Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the pattern is *n or *s.
gender
usage
pattern
Aþalafuns m Gothic (Hypothetical)
Possible Gothic form of Alfonso.
Aðalsteinn m Icelandic, Old Norse
Derived from the Old Norse elements aðal "noble" and steinn "stone".
Athan m Greek
Short form of Athanasios.
Athanas m Ancient Greek
Short form of Athanasios (see Athanasius).
Athanasius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀθανάσιος (Athanasios) meaning "immortal", from Greek (a), a negative prefix, combined with θάνατος (thanatos) meaning "death". Saint Athanasius was a 4th-century bishop of Alexandria who strongly opposed Arianism.
Aþawulfs m Gothic (Hypothetical)
Possible Gothic form of Athaulf.
Athelstan m English (Archaic)
Modern form of Æðelstan. This name was revived in Britain the latter half of the 19th century.
Athénaïs f French
French form of Athenais.
Athenais f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek goddess Athena.
Athenodoros m Ancient Greek
Means "gift of Athena" from the name of the god Athena combined with Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift".
Atilius m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Attilio.
Atlas m Greek Mythology
Possibly means "enduring" from Greek τλάω (tlao) meaning "to endure". In Greek mythology he was a Titan punished by Zeus by being forced to support the heavens on his shoulders.
Aton m Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian jtn meaning "solar disk". Aton was an Egyptian god of the sun, depicted as a solar disk with long rays extending downwards. The worship of Aton was especially extensive during the 14th-century BC reign of the pharaoh Akhenaton, who proclaimed Aton was the only god.
Atreus m Greek Mythology
Means "fearless", derived from the Greek negative prefix (a) and τρέω (treo) meaning "to fear, to flee". In Greek mythology, Atreus was a king of Mycenae and the father of Agamemnon and Menelaus.
Atropos f Greek Mythology
Means "inevitable, inflexible" in Greek, derived from the negative prefix (a) combined with τρόπος (tropos) meaning "direction, manner, fashion". Atropos was one of the three Fates or Μοῖραι (Moirai) in Greek mythology. When her sister Lachesis decided that a person's life was at an end, Atropos would choose the manner of death and cut the person's life thread.
Atticus m Literature, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀττικός (Attikos) meaning "from Attica", referring to the region surrounding Athens in Greece. This name was borne by a few notable Greeks from the Roman period (or Romans of Greek background). The author Harper Lee used the name in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) for an Alabama lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman.
Attikos m Ancient Greek
Greek form of Atticus.
Auberon m Carolingian Cycle
From a diminutive form of Auberi, an Old French form of Alberich. It is the name of the fairy king in the 13th-century epic Huon de Bordeaux.
Aubin m French
French form of Albinus.
Aucaman m Mapuche
Means "wild condor" in Mapuche, from awka- "wild" and mañke "condor".
Audoin m Lombardic (Latinized)
From Audoinus, the Latin form of the Germanic names Audowin or Aldwin. Audoin (or Auduin or Alduin) was a 6th-century king of the Lombards.
Audowin m Germanic
Derived from Old Frankish aud or Old High German ot meaning "wealth, fortune" combined with wini meaning "friend". This is a cognate of Edwin.
Audrius m Lithuanian
Derived from Lithuanian audra meaning "storm".
Audun m Norwegian
Norwegian form of Auðun.
Augustas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Augustus.
Augustijn m Dutch (Rare)
Dutch form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augustín m Slovak
Slovak form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augustin m French, Romanian, Czech, German (Rare)
Form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1) in several languages.
Augustinas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augusts m Latvian
Latvian form of Augustus.
Augustus m Ancient Roman, Dutch (Rare)
Means "exalted, venerable", derived from Latin augeo meaning "to increase". Augustus was the title given to Octavian, the first Roman emperor. He was an adopted son of Julius Caesar who rose to power through a combination of military skill and political prowess. In 26 BC the senate officially gave him the name Augustus, and after his death it was used as a title for subsequent emperors. This was also the name of three kings of Poland (called August in Polish).
Augustyn m Polish
Polish form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Aulis m Finnish
Means "willing, helpful" in Finnish.
