Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the pattern is *s* or v*.
gender
usage
pattern
Nikephoros m & f Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Means "carrying victory" from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and φέρω (phero) meaning "to carry, to bear". This name was borne by several Byzantine emperors, including the 10th-century Nikephoros II Phokas. Besides being a masculine personal name, it was also a title borne by the goddess Athena.
Niketas m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νικητής (niketes) meaning "winner, victor". Saint Niketas was a 4th-century bishop of Remesiana in Serbia. He is a patron saint of Romania.
Nikias m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory". This was the name of an Athenian general who fought in the Peloponnesian war.
Niklaus m German (Swiss)
Swiss German form of Nicholas.
Niklāvs m Latvian
Latvian variant form of Nicholas.
Nikolaas m Dutch (Rare)
Dutch variant of Nicolaas.
Nikolajs m Latvian
Latvian form of Nicholas.
Nikolas m Greek, English
Variant of Nikolaos (Greek) or Nicholas (English).
Nikolasz m Hungarian (Modern)
Hungarian form of Nicholas. This form is a modern adaptation (based on the spelling in English or another foreign language), as opposed to the traditional form Miklós.
Nikolaus m German
German form of Nicholas.
Nikomachos m Ancient Greek
Means "battle of victory" from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and μάχη (mache) meaning "battle". This was the name of both the father and son of the Greek philosopher Aristotle. It was also borne by a 2nd-century Greek mathematician.
Nikomedes m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and μήδεα (medea) meaning "plans, counsel, cunning". This was the name of a 1st-century saint, a priest beaten to death for refusing to worship the Roman gods.
Nikos m Greek
Greek short form of Nikolaos.
Nikostratos m Ancient Greek
Means "army of victory" from Greek νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and στρατός (stratos) meaning "army". This was the name of a Roman saint martyred during the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian at the end of the 3rd century.
Nikša m Croatian
Diminutive of Nikola 1.
Nikusha m Georgian
Diminutive of Nikoloz.
Nilas m Sami
Sami form of Nils.
Niles m English
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Neil.
Nilesh m Marathi
From Sanskrit नील (nīla) meaning "dark blue" and ईश (īśa) meaning "lord, ruler".
Nils m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian form of Nicholas.
Nindaanis f Ojibwe
Means "my daughter" in Ojibwe.
Ninhursag f Sumerian Mythology
Means "lady of the mountain", from Sumerian 𒎏 (nin) meaning "lady" and 𒉺𒂅 (hursaĝ) meaning "mountain". This was the name of the Sumerian mother and fertility goddess, the primary consort of Enki.
Ninisina f Sumerian Mythology
Means "lady of Isin", from Sumerian 𒎏 (nin) meaning "lady" combined with the name of the city-state of Isin. This was the name of a Sumerian goddess of healing, later conflated with Gula.
Ninos m Ancient Assyrian (Hellenized)
Probably from the name of the ancient city of Nineveh in Assyria. According to Greek historians this was the name of the husband of Semiramis and the founder of Nineveh. In actuality he does not correspond to any known Assyrian king, and is likely a composite character named after the city.
Ninoslav m Serbian, Croatian, Medieval Slavic
From a Slavic element, possibly nyně "now", combined with slava "glory". Matej Ninoslav was a 13th-century duke of Bosnia.
Ninoslava f Serbian
Feminine form of Ninoslav.
Ninsun f Sumerian Mythology
From Sumerian nin-sumun-a(k) meaning "lady of the wild cow", derived from 𒎏 (nin) meaning "lady" and the genitive form of 𒄢 (sumun) meaning "wild cow". In Sumerian mythology Ninsun was the divine mother of Gilgamesh.
Nioclás m Irish
Irish form of Nicholas.
Nîpisiy f Cree
Means "willow" in Cree.
Nis m Danish
Contracted form of Nils or Niels 1.
Nisa f Turkish, Indonesian
From Arabic نساء (nisāʾ) meaning "women". This is the name of the fourth chapter of the Quran (surah an-Nisa).
Nisanur f Turkish
From the name Nisa combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Nishant m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit निशान्त (niśānta) meaning "night's end, dawn".
Nishat m & f Arabic, Bengali
Means "energetic, lively" in Arabic.
Nissa f Indonesian
Variant of Nisa.
