Names Categorized "family"

This is a list of names in which the categories include family.
gender
usage
Aage m Danish, Norwegian
Danish and Norwegian form of Áki.
Abiathar m Biblical
From Hebrew אֶבְיָתָר ('Evyatar) meaning "my father abounds" or "my father excels". In the Old Testament Abiathar was a high priest during the reign of King David.
Abidan m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Means "my father is judge" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is a Benjamite prince.
Abiel m Biblical
Means "God is my father" in Hebrew. This was the name of the grandfather of Saul in the Old Testament.
Abigail f English, Biblical, Biblical German, Biblical Italian, Biblical Portuguese, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name אֲבִיגָיִל ('Avigayil) meaning "my father is joy", derived from the roots אָב ('av) meaning "father" and גִּיל (gil) meaning "joy". In the Old Testament this is the name of Nabal's wife. After Nabal's death she became the third wife of King David.... [more]
Abihu m Biblical
Means "he is my father" in Hebrew. This is the name of a son of Aaron in the Old Testament. He and his brother Nadab were killed by God because they presented him with unauthorized fire.
Abijah m & f Biblical
Means "my father is Yahweh" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of several characters, both male and female, including the second king of Judah (also known as Abijam).
Abimael m Biblical, Biblical Greek
Meaning uncertain, though the first element is likely Hebrew אָב ('av) meaning "father". In the Old Testament he is listed as a descendant of Shem.
Abimelech m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Means "my father is king" in Hebrew, derived from the roots אָב ('av) meaning "father" and מֶלֶכְ (melekh) meaning "king". This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament including a king of Gerar who takes Abraham's wife Sarah, but is forced by God to give her back.
Abiram m Biblical
Means "my father is exalted" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, Abiram is swallowed by an earthquake after rebelling against the leadership of Moses.
Abishag f Biblical
Means "my father strays" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Abishag is a young woman who tends King David in his old age.
Abishai m Biblical
Means "my father is a gift" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is one of King David's heroes.
Abital f Biblical
Means "my father is dew" in Hebrew. She is the fifth wife of David in the Old Testament.
Abner m English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Means "my father is a light" in Hebrew, from אָב ('av) meaning "father" and נֵר (ner) meaning "lamp, light". In the Old Testament, Abner was a cousin of Saul and the commander of his army. After he killed Asahel he was himself slain by Asahel's brother Joab.... [more]
Abraham m English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Swedish, Dutch, German (Rare), Norwegian (Rare), Danish (Rare), Biblical, Biblical Latin
This name may be viewed either as meaning "father of many" in Hebrew or else as a contraction of Abram 1 and הָמוֹן (hamon) meaning "many, multitude". The biblical patriarch Abraham was originally named Abram but God changed his name (see Genesis 17:5). With his father Terah, he led his wife Sarah, his nephew Lot and their other followers from Ur into Canaan. He is regarded by Jews as being the founder of the Hebrews through his son Isaac and by Muslims as being the founder of the Arabs through his son Ishmael.... [more]
Abram 1 m English, Biblical
Means "high father" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament God changed Abram's name to Abraham (see Genesis 17:5).
Abramo m Italian
Italian form of Abraham.
Absalom m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name אַבְשָׁלוֹם ('Avshalom) meaning "my father is peace", derived from אָב ('av) meaning "father" and שָׁלוֹם (shalom) meaning "peace". In the Old Testament he is a son of King David. He avenged his sister Tamar by arranging the murder of her rapist, their half-brother Amnon. He later led a revolt against his father. While fleeing on the back of a mule he got his head caught in a tree and was killed by Joab.
Abu m Arabic
Means "father of" in Arabic. This is commonly used as an element in a kunya, which is a type of Arabic nickname. The element is combined with the name of one of the bearer's children (usually the eldest son). In some cases the kunya is figurative, not referring to an actual child, as in the case of the Muslim caliph Abu Bakr.
Achaab m Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Ahab.
Achab m Biblical Latin
Latin form of Ahab used in some versions of the Vulgate.
'Ach'av m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Ahab.
Adaeze f Western African, Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the king" in Igbo.
Adanna f Western African, Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of the father" in Igbo.
Adannaya f Western African, Igbo
Means "eldest daughter of her father" in Igbo.
Adelma f Italian (Rare), Literature
Feminine form of Adelmo. This name was used by Carlo Gozzi for a character in his play Turandot (1762).
Adelmo m Italian
Italian form of Adhelm, also used to refer to the English saint Ealdhelm.
Adhelm m Germanic
From the Old German elements atto meaning "father" and helm meaning "helmet, protection".
Åge m Norwegian
Norwegian form of Áki.
Ahab m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Means "uncle", from Hebrew אָח ('ach) meaning "brother" and אָב ('av) meaning "father". This was the name of a king of Israel, the husband of Jezebel, as told in the Old Testament. He was admonished by Elijah for his sinful behaviour. Herman Melville later used this name in his novel Moby-Dick (1851), where it belongs to a sea captain obsessively hunting for a white whale.
Ahinoam f Biblical
Means "my brother is pleasant" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of wives of both Saul and David.
