Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the pattern is *n or *s.
gender
usage
pattern
Gretchen f German, English
German diminutive of Margareta.
Griffin m English
Latinized form of Gruffudd. This name can also be inspired by the English word griffin, a creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, ultimately from Greek γρύψ (gryps).
Grigorijs m Latvian
Latvian form of Gregory.
Grigorios m Greek
Modern Greek form of Gregory.
Grigoris m Greek
Modern Greek form of Gregory.
Grozdan m Bulgarian, Macedonian
Derived from Bulgarian грозде (grozde) or Macedonian грозје (grozje) meaning "grapes".
Gualguainus m Arthurian Cycle
Latin form of Gawain used in some copies of Geoffrey of Monmouth's chronicles.
Guanyin f Buddhism
Means "one who observes sounds", from Chinese (guān) meaning "to observe, to see" and (yīn) meaning "sound, tone", referring to prayers. This is the Chinese name of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion (who is regarded as female in China). It originated as a calque of Sanskrit अवलोकितस्वर (Avalokitasvara), an earlier form of Avalokiteshvara's name.
Guarin m Medieval French
Norman French form of Warin.
Gudrun f Norse Mythology, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German
From the Old Norse name Guðrún meaning "god's secret lore", derived from the elements guð "god" and rún "secret lore, rune". In Norse legend Gudrun was the wife of Sigurd. After his death she married Atli, but when he murdered her brothers, she killed her sons by him, fed him their hearts, and then slew him. Her story appears in Norse literature such as the Eddas and the Völsungasaga. She is called Kriemhild in German versions of the tale. This is also an unrelated character in the medieval German epic Kudrun.
Guendolen f Arthurian Cycle
Variant of Gwendolen, used by Walter Scott in his poem The Bridal of Triermain (1813) for a queen who became the mother of Gyneth by King Arthur.
Gulbadan f Urdu (Rare)
Means "having a body like a rose" in Persian. This was the name of a daughter of the Mughal emperor Babur.
Gülçin f Turkish
Means "rose picking, rose growing" in Turkish.
Gülden f Turkish
Means "from the rose" in Turkish.
Gülistan f Turkish
Means "rose garden" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian.
Gulistan f Kurdish
Kurdish form of Gülistan.
Gülşen f Turkish
Turkish form of Golshan.
Gulshan m Hindi, Urdu
Hindi and Urdu form of Golshan.
Gülten f Turkish
Means "rose skin" in Turkish, ultimately from Persian گل (gol) meaning "flower, rose" and تن (tan) meaning "body, skin".
Gun f Swedish
Modern form of Gunnr.
Gunārs m Latvian
Latvian form of Gunnar.
Günəş f Azerbaijani
Means "sun" in Azerbaijani.
Gundisalvus m Germanic (Latinized)
Old German (Latinized) form of Gonzalo.
Güneş f Turkish
Means "sun" in Turkish.
Gunn f Norwegian, Swedish
Modern form of Gunnr.
Guntars m Latvian
Latvian form of Gunther.
Guntis m Latvian
Meaning unknown, possibly from Latvian guns meaning "fire, flame" (a poetic form of the regular word uguns).
Guorthigirn m Old Welsh
Old Welsh form of Gwrtheyrn.
Gurban m Turkmen
Turkmen form of Qurban.
Gurgen m Armenian, Georgian
Derived from Middle Persian 𐭢𐭥𐭫𐭢 (gurg) meaning "wolf" combined with a diminutive suffix. This name was borne by several Georgian kings and princes.
Gus 1 m English
Short form of Augustus or Angus.
Gus 2 m Greek (Expatriate)
Diminutive of Konstantinos, used primarily by Greek expatriates.
Gustas m Lithuanian
Short form of Augustas and other names containing gust.
Gustavas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Gustav.
Gustavs m Latvian
Latvian form of Gustav.