Nisus m Roman Mythology
Meaning unknown. According to Virgil's Aeneid, this was the name of the son of the Trojan Hyrtacus (himself mentioned in the Iliad, though Nisus is not). In the Aeneid Nisus is the friend of Euryalus. After Euryalus is captured by the Rutuli, both are slain when Nisus attempts to save him.
Nitish m Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali
From Sanskrit नीति (nīti) meaning "guidance, moral conduct" and ईश (īśa) meaning "lord, ruler".
Niusha f Persian
Means "good listener" in Persian.
Nives f Italian, Croatian
Italian form of Nieves.
Niviarsiaq f Greenlandic
Means "young girl" in Greenlandic. This is the name of a variety of flower that grows on Greenland, the dwarf fireweed (species Chamaenerion latifolium).
Nkosana m Xhosa
Means "prince" in Xhosa.
Nkosazana f Xhosa
Means "princess" in Xhosa.
Nobutoshi m Japanese
From Japanese (nobu) meaning "trust" and (toshi) meaning "quick, clever, sharp". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Nodens m Celtic Mythology
Possibly from the old Celtic root *snowdo- meaning "mist, haze". Alternatively it might be related to the Indo-European root *neud- meaning "to acquire, to use". This is the name of a Celtic god associated with healing, hunting and fishing. He is known from a shrine excavated at Gloucestershire, where the name is only found in the dative forms Nodenti and Nodonti. He probably forms the basis for the legendary figures of Nuada (Irish) and Nudd (Welsh).
Noíse m Irish Mythology
Old Irish form of Naoise.
Nojus m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Noah 1.
Nokomis f New World Mythology
From Ojibwe nookomis meaning "my grandmother". In Anishinaabe legend this is the name of Nanabozho's grandmother. It was used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for the grandmother of Hiawatha in his 1855 poem The Song of Hiawatha.
Nomusa f Ndebele
Means "merciful" in Ndebele.
Nonnos m Late Greek
Meaning unknown, probably of Egyptian or Semitic origin. Saint Nonnos was a 4th-century Egyptian monk who became a bishop of Heliopolis in Syria. The name was also borne by a noted 5th-century Egyptian poet who wrote in Greek.
Nonso m Igbo
Short form of Chinonso.
Nonus m Ancient Roman (Rare)
Roman praenomen, or given name, meaning "ninth" in Latin. This was a rare praenomen.
Norris m English
From an English surname, either Norris 1 or Norris 2.
Nosipho f Zulu, Xhosa
From the Zulu and Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with isipho "gift".
Nosizwe f Xhosa
From the Xhosa feminine prefix no- combined with isizwe "nation".
Nosson m Yiddish
Yiddish form of Naṯan (see Nathan).
Nostradamus m History
Latinized form of the surname of Michel de Nostredame (1503-1566), a French astrologer famous for his book of prophecies. The surname, meaning "our lady" in Old French, was acquired by his father upon his conversion from Judaism to Christianity.
Notos m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Notus.
Notus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Νότος (Notos) meaning "south wind". This was the name of the god of the south wind in Greek mythology.
Nousha f Persian (Rare)
Means "sweet, pleasant" in Persian.
Nsia m & f Akan
Means "sixth born child" in Akan.
Nsonowa m & f Akan
Means "seventh born child" in Akan.
Ntsuab f Hmong
Means "green" in Hmong.
Nurasyl m Kazakh (Rare)
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" and асыл (asyl) meaning "precious, noble" (both words ultimately of Arabic origin).
Nurislam m Kazakh
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" (of Arabic origin) combined with Islam, the name of the religion (ultimately from Arabic إسلام).
Nursultan m Kazakh
From Kazakh нұр (nur) meaning "light" and сұлтан (sultan) meaning "sultan, king" (both words of Arabic origin).
Nuša f Slovene
Short form of Anuša.
Nymphas m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek, Biblical
Short form of Nymphodoros. This name is mentioned briefly by Paul in his epistle to the Colossians in the New Testament. Alternatively, the Greek text might be read as Nympha referring to a woman. Some bible translations use Nymphas, others use Nympha.
Nymphodoros m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek νύμφη (nymphe) meaning "bride, nymph" and δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift".
Nyongesa m Luhya
Means "born on Saturday" in Luhya.
Nyssa f Various (Rare)
From the name of an ancient town of Asia Minor where Saint Gregory was bishop in the 4th century. Nyssa is also the genus name of a type of tree, also called the Tupelo.