Aitor m Basque, Spanish
Possibly means "good fathers" from Basque aita "father" and on "good". This was the name of a legendary ancestor of the Basques.
Åke m Swedish
Swedish form of Áki.
Áki m Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse diminutive of names containing the element anu "ancestor".
Akpan m Western African, Ibibio
Means "first-born son" in Ibibio.
Alaba f & m Western African, Yoruba
Means "second child after twins" in Yoruba.
Amane f Basque
From Basque ama "mother". It was coined by the Basque writer Sabino Arana as the equivalent of the rare Spanish devotional name Maternidad.
Ammiel m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "God is my kinsman" in Hebrew. This is the name of one of the spies sent out by Moses in the Old Testament.
Antigone f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and γονή (gone) meaning "birth, offspring". In Greek legend Antigone was the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. King Creon of Thebes declared that her slain brother Polynices was to remain unburied, a great dishonour. She disobeyed and gave him a proper burial, and for this she was sealed alive in a cave.
Antigonus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίγονος (Antigonos), derived from ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and γόνος (gonos) meaning "offspring, race, stock". This was the name of one of Alexander the Great's generals. After Alexander died, he took control of most of Asia Minor.
Antipater m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίπατρος (Antipatros), which meant "like the father" from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός). This was the name of an officer of Alexander the Great who became the regent of Macedon during Alexander's absence.
Anundr m Old Norse
Possibly from the Old Norse elements *anu "ancestor" and *vindr "victor".
Apikalia f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Abigail.
Apollo m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Ἀπόλλων (Apollon), which is of unknown meaning, though perhaps related to the Indo-European root *apelo- meaning "strength". Another theory states that Apollo can be equated with Appaliunas, an Anatolian god whose name possibly means "father lion" or "father light". The Greeks later associated Apollo's name with the Greek verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi) meaning "to destroy". In Greek mythology Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto and the twin of Artemis. He was the god of prophecy, medicine, music, art, law, beauty, and wisdom. Later he also became the god of the sun and light.
Arlet f Catalan
Catalan form of Arlette.
Arlette f French
French form of Herleva.
Armani m & f English (Modern)
From an Italian surname meaning "son of Ermanno". It has been used as a given name due to the fashion company Armani, which was founded by the clothing designer Giorgio Armani (1934-).
Ashurbanipal m Ancient Assyrian (Anglicized)
From Akkadian Ashur-bani-apli meaning "Ashur is creator of a son". This was the name of one of the final kings of the Assyrian Empire, reigning late in the 7th century BC. He appears in the Old Testament under the name Asnappar.
Ata 1 m Turkish
Means "ancestor" in Turkish.
Atabek m Kazakh, Kyrgyz
From the Turkic noble title atabeg, derived from ata meaning "father, ancestor" and beg meaning "chieftain, master".
Atajan m Turkmen
From Turkmen ata meaning "father, ancestor" combined with the suffix jan meaning "dear, darling" (of Persian origin).
Athaulf m Gothic (Modernized)
Contemporary spelling of the Gothic name *Aþawulfs, derived from the elements aþals "nobility" and wulfs "wolf" (making it a cognate of Adolf). Alternatively, the first element could be atta "father". This was the name of a 5th-century king of the Visigoths.
Attila m History, Hungarian, Turkish
Probably means "little father" from Gothic atta "father" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 5th-century leader of the Huns, a nomadic people from Central Asia who had expanded into Eastern Europe by the 4th century. Attila was likely the name given to him by his Gothic-speaking subjects in Eastern Europe; his real name may have been Avitohol.
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".
Avi m Hebrew
Means "my father" in Hebrew. It is also a diminutive of Avraham or Aviram.
Aviaaja f Indigenous American, Greenlandic
Means "cousin" in East Greenlandic.
Avigail f Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Abigail.
'Avigayil f Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Abigail.
Avishai m Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Abishai.
Babajide m Western African, Yoruba
Means "father has awakened" in Yoruba.
Babak m Persian
From Middle Persian 𐭯𐭠𐭯𐭪𐭩 (Papak) meaning "little father". This was the name of the father of Ardashir, the founder of the Sasanian Empire in Persia. It was also borne by the 9th-century resistance leader Babak Khorramdin.
Babatunde m Western African, Yoruba
Means "father has come again" in Yoruba.
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 naviya') meaning "son of the prophet", though in Acts 4:36 it is claimed that the name means "son of encouragement".... [more]
Bartholomew m English, Biblical
English form of Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaios), which was the Greek form of an Aramaic name meaning "son of Talmai". In the New Testament Bartholomew is the byname of an apostle, possibly the same person as the apostle Nathanael. According to tradition he was a missionary to India before returning westward to Armenia, where he was martyred by flaying. Due to the popularity of this saint the name became common in England during the Middle Ages.
Bartolomé m Spanish
Spanish form of Bartholomew.
Bartolomea f Italian
Italian feminine form of Bartholomew.
Batel f Hebrew
Means "daughter of God" in Hebrew.
Bathsheba f Biblical
Means "daughter of the oath" in Hebrew. According to the Old Testament, this was the name of a woman married to Uriah the Hittite. She became pregnant by King David, so he arranged to have her husband killed in battle and then married her. She was the mother of Solomon.