Guðrún f Old Norse, Norse Mythology, Icelandic
Old Norse form of Gudrun, as well as the modern Icelandic form.
Guus m Dutch
Dutch short form of Augustus or Gustaaf.
Gvidas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Wido.
Ġwann m Maltese
Maltese form of Iohannes (see John).
Gwen f Welsh, English
From Welsh gwen, the feminine form of gwyn meaning "white, blessed". It can also be a short form of Gwendolen, Gwenllian and other names beginning with Gwen.
Gwendolen f Welsh
Possibly means "white ring", derived from Welsh gwen meaning "white, blessed" and dolen meaning "ring, loop". This name appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th-century chronicles, written in the Latin form Guendoloena, where it belongs to an ancient queen of the Britons who defeats her ex-husband in battle. Geoffrey later used it in Vita Merlini for the wife of the prophet Merlin. An alternate theory claims that the name arose from a misreading of the masculine name Guendoleu by Geoffrey.... [more]
Gwendolyn f English
Variant of Gwendolen. This is the usual spelling in the United States.
Gwenllian f Welsh
Derived from the Welsh elements gwen meaning "white, blessed" and possibly lliain meaning "flaxen, made of linen" or lliant meaning "flow, flood". This name was used by medieval Welsh royalty, notably by a 12th-century princess of Deheubarth who died in battle with the Normans. It was also borne by the 13th-century daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last prince of Gwynedd.
Gwenn f Breton
Breton cognate of Gwen.
Gwladus f Old Welsh
Old Welsh form of Gladys.
Gwladys f Welsh
Variant of Gladys.
Gwrtheyrn m Old Welsh (Modernized)
From Old Welsh Guorthigirn meaning "supreme king", from guor meaning "over" and tigirn meaning "king, monarch". It is possible that this is not a name, but a title. According to medieval chroniclers, Gwrtheyrn (also known as Vortigern) was a 5th-century king of the Britons. It was he who invited the brothers Hengist and Horsa to Britain, which eventually led to the Anglo-Saxon conquest of England.
Gwydion m Welsh, Welsh Mythology
Probably means "born of trees" from Old Welsh guid "trees" and the suffix gen "born of". In the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, Gwydion is the nephew of King Math of Gwynedd, and like him a powerful magician. In an elaborate plot to give his brother a chance to rape his uncle's footbearer, he arranged a war between Gwynedd and the neighbouring kingdom of Dyfed. Gwydion himself killed King Pryderi of Dyfed at the end of the war. In punishment for the rape, Math transformed Gwydion and his brother into different animals over the course of three years. Gwydion was the uncle of Lleu Llaw Gyffes, whom he fostered. Math and Gwydion fashioned Lleu a wife, Blodeuwedd, out of flowers and they later aided him after her betrayal. Gwydion also appears in older Welsh poetry such as the Book of Taliesin.
Gwyn m Welsh, Welsh Mythology
Means "white, blessed" in Welsh. In Welsh legend Gwyn was a king of the Otherworld and the leader of the Wild Hunt. He appears in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, where he is one of the many who help Culhwch hunt the monstrous boar Trwyth. The story also tells of his rivalry with Gwythyr for the beautiful Creiddylad.
Gwynn m Welsh
Variant of Gwyn.
Haakon m Norwegian
Variant of Håkon.
Hadas f Hebrew
Means "myrtle tree" in Hebrew.
Hades m Greek Mythology
From Greek Ἅιδης (Haides), derived from ἀϊδής (aides) meaning "unseen". In Greek mythology Hades was the dark god of the underworld, a place that also came to be called Hades. His brothers were Zeus and Poseidon and his wife was Persephone, whom he had abducted.
Hadewidis f Germanic (Latinized)
Germanic name derived from the elements hadu meaning "battle, combat" and wit meaning "wide".