Octavius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from Latin octavus meaning "eighth". This was the original family name of the emperor Augustus (born Gaius Octavius). It was also rarely used as a Roman praenomen, or given name.
Odalis f & m Spanish (Latin American)
Possibly an elaboration of Odilia used in Latin America. In most countries it is a feminine name, but in the Dominican Republic it is commonly masculine.
Odeserundiye m Mohawk
Possibly means "lightning has struck" in Mohawk. This was the name of an 18th-century Mohawk chief, also called John Deseronto.
Odessa f Various
From the name of a Ukrainian city that sits on the north coast of the Black Sea, which was named after the ancient Greek city of Ὀδησσός (Odessos), of uncertain meaning. This name can also be used as a feminine form of Odysseus.
Odissey m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Odysseus.
Odtsetseg f Mongolian
Means "star flower" in Mongolian, from од (od) meaning "star" and цэцэг (tsetseg) meaning "flower".
Odysseus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek ὀδύσσομαι (odyssomai) meaning "to hate". In Greek legend Odysseus was one of the Greek heroes who fought in the Trojan War. In the Odyssey Homer relates Odysseus's misadventures on his way back to his kingdom and his wife Penelope.
Oedipus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Οἰδίπους (Oidipous), meaning "swollen foot" from οἰδέω (oideo) meaning "to swell" and πούς (pous) meaning "foot". In Greek mythology Oedipus was the son of the Theban king Laius and his wife Jocasta. Laius received a prophesy that he would be killed by his son, so he left the newborn to die of exposure. Oedipus was however rescued and raised in the home of the Corinthian king Polybus. After he had grown and learned of the same prophesy, Oedipus left Corinth so that he would not be a danger to Polybus, whom he assumed was his father. On the road to Delphi he chanced upon his real father Laius and slew him in a petty disagreement, thus fulfilling the prophecy. He then correctly answered the Sphinx's riddle, winning the now vacant throne of Thebes and marrying the widowed Queen Jocasta, his own mother. Years later they learned the truth of their relationship, prompting Jocasta to commit suicide and Oedipus to blind himself.
Ohannes m Armenian
Armenian form of Iohannes (see John).
Ohiyesa m Sioux
Means "winner" in Dakota or Lakota, from ohíya "winning" and the suffix s'a "commonly, frequently".
Oisín m Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "little deer", derived from Old Irish oss "deer, stag" combined with a diminutive suffix. In Irish legend Oisín was a warrior hero and a poet, the son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and the narrator in many of his tales.
Okeanos m Greek Mythology
From the name of the river or body of water thought by the ancient Greeks to surround the Earth. In Greek mythology Okeanos was the Titan who personified this body of water.
Oksana f Ukrainian, Russian
Ukrainian form of Xenia.
Oktawiusz m Polish
Polish form of Octavius.
Ōkuninushi m Japanese Mythology
Means "master of the great country", from Japanese (ō) meaning "big, great", (kuni) meaning "country, land" and (nushi) meaning "master". In Japanese myth he was the divine ruler of the lands, until the gods of the heavens seized control and he retreated to the unseen world.
Oldřiška f Czech
Czech feminine form of Ulrich.
Oļegs m Latvian
Latvian form of Oleg.
Oleksander m Ukrainian
Alternate transcription of Ukrainian Олександр (see Oleksandr).
Oleksandr m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Alexander.
Oleksandra f Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Alexandra.
Oleksiy m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Alexius.
Oles m Ukrainian
Short form of Oleksandr or Oleksiy.
Olesya f Ukrainian, Russian
Ukrainian diminutive of Oleksandra. This was the name of an 1898 novel by the Russian author Aleksandr Kuprin.
Olivers m Latvian
Latvian form of Oliver.
Olusegun m Yoruba
Means "God conquers" in Yoruba.
Olusola m & f Yoruba
Means "God makes wealth" in Yoruba.
Oluwakanyinsola f Yoruba (Rare)
Means "God has dropped honey into wealth" in Yoruba.
Oluwaseun m & f Yoruba
Means "God, thank you" in Yoruba.
Oluwaseyi f & m Yoruba
Means "God made this" in Yoruba.
Oluwayemisi f Yoruba
Means "God honours me" in Yoruba.