Batsheva f Hebrew
Hebrew variant of Bathsheba.
Bekzat m Kazakh
From the Turkic military title beg meaning "chieftain, master" and the Persian suffix زاد (zad) meaning "son of".
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-'oni) 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]
Bertalan m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Bartholomew.
Bethsabee f Biblical Latin
Form of Bathsheba used in the Latin Bible.
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.
Bidzina m Georgian
From Georgian ბიძა (bidza) meaning "uncle". This was the name of a 17th-century Georgian saint and martyr.
Bile m Irish Mythology
Possibly an Irish form of Belenus, though it may derive from an Irish word meaning "sacred tree, scion, hero". In Irish mythology this was the name of one of the Milesians who was drowned while invading Ireland.
Bithiah f Biblical
Means "daughter of Yahweh" in Hebrew, from the roots בַּת (bat) meaning "daughter" and יָה (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is the name of a daughter of Pharaoh. She is traditionally equated with the pharaoh's daughter who drew Moses from the Nile.
Bratislav m Serbian
Derived from the Slavic elements bratu "brother" and slava "glory".
Bratumił m Polish (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements bratu "brother" and milu "gracious, dear".
Bror m Swedish
From the Old Norse name Bróðir meaning "brother".
Buddy m English
From the English word meaning "friend". It probably originated as a nursery form of the word brother.
Candace f English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the hereditary title of the queens of Ethiopia, as mentioned in Acts in the New Testament. It is apparently derived from Cushitic kdke meaning "queen mother". In some versions of the Bible it is spelled Kandake, reflecting the Greek spelling Κανδάκη. It was used as a given name by the Puritans after the Protestant Reformation. It was popularized in the 20th century by a character in the 1942 movie Meet the Stewarts.
Chaska m Indigenous American, Sioux
From Lakota or Dakota čhaské meaning "firstborn son".
Cleopas m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Shortened form of the Greek name Kleopatros (see Cleopatra). In the New Testament Cleopas is a disciple who sees Jesus after his resurrection.
Cleopatra f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κλεοπάτρα (Kleopatra) meaning "glory of the father", derived from κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory" combined with πατήρ (pater) meaning "father" (genitive πατρός). This was the name of queens of Egypt from the Ptolemaic royal family, including Cleopatra VII, the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide (according to popular belief, by allowing herself to be bitten by a venomous asp). Shakespeare's tragedy Antony and Cleopatra (1606) tells the story of her life.
Comhghán m Irish (Rare)
Means "born together" from Old Irish com "with, together" and gan "born". Saint Comgán was the founder of a monastery at Killeshin in the 6th or 7th century.
Cormac m Irish Mythology, Irish
From Old Irish Cormacc or Corbmac, of uncertain meaning, possibly from corb "chariot, wagon" or corbbad "defilement, corruption" combined with macc "son". This is the name of several characters from Irish legend, including the semi-legendary high king Cormac mac Airt who supposedly ruled in the 3rd century, during the adventures of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. This name was also borne by a few early saints.
Cunégonde f French (Rare)
French form of Kunigunde. Voltaire used this name in his novel Candide (1759).
Cunigund f Germanic
Old German form of Kunigunde.
David m English, Hebrew, French, Scottish, Welsh, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Czech, Slovene, Russian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name דָּוִד (Dawid), which was derived from Hebrew דּוֹד (dod) meaning "beloved" or "uncle". David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of Goliath, a giant Philistine. According to the New Testament, Jesus was descended from him.... [more]
Dearbháil f Irish
From Old Irish Derbáil meaning "daughter of Fál", derived from the prefix der meaning "daughter" and Fál, a legendary name for Ireland.
Deirbhile f Irish
Means "daughter of a poet" from Old Irish der "daughter" and fili "poet" (genitive filed). This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint, also called Dervla.
Deirdre f English, Irish, Irish Mythology
From the Old Irish name Derdriu, meaning unknown, possibly derived from der meaning "daughter". This was the name of a tragic character in Irish legend who died of a broken heart after Conchobar, the king of Ulster, forced her to be his bride and killed her lover Naoise.... [more]
Demeter 1 f Greek Mythology
Possibly means "earth mother", derived from Greek δᾶ (da) meaning "earth" and μήτηρ (meter) meaning "mother". In Greek mythology Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, the daughter of Cronus, the sister of Zeus, and the mother of Persephone. She was an important figure in the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were secret rites performed at Eleusis near Athens.
Derbáil f Old Irish
Old Irish form of Dearbháil.
Derbiled f Old Irish
Old Irish form of Deirbhile.
Derval f Irish
Anglicized form of Dearbháil or Deirbhile.
Dervila f Irish
Anglicized form of Deirbhile or Dearbháil.
Dervla f Irish
Anglicized form of Deirbhile or Dearbháil.
Detlef m Low German, German
Derived from Old High German diota, Old Saxon thiod meaning "people" and Old High German leiba, Old Saxon leva meaning "remainder, remnant, legacy".
Doireann f Irish, Irish Mythology
Possibly from the Old Irish prefix der "daughter" and finn "white, blessed". Alternatively it may be derived from Irish doireann "sullen, tempestuous". This was the name of several characters in Irish legend, including a daughter of Bodb Derg who poisoned Fionn mac Cumhaill after he spurned her advances.