Hadrian m History
From the Roman cognomen Hadrianus, which meant "from Hadria" in Latin. Hadria was the name of two Roman settlements. The first (modern Adria) is in northern Italy and was an important Etruscan port town. The second (modern Atri) is in central Italy and was named after the northern town. The Adriatic Sea is also named after the northern town.... [more]
Hadrianus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Hadrian.
Hadrien m French
French variant form of Adrian.
Hadyn m & f English (Rare)
Variant of Hayden.
Ha-Eun f Korean
From Sino-Korean (ha) meaning "summer, great, grand" combined with (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity". This name can also be formed by other hanja character combinations.
Hafdís f Icelandic
Derived from Old Norse haf "sea, ocean" and dís "goddess".
Hagen m German, Germanic Mythology
Derived from the Old German element hag meaning "enclosure" (Proto-Germanic *hagô). In the medieval German saga the Nibelungenlied he is the cunning half-brother of Gunther. He killed the hero Siegfried by luring him onto a hunting expedition and then stabbing him with a javelin in his one vulnerable spot.
Haides m Greek Mythology
Ancient Greek form of Hades. After the classical period, the ι in the sequence αι (often written as a subscript like ) was not pronounced.
Haimarīks m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Heimirich.
Ha-Joon m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 하준 (see Ha-Jun).
Ha-Jun m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ha) meaning "summer, great, grand" combined with (jun) meaning "approve, permit". This name can be formed by other hanja characters as well.
Håkan m Swedish
Swedish form of Hákon (see Håkon).
Hakan m Turkish
Means "emperor, ruler" in Turkish.
Hákon m Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse form of Håkon, as well as the modern Icelandic form.
Håkon m Norwegian
Modern Norwegian form of the Old Norse name Hákon, derived from the element hár "high" or hǫð "battle, combat" combined with and konr "son, descendant". This was the name of seven kings of Norway.
Hákun m Faroese
Faroese form of Hákon (see Håkon).
Halcyon f Various (Rare)
From the name of a genus of kingfisher birds, derived from Greek ἀλκυών (from the same source as Alcyone).
Hálfdan m Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse and Icelandic form of Halfdan.
Halfdan m Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Hálfdan meaning "half Danish", composed of the elements hálfr "half" and Danr "Dane", originally a nickname for a person who was half Danish.
Hallbjörn m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Hallbjǫrn.
Hallbjǫrn m Old Norse
Derived from the Old Norse elements hallr "rock" and bjǫrn "bear".
Hallstein m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Hallsteinn, derived from the elements hallr "rock" and steinn "stone".
Hallsteinn m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Hallstein.
Halsten m Swedish (Rare)
Old Swedish form of Hallsteinn (see Hallstein).
Haman m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Meaning uncertain, probably of Persian origin. In the Book of Esther in the Old Testament Haman, called the Agagite, is an adviser to the Persian king. He plots to have all the Jews in the realm executed, but is foiled by Queen Esther.
Hamilton m English
From a Scottish and English surname that was derived from Old English hamel "crooked, mutilated" and dun "hill". The surname was originally taken from the name of a town in Leicestershire, England (which no longer exists). A famous bearer of the surname was Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), a founding father of the United States who was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.
Hampus m Swedish
Swedish diminutive of Hans.
Han 1 m Chinese
From Chinese (hàn) meaning "man", also referring to the Han Chinese people, or (hàn) meaning "writing, painting". Other characters can form this name as well.
Han 2 m Dutch
Short form of Johannes.
Hanan 1 m Biblical
Means "gracious" in Hebrew. This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Hanan 2 f Arabic
Means "mercy, compassion" in Arabic, derived from the root حنّ (ḥanna) meaning "to sympathize, to pity".
Handan f Turkish
From Persian خندان (khandān) meaning "laughing, smiling".
Hankin m Medieval English
Diminutive of Hann.
Hann m Medieval English
Medieval English form of Iohannes (see John).
Hannas m Biblical Greek
Greek form of Annas.