Olympas m Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Ancient Greek
Probably a shortened form of a longer name such as Olympiodoros. It is mentioned briefly in the New Testament.
Olympias f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Olympos. This was the name of the mother of Alexander the Great. It was also borne by a 4th-century saint.
Olympiodoros m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name meaning "gift of Olympus", derived from Olympos, the name of the mountain home of the Greek gods, combined with δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift".
Olympos m Ancient Greek
From a Greek personal name that was derived from the place name Olympos, the name of the mountain home of the Greek gods.
Ömer Asaf m Turkish
Combination of Ömer and Asaf 2.
Omiros m Greek
Modern Greek form of Homer.
Onesimus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Ὀνήσιμος (Onesimos), which meant "beneficial, profitable". Saint Onesimus was an escaped slave of Philemon who met Saint Paul while in prison and was converted by him. Paul sent him back to Philemon carrying the epistle that appears in the New Testament.
Onesiphorus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Ὀνησίφορος (Onesiphoros), which meant "bringing advantage, beneficial". This name is mentioned briefly in Paul's second epistle to Timothy in the New Testament. According to tradition he was martyred by being tied to horses and then torn apart.
Onisim m Russian (Rare)
Russian form of Onesimus.
Onisimŭ m Old Church Slavic
Old Church Slavic form of Onesimus.
Onuphrius m Egyptian Mythology (Latinized), Late Roman
Latinized form of Greek Ὀνούφριος (Onouphrios), derived from Egyptian wnn-nfr meaning "he who is good, he who is happy". This was an epithet of the god Osiris. It was later used by an Egyptian saint and hermit from the 4th or 5th century.
Ophiuchus m Astronomy
Latinized form of Greek Ὀφιοῦχος (Ophiouchos) meaning "serpent bearer". This is the name of an equatorial constellation that depicts the god Asklepios holding a snake.
Orest m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Orestes.
Oreste m Italian
Italian form of Orestes.
Orestes m Greek Mythology
Means "of the mountains", derived from Greek ὄρος (oros) meaning "mountain" and ἵστημι (histemi) meaning "to stand". In Greek myth he was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. He killed his mother and her lover Aegisthus after they killed his father.
Orestis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Orestes.
Orfeas m Greek
Modern Greek form of Orpheus.
Oriṣanla m Yoruba Mythology
From Yoruba òrìṣà "deity, spirit" and ńlá "great". This is another name for the god Ọbatala.
Orontes m Old Persian (Hellenized)
Greek form of the unattested Old Persian name *Arvanta, possibly meaning "swift, quick" or "possessing wealth". This name was borne by Achaemenid Persian satraps of Armenia, and later rulers of the Kingdom of Armenia, all from the dynasty known as the Orontids. The name is spelled Երվանդ (Yervand) in Armenian.
Orontius m Late Roman
Latin name, possibly from the name of the Orontes River, or from the Greco-Persian name Orontes. It was borne by a 1st-century saint and martyr who is regarded as the first bishop of Lecce in Italy.
Orpheus m Greek Mythology
Perhaps related to Greek ὄρφνη (orphne) meaning "the darkness of night". In Greek mythology Orpheus was a poet and musician who went to the underworld to retrieve his dead wife Eurydice. He succeeded in charming Hades with his lyre, and he was allowed to lead his wife out of the underworld on the condition that he not look back at her until they reached the surface. Unfortunately, just before they arrived his love for her overcame his will and he glanced back at her, causing her to be drawn back to Hades.
Orsina f Italian (Rare)
Feminine form of Orsino.
Orsino m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of the Roman name Ursinus, itself derived from Ursus (see Urs). This is the name of a duke in Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night (1602).
Orso m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Ursus (see Urs).
Orsola f Italian
Italian form of Ursula.
Orsolya f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Ursula.
Orson m English
From a Norman nickname derived from a diminutive of Norman French ors "bear", ultimately from Latin ursus. American actor and director Orson Welles (1915-1985) was a famous bearer of this name.
Orstislavŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Rostislav.
Osama m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic أسامة (see Usama).
Osamu m Japanese
From Japanese (osamu) meaning "discipline, study", as well as other kanji that have the same pronunciation.
Osane f Basque
Means "cure, remedy" in Basque. It is an equivalent of Remedios, proposed by Sabino Arana in his 1910 list of Basque saints names.