Dracula m History, Literature
Means "son of Dracul" in Romanian, with Dracul being derived from Romanian drac "dragon". It was a nickname of the 15th-century Wallachian prince Vlad III, called the Impaler, whose father was Vlad II Dracul. However, the name Dracula is now most known from the 1897 novel of the same name by Bram Stoker, which features the Transylvanian vampire Count Dracula, who was probably inspired in part by the historical Wallachian prince.
Draupadi f Hinduism
Means "daughter of Drupada" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of the daughter of King Drupada. She married all of the Pandavas, the five sons of Pandu.
Dumuzi m Sumerian Mythology
From Sumerian 𒌉 (dumu) meaning "son, child" and 𒍣 (zid) meaning "true, loyal". This was the name of a Sumerian god of shepherds and vegetation, the husband of Inanna. He was said to spend half of each year in the underworld, resulting in the yearly cycle of seasons. He was known to the Semitic peoples of Mesopotamia as Tammuz.
Dyaus Pita m Hinduism
Form of Dyaus suffixed with the Sanskrit epithet पितृ (pitr) meaning "father".
Edda 2 f Icelandic, Old Norse
Possibly from Old Norse meaning "great-grandmother". This was the name of two 13th-century Icelandic literary works: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. This is also the name of a character in the Poetic Edda, though it is unclear if her name is connected to the name of the collection.
Efe 1 m Turkish
Means "older brother, brave" in Turkish.
Eileifr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Elof.
Eliab m Biblical
From Hebrew אֱלִיאָב ('Eli'av) meaning "my God is father". This is the name of several people from the Old Testament, including a brother of King David.
Elof m Swedish
From the Old Norse name Eileifr, which was derived from the elements ei "ever, always" and leif "inheritance, legacy".
Elov m Swedish (Rare)
Variant of Elof.
Eluf m Danish (Rare)
Danish form of Elof.
Emese f Hungarian
Possibly derived from Finno-Ugric eme meaning "mother". In Hungarian legend this was the name of the grandmother of Árpád, founder of the Hungarian state.
Emre m Turkish
Means "friend, brother" in Turkish. This name was borne by the 13th-century Turkish poet Yunus Emre.
Enyinnaya m Western African, Igbo
Means "his father's friend" in Igbo.
Etenesh f Eastern African, Amharic
Means "you are my sister" in Amharic.
Filadelfo m Italian
Italian form of Philadelphos.
Fitz m English (Rare)
Short form of various given names that are derived from surnames beginning with Norman French fitz meaning "son of" (for example Fitzroy).
Fitzroy m English (Rare)
From an English surname meaning "son of the king" in Old French, originally given to illegitimate sons of monarchs.
Fitzwilliam m Literature
From an English surname meaning "son of William", formed using the Anglo-Norman French prefix fitz-, derived from Latin filius "son". This is the given name of Mr. Darcy, a character in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice (1813).
Geneviève f French
From the medieval name Genovefa, which is of uncertain origin. It could be derived from the Germanic elements *kunją "clan, family, lineage" and *wībą "wife, woman". Alternatively it could be of Gaulish origin, from the related Celtic element *genos "kin, family" combined with a second element of unknown meaning. This name was borne by Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, who inspired the city to resist the Huns in the 5th century.
Genevieve f English
English form of Geneviève.
Genovaitė f Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Geneviève.
Genoveffa f Italian
Italian form of Geneviève.
Genoveva f Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan
Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan form of Geneviève.
Genowefa f Polish
Polish form of Geneviève.
Germanus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "brother" in Latin. This was the name of several early saints.
Gilgamesh m Sumerian Mythology, Semitic Mythology
Possibly means "the ancestor is a hero", from Sumerian 𒉋𒂵 (bilga) meaning "ancestor" and 𒈩 (mes) meaning "hero, young man". This was the name of a Sumerian hero, later appearing in the Akkadian poem the Epic of Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh, with his friend Enkidu, battled the giant Humbaba and stopped the rampage of the Bull of Heaven, besides other adventures. Gilgamesh was probably based on a real person: a king of Uruk who ruled around the 27th century BC.
Ginette f French
Diminutive of Geneviève.
Giove m Roman Mythology (Italianized)
Italian form of Iovis (see Jove). This is the Italian name for the Roman god Jupiter.
Gleb m Russian
Russian form of the Old Norse name Guðleifr, which was derived from the elements guð "god" and leif "inheritance, legacy". This was the name of an 11th-century saint, a member of the ruling family of Kievan Rus. Along with his brother Boris he was killed in the power struggles that followed the death of his father Vladimir the Great, and he is regarded as a martyr.
Goro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 五郎 (see Gorō).
Gorō m Japanese
From Japanese (go) meaning "five" and () meaning "son". This was traditionally a name for the fifth son. Different combinations of kanji are also possible.
Gorou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 五郎 (see Gorō).
Gyöngyvér f Hungarian
Means "sister of pearl", from Hungarian gyöngy "pearl" and testvér "sibling". This name was created by the Hungarian poet János Arany for a character in his poem The Death of King Buda (1864).