Hans m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
German short form of Johannes, now used independently. This name has been very common in German-speaking areas of Europe since the late Middle Ages. From an early period it was transmitted to the Low Countries and Scandinavia. Two famous bearers were Hans Holbein (1497-1543), a German portrait painter, and Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), a Danish writer of fairy tales.
Hans-Jürgen m German
Combination of Hans and Jürgen.
Hanuman m Hinduism
Probably derived from Sanskrit हनु (hanu) meaning "cheek, jaw". In the Hindu epic the Ramayana this is the name of a monkey god who helps Rama. He was the son of Anjana and Vayu.
Hanuš m Czech
Czech form of Hannes.
Haoran m & f Chinese
From Chinese (hào) meaning "great, numerous, vast" and (rán) meaning "right, correct". Other combinations of similar-sounding characters can also form this name.
Haralds m Latvian
Latvian form of Harold.
Haran m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Possibly means "hill, mountain" in Hebrew. This is the name of a brother of Abraham and father of Lot in the Old Testament.
Hardman m Germanic
Old German form of Hartmann.
Hardwin m Germanic
Old German form of Hartwin.
Haregewoin f Amharic
Means "grape vine" in Amharic.
Hariman m Germanic
Old German form of Herman.
Haris 1 m Bosnian, Urdu, Indonesian, Malay, Arabic
Bosnian, Urdu, Indonesian and Malay form of Harith, as well as an alternate transcription of the Arabic name.
Haris 2 m & f Greek
Alternate transcription of Greek Χάρης or Χάρις (see Charis).
Harlan m English
From a surname that was from a place name meaning "hare land" in Old English. In America it has sometimes been given in honour of Supreme Court justice John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911).
Harlequin m Theatre
From Old French Herlequin, the name of a demon in French passion plays. In traditional Italian theatre (commedia dell'arte) the stock character Harlequin, called Arlecchino in Italian, is a mischievous and acrobatic servant who is usually dressed in colourful clothing.
Harmen m Dutch
Dutch variant of Herman.
Harmon m English
From a surname that was derived from the given name Herman.
Haron m Eastern African
Variant of Harun found in East Africa.
Haroon m Urdu
Urdu form of Harun.
Haroun m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic هارون (see Harun).
Harris m English
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Harry.
Harrison m English
From an English surname that meant "son of Harry". This was the surname of two American presidents, William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) and his grandson Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901). As a given name it reached a low point in America in 1977 before it was revived by the career of actor Harrison Ford (1942-), who starred in such movies as Star Wars in 1977 and Indiana Jones in 1984.
Hartmann m German (Rare)
Means "brave man", derived from the Old German element hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy" combined with man.
Hartwin m German (Rare), Germanic
Means "brave friend" from the Old German elements hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy" and wini "friend".
Harun m Arabic, Turkish, Bosnian, Indonesian, Malay, Bengali
Arabic form of Aaron. Harun ar-Rashid was a 9th-century Abbasid caliph featured in the stories of The 1001 Nights.
Harutyun m Armenian
Means "resurrection" in Armenian.
Həsən m Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Hasan.
Hasan m Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay, Albanian, Bosnian, Uzbek, Tajik
Means "handsome" in Arabic, from the root حسن (ḥasuna) meaning "to be beautiful, to be good". Hasan was the son of Ali and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. He was poisoned by one of his wives and is regarded as a martyr by Shia Muslims. This was also the name of two kings of Morocco. It is sometimes transcribed as Hassan, though this is a distinct name in Arabic.
Hassan m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Malay, Dhivehi
Most commonly this is a variant of the Arabic name حسن, which is typically transcribed Hasan.... [more]
Hastiin m Navajo
Means "man, elder" in Navajo. This is typically an honorific preceding the name.
Haþufuns m Gothic (Hypothetical)
Derived from the Gothic elements haþus "battle, combat" and funs "ready" (see also Alfonso).
Haven f & m English
From the English word for a safe place, derived ultimately from Old English hæfen.
Hayden m & f English
From an English surname that was derived from place names meaning either "hay valley" or "hay hill", derived from Old English heg "hay" and denu "valley" or dun "hill". Its popularity at the end of the 20th century was due to the sound it shared with other trendy names of the time, such as Braden and Aidan.
Haydn m English (British)
From a German surname meaning "heathen". It is used in honour of the Austrian composer Joseph Haydn (1732-1809).
Hayes m English
From a surname, either Hayes 1 or Hayes 2. It was borne by American president Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893).
Ha-Yoon f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 하윤 (see Ha-Yun).
Hayrettin m Turkish
Turkish form of Khayr ad-Din.
Ha-Yun f Korean
From Sino-Korean (ha) meaning "summer, name" combined with (yun) meaning "sunlight". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
Hazan f Turkish
Means "autumn" in Turkish.
Heaven f English (Modern)
From the English vocabulary word meaning "paradise". It is derived via Middle English hevene from Old English heofon "sky".
Heddwyn m Welsh
Derived from Welsh hedd "peace" and gwyn "white, blessed". This name has been given in honour of the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans (1887-1917), who used Hedd Wyn as his bardic name.
Hefin m Welsh
Means "summer" in Welsh, a poetic form of Haf.
Heidrun f Norse Mythology, German
Derived from Old Norse heiðr meaning "bright, clear" and rún meaning "secret lore, rune". In Norse mythology this was the name of a goat that would eat the leaves from the tree of life and produce mead in her udder.
Heilyn m Welsh Mythology
Means "winebearer, dispenser" in Welsh. According to the Second Branch of the Mabinogi he was one of only seven warriors to return from Brân's invasion of Ireland.
Hein 1 m Dutch
Short form of Hendrik.
Hein 2 m Burmese
Means "great, grand, large" in Burmese.
Heiðdís f Icelandic
Derived from Old Norse heiðr "honour" and dís "goddess".
Heiðrún f Norse Mythology, Icelandic
Old Norse and Icelandic form of Heidrun.
Heleen f Dutch
Dutch variant of Helen.
Helen f English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Greek Mythology (Anglicized)
English form of the Greek Ἑλένη (Helene), probably from Greek ἑλένη (helene) meaning "torch" or "corposant", or possibly related to σελήνη (selene) meaning "moon". In Greek mythology Helen was the daughter of Zeus and Leda, whose kidnapping by Paris was the cause of the Trojan War. The name was also borne by the 4th-century Saint Helena, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine, who supposedly found the True Cross during a trip to Jerusalem.... [more]
Helias m Biblical Latin
Latin form of Elijah used in some versions of the Vulgate.
Helios m Greek Mythology
Means "sun" in Greek. This was the name of the young Greek sun god, a Titan, who rode across the sky each day in a chariot pulled by four horses. His sister was the moon goddess Selene.
Helladius m Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Late Greek name Ἑλλάδιος (Helladios), which was derived from Ἑλλάδος (Hellados) meaning "of Greece". Saint Helladius was a 7th-century archbishop of Toledo.
Hellen f English
Variant of Helen.
Helvius m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from either Latin helvus meaning "honey-yellow, blond" or from the name of the Helvii, a Celtic tribe who lived west of the Rhône river. Gaius Helvius Cinna was a Roman poet of the 1st century BC.
Henderson m English
From a Scottish surname meaning "son of Henry".
Hendricus m Dutch
Variant of Henricus.
Hendrikus m Dutch
Variant of Henricus.
Henricus m Germanic (Latinized), Dutch
Latinized form of Heinrich. As a Dutch name, it is used on birth certificates though a vernacular form such as Hendrik is typically used in daily life.
Henrikas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Heinrich (see Henry).
Hephaestus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἥφαιστος (Hephaistos), meaning unknown. It probably shares its origin with the Minoan city of Φαιστός (Phaistos), which is of Pre-Greek origin. In Greek mythology Hephaestus was the god of fire and forging, the husband of the unfaithful Aphrodite. It was said that when he was born Hera, his mother, was so displeased with his physical deformities that she hurled him off the top of Mount Olympus.
Heracles m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Herakles. However, the spelling used by the Romans was Hercules.
Heraclitus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἡράκλειτος (Herakleitos) meaning "glory of Hera", derived from the name of the goddess Hera combined with κλειτός (kleitos) meaning "glory". This was the name of a 6th-century BC Greek philosopher from Ephesus.
Heraclius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek personal name Ἡράκλειος (Herakleios), which was derived from the name of the Greek hero Herakles. This was the name of a 7th-century Byzantine emperor, known for his victories over the Sasanian Persian Empire. This name was also borne by two early saints.
Herais f Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek personal name that was probably derived from the name of the Greek goddess Hera. It was borne by a saint and martyr from Alexandria who was killed during the early 4th-century persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
Herakleides m Ancient Greek
Means "son of Herakles" in Greek, derived from the name of the mythic hero Herakles combined with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek astronomer who theorized the rotation of the earth.
Herakles m Greek Mythology
Means "glory of Hera" from the name of the goddess Hera combined with Greek κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the name of a hero in Greek and Roman mythology, the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene. After being driven insane by Hera and killing his own children, Herakles completed twelve labours in order to atone for his crime and become immortal.
Herkus m Lithuanian
Short form of Henrikas.
Herlequin m Folklore
The name of a demon in medieval tales, first attested in a report by the 12th-century monk Orderic Vitalis, and later appearing in French passion plays. His name is possibly related to that of King Herla from Germanic legend (in Old English Herla Cyning).
Hermagoras m Ancient Greek
From the name of the messenger god Hermes combined with Greek ἀγορά (agora) meaning "assembly, marketplace". Saint Hermagoras (3rd century) was the first bishop of Aquileia in Italy.
Heřman m Czech
Czech form of Herman.
Herman m English, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Slovene, Germanic
Means "army man", derived from the Old German elements heri "army" and man "person, 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 an 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.
Hermann m German
German form of Herman. A famous bearer was the German author Hermann Hesse (1877-1962).
Hermanus m Germanic (Latinized), Dutch
Latinized form of Herman. As a Dutch name, it is used on birth certificates, with the form Herman typically used in daily life.
Hermenegildus m Gothic (Latinized)
Latinized (Old Spanish) form of Airmanagild.
Hermes m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Spanish
Probably from Greek ἕρμα (herma) meaning "cairn, pile of stones, boundary marker". Hermes was a Greek god associated with speed and good luck, who served as a messenger to Zeus and the other gods. He was also the patron of travellers, writers, athletes, merchants, thieves and orators.... [more]
Herminius m Ancient Roman
Roman name that was possibly of unknown Etruscan origin, but could also be derived from the name of the god Hermes. In Roman legend this was the name of a companion of Aeneas.
Hermógenes m Spanish, Portuguese (Brazilian)
Spanish and Portuguese form of Hermogenes.
Hermogenes m Ancient Greek
Means "born of Hermes" from the name of the messenger god Hermes combined with Greek γενής (genes) meaning "born".
Hermokrates m Ancient Greek
Means "power of Hermes" from the name of the messenger god Hermes combined with Greek κράτος (kratos) meaning "power".
Hermolaos m Ancient Greek
Means "the people of Hermes" from the name of the messenger god Hermes combined with Greek λαός (laos) meaning "people".
Hernán m Spanish
Short form of Hernando.
Herodes m Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Latin form of Herod, as well as the usual Biblical Greek transcription of Ἡρῴδης: after the classical period, the ι in the sequence ωι (often written as a subscript like ) was not pronounced.
Herodias f Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Feminine form of Herod. This was the name of a member of the Herodian ruling family of Judea, a sister of Herod Agrippa and the wife of Herod Antipas. She appears in the New Testament, where she contrives to have her husband Antipas imprison and execute John the Baptist.
Herodion m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Derivative of the Greek name Herodes (see Herod). This name is mentioned briefly in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament. According to tradition he was a bishop of Patras, Greece, and was later martyred in Rome with Saint Peter.
Herodotus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἡρόδοτος (Herodotos), derived from the name of the goddess Hera combined with δοτός (dotos) meaning "given, granted". Herodotus was a Greek historian of the 5th century BC who wrote the Histories, a detailed account of the Greco-Persian Wars. He is known as the Father of History.
Heroides m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Herod.
Heron m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἥρως (heros) meaning "hero". This was the name of a 1st-century Greek inventor (also known as Hero) from Alexandria.
Hesiodos m Ancient Greek
Greek form of Hesiod.
Hesperos m Ancient Greek
Means "evening" in Greek. This was the name of the personification of the Evening Star (the planet Venus) in Greek mythology.
Hesychios m Late Greek
Means "still, quiet, at rest" in Greek. This name was borne by a noted grammarian from Alexandria, who is thought to have lived in the 5th or 6th century. It was also the name of a few early saints.
Hetepheres f Ancient Egyptian
From Egyptian ḥtp-ḥrs meaning "satisfied is her face", from ḥtp "peace, satisfaction" and ḥr "face". This was the name of queens consort and princesses from the Egyptian 4th dynasty (26th century BC).
Heulwen f Welsh
Means "sunshine" in Welsh (a compound of haul "sun" and gwen "white, blessed").
Hicran f Turkish, Azerbaijani
Means "separation, parting" in Turkish and Azerbaijani (of Arabic origin).
Hieronymos m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Jerome.
Hieronymus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), German (Archaic), Dutch (Rare)
Latin form of Jerome, formerly common in Germany and the Netherlands. Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516) was a Dutch painter known for his depictions of the torments of hell.
Hilarion m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἱλαρός (hilaros) meaning "cheerful". This was the name of a 4th-century saint, a disciple of Saint Anthony.
Hilarius m Ancient Roman
Roman name derived from Latin hilaris meaning "cheerful". Alternatively, it could be derived from the Greek name Ἱλαρός (Hilaros) also meaning "cheerful" (the Greek word ἱλαρός was the source of the Latin word hilaris). Saint Hilarius was a 4th-century theologian and bishop of Poitiers. This was also the name of a 5th-century pope.
Hildefons m Germanic
Old German form of Ildefonso.
Hildegunn f Norwegian
Norwegian form of Hildigunnr.
Hildirīks m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Hilderic.
Hippocrates m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἱπποκράτης (Hippokrates) meaning "horse power", derived from the elements ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek doctor who is known as the Father of Medicine.
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.
Hjördís f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Hjördis.
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.
Hjǫrdís f Old Norse
Old Norse form of Hjördis.
Hobson m English (Rare)
From the English surname Hobson meaning "son of Hob".
Hodan f Somali
Means "rich, lush" in Somali.
Holden m English (Modern)
From a surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "deep valley" in Old English. This is the name of the main character in J. D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye (1951), Holden Caulfield.
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.
Homeros m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Homer.
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.
Honorinus m Late Roman
Late Latin name that was a derivative of Honorius.
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.
Hopcyn m Medieval Welsh
Medieval Welsh diminutive of Hob.
Hopkin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Hob.
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.
Hormisdas m Middle Persian (Hellenized)
Hellenized form of Hormizd. This was the name of a 6th-century pope.
Horos m Egyptian Mythology (Hellenized)
Greek form of Heru (see Horus).
Hortensius m Ancient Roman
Masculine form of Hortensia.
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.
Houston m English
From a Scottish surname meaning "Hugh's town". The original Houston is in Scotland near Glasgow, but this is also the name of a city in Texas, named after the Texas president Sam Houston (1793-1863).
Hovhannes m Armenian
Armenian form of Iohannes (see John).
Hozan m & f Kurdish
Means "poet, intellect" in Kurdish.
Hraban m Germanic
From an Old German byname derived from hraban meaning "raven".
Hrafn m Icelandic, Old Norse
Means "raven" in Old Norse.
Hreiðunn f Old Norse
Old Norse form of Reidun.
Hristijan m Macedonian
Macedonian form of Christian.
Hristiyan m Bulgarian
Bulgarian form of Christian.
Hrodohaidis f Germanic
Old German form of Rose.
Hrönn f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Hrǫnn.
Hrǫnn f Norse Mythology
Means "wave" in Old Norse. In Norse mythology she was one of the nine daughters of Ægir and Rán.
Hrōþirīks m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Roderick.
Huan f & m Chinese
From Chinese (huān) meaning "happy, pleased", as well as other characters pronounced in a similar way.
Hudson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Hudde". A famous bearer of the surname was the English explorer Henry Hudson (1570-1611).
Hugues m French
French form of Hugh.
Husain m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic حسين (see Husayn).
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).
Husein m Bosnian
Bosnian form of Husayn.
Husên m Kurdish
Kurdish form of Husayn.
Hüseyin m Turkish
Turkish form of Husayn.
Hüseyn m Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani form of Husayn.
Hussain m Arabic, Urdu, Dhivehi
Alternate transcription of Arabic حسين (see Husayn), as well as the usual Urdu and Dhivehi transcription.
Hussein m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic حسين (see Husayn).
Hwan m Korean
From Sino-Korean (hwan) meaning "shining, brilliant, lustrous" or other characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character.
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.
Hye-Jin f Korean
From Sino-Korean (hye) meaning "bright, intelligent" or (hye) meaning "favour, benefit" combined with (jin) meaning "precious, rare". This name can be formed by a variety of other hanja character combinations as well.
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.
Hyginos m Ancient Greek
Greek form of Hyginus.
Hyginus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ὑγῖνος (Hyginos), a Greek name derived from ὑγιεινός (hygieinos) meaning "healthy". This was the name of the ninth pope.
Hyman m Jewish
Alteration of Hyam influenced by Yiddish מאַן (man) meaning "man".
Hypatos m Ancient Greek
Masculine form of Hypatia.
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.
Hypnos m Greek Mythology
Means "sleep" in Greek. In Greek myth this was the name of the personification of sleep, twin brother of Thanatos.
Hyun m & f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Hyeon).
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.
Iachin m Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Form of Jachin used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament.
Iacobus m Biblical Latin
Form of Jacob used in the Latin New Testament to refer to the two apostles named James.
Iacomus m Late Roman
Late Latin form of James.
Iagan m Scottish Gaelic
Possibly a regional (Hebridean) diminutive of Iain.
Iain m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Iohannes (see John).
Iairos m Biblical Greek
New Testament Greek form of Jairus.
Iairus m Biblical Latin
Latin form of Jairus.
Iakobos m Biblical Greek
Form of Jacob used in the Greek New Testament to refer to the two apostles named James.
Iakovos m Greek
Modern Greek form of Jacob (or James).
Ian m Scottish, English
Anglicized form of Scottish Gaelic Iain, itself from Latin Iohannes (see John). It became popular in the United Kingdom outside of Scotland in the first half of the 20th century, but did not begin catching on in America until the 1960s.
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.
Iapetus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Iapetos. This is the name of one of Saturn's moons.
Ibán m Spanish
Spanish form of Iban.
Iban m Basque
Basque variant form of John.
Iben f Danish, Norwegian
Possibly a feminine form of Ib. It is associated with Danish ibenholt meaning "ebony".
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.
Idan m Hebrew
Means "era" in Hebrew.
İdris m Turkish
Turkish form of Idris 1.
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.
Idriss m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic إدريس (see Idris 1).
Idun f Norse Mythology, Swedish, Norwegian
Modern Scandinavian form of Iðunn.