Osanna f Italian
Italian form of Hosanna. This was the name of a 15th-century Italian saint and mystic, as well as a 16th-century Montenegrin saint.
Osanne f French (Rare)
French form of Osanna.
Osbeorht m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Osbert.
Osbeorn m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Osborn.
Osbert m English (Rare)
Derived from the Old English elements os "god" and beorht "bright". After the Norman Conquest, this Old English name was merged with its Norman cognate. It was rare in the Middle Ages, and eventually died out. It was briefly revived in the 19th century.
Osborn m English
Derived from the Old English elements os "god" and beorn "warrior, man". During the Anglo-Saxon period there was also a Norse cognate Ásbjǫrn used in England, and after the Norman Conquest the Norman cognate Osbern was introduced. It was occasionally revived in the 19th century, in part from a surname that was derived from the given name.
Osborne m English
From a surname that was a variant of Osborn.
Osbourne m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Osborn.
Óscar m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Oscar.
Òscar m Catalan
Catalan form of Oscar.
Oscar m English, Irish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, French, Irish Mythology
Possibly means "deer friend", derived from Old Irish oss "deer" and carae "friend". Alternatively, it may derive from the Old English name Osgar or its Old Norse cognate Ásgeirr, which may have been brought to Ireland by Viking invaders and settlers. In Irish legend Oscar was the son of the poet Oisín and the grandson of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.... [more]
Oseas m Biblical Latin, Biblical Spanish
Form of Hoshea used in some versions of the Latin Bible.
Osee m Biblical Latin
Form of Hoshea (and Hosea) used in the Latin Bible.
Oseias m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Hosea.
Osgar m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements os "god" and gar "spear". It is a cognate of Ansgar.
Oshea m Biblical
Variant of Hoshea used in some versions of the Bible.
Osheen m Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Oisín.
Osher m & f Hebrew
Means "happiness" in Hebrew.
Oshrat f Hebrew
Feminine form of Osher.
Osip m Russian
Russian form of Joseph.
Osiris m Egyptian Mythology (Hellenized)
Greek form of the Egyptian wsjr (reconstructed as Asar, Usir and other forms), which is of unknown meaning, possibly related to wsr "mighty" or jrt "eye". In Egyptian mythology Osiris was the god of fertility, agriculture, and the dead and served as the judge of the underworld. In one tale he was slain by his brother Seth, but restored to life by his wife Isis in order to conceive their son Horus, who would go on to avenge his father.
Óskar m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Oscar.
Oskár m Slovak
Slovak form of Oscar.
Oskar m German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Slovene, Basque
Form of Oscar in several languages. A famous bearer was Oskar Schindler (1908-1974), who is credited for saved over 1,000 Polish Jews during World War II.
Oskari m Finnish
Finnish form of Oscar.
Oskars m Latvian
Latvian form of Oscar.
Osku m Finnish
Short form of Oskari.
Osmær m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements os "god" and mære "famous".
Osman m Turkish, Kurdish, Albanian, Bosnian, Malay
Turkish, Kurdish, Albanian, Bosnian and Malay form of Uthman. This was the name of the founder of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century. It was later borne by two more Ottoman sultans.
Osmar m Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Latin American)
Possibly from the Old English name Osmær.
Osmo m Finnish
From a poetic Finnish word meaning "young man, groom", found in the Finnish epic the Kalevala.
Osmon m Kyrgyz
Kyrgyz form of Uthman.
Osmond m English (Rare)
From the Old English elements os "god" and mund "protection". During the Anglo-Saxon period a Norse cognate Ásmundr was also used in England, and another version was imported by the Normans. Saint Osmund was an 11th-century Norman nobleman who became an English bishop. Though it eventually became rare, it was revived in the 19th century, in part from a surname that was derived from the given name.
Osmund m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Osmond.
Osnat f Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Asenath.
Ossi m Finnish
Diminutive of Osmo, Oskari and other names beginning with Os.
Ossian m Literature
Variant of Oisín used by James Macpherson in his 18th-century poems, which he claimed to have based on early Irish legends. In the poems Ossian is the son of Fingal, and serves as the narrator.
Ossie m English
Diminutive of Oscar, Oswald and other names beginning with Os.
Ostap m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Eustathius.
Östen m Swedish
Swedish form of Eysteinn.