Hachiro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 八郎 (see Hachirō).
Hachirō m Japanese
From Japanese (hachi) meaning "eight" and () meaning "son". This was traditionally a name for the eighth son. Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Hachirou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 八郎 (see Hachirō).
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.
Hamilcar m Phoenician (Latinized), History
Possibly means "brother of Melqart", derived from Phoenician 𐤀𐤇 (ʾaḥ) meaning "brother" combined with the name of the god Melqart. This was a common Punic name. Among the notable bearers was Hamilcar Barca, a 3rd-century BC Carthaginian general who was the father of Hannibal and Hasdrubal.
Hammurabi m Babylonian (Anglicized), History
From Akkadian Hammu-rapi, probably derived from Amorite, another Semitic language. Various meanings, such as "uncle is a healer", have been suggested.... [more]
Hammu-Rapi m Babylonian
Akkadian form of Hammurabi.
Herleif f & m Old Norse, Norwegian (Rare)
Old Norse feminine form and modern Scandinavian masculine form of Herleifr.
Herleifr m Old Norse
Derived from the Old Norse elements herr "army, warrior" and leif "inheritance, legacy".
Herleva f Germanic (Latinized)
Possibly from the Old German elements heri "army" and leiba "remainder, remnant, legacy" (or the Old Norse cognates herr and leif, see Herleif). This was the name of the mother of William the Conqueror, who, according to tradition, was a commoner.
Hiram m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew, English
From Phoenician 𐤇𐤓𐤌 (Ḥirom) meaning "exalted brother". This was the name of a king of Tyre in the Old Testament. He may have reigned in the 10th century BC. As an English given name, Hiram came into use after the Protestant Reformation. In the 17th century the Puritans brought it to America, where it gained some currency.
Hirom m Phoenician
Phoenician form of Hiram.
Hyrum m English (Rare)
Variant of Hiram. This name was borne by Hyrum Smith (1800-1844), an early leader within the Mormon Church.
Ichiro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 一郎 (see Ichirō).
Ichirō m Japanese
From Japanese (ichi) meaning "one" and () meaning "son". This was traditionally a name given to the first son. Other combinations of kanji characters are also possible.
Ichirou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 一郎 (see Ichirō).
Iemanjá f Afro-American Mythology
Portuguese form of Yemọja, used in Brazil by adherents of Candomblé. She is identified with Our Lady of Immaculate Conception as well as other aspects of the Virgin Mary.
Ikenna m Western African, Igbo
Means "power of the father" in Igbo.
Ing m Germanic Mythology
From the Germanic *Ingwaz, possibly meaning "ancestor". This was the name of an obscure Germanic fertility god who was considered the ancestor of the tribe the Ingaevones. It is possible he was an earlier incarnation of the god Freyr.
Iovianus m Ancient Roman
Older form of Jovian.
Iovis m Roman Mythology
Older form of Jove.
Isingoma m Eastern African, Ganda
Means "first of twins" in Luganda.
Itzamna m Mayan Mythology, Indigenous American, Mayan
From Classic Maya itzam, an element found in the names of some Maya gods (possibly from itz "enchanted, nectar" and mam "grandfather"), combined with nah "great". Itzamna was the Maya creator god.
Iyabo f Western African, Yoruba
Means "mother has returned" in Yoruba.
Janaka m Sanskrit, Sinhalese
Means "father" in Sanskrit. This was the name of an ancient Indian king of Videha. In the Hindu epic the Ramayana he is the father of Sita.
Jepson m English (Rare)
From an English surname that meant "son of Jep".
Jia m & f Chinese
From Chinese (jiā) meaning "good, auspicious, beautiful", (jiā) meaning "home, family", or other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Jiahao m Chinese
From Chinese (jiā) meaning "home, family" combined with (háo) meaning "brave, heroic, chivalrous". This name can be formed from other character combinations as well.
Jiro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 二郎 (see Jirō).
Jirō m Japanese
From Japanese (ji) meaning "two" and () meaning "son". This was traditionally a name given to the second son. Other combinations of kanji characters can also be possible.
Jirou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 二郎 (see Jirō).
Joab m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is father" in Hebrew. According to the Old Testament, he was the commander of King David's army. In separate incidents he killed both Abner and Absalom. When Solomon came to power he was executed.
Joah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is brother" in Hebrew. This is the name of four people in the Old Testament.
Jove m Roman Mythology (Anglicized)
From Latin Iovis, the genitive case of Iuppiter (see Jupiter). Though this form is grammatically genitive, post-classically it has been used nominatively as another name for Jupiter.
Jovian m Ancient Roman (Anglicized)
From Latin Iovianus, a Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Iovis (see Jove). This was the name of a 4th-century Roman emperor.
Jupiter m Roman Mythology (Anglicized)
From Latin Iuppiter, which was ultimately derived from the vocative form of Indo-European *Dyēws-pətēr, composed of the elements Dyēws (see Zeus) and pətēr "father". Jupiter was the supreme god in Roman mythology. He presided over the heavens and light, and was responsible for the protection and laws of the Roman state. This is also the name of the fifth and largest planet in the solar system.
