jehoash m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְהוֹאָשׁ (Yehoʾash), an extended form of יוֹאָשׁ (see Joash). According to the Old Testament, this was the name of a king of Israel. He probably reigned in the 8th century BC.
Jehoiachin m Biblical
Means "Yahweh will establish" in Hebrew, from the roots יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah. Also known as Jeconiah, he was imprisoned in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar after a brief reign in the early 6th century BC.
Jehonathan m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְהוֹנָתָן (Yehonaṯan), the full form of Jonathan. This is the name of a few minor characters in the Old Testament.