Ọṣun f Yoruba Mythology
Possibly related to ṣán meaning "flow". In traditional Yoruba belief this is the name of the patron goddess of the Osun River, also associated with wealth, beauty and love.
Osvald m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Scandinavian form of Oswald.
Osvaldo m Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Oswald.
Oswald m English, German
Derived from the Old English elements os "god" and weald "powerful, mighty". Saint Oswald was a king of Northumbria who introduced Christianity to northeastern England in the 7th century before being killed in battle. There was also an Old Norse cognate Ásvaldr in use in England, being borne by the 10th-century Saint Oswald of Worcester, who was of Danish ancestry. Though the name had died out by the end of the Middle Ages, it was revived in the 19th century.
Osweald m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Oswald.
Oswin m English (Rare)
From the Old English elements os "god" and wine "friend". Saint Oswin was a 7th-century king of Northumbria. After the Norman Conquest this name was used less, and it died out after the 14th century. It was briefly revived in the 19th century.
Oswine m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Oswin.
Oszkár m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Oscar.
Otis m English
From an English surname that was derived from the medieval given name Ode, a cognate of Otto. In America it has been used in honour of the revolutionary James Otis (1725-1783).
Otso m Finnish
Means "bear" in Finnish.
Ourbanos m Biblical Greek
Form of Urban used in the Greek New Testament.
Ourias m Biblical Greek
Form of Uriah used in the Greek Bible.
Ousmane m Western African
Form of Uthman used in parts of French-influenced West Africa.
Ovidius m Ancient Roman
Latin form of Ovid.
Øydis f Norwegian (Rare)
Norwegian form of Eydís.
Øystein m Norwegian
Norwegian form of Eysteinn.
Ozazias m Biblical Greek
Form of Azaziah used in the Greek Bible.
Ozias m Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Biblical French, Biblical
Form of Uzziah used in the Greek, Latin and French Bibles. This spelling is also found in some English translations of the New Testament, in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
Pacificus m Late Roman
Means "peaceable" in Latin, from pax "peace" and facio "to make, to do". Saint Pacificus of San Severino was a 17th-century Italian priest and miracle worker.
Paisley f English (Modern)
From a Scots surname, originally from the name of a town near Glasgow, maybe ultimately derived from Latin basilica "church". This is also a word (derived from the name of that same town) for a type of pattern commonly found on fabrics.
Palesa f Sotho
Means "flower" in Sotho.
Pallas 1 f Greek Mythology
Probably derived from a Greek word meaning "maiden, young woman". This was an epithet of the Greek goddess Athena. According to some legends it was originally the name of a friend of the goddess. Athena accidentally killed her while sparring, so she took the name in honour of her friend.
Pallas 2 m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πάλλω (pallo) meaning "to brandish". In Greek mythology this was the name of a Titan and several other characters. It was also the name of a female character, though her name is probably from a different source (see Pallas 1).
Pamphilos m Ancient Greek
Means "friend of all" from Greek πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" and φίλος (philos) meaning "friend". This was the name of a 4th-century saint from Caesarea in the Roman province of Syria Palaestina.
Panagiotakis m Greek
Diminutive of Panagiotis.
Panagiotis m Greek
From the Greek title of the Virgin Mary Παναγία (Panagia) meaning "all holy", derived from πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" combined with ἅγιος (hagios) meaning "devoted to the gods, sacred".
Panayiotis m Greek
Alternate transcription of Greek Παναγιώτης (see Panagiotis).
Pancras m English (Archaic)
Medieval English form of Pancratius. The relics of the 4th-century saint Pancratius were sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great, leading to the saint's veneration there.
Pancratius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Παγκράτιος (Pankratios), derived from the Greek word παγκρατής (pankrates) meaning "all-powerful", from the roots πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". Early Byzantine Christians used this as a title of Christ. It was borne by two saints, a 1st-century Sicilian martyr and a semi-legendary 4th-century Roman martyr.
Panos m Greek
Diminutive of Panagiotis.
Pansy f English
From the English word for a type of flower, ultimately deriving from Old French pensee "thought".
Pantelis m Greek
Short form of Panteleimon.
Pantheras m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek πάνθηρ (panther) meaning "panther", a word ultimately of Sanskrit origin, though folk etymology connects it to Greek πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" and θηράω (therao) meaning "to hunt". According to some legends a Roman soldier named Panthera was the father of Jesus.