Jūrō m Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "ten" and () meaning "son". Traditionally this name was given to the tenth son. Other combinations of kanji characters are possible as well.
Juro 2 m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 十郎 (see Jūrō).
Jurou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 十郎 (see Jūrō).
Juurou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 十郎 (see Jūrō).
Kadek m & f Balinese
Possibly from Balinese adik meaning "younger sibling". This name is traditionally given to the second-born child.
Kapua f & m Hawaiian
Means "the flower" or "the child" from Hawaiian ka, a definite article, and pua "flower, offspring".
Katsuro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 勝郎 (see Katsurō).
Katsurō m Japanese
From Japanese (katsu) meaning "victory" and () meaning "son". Different kanji characters can combine to form this name as well.
Katsurou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 勝郎 (see Katsurō).
Kentarō m Japanese
From Japanese (ken) meaning "healthy, strong", (ta) meaning "thick, big, great" and () meaning "son". Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Kichiro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 吉郎 (see Kichirō).
Kichirō m Japanese
From Japanese (kichi) meaning "good luck" and () meaning "son". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Kichirou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 吉郎 (see Kichirō).
Kleopatros m Ancient Greek
Greek masculine form of Cleopatra.
Kuldeep m Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit कुल (kula) meaning "family" and दीप (dipa) meaning "lamp, light".
Kumara m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit कुमार (kumara) meaning "boy, son". In Hindu texts this is an epithet of both the fire god Agni and the war god Skanda.
Kunegunda f Polish (Rare)
Polish form of Kunigunde. The 13th-century Saint Kunegunda was the daughter of Bela IV, king of Hungary. She married Boleslaus V of Poland, but after his death refused to assume power and instead became a nun.
Kunibert m German (Rare), Germanic
Derived from the Old German element kuni "royal" and beraht "bright". Saint Kunibert was a 7th-century bishop of Cologne.
Kunigunde f German (Rare)
Derived from the Old German element kuni "royal" combined with gunda "war". It was borne by a 4th-century Swiss saint, a companion of Saint Ursula. Another saint by this name was the 11th-century wife of the Holy Roman emperor Henry II.
Kuno m German, Germanic
Short form of names beginning with the Old German element kuni meaning "royal" (related to kunni meaning "clan, family"). It can also be a short form of Konrad.
Kuro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 九郎 (see Kurō).
Kurō m Japanese
From Japanese (ku) meaning "nine" and () meaning "son". This name was traditionally given to the ninth son. Other combinations of kanji characters are also possible.
Kurou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 九郎 (see Kurō).
Lailoken m History
From medieval Latin Laloecen, possibly related to Welsh llallo meaning "brother, friend". This name appears in medieval tales about Saint Kentigern, borne by a prophetic madman at the court of Rhydderch Hael. He may form a basis for Myrddin, who is addressed as llallogan by his sister Gwenddydd in the Red Book of Hergest.
Leif m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Leifr meaning "descendant, heir". Leif Eriksson was a Norse explorer who reached North America in the early 11th century. He was the son of Erik the Red.
Leifr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Leif.
Leifur m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Leif.
Leiv m Norwegian
Norwegian variant of Leif.
Lillemor f Swedish, Norwegian (Rare)
Means "little mother", from Swedish and Norwegian lille, an inflected form of liten meaning "little", combined with mor meaning "mother". This name was first recorded in Norway and Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century.
Mabyn f Cornish
Possibly from Old Cornish mab meaning "son". This was the name of a 6th-century Cornish saint, said to be one of the children of Brychan Brycheiniog. She is now regarded as a woman, but some early sources describe her as a man.
Madison f & m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Maud". It was not commonly used as a feminine name until after the movie Splash (1984), in which the main character adopted it as her name after seeing a street sign for Madison Avenue in New York City. It was ranked second for girls in the United States by 2001. This rise from obscurity to prominence in only 18 years represents an unprecedented 550,000 percent increase in usage.... [more]
Maia 1 f Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology, Portuguese, Georgian
From Greek μαῖα (maia) meaning "good mother, dame, foster mother", perhaps in origin a nursery form of μήτηρ (meter). In Greek and Roman mythology she was the eldest of the Pleiades, a group of stars in the constellation Taurus, who were the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Her son by Zeus was Hermes.
Maiara f Indigenous American, Tupi
From Tupi maya arya meaning "great-grandmother".
Mamuka m Georgian
Means "little father" in Georgian.
Maponos m Celtic Mythology
Means "great son", from the Celtic root *makwos meaning "son" (Gaulish and Brythonic mapos) combined with the divine or augmentative suffix -on. This was the name of a god of youth worshipped in Gaul and Britain. He was commonly equated with the Greco-Roman god Apollo.
Mari 3 f Basque Mythology
Possibly from Basque emari meaning "donation" or amari meaning "mother". This was the name of a goddess of nature and fertility in Basque mythology.
Matrona 1 f Russian (Rare), Late Roman
Means "lady" in Late Latin, a derivative of Latin mater "mother". This was the name of three early saints.
Matrona 2 f Celtic Mythology
Means "great mother", from Celtic *mātīr meaning "mother" and the divine or augmentative suffix -on. This was the name of a Gaulish and Brythonic mother goddess, the namesake of the River Marne.