Aulus m Ancient Roman
Possibly from Latin avulus meaning "little grandfather", though it could be from the Etruscan name Aule, which was possibly derived from avils meaning "years". This was a Roman praenomen, or given name. Folk etymology connects it to Latin aula meaning "palace".
Aurelian m Romanian, History
Romanian form of Aurelianus, as well as the usual English form when referring to the Roman emperor.
Aurelianus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was originally derived from the Roman family name Aurelius. This was the name of a 3rd-century Roman emperor (Lucius Domitius Aurelianus) who reconquered the breakaway Gallic and Palmyrene Empires.
Aurélien m French
French form of Aurelianus.
Aurelijus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Aurelius.
Aurelius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin aureus meaning "golden, gilded". Marcus Aurelius was a 2nd-century Roman emperor and philosophical writer. This was also the name of several early saints.
Austin m English
Medieval contracted form of Augustine 1. Modern use of the name is probably also partly inspired by the common surname Austin, which is of the same origin. This is also the name of a city in Texas.
Austyn m & f English (Modern)
Variant or feminine form of Austin.
Auðun m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse auðr "wealth, fortune" and vinr "friend".
Autumn f English
From the name of the season, ultimately from Latin autumnus. This name has been in general use since the 1960s.
Auxentios m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek αὐξάνω (auxano) meaning "to increase, to grow". This name was borne by a few early saints.
Avalon f English (Rare)
From the name of the island paradise to which King Arthur was brought after his death. The name of this island is perhaps related to Welsh afal meaning "apple", a fruit that was often linked with paradise.
Avedis m Armenian
Western Armenian transcription of Avetis.
Averroes m History
Latinized form of the Arabic patronymic ابن رشد (ibn Rushd), used to refer to the Islamic philosopher and scientist Abu l-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd (1126-1198), who was born in Córdoba, Spain. His patronymic commemorates an ancestor named Rushd.
Avetis m Armenian
Means "good news" in Armenian.
Avguštin m Slovene
Slovene form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Avilius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name of unknown meaning. Saint Avilius was a 1st-century patriarch of Alexandria.
Avis f English
Probably a Latinized form of the Germanic name Aveza, which was derived from the element awi, of unknown meaning. The Normans introduced this name to England and it became moderately common during the Middle Ages, at which time it was associated with Latin avis "bird".
Avitus m Ancient Roman
From a Roman family name that meant "ancestral" in Latin. This was the name of an emperor who briefly reigned over the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. It was also the name of several saints, including a 6th-century bishop of Vienne.
Awstin m Welsh
Welsh form of Austin.
Ayaan 1 m Hindi
From Sanskrit अयान (ayāna) meaning "not moving, natural disposition" or अयन (ayana) meaning "path, progress".
Ayaan 2 f Somali
Means "good luck" in Somali.
Ayan 1 m Bengali
Means "road, path, solar path" in Bengali, from Sanskrit अयन (ayana) meaning "path, progress".
Ayan 2 f & m Azerbaijani, Kazakh
Means "clear, obvious, revelation" in Kazakh and Azerbaijani, from Arabic عيان (ʿiyān) meaning "witnessing, seeing, clear", a derivative of عاين (ʿāyana) meaning "to see". It is feminine in Azerbaijan and masculine in Kazakhstan.
Ayan 3 f Somali
Variant of Ayaan 2.
Ayazhan f Kazakh
From an element of uncertain meaning combined with Kazakh жан (zhan) meaning "soul" (of Persian origin).
Aybars m Turkish
Possibly from Turkic ay meaning "moon" and bars meaning "leopard". This was the name of an uncle of Attila. He is also called Oebarsius, the Latinized form of his name.
Aydan 1 f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "from the moon", from Turkish and Azerbaijani ay "moon" combined with an ablative suffix.
Aydın m Turkish
Means "bright, clear" in Turkish.
Ayelen f Mapuche
From Mapuche ayelen "laughing", ayliñ "clear" or aylen "ember".
Aygün f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Derived from the Turkic elements ay meaning "moon" and gün meaning "sun".
Ayhan m & f Turkish
Derived from Turkish ay meaning "moon" and han meaning "khan, ruler, leader".