Paphnutius m Old Coptic (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Παφνούτιος (Paphnoutios), derived from Egyptian pꜣj-pꜣ-nṯr meaning "the one of God". This was the name of several saints, including the 4th-century bishop Paphnutius of Thebes.
Paramonos m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek παραμονή (paramone) meaning "endurance, constancy".
Parashara m Hinduism
Means "destroyer" in Sanskrit, from पराशॄ (parāśṝ) meaning "to destroy, to kill". In Hindu belief this is the name of a sage who is credited with the authorship of a few hymns in the Rigveda, as well as other works. According to the Mahabharata he was the father of Vyasa by the fisherwoman Satyavati.
Paraskeva f Bulgarian, Macedonian
Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Paraskeve.
Paraskevas m Greek, Late Greek
Masculine form of Paraskeve.
Paraskeve f Late Greek
Derived from Greek παρασκευή (paraskeue) meaning "preparation" or "Friday" (being the day of preparation). This was the name of a 2nd-century saint who was martyred in Rome.
Paraskevi f Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Paraskeve.
Paraskevoula f Greek
Diminutive of Paraskevi.
Parastoo f Persian
Means "swallow (bird)" in Persian.
Parastu f Persian
Alternate transcription of Persian پرستو (see Parastoo).
Paris 1 m Greek Mythology
Meaning unknown, possibly of Luwian or Hittite origin. In Greek mythology he was the Trojan prince who kidnapped Helen and began the Trojan War. Though presented as a somewhat of a coward in the Iliad, he did manage to slay the great hero Achilles. He was himself eventually slain in battle by Philoctetes.
Paris 2 f Various
From the name of Paris, the capital city of France, which got its name from the Gaulish tribe known as the Parisii. In America the popularity of this name spiked up and then down between 2003 and 2006, around the time that the television personality and socialite Paris Hilton (1981-) was at the height of her fame.
Parisa f Persian
Means "like a fairy" in Persian, derived from پری (parī) meaning "fairy, sprite, supernatural being".
Parris m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that originally denoted a person who came from the French city of Paris (see Paris 2).
Parsifal m Arthurian Cycle
Form of Parzival used by Richard Wagner for his opera Parsifal (1882).
Parysatis f Old Persian (Hellenized)
Greek form of the Old Persian name *𐎱𐎽𐎢𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎫𐎡𐏁 (Parušyatiš) meaning "much prosperity". This was the name of the wife of the Persian king Darius II (5th century BC). It was also borne by Parysatis II, a daughter of Artaxerxes III and a wife of Alexander the Great (4th century BC).
Pascal m French, German, Dutch
From the Late Latin name Paschalis, which meant "relating to Easter" from Latin Pascha "Easter", which was in turn from Hebrew פֶּסַח (pesaḥ) meaning "Passover". Passover is the ancient Hebrew holiday celebrating the liberation from Egypt. Because it coincided closely with the later Christian holiday of Easter, the same Latin word was used for both. The name Pascal can also function as a surname, as in the case of Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), the French philosopher, mathematician and inventor.
Pascale f French
Feminine form of Pascal.
Pascaline f French
Feminine form of Pascal.
Paschal m History
Variant of Paschalis (see Pascal). Paschal or Paschalis was the name of two popes.
Paschalis m Late Roman, Greek
Latin and Greek form of Pascal.
Pasco m Cornish
Cornish form of Pascal.
Pascual m Spanish
Spanish form of Pascal.
Pascuala f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Pascal.
Pasha m Russian
Diminutive of Pavel.
Pasi m Finnish
Finnish form of Basil 1.
Paškal m Croatian (Rare)
Croatian form of Pascal.
Paskal m Bulgarian, Macedonian
Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Pascal.
Paško m Croatian
Croatian form of Pascal.
Pasqua f Italian
Means "Easter" in Italian, from Latin Pascha (see Pascal).
Pasquale m Italian
Italian form of Pascal.
Pasqualina f Italian
Italian feminine form of Pascal.
Pasqualino m Italian
Diminutive of Pasquale.
Passang m & f Tibetan, Bhutanese
Means "good, excellent" in Tibetan.
Pastor m Spanish, Late Roman
From a Late Latin name meaning "shepherd". This was the name of at least three saints.
Pastora f Spanish
Feminine form of Pastor.
Patricius m Late Roman
Original Latin form of Patrick.