Maximón m Mythology
The name of a trickster folk deity, also called San Simón, worshipped by the Maya people in parts of Guatemala. He is a syncretic figure thought to have arisen during the Spanish conquest, and is typically represented by a man-sized, cigar-smoking, alcohol-drinking wooden effigy. The meaning of the name is uncertain. It could be a blend of Mam, a title of some of the Maya gods meaning "grandfather", and Simón, referring to Saint Peter.
Mayrbek m Chechen
Derived from Nakh майра (mayra) meaning "husband, brave man" combined with the Turkic military title beg meaning "chieftain, master".
Meritites f Ancient Egyptian
From Egyptian mryt-jts meaning "loved by her father". This name was borne by several Egyptian royals, including a wife and a daughter of the pharaoh Khufu.
Metrodora f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μήτηρ (meter) meaning "mother" (genitive μητρός) and δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift". This was the name of a 4th-century saint and martyr who was killed with her sisters Menodora and Nymphodora.
Metrophanes m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek μήτηρ (meter) meaning "mother" (genitive μητρός) and φανής (phanes) meaning "appearing". Saint Metrophanes was the first bishop of Byzantium (4th century).
Mirza m Persian, Arabic, Bosnian
Means "prince" from Persian میرزا (mirza), earlier امیرزاده (amirzadeh), which is ultimately from Arabic أمير (amir) meaning "commander" combined with Persian زاده (zadeh) meaning "offspring".
Mitrodora f Macedonian
Macedonian form of Metrodora.
Moa f Swedish
Possibly derived from Swedish moder meaning "mother". This was the pen name of the Swedish author Moa Martinson (real name Helga Maria Martinson).
Moab m Biblical
Means "of his father" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Lot. He was the ancestor of the Moabites, a people who lived in the region called Moab to the east of Israel.
Moacir m Indigenous American, Tupi
From Tupi moasy meaning "pain, regret". This is the name of the son of Iracema and Martim in the novel Iracema (1865) by José de Alencar.
Moses m English, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh), which is most likely derived from Egyptian mes meaning "son", but could also possibly mean "deliver" in Hebrew. The meaning suggested in the Old Testament of "drew out" from Hebrew משה (mashah) is probably an invented etymology (see Exodus 2:10).... [more]
Mut f Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian mwt meaning "mother". In Egyptian mythology she was a mother goddess, the consort of Amon and the mother of Khonsu. She was sometimes depicted wearing a headdress with vulture wings.
Muthoni f Eastern African, Kikuyu
Means "mother-in-law" in Kikuyu.
Mwanahawa f Eastern African, Swahili
Combination of Swahili mwana meaning "child" and the name Hawa.
Nabopolassar m Babylonian (Anglicized)
From the Akkadian name Nabu-apla-usur meaning "Nabu protect my son", derived from the god's name Nabu combined with aplu meaning "son, heir" and an imperative form of naṣāru meaning "to protect". This was the name of a 7th-century BC king of the Babylonian Empire, the first of the Chaldean dynasty.
Naja f Indigenous American, Greenlandic, Danish
From Greenlandic najaa meaning "his younger sister". It was popularized in Denmark by the writer B. S. Ingemann, who used it in his novel Kunnuk and Naja, or the Greenlanders (1842).
Nebuchadnezzar m Babylonian (Anglicized), Biblical
From נְבוּכַדְנֶאצֲּר (Nevukhadnetzzar), the Hebrew form of the Akkadian name Nabu-kudurri-usur meaning "Nabu protect my eldest son", derived from the god's name Nabu combined with kudurru meaning "eldest son" and an imperative form of naṣāru meaning "to protect". This name was borne by a 12th-century BC king of the Babylonian Empire. It was also borne by a 6th-century BC king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He captured Jerusalem, and ultimately destroyed the city's temple and deported many of its citizens, as told in the Old Testament.
Nindaanis f Indigenous American, Ojibwe
Means "my daughter" in Ojibwe.
Nnamdi m Western African, Igbo
Means "my father is alive" in Igbo. This name is given to a child when it is believed that he is a reincarnation of his grandfather.
Nneka f Western African, Igbo
Means "mother is greater" in Igbo.
Nnenna f Western African, Igbo
Means "father's mother" in Igbo. This name is given in honour of the child's paternal grandmother.
Nnenne f Western African, Igbo
Means "mother's mother" in Igbo. This name is given in honour of the child's maternal grandmother.
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.
Nuka m & f Indigenous American, Greenlandic
From Greenlandic nukaa meaning "younger sibling".
Nwanneka f Western African, Igbo
Means "sibling is greater" in Igbo.
Obinna m Western African, Igbo
Means "heart of the father" in Igbo, from óbì "heart, mind" and ńnà "father".
Olaf m Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Polish
From the Old Norse name Áleifr meaning "ancestor's descendant", derived from the elements anu "ancestor" and leif "inheritance, legacy". This was the name of five kings of Norway, including Saint Olaf (Olaf II).
Olaug f Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Ólaug, derived from the elements anu "ancestor" and laug possibly meaning "vowed, promised, bound in oath".
Omobolanle f Western African, Yoruba
Means "child finds wealth at home" in Yoruba.
Omolara f Western African, Yoruba
Means "child is family" in Yoruba.
Oum f Arabic (Maghrebi)
Alternate transcription of Arabic أمّ (see Umm) chiefly used in Northern Africa.
Pachamama f Inca Mythology
Means "earth mother" in Quechua, from pacha "world, time" and mama "mother". This was the name of an Inca goddess of the earth and fertility.
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.
Philadelphia f English (Rare)
From the name of a city in Asia Minor mentioned in Revelation in the New Testament. The name of the city meant "brotherly love" from Greek φιλέω (phileo) meaning "to love" and ἀδελφός (adelphos) meaning "brother". It is also the name of a city in the United States.
Philadelphos m Ancient Greek
From Greek φιλέω (phileo) meaning "to love" and ἀδελφός (adelphos) meaning "brother".
Pua f & m Hawaiian
Means "flower, offspring" in Hawaiian.
Puabi f Akkadian
Means "word of my father", from Akkadian meaning "mouth" and abu meaning "father". Puabi was a 26th-century BC Akkadian noblewoman who was buried in the Sumerian city of Ur.
Pualani f Hawaiian
Means "heavenly flower" or "royal offspring" from Hawaiian pua "flower, offspring" and lani "heaven, sky, royal, majesty".
Putera m Malay
Means "son, prince" in Malay, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्र (putra).
Puteri f Malay
Means "daughter, princess" in Malay, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्री (putri).
Putra m Indonesian
Means "son" in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्र (putra).
Putri f Indonesian
Means "daughter" in Indonesian, ultimately from Sanskrit पुत्री (putri).
Putu m & f Balinese
Means "grandchild" in Balinese. Traditionally, this name is given to the first-born child.
Rambabu m Indian, Telugu
Means "father Rama" from the name of the Hindu deity Rama 1 combined with Telugu బాబు (babu) meaning "father".
Ramesha m Hinduism
Means "husband of Lakshmi", derived from Rama 2, a name of Lakshmi, combined with ईश (isha) meaning "ruler, husband". This is one of the names of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Reuben m Biblical, Hebrew, English
Means "behold, a son" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament he is the eldest son of Jacob and Leah and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Reuben was cursed by his father because he slept with Jacob's concubine Bilhah. It has been used as a Christian name in Britain since the Protestant Reformation.
Rokuro m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 六郎 (see Rokurō).
Rokurō m Japanese
From Japanese (roku) meaning "six" and () meaning "son". This name was traditionally given to the sixth son. Other combinations of kanji characters can also form this name.
Rokurou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 六郎 (see Rokurō).
Sabas m Spanish
From the Greek name Σάββας (Sabbas), which was derived from Hebrew סַבָא (sava') meaning "old man, grandfather". Saints bearing this name include a 4th-century Gothic martyr, a 5th-century Cappadocian hermit, and a 12th-century archbishop of Serbia who is the patron saint of that country.
Saburo m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 三郎 (see Saburō).
Saburō m Japanese
From Japanese (sabu) meaning "three" and () meaning "son". This was traditionally a name for the third son. Other kanji combinations are possible as well.
Saburou m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 三郎 (see Saburō).
Salil m Arabic
Means "sword" or "son" in Arabic.
Saramama f Inca Mythology
Means "corn mother" in Quechua, from sara "corn, maize" and mama "mother". This was the name of the Inca goddess of grain.
Seera f Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Sheerah.
Sennacherib m Ancient Assyrian (Anglicized), Biblical, Biblical Latin
From Akkadian Sin-ahhi-eriba meaning "Sin has replaced my (lost) brothers", from the god's name Sin combined with a plural form of aḫu meaning "brother" and riābu meaning "to replace". This was the name of a 7th-century BC Assyrian king who destroyed Babylon. He appears in the Old Testament.
Shahrazad f Persian (Rare), Arabic
Possibly means "noble lineage" from Persian چهر (chehr) meaning "lineage, origin" and آزاد (azad) meaning "free, noble". Alternatively, it might mean "child of the city" from شهر (shahr) meaning "city, land" combined with the suffix زاد (zad) meaning "child of". This is the name of the fictional storyteller in The 1001 Nights. She tells a story to her husband the king every night for 1001 nights in order to delay her execution.
Shahzad m Persian, Arabic, Urdu
Means "prince, son of the king" in Persian.
Shailaja f Hinduism, Indian, Telugu
Means "daughter of the mountain" in Sanskrit, from शैल (shaila) meaning "mountain" and (ja) meaning "born". This is another name of the Hindu goddess Parvati.
Shapur m History, Persian
From Middle Persian 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Shahpuhr) meaning "son of the king". This was the name of three Sasanian emperors.
Sheerah f Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "kinswoman" in Hebrew. This is the name of a daughter of Ephraim in the Old Testament.
Sherah f Biblical
Variant of Sheerah used in the King James Version of the Old Testament.
Sherzod m Uzbek, Tajik
Means "son of the lion", derived from Persian شیر (sher) meaning "lion" and the suffix زاد (zad) meaning "son of".