Aylín f Spanish (Modern)
Possibly a variant of Aylen or Eileen.
Aylin f Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kazakh
Elaborated form of Turkish or Azerbaijani ay meaning "moon".
Ayman m Arabic
Means "right-handed, blessed, lucky" in Arabic, a derivative of يمين (yamīn) meaning "right hand".
Ayn f Various (Rare)
This name was assumed by Ayn Rand (1905-1982), originally named Alice Rosenbaum, a Russian-American writer and philosopher. She apparently based it on a Finnish name she had heard, but never seen written.
Aysultan m Kazakh
Alternate transcription of Kazakh Айсұлтан (see Aisultan).
Aysun f Turkish
From Turkish ay meaning "moon" combined with an uncertain element.
Ayten f Turkish
Derived from Turkish ay meaning "moon" and ten meaning "skin" (of Persian origin).
Ayün f Mapuche
Means "love" in Mapuche.
Ayxan m Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Ayhan.
Azalaïs f Occitan
Occitan form of Adelais.
Azarias m Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Form of Azariah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament.
Ąžuolas m Lithuanian
Means "oak tree" in Lithuanian.
Ba'al Hammon m Semitic Mythology
From Phoenician 𐤁𐤏𐤋 (baʿl) meaning "lord" prefixing another word of uncertain meaning. This was the name of the supreme god worshipped in the Phoenician city of Carthage, alongside his consort Tanith.
Babis m Greek
Diminutive of Charalampos.
Babs f English
Diminutive of Barbara.
Babylas m Late Greek, French (Rare)
Derived from the name of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Babylon. Saint Babylas was a 3rd-century patriarch of Antioch who was martyred during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius.
Bacchus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Βάκχος (Bakchos), derived from ἰάχω (iacho) meaning "to shout". This was another name of the Greek god Dionysos, and it was also the name that the Romans commonly used for him.
Bademus m History (Ecclesiastical)
Latinized form of a Persian name of unknown meaning. Saint Bademus was a 4th-century Persian martyr who was a victim of Shapur II's persecutions.
Bagus m Indonesian
Means "handsome, excellent" in Indonesian.
Bahdan m Belarusian
Belarusian form of Bogdan.
Bahman m Persian, Persian Mythology
Modern Persian form of Avestan 𐬬𐬊𐬵𐬎 𐬨𐬀𐬥𐬀𐬵 (Vohu Manah) meaning "good mind". This was the name of a Zoroastrian god (one of the Amesha Spenta) associated with domestic animals. The eleventh month of the Iranian calendar was named for him.
Bairrfhionn m Irish (Rare)
Means "fair-haired", derived from Old Irish barr "top, head" and finn "white, blessed".
Baishan m Apache
Means "knife" in Apache. This was the name of a 19th-century chief of the Tchihende Apache.
Balázs m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Blaise.
Balbinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Balbus.
Balbus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "stammerer" in Latin. This was a family name of the mother of Emperor Augustus, Atia Balba Caesonia.
Baldewin m Germanic
Old German form of Baldwin.
Baldwin m English, Germanic
Means "bold friend", derived from the Old German elements bald "bold, brave" and wini "friend". In the Middle Ages this was a popular name in Flanders and among the Normans, who brought it to Britain. It was borne by one of the leaders of the First Crusade, an 11th-century nobleman from Flanders. After the crusaders conquered Jerusalem, he was crowned as the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Balendin m Basque
Basque form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Balqis f Arabic
Variant of Bilqis.
Banks m English (Modern)
From an English surname that that was given to a person who lived near a hillside or a bank of land.
Baptistin m French
French diminutive of Baptiste.
Baran f & m Persian, Turkish, Kurdish
Means "rain" in Persian. It is typically feminine in Persian and masculine in Turkish and Kurdish.
Barış m Turkish
Means "peace" in Turkish.
Barnabás m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Barnabas.