Patriks m Latvian
Latvian form of Patrick.
Patritsiya f Bulgarian (Rare), Russian (Rare)
Bulgarian and Russian feminine form of Patricius (see Patrick).
Patroclus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Πάτροκλος (Patroklos) meaning "glory of the father", derived from πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός) and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". In Greek legend he was one of the heroes who fought against the Trojans. His death at the hands of Hector drew his friend Achilles back into the war.
Patsy f & m English, Irish
Variant of Patty, also used as a diminutive of Patrick.
Paulinus m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Paulino.
Paulius m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Paul.
Paulos m Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Paul.
Pauls m Latvian
Latvian form of Paul.
Pausanias m Ancient Greek
From the Greek word παυσανίας (pausanias) meaning "reliever of sorrow", itself from παῦσις (pausis) meaning "stopping" and ἀνία (ania) meaning "grief, sorrow". Notable bearers include the kings Pausanias of Sparta (5th century BC) and Pausanias of Macedon (4th century BC), as well as a 2nd-century geographer.
Pāvels m Latvian
Latvian form of Paul.
Pāvils m Latvian (Archaic)
Latvian form of Paul.
Pavlos m Greek
Modern Greek form of Paul.
Pegasus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Πήγασος (Pegasos), possibly either from πηγός (pegos) meaning "strong" or πηγαῖος (pegaios) meaning "from a water spring". In Greek mythology Pegasus was the winged horse that sprang from the blood of Medusa after she was killed by Perseus. There is a constellation in the northern sky named after the horse.
Pelagius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Πελάγιος (Pelagios), which was derived from πέλαγος (pelagos) meaning "the sea". This was the name of several saints and two popes. It was also borne by a 4th-century British theologian whose teachings were eventually declared heretical.
Peleus m Greek Mythology
Probably derived from Greek πηλός (pelos) meaning "clay". In Greek mythology Peleus was a king of Phthia. With his wife the sea nymph Thetis he was the father of the hero Achilles.
Pelias m Greek Mythology
Perhaps derived from Greek πέλεια (peleia) meaning "rock pigeon". In Greek mythology, Pelias was the king of Iolcus who sent Jason on the quest for the Golden Fleece.
Pelleas m Arthurian Cycle
Possibly from the Greek name Peleus. In Arthurian legend this is the name of a knight in love with Arcade or Ettarde. He first appears in the Old French Post-Vulgate Cycle in the 13th century, later in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (15th century) and Alfred Tennyson's Idylls of the King (1859).
Pelles m Arthurian Cycle
Possibly from the Welsh name Beli. In the 13th-century Lancelot-Grail Cycle of Arthurian romance this was the name of the Fisher King, the son of Pellehan. He was also the father of Elaine and grandfather of Galahad.
Perfectus m Late Roman
Latin form of Perfecto.
Pericles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Περικλῆς (Perikles), which was derived from Greek περί (peri) meaning "around, exceedingly" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian statesman and general. It is also the name of the central character in the play Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608) written (or co-written) by William Shakespeare.
Perikles m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Pericles.
Periklis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Pericles.
Persefoni f Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Persephone.
Persephone f Greek Mythology
Meaning unknown, probably of Pre-Greek origin, but perhaps related to Greek πέρθω (pertho) meaning "to destroy" and φόνος (phonos) meaning "murder". In Greek myth she was the daughter of Demeter and Zeus. She was abducted to the underworld by Hades, but was eventually allowed to return to the surface for part of the year. The result of her comings and goings is the changing of the seasons. With her mother she was worshipped in the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were secret rites practiced at the city of Eleusis near Athens.
Perseus m Greek Mythology
Possibly derived from Greek πέρθω (pertho) meaning "to destroy". In Greek mythology Perseus was a hero who was said to have founded the ancient city of Mycenae. He was the son of Zeus and Danaë. Mother and child were exiled by Danaë's father Acrisius, and Perseus was raised on the island of Seriphos. The king of the island compelled Perseus to kill the Gorgon Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who gazed upon her was turned to stone. After obtaining winged sandals and other tools from the gods, he succeeded in his task by looking at Medusa in the reflection of his shield and slaying her in her sleep. On his return he defeated a sea monster in order to save Andromeda, who became his wife.
Persis f Biblical, Biblical Greek
Greek name meaning "Persian woman". This is the name of a woman mentioned in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament.