AGRONA f Celtic MythologyDerived from the old Celtic element
agro meaning "battle, slaughter". This was the name of the Brythonic goddess of war and death.
ALDEGUND f Ancient GermanicGermanic name, derived from the elements
ald "old" and
gund "war". Saint Algegund (or Aldegundis) was a 7th-century Frankish abbess.
ALFHILD f Norwegian, SwedishFrom the Old Norse name
Alfhildr which was composed of the elements
alfr "elf" and
hildr "battle". In Norse legend Alfhild was a maiden who disguised herself as a warrior in order to avoid marriage to King Alf. Her life was perhaps based on that of a 9th-century Viking pirate.
ALFONSO m Spanish, ItalianSpanish and Italian form of a Visigothic Germanic name, probably meaning "noble and ready", from the element
adal "noble" combined with
funs "ready". Other theories claim the first element is
hadu or
hild (see
ILDEFONSO), both of which mean "battle". It is possible that two or more names merged into a single form. This was the name of six kings of Portugal and kings of several ancient regions of Spain.
BÅRD m NorwegianNorwegian form of the Old Norse name
Bárðr, which was derived from the elements
baðu "battle" and
friðr "peace".
BEOWULF m Anglo-Saxon MythologyPossibly means "bee wolf" (in effect equal to "bear") from Old English
beo "bee" and
wulf "wolf". Alternatively, the first element may be
beadu "battle". This is the name of the main character in the anonymous 8th-century epic poem 'Beowulf'. Set in Denmark, the poem tells how he slays the monster Grendel and its mother at the request of King
Hroðgar. After this Beowulf becomes the king of the Geats. The conclusion of the poem tells how Beawulf, in his old age, slays a dragon but is himself mortally wounded in the act.
BLAIR m & f Scottish, EnglishFrom a Scottish surname which is derived from Gaelic
blár meaning "plain, field, battlefield".
BOŘIVOJ m CzechDerived from the Slavic elements
borti "battle" and
voji "soldier". This name was borne by a 9th-century duke of Bohemia.
BOYKO m BulgarianOriginally a diminutive of names containing the Slavic element
boji meaning "battle".
BRÜNHILD f German, Germanic MythologyDerived from the Germanic elements
brun "armour, protection" and
hild "battle". It is cognate with the Old Norse name
Brynhildr (from the elements
bryn and
hildr). In Norse legend
Brynhildr was the queen of the Valkyries who was rescued by the hero
Sigurd. In the Germanic saga the 'Nibelungenlied' she was a queen of Iceland and the wife of
Günther. Both of these characters were probably inspired by the eventful life of the 6th-century Frankish queen Brunhilda (of Visigothic birth).
CADELL m WelshFrom Welsh
cad "battle" and a diminutive suffix.
CADEYRN m Ancient CelticMeans "battle king" from Welsh
cad "battle" and
teyrn "king, monarch". Cadeyrn (also known as Catigern) was a 5th-century king of Powys in Wales, the son of Vortigern.
CADFAEL m WelshMeans "battle prince" from Welsh
cad "battle" and
mael "prince".
CADFAN m WelshMeans "battle peak" from Welsh
cad "battle" and
ban "peak". Saint Cadfan, from Brittany, was a 6th-century missionary to Wales.
CADOC m WelshDerived from Welsh
cad "battle". This was the name of a 6th-century Welsh saint who was martyred by the Saxons.
CADWALADER m WelshMeans "leader of the battle" from Welsh
cad "battle" and
gwaladr "leader". This was the name of a Welsh saint of the 7th century.
CADWGAN m WelshMeans "glory in battle" from Welsh
cad "battle" and
gwogawn "glory, honour". In the Mabinogion, a collection of tales from Welsh myth, this name is briefly mentioned as the son of Iddon.
CAEDMON m HistoryMeaning unknown, though the first element is likely connected to Brythonic
caed meaning "battle". Saint Caedmon was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon poet who supposedly received his poetic inspiration from a dream. Our only knowledge of him is through the historian Bede.
CATHAIR m IrishMeans "battle man" from Gaelic
cath "battle" and
vir "man".
CATHAL m IrishDerived from the Gaelic elements
cath "battle" and
val "rule". This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint. It has sometimes been Anglicized as
Charles.
CATHÁN m IrishDerived from Gaelic
cath "battle" combined with a diminutive suffix.
CEALLACH m IrishIrish name of uncertain origin, traditionally said to mean "bright-headed". Alternatively it could be derived from Old Irish
ceallach "war, strife" or
ceall "church".
CENK m TurkishMeans "battle, war" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian.
CHAD m EnglishFrom the Old English name
Ceadda which is of unknown meaning, possibly based on Welsh
cad "battle". This was the name of a 7th-century English saint. Borne primarily by Catholics, it was a rare name until the 1960s when it started to become more common amongst the general population. This is also the name of a country in Africa, though it originates from a different source.
CHARLES m English, FrenchFrom the Germanic name
Karl, which was derived from a Germanic word meaning "man". However, an alternative theory states that it is derived from the common Germanic name element
hari meaning "army, warrior".
... [more] CLOTILDE f French, Italian, Portuguese, SpanishFrench form of the Germanic name
Chlotichilda which was composed of the elements
hlud "fame" and
hild "battle". Saint Clotilde was the wife of the Frankish king Clovis, whom she converted to Christianity.
DIETER m GermanMeans "warrior of the people", derived from the Germanic elements
theud "people" and
hari "army".
DUILIO m Italian, SpanishFrom the Roman name
Duilius, which is possibly derived from Latin
duellum "war". This was the name of a Roman consul who defeated the Carthaginians in a naval battle.
DUNCAN m Scottish, EnglishAnglicized form of the Gaelic name
Donnchadh, derived from Gaelic
donn "brown" and
cath "battle". This was the name of two kings of Scotland, including the one who was featured in Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth' (1606).
EADWIG m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
wig "war". This was the name of a Saxon king of England in the 10th century. The name fell out of use after the Norman conquest.
EDITH f English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, DutchFrom the Old English name
Eadgyð, derived from the elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
gyð "war". It was popular among Anglo-Saxon royalty, being borne for example by Saint Eadgyeth;, the daughter of King Edgar the Peaceful. The name remained common after the Norman conquest. It became rare after the 15th century, but was revived in the 19th century.
EOFORHILD f Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
eofor "boar" and
hild "battle". This name was rarely used after the Norman conquest.
ERWIN m German, Dutch, Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic name
Hariwini, composed of the elements
hari "army" and
win "friend". It may have merged somewhat with the Germanic name
EBURWIN. A notable bearer was Erwin Schrödinger (1887-1961), an Austrian physicist who made contributions to quantum theory.
GONZALO m SpanishFrom the medieval name
Gundisalvus, which was the Latin form of a Germanic name composed of the elements
gund "war" and
salv which is of unknown meaning.
GRISELDA f English, Scottish, Spanish, LiteraturePossibly derived from the Germanic elements
gris "grey" and
hild "battle". It is not attested as a Germanic name. This was the name of a patient wife in medieval tales by Boccaccio and Chaucer.
GUIOMAR f & m Portuguese, Spanish, Arthurian RomancePossibly derived from the Germanic name
Wigmar, which is formed of the elements
wig "war, battle" and
mari "famous". In the medieval 'Lancelot-Grail' cycle he plays a minor role as a cousin of Guinevere, who banishes him after he becomes a lover of Morgan le Fey. In modern Portugal and Spain it is a feminine name.
GUNBORG f SwedishFrom the Old Norse name
Gunnbjörg, derived from the elements
gunnr "war" and
björg "help, save, rescue".
GÜNTHER m German, Germanic MythologyFrom the Germanic name
Gundahar, derived from the elements
gund "war" and
hari "army, warrior". This was the name of a semi-legendary 5th-century Burgundian king. He appears in the Germanic saga the 'Nibelungenlied', which has him wooing the Icelandic queen
Brünhild. He wins her hand in marriage with the help of the hero
Siegfried. He ultimately betrays Siegfried, but Siegfried's widow
Kriemhild (Günther's sister) takes her revenge upon him.
GUNTRAM m GermanMeans "war raven" from the Germanic elements
gund "war" and
hramn "raven". This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish king.
HARLOW f & m EnglishFrom a surname which was from a place name which was derived from Old English
hær "rock" or
here "army", combined with
hlaw "hill".
HAROLD m EnglishFrom the Old English name
Hereweald, derived from the elements
here "army" and
weald "power, leader, ruler". The Old Norse cognate
Haraldr was also common among Scandinavian settlers in England. This was the name of five kings of Norway and three kings of Denmark. It was also borne by two kings of England, both of whom were from mixed Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon backgrounds, including Harold II who lost the Battle of Hastings (and was killed in it), which led to the Norman conquest. After the conquest the name died out, but it was eventually revived in the 19th century.
HARVEY m EnglishFrom the Breton given name
Haerviu, which meant "battle worthy", from
haer "battle" and
viu "worthy". This was the name of a 6th-century Breton hermit who is the patron saint of the blind. Settlers from Brittany introduced it to England after the Norman conquest. During the later Middle Ages it became rare, but it was revived in the 19th century.
HEDWIG f GermanFrom the Germanic name
Hadewig, derived from the Germanic elements
hadu "battle, combat" and
wig "war". This was the name of a 13th-century German saint, the wife of the Polish duke Henry the Bearded. It was subsequently borne by a 14th-century Polish queen (usually known by her Polish name
Jadwiga) who is now also regarded as a saint.
HERBERT m English, German, Dutch, French, SwedishDerived from the Germanic elements
hari "army" and
beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to England, where it replaced an Old English cognate
Herebeorht. In the course of the Middle Ages it became rare, but it was revived in the 19th century.
HEREWARD m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
here "army" and
weard "guard". This was the name of an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon leader who rebelled against Norman rule.
HERLEVA f Ancient GermanicGermanic name, possibly a derivative of
hari "army",
era "honour", or
erla "noble" (or their Old Norse cognates). This was the name of the mother of William the Conqueror, who, according to tradition, was a commoner.
HERMAN m English, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Slovene, Ancient GermanicMeans "army man", derived from the Germanic elements
hari "army" and
man "man". It was introduced to England by the Normans, died out, and was revived in the English-speaking world in the 19th century. It was borne by a 18th-century Russian missionary to Alaska who is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church, though in his case the name is an alternate transcription of
GERMAN. Another famous bearer was the American writer Herman Melville (1819-1891), the author of 'Moby-Dick'.
HIDDE m FrisianFrisian short form of names containing the Germanic element
hild meaning "battle".
HILDRED f & m EnglishPossibly from the Old English masculine name
Hildræd, which was composed of the elements
hild "battle" and
ræd "counsel". This name was revived in the late 19th century, probably because of its similarity to the popular names
Hilda and
Mildred.
HILTRUD f GermanMeans "strength in battle", derived from the Germanic elements
hild "battle" and
thrud "strength".
ILDEFONSO m SpanishSpanish form of the Visigothic name
Hildefons, which meant "battle ready", derived from the Germanic elements
hild "battle" and
funs "ready". This was the name of a 7th-century saint, an archbishop of Toledo.
ISOLDE f English (Rare), German, Arthurian RomanceThe origins of this name are uncertain, though some Celtic roots have been suggested. It is possible that the name is ultimately Germanic, perhaps from a hypothetic name like
Ishild, composed of the elements
is "ice, iron" and
hild "battle".
... [more] JUN (1) m & f Chinese, KoreanFrom Chinese
君 (jūn) meaning "king, ruler",
俊 (jùn) meaning "talented, handsome" (which is usually only masculine) or
军 (jūn) meaning "army" (also usually only masculine). This is also a single-character Korean name, often from the hanja
俊 meaning "talented, handsome". This name can be formed by other characters besides those shown here.
JUNAYD m ArabicMeans "small army", derived from Arabic
جند (jund) "army, soldiers".
KRIEMHILD f German (Rare), Germanic MythologyDerived from the Germanic elements
grim "mask" and
hild "battle". Kriemhild was a beautiful heroine in the Germanic saga the 'Nibelungenlied', where she is the sister of
Günther and the wife of
Siegfried. After her husband is killed by
Hagen with the consent of Günther, Kriemhild tragically exacts her revenge.
KUNIGUNDE f German (Rare)Derived from the Germanic element
kuni "clan, family" combined with
gund "war". Saint Kunigunde was the wife of the Holy Roman emperor Henry II.
LOTHAR m German, Ancient GermanicFrom the Germanic name
Chlodochar meaning "famous army", derived from the elements
hlud "famous" and
hari "army". This was the name of a 9th-century Frankish king, the son of Louis I, who ruled the region called
Lorraine. It was also borne by medieval kings of France, Italy and the Holy Roman Empire.
LUDWIG m GermanFrom the Germanic name
Chlodovech, which was composed of the elements
hlud "famous" and
wig "war, battle". This was the name of three Merovingian kings of the Franks (though their names are usually spelled in the Latinized form
Clovis) as well as several Carolingian kings and Holy Roman emperors (names often spelled in the French form
Louis). Other famous bearers include the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and the Austrian philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951), who contributed to logic and the philosophy of language.
MAGNHILD f NorwegianDerived from Old Norse
magn "mighty, strong" and
hildr "battle". This was the name of a novel by the Norwegian author Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.
MATILDA f English, Swedish, FinnishFrom the Germanic name
Mahthildis meaning "strength in battle", from the elements
maht "might, strength" and
hild "battle". Saint Matilda was the wife of the 10th-century German king Henry I the Fowler. The name was common in many branches of European royalty in the Middle Ages. It was brought to England by the Normans, being borne by the wife of William the Conqueror himself. Another notable royal by this name was a 12th-century daughter of Henry I of England, known as the Empress Matilda because of her first marriage to the Holy Roman emperor Henry V. She later invaded England, laying the foundations for the reign of her son Henry II.
... [more] MILDGYÐ f Anglo-SaxonOld English name derived from the elements
milde "gentle" and
gyð "battle". This was the name of a 7th-century saint, the sister of Saint Mildred.
NIKOSTRATOS m Ancient GreekMeans "army of victory" from Greek
νικη (nike) "victory" and
στρατος (stratos) "army". This was the name of a Roman saint martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd century.
PREBEN m Danish, NorwegianModern Danish form of the name
Pridbjørn, which was a medieval Scandinavian form of the Slavic (Wendish) name
Pridbor, which was derived from Slavic
prid "first" and
borti "battle". It was imported into Danish via the medieval Putbus family, who were Slavic nobles from Rügen in Pomerania.
RAYNER m English (Archaic)From the Germanic name
Raganhar, composed of the elements
ragin "advice" and
hari "army". The Normans brought this name to England where it came into general use, though it was rare by the end of the Middle Ages.
SUERO m Medieval SpanishMedieval Spanish form of
Suerius, probably a Latinized form of a Germanic name composed of an unknown first element combined with
hari "army".
TORHILD f NorwegianFrom the Old Norse name
Þórhildr, which meant "Thor's battle" from the name of the Norse god
Þórr (see
THOR) combined with
hildr "battle".
WALTER m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian, Ancient GermanicFrom a Germanic name meaning "ruler of the army", composed of the elements
wald "rule" and
hari "army". The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate
Wealdhere. A famous bearer of the name was Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), a Scottish novelist who wrote 'Ivanhoe' and other notable works.
WERTHER m German (Rare)Derived from the Germanic elements
wert "worthy" and
hari "army". Goethe used this name in his novel 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' (1774).
WILLIHAD m Ancient GermanicGermanic name derived from the elements
wil "will, desire" and
hadu "battle, combat". This was the name of an 8th-century saint active in Frisia and Saxony.
WYOT m Medieval EnglishMiddle English form of the Old English name
Wigheard, composed of the elements
wig "battle" and
heard "brave, hardy".
WYSTAN m English (Rare)From the Old English name
Wigstan, composed of the elements
wig "battle" and
stan "stone". This was the name of a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon saint. It became rare after the Norman conquest, and in modern times it is chiefly known as the first name of the British poet W. H. Auden (1907-1973).