Barnabas m German (Rare), English (Rare), Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Greek form of an Aramaic name. In Acts in the New Testament the byname Barnabas was given to a man named Joseph, a Jew from Cyprus who was a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. The original Aramaic form is unattested, but it may be from בּר נביא (bar navi) meaning "son of the prophet", though in Acts 4:36 it is claimed that the name means "son of encouragement".... [more]
Baron m English
From the noble title, derived from Latin baro (genitive baronis) meaning "man, freeman", probably ultimately of Frankish origin.
Bartholomaios m Biblical Greek
New Testament Greek form of Bartholomew.
Bartholomeus m Dutch, Biblical Latin
Dutch and Latin form of Bartholomew.
Barun m Bengali
Bengali form of Varuna.
Barys m Belarusian
Belarusian form of Boris.
Bas m Dutch
Short form of Sebastiaan.
Basajaun m Basque Mythology
Means "lord of the woods" from Basque baso "woods" and jaun "lord". This is the name of a character in Basque folklore, the Old Man of the Woods.
Basileios m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Basil 1.
Basilius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Basileios (see Basil 1).
Bastiaan m Dutch
Short form of Sebastiaan.
Bastian m German
Short form of Sebastian.
Bastien m French
Short form of Sébastien.
Batuhan m Turkish
Combination of Batu and Turkish han meaning "khan, ruler, leader", referring to the 13th-century Mongol ruler Batu Khan.
Baudouin m French
French form of Baldwin.
Beathan m Scottish Gaelic
Derived from a diminutive of Scottish Gaelic beatha meaning "life".
Beatus m Late Roman
Masculine form of Beata. According to legend, Saint Beatus was ordained a priest by Saint Peter and evangelized in Switzerland. Another saint by this name was an 8th-century Asturian theologian.
Beauden m English (New Zealand, Modern)
Elaboration of French beau "beautiful" using the popular phonetic suffix den, found in such names as Hayden and Aidan. This name has become popular in New Zealand due to rugby player Beauden Barrett (1991-).
Beavis m Popular Culture
Variant of Bevis. This name was used in the animated television program Beavis and Butthead.
Bébhinn f Irish (Rare)
Modern form of Bébinn.
Bébinn f Old Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "white woman", from Old Irish "woman" and finn "white, blessed". This name was borne by several characters in Irish mythology, including the mother of the hero Fráech.
Bedros m Armenian
Western Armenian transcription of Petros.
Beitris f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Beatrice.
Belén f Spanish
Spanish form of Bethlehem, the name of the town in Judah where King David and Jesus were born. The town's name is from Hebrew בֵּית־לֶחֶם (Beṯ-leḥem) meaning "house of bread".
Belenus m Gaulish Mythology
Latinized form of Gaulish Belenos or Belinos, possibly from Celtic roots meaning either "bright, brilliant" (from Indo-European *bhel-) or "strong" (from Indo-European *bel-). This was the name of a Gaulish god who was often equated with Apollo. He is mostly known from Gallo-Roman inscriptions and was especially venerated in Aquileia in northern Italy.
Belgin f Turkish
Means "clear" in Turkish.
Bellerophon m Greek Mythology
From Βελλεροφόντης (Bellerophontes), possibly from Greek βέλος (belos) meaning "dart" and the suffix φόντης (phontes) meaning "slayer of". Alternatively the first element might come from a defeated foe named Belleros, who is otherwise unattested. In Greek legend Bellerophon or Bellerophontes was a hero who tamed Pegasus and killed the monstrous Chimera. He was killed by Zeus when he attempted to ride Pegasus to Mount Olympus.
Ben m English, German, Dutch
Short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with Ben. In Dutch it can also be short for Bernhard. A notable bearer was Ben Jonson (1572-1637), an English poet and playwright.
Bendigeidfran m Welsh Mythology
From Welsh bendigaid "blessed" combined with the lenited form of the name Brân. This is another name for Brân the Blessed.
Bendiks m Latvian
Latvian form of Benedictus (see Benedict).
Benedictus m Late Roman, Dutch (Rare)
Original Latin form of Benedict. This is also the official Dutch form, used on birth certificates but not typically in daily life.
Benediktas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Benedictus (see Benedict).
Beniamin m Romanian, Polish, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Romanian and Polish form of Benjamin, as well as the form used in the Greek and Latin Bibles.
Benignus m Late Roman
Late Latin form of Benigno.
Benjámin m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Benjamin.
Benjamín m Spanish, Czech, Slovak, Icelandic
Spanish, Czech, Slovak and Icelandic form of Benjamin.
Benjamin m English, French, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Slovene, Croatian, Biblical
From the Hebrew name בִּנְיָמִין (Binyamin) meaning "son of the south" or "son of the right hand", from the roots בֵּן (ben) meaning "son" and יָמִין (yamin) meaning "right hand, south". Benjamin in the Old Testament was the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and the founder of one of the southern tribes of the Hebrews. He was originally named בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-ʾoni) meaning "son of my sorrow" by his mother Rachel, who died shortly after childbirth, but it was later changed by his father (see Genesis 35:18).... [more]
Benjaminas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Benjamin.
Benson m English
From an English surname that originally meant "son of Benedict".
Benton m English
From a surname that was derived from a place name, composed of Old English beonet "bent grass" and tun "enclosure".
Berahthraban m Germanic
Old German form of Bertram, using an extended form of the second element.
Beren f & m Turkish
Means "strong, smart" in Turkish.
Berfîn f Kurdish
Means "snowdrop (flower)" in Kurdish (genus Galanthus).
Berfin f Turkish
Turkish form of Berfîn.
Berlin f & m Various
From the name of the city of Berlin in Germany, which is of uncertain meaning.
Bertalan m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Bartholomew.
Berwyn m Welsh
Means "white top" from the Welsh elements barr "top, head" and gwyn "white, blessed". This is the name of a mountain range in Wales.
Besarion m Georgian
Georgian form of Bessarion.
Bess f English
Diminutive of Elizabeth.
Bessarion m Late Greek
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Greek βῆσσα (bessa) meaning "wooded valley". This was the name of a 5th-century Egyptian hermit who was a disciple of Saint Anthony the Great. It was later adopted by the scholar Basilios Bessarion (1403-1472), a Greek born in Byzantine Anatolia who became a Roman Catholic bishop.
Bethan f Welsh
Welsh diminutive of Elizabeth.
Betrys f Welsh
Welsh form of Beatrice.
Bevan m English
From a Welsh surname that was derived from ap Evan meaning "son of Evan". As a given name, it is particularly common in New Zealand and Australia.
Bevin f Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Bébinn.
Bevis m English (Rare)
From an English surname that is possibly derived from the name of the French town Beauvais.
Bilgüün m Mongolian
Means "wise" in Mongolian.
Bilqis f Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Meaning uncertain. According to Islamic tradition this was the name of the Queen of Sheba. She (but not her name) appears in the Quran.
Binyamin m Hebrew, Arabic, Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew and Arabic form of Benjamin.
Bion m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from βίος (bios) meaning "life".
Bipin m Marathi, Hindi
Variant of Vipin.
Bishan m Hindi
Variant of Vishnu.
Bitrus m Hausa
Hausa form of Peter.
Bitten f Danish
Diminutive of Birgitte or Birgit.
Bituin f Tagalog
Means "star" in Tagalog.
Bjoern m German (Rare)
German variant of Björn. The Scandinavian names Björn and Bjørn are occasionally written with the digraph oe.
Björn m Swedish, Icelandic, German
From an Old Norse byname derived from bjǫrn meaning "bear".
Bjørn m Norwegian, Danish
Danish and Norwegian form of Björn.
Bjǫrn m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Björn.
Bláán m Old Irish
From Old Irish blá meaning "yellow" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of 6th-century Irish saint, a bishop of Kingarth on the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
Blagun m Macedonian
Derived from Macedonian благ (blag) meaning "sweet, pleasant, good".
Bláithín f Irish, Irish Mythology
Modern Irish form of Bláthíne.
Blandinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Blandus.
Blandus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "charming" in Latin.
Blas m Spanish
Spanish form of Blaise.
Blasius m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Blaise.
Bleddyn m Welsh
From Welsh blaidd "wolf" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an 11th-century king of Gwynedd and Powys.
Blejan f Cornish
Means "flower" in Cornish.
Blodeuyn f Welsh (Rare)
Means "flower" in Welsh.
Blodwen f Welsh
Means "white flowers" from Welsh blodau "flowers" combined with gwen "white, blessed". This is the name of an 1878 Welsh opera by Joseph Parry.
Boann f Irish Mythology
Possibly from Old Irish "cow" and finn "white, blessed". In Irish mythology this was the name of the goddess of the River Boyne, which is named for her. She was the wife of Nechtan and the father of Aonghus (by Dagda).
Boban m Serbian, Macedonian
Diminutive of Bogdan or Slobodan.
Bogdan m Polish, Russian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Romanian
Means "given by God" from the Slavic elements bogŭ "god" and danŭ "given". This pre-Christian name was later used as a translation of Theodotus.
Boghos m Armenian
Western Armenian transcription of Poghos.
Bohdan m Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian, Polish
Czech, Slovak and Ukrainian form of Bogdan, as well as a Polish variant.
Bóinn f Irish Mythology
Modern Irish form of Boann.
Bojan m Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian
Derived from Old Slavic bojĭ meaning "battle". This was the name of a 9th-century Bulgarian saint and martyr, also called Enravota, a son of the Bulgarian khan Omurtag.
Bonifaas m Dutch (Rare)
Dutch form of Bonifatius (see Boniface).
Bonitus m Late Roman
Derived from a diminutive of Latin bonus meaning "good". This was the name of a 7th-century century saint, a bishop of Auvergne.
Boos m Biblical Greek
Form of Boaz used in some versions of the Greek Old Testament.
Boran m Turkish
Means "thunderstorm" in Turkish.
Boreas m Greek Mythology
Means "north wind" in Greek. Boreas was the Greek god of the north wind.
Boris m Bulgarian, Russian, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak, Georgian, German, French
From a Bulgar Turkic name, also recorded as Bogoris, perhaps meaning "short" or "wolf" or "snow leopard". It was borne by the 9th-century Boris I of Bulgaria, who converted his realm to Christianity and is thus regarded as a saint in the Orthodox Church. To the north in Kievan Rus it was the name of another saint, a son of Vladimir the Great who was murdered with his brother Gleb in the 11th century. His mother may have been Bulgarian.... [more]
Boriss m Latvian
Latvian form of Boris.
Bors m Arthurian Cycle
From French Bohort, probably from Old French behort or bohort meaning "jousting" or "jousting lance". First appearing in the 13th-century Lancelot-Grail Cycle, Bors was one of Arthur's knights who quested for the Holy Grail. His father, the king of Gaunnes, was also named Bors.
Borys m Polish, Ukrainian
Polish and Ukrainian form of Boris.
Boštjan m Slovene
Short form of Sebastjan.
Boston m English
From the American city of Boston in Massachusetts, itself named after a town in Lincolnshire, England. The town's name is said to mean "Botwulf's stone".
Botros m Arabic, Coptic
Alternate transcription of Arabic بطرس (see Butrus).
Boudewijn m Dutch
Dutch form of Baldwin.
Boulos m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic بولس (see Bulus).
Boutros m Arabic, Coptic
Alternate transcription of Arabic بطرس (see Butrus).
Bowen m English (Modern)
From a Welsh surname, derived from ap Owain meaning "son of Owain".
Boyan m Bulgarian
Bulgarian form of Bojan.
Bradán m Medieval Irish
Means "salmon" in Irish. It could also be formed from Irish brad "thief" and a diminutive suffix.
Braden m English
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Bradáin, which was in turn derived from the byname Bradán. Like other similar-sounding names such as Hayden and Aidan, it and its variant Brayden became popular in America at the end of the 20th century.
Braelyn f English (Modern)
A recently created name, formed using the popular name suffix lyn.
Brais m Galician
Galician form of Blaise.
Brajan m Polish (Modern)
Polish form of Brian.
Brân m Welsh Mythology
Means "raven" in Welsh. According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi, Brân the Blessed (called Bendigeidfran) was a giant king of Britain. He was the son of the divine figure Llŷr. After his sister Branwen was mistreated by her husband the Irish king Matholwch, Brân led an attack on Ireland (the text says that he was so big he was able to wade there). Although victorious, the British lost all except seven men with Brân being mortally wounded by a poisoned spear. He asked the survivors to cut of his head and return with it to Britain. The head continued to speak for many years until it was buried in London.
Bran 1 m Irish, Irish Mythology, Old Irish
Means "raven" in Irish. In Irish legend Bran mac Febail was a mariner who was involved in several adventures on his quest to find the Otherworld.
Bran 2 m Welsh Mythology
Unaccented variant of Brân. This is also the Middle Welsh form.
Brandán m Galician
Galician form of Brendan.
Branden m English
Variant of Brandon.
Brandon m English
From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "hill covered with broom" in Old English.... [more]
Brannon m English
From an Irish surname, a variant of Brennan.
Branson m English (Modern)
From an English surname that meant "son of Brandr".
Branwen f Welsh, Welsh Mythology
Means "white raven" from Old Welsh bran "raven" and gwen "white, blessed". According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi she was the daughter of Llŷr. After she was mistreated by her husband Matholwch, the king of Ireland, she managed to get a message to her brother Brân, the king of Britain. Brân launched a costly invasion to rescue her, but she died of grief shortly after her return.
Brás m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Blaise.
Braxton m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "Bracca's town" in Old English. In some cases it is given in honour of the Confederate general Braxton Bragg (1817-1876).
Brayden m English (Modern)
Variant of Braden. This is currently the more popular spelling of the name.
Braylon m English (Modern)
An invented name, using the same sounds found in names such as Braden and Jalen.
Bréanainn m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Brendan.
Breandán m Irish
Irish Gaelic form of Brendan.
Breann f English (Modern)
Feminine form of Brian.
Brendan m Irish, English, Breton
From Brendanus, the Latinized form of the Old Irish name Bréanainn, which was derived from Old Welsh breenhin meaning "king, prince". Saint Brendan was a 6th-century Irish abbot who, according to legend, crossed the Atlantic and reached North America with 17 other monks.
Brendanus m Old Irish (Latinized)
Latinized form of Bréanainn (see Brendan).
Brenden m English
Variant of Brendan.
Brendon m English
Variant of Brendan.
Brennan m English
From an Irish surname (Anglicized from Irish Gaelic Ó Braonáin) that was derived from the byname Braonán, itself from Irish braon meaning "rain, moisture, drop" combined with a diminutive suffix. As a given name, it has been used since the 1960s as an alternative to Brendan or Brandon, though it has not been as popular as them.
Brennus m Gaulish (Latinized)
Latinized form of a Celtic name (or title) that possibly meant either "king, prince" or "raven". Brennus was a Gallic leader of the 4th century BC who attacked and sacked Rome.
Brenton m English
From a surname that was derived from an English place name meaning "Bryni's town". Bryni was an Old English name meaning "fire".
Briallen f Welsh (Rare)
Derived from Welsh briallu meaning "primrose". This is a modern Welsh name.
Brian m English, Irish, Old Irish
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to the old Celtic root *brixs "hill, high" (Old Irish brií) or the related *brigā "might, power" (Old Irish briíg). It was borne by the Irish king Brian Boru, who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. He was slain in the Battle of Clontarf, though his forces were decisively victorious. This name was common in Ireland after his time, and it was introduced to northern England by Norse-Gael settlers. It was also used in Brittany, and was brought to England by Bretons in the wake of the Norman Conquest. Though it eventually became rare in the English-speaking world, it was strongly revived in the 20th century, becoming a top-ten name for boys in most regions.
Bricius m Gaulish (Latinized)
Latin form of Brice, probably ultimately of Gaulish origin.
Briggs m English (Modern)
From a surname that was derived from Middle English brigge, Old English brycg meaning "bridge".
Brin m Slovene
Means "juniper" in Slovene.
Brion m English
Variant of Brian.
Briseis f Greek Mythology
Patronymic derived from Βρισεύς (Briseus), a Greek name of unknown meaning. In Greek mythology Briseis (real name Hippodameia) was the daughter of Briseus. She was captured during the Trojan War by Achilles. After Agamemnon took her away from him, Achilles refused to fight in the war.
Britton m & f English
Derived from a Middle English surname meaning "a Briton" (a Celt of England) or "a Breton" (an inhabitant of Brittany). Both ethnonyms are related to the place name Britain.
Broccán m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Brogán.
Broccomaglos m Brythonic (Hypothetical)
Possible Brythonic form of Brochfael.
Broen m Limburgish
Limburgish form of Bruno.
Brogán m Irish (Rare)
From the Old Irish name Broccán, derived from bróc "shoe, sandal, greave" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of several Irish saints, including Saint Patrick's scribe.
Bron f Welsh
Short form of Bronwen.
Bronislovas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Bronisław.
Bronson m English (Modern)
From an English surname meaning "son of the brown one".
Brontes m Greek Mythology
Means "thunderer" in Greek. In Greek mythology (according to Hesiod), this was the name of one of the three Cyclopes, who were the sons of Uranus and Gaia.
Bronwen f Welsh
Seemingly derived from Welsh bron "breast" and gwen "white, blessed", though it has sometimes occurred as a variant spelling of the legendary name Branwen. It has been used as a given name in Wales since the 19th century. It is borne by a character in Richard Llewellyn's 1939 novel How Green Was My Valley, as well as the 1941 movie adaptation.
Bronwyn f English
Variant of Bronwen used in the English-speaking world (especially Australia and New Zealand).
Brooklyn f & m English (Modern)
From the name of a borough of New York City, originally named after the Dutch town of Breukelen, itself meaning either "broken land" (from Dutch breuk) or "marsh land" (from Dutch broek). It can also be viewed as a combination of Brook and the popular name suffix lyn. It is considered a feminine name in the United States, but is more common as a masculine name in the United Kingdom.
Brooks m English
From an English surname, a variant of Brook.
Broos m Dutch
Dutch short form of Ambroos.
Brutus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "heavy" in Latin. Famous bearers include Lucius Junius Brutus, the traditional founder of the Roman Republic, and Marcus Junius Brutus, the statesman who conspired to assassinate Julius Caesar.
Bryan m English
Variant of Brian, based on the usual spelling of the surname that is derived from the name.
Brychan m Old Welsh
Derived from Welsh brych meaning "speckled, freckled" combined with a diminutive suffix. Brychan Brycheiniog was a legendary Welsh king, said to be Irish by birth, the founder of the kingdom of Brycheiniog in central Wales. He reputedly fathered dozens of children, many of whom are regarded as saints.
Bryn m & f Welsh, English (Modern)
Means "hill, mound" in Welsh. In Wales it is almost always a masculine name, though elsewhere in the English-speaking world it can be unisex (see Brynn).
Bryndís f Icelandic
Derived from the Old Norse elements brynja "armour" and dís "goddess".
Brynn f English (Modern)
Feminine variant of Bryn. It was brought to limited public attention in 1978 when the actress Brynn Thayer (1949-) began appearing on the American soap opera One Life to Live.
Bryon m English
Variant of Brian.
Bryson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Brice". Starting in the 1970s this name began steadily growing in popularity, likely because it features the same popular sounds found in other names such as Brice and Tyson.
Bugs m Popular Culture
From the slang term bugs meaning "crazy, unstable". Bugs Bunny is an animated cartoon rabbit originally developed in the 1930s by staff at Leon Schlesinger Productions. He was named for the animator Ben "Bugs" Hardaway.
Bulan f Indonesian
Means "moon" (or "month") in Indonesian.
Bulus m Arabic
Arabic form of Paul.
Bünyamin m Turkish
Turkish form of Benjamin.
Burçin f & m Turkish
Means "hind, doe" in Turkish.
Burhan m Arabic, Turkish, Indonesian
Means "proof" in Arabic.
Burhan ad-Din m Arabic
Means "proof of religion", derived from Arabic برهان (burhān) meaning "proof" and دين (dīn) meaning "religion, faith".
Burhan al-Din m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic برهان الدين (see Burhan ad-Din).
Burhanuddin m Arabic, Indonesian, Malay, Dari Persian
Alternate transcription of Arabic برهان الدين (see Burhan ad-Din), as well as the Indonesian, Malay and Dari Persian form.