ADA f English, German, Polish, Hungarian, Italian, Finnish, Ancient GermanicOriginally a short form of Germanic names such as
ADELAIDE or
ADELINA that begin with the element
adal meaning "noble". This name was borne by Augusta Ada King (1815-1852), the Countess of Lovelace (known as Ada Lovelace), a daughter of Lord Byron. She was an assistant to Charles Babbage, the inventor of an early mechanical computer.
ADALHARD m Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic elements
adal "noble" and
hard "brave, hardy". Saint Adalhard or Adalard was a cousin of Charlemagne who became an abbot of Corbie.
ADELA f English, Spanish, Romanian, Polish, Slovak, Ancient GermanicOriginally a short form of names beginning with the Germanic element
adal meaning
"noble". Saint Adela was a 7th-century Frankish princess who founded a monastery at Pfazel in France. This name was also borne by a daughter of William the Conqueror.
ADOLF m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Ancient GermanicFrom the Germanic name
Adalwolf, which meant
"noble wolf" from the Germanic elements
adal "noble" and
wulf. It was borne by several Swedish kings as a first or second name, most notably by Gustav II Adolf in the 17th century. Association with Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), the leader of the Nazi party in Germany during World War II, has lessened the use of this name.
ÆLFGIFU f Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ælf "elf" and
giefu "gift". This was the name of the first wife of the English king Æðelræd II.
ÆLFHEAH m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ælf "elf" and
heah "high". This was the name of an 11th-century archbishop of Canterbury, a saint and martyr, who is commonly known as Alphege or Elphege.
ÆLFWINE m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ælf "elf" and
wine "friend". This name was not commonly used after the Norman Conquest.
ÆSC m Anglo-SaxonMeans
"ash tree" in Old English. This was the nickname of a 5th-century king of Kent, whose birth name was Oeric.
ÆÐELBERHT m Anglo-SaxonOld English cognate of
Adalbert (see
ALBERT). This was the name of a Saxon king of England and two kings of Kent, one of whom was a saint. It became unused after the Normans introduced their form of
Adalbert after their invasion.
ÆÐELFLÆD f Anglo-SaxonOld English name composed of the elements
æðel "noble" and
flæd "beauty". Æðelflæd was a 10th-century queen of Mercia.
ÆÐELFRIÐ m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
æðel "noble" and
friþ "peace". The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
ÆÐELRÆD m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
æðel "noble" and
ræd "counsel". This was the name of two Saxon kings of England including Æðelræd II "the Unready" whose realm was overrun by the Danes in the early 11th century. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
ÆÐELRIC m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
æðel "noble" and
ric "ruler". This was the name of several early Anglo-Saxon kings.
ÆÐELSTAN m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
æðel "noble" and
stan "stone". This was the name of a 10th-century English king, the first to rule all of England. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, though it enjoyed a modest revival (as
Athelstan) in the 19th century.
ÆÐELWINE m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
æðel "noble" and
wine "friend". This name became rare after the Norman Conquest. Saint Æðelwine was a 7th-century bishop of Lindsey, England.
AGILULF m Ancient GermanicGermanic name derived from the elements
agil "edge (of a sword), blade" and
wulf "wolf". This name was borne by a 6th-century king of the Lombards and by an 8th-century bishop of Cologne and saint.
ALARIC m Ancient GermanicFrom the Gothic name
Alareiks, which meant
"ruler of all", derived from the Germanic element
ala "all" combined with
ric "ruler". This was the name of a king of the Visigoths who sacked Rome in the 5th century.
ALBERICH m Ancient Germanic, Germanic MythologyDerived from the Germanic elements
alf "elf" and
ric "ruler, mighty". Alberich was the name of the sorcerer king of the dwarfs in Germanic mythology. He also appears in the
Nibelungenlied as a dwarf who guards the treasure of the Nibelungen.
ALBERT m English, French, Catalan, German, Polish, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Romanian, Hungarian, Ancient GermanicFrom the Germanic name
Adalbert meaning
"noble and bright", composed of the elements
adal "noble" and
beraht "bright". This name was common among medieval German royalty. The Normans introduced it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate
Æðelberht. Though it became rare in England by the 17th century, it was repopularized in the 19th century by the German-born Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.
... [more] ALDEBRAND m Ancient GermanicGermanic name derived from the elements
ald meaning "old" and
brand meaning "sword" or "fire". Saint Aldebrand was a 12th-century bishop of Fossombrone in Italy.
ALDEGUND f Ancient GermanicGermanic name, derived from the elements
ald "old" and
gund "war". Saint Aldegund (or Aldegundis) was a 7th-century Frankish abbess.
ALODIA f Ancient Germanic (Latinized)Possibly from a Visigothic name derived from the Germanic elements
alja "other, foreign" and
aud "riches, wealth". Saint Alodia was a 9th-century Spanish martyr with her sister Nunilo.
AMALRIC m Ancient GermanicGermanic name derived from the elements
amal meaning "work, labour" and
ric meaning "ruler, mighty". This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Visigoths, as well as two 12th-century rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
AMELIA f English, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Dutch, German, Ancient GermanicVariant of
AMALIA, though it is sometimes confused with
EMILIA, which has a different origin. The name became popular in England after the German House of Hanover came to the British throne in the 18th century - it was borne by daughters of both George II and George III. The author Henry Fielding used it for the title character in his novel
Amelia (1751). Another famous bearer was Amelia Earhart (1897-1937), the first woman to make a solo flight over the Atlantic Ocean.
... [more] ANSELM m German, English (Rare), Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic elements
ans "god" and
helm "helmet, protection". This name was brought to England in the late 11th century by Saint Anselm, who was born in northern Italy. He was archbishop of Canterbury and a Doctor of the Church.
ANTHELM m Ancient GermanicFrom the Germanic element
and "wrath, zeal" combined with
helm "helmet, protection". Saint Anthelm was a 12th-century bishop of Belley in France.
ARMINIUS m Ancient Germanic (Latinized)Latinized form of a Germanic name that was probably derived from the element
ermen meaning
"whole, universal". Other theories claim that it is related to
HERMAN. Arminius was a 1st-century chief of the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci. Raised in Rome as a hostage, he eventually became a citizen and joined the army. However, he turned against the Empire, leading the Germans in a surprise attack in the Teutoburg Forest and driving the Romans from Germania.
ARNOLD m English, German, Dutch, Polish, Ancient GermanicFrom a Germanic name meaning
"eagle power", derived from the elements
arn "eagle" and
wald "power". The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate
Earnweald. It died out as an English name after the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century.
... [more] ATHANARIC m Ancient GermanicFrom the Gothic name
Athanareiks, derived from the Germanic element
athana meaning "year" combined with
ric meaning "ruler, mighty". Athanaric was a 4th-century ruler of the Visigoths.
AVA (3) f German, Ancient GermanicOriginally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element
avi, of unknown meaning, possibly
"desired". This was the name of a 9th-century Frankish saint. It was also borne by a 12th-century poet from Melk, Austria.
AVILA f Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic element
avi, of unknown meaning, possibly
"desired". This name is also given in honour of the 16th-century mystic Saint Teresa of Ávila,
Ávila being the name of the town in Spain where she was born.
BALDWIN m English, Ancient GermanicMeans
"bold friend", derived from the Germanic elements
bald "bold, brave" and
win "friend". In the Middle Ages this was a popular name in Flanders and among the Normans, who brought it to Britain. It was borne by one of the leaders of the First Crusade, an 11th-century nobleman from Flanders. After the crusaders conquered Jerusalem, he was crowned as the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
BERARD m Ancient GermanicVariant of
BERNARD using the related root
bero "bear" as the first element. This was the name of a 13th-century saint who was martyred in Morocco.
BERENGAR m Ancient GermanicGermanic name derived from the elements
bern "bear" and
ger "spear". This was the name of two medieval kings of Italy and a Holy Roman emperor.
BERNARD m English, French, Dutch, Polish, Croatian, Slovene, Czech, Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic element
bern "bear" combined with
hard "brave, hardy". The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate
Beornheard. This was the name of several saints, including Saint Bernard of Menthon who built hospices in the Swiss Alps in the 10th century, and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a 12th-century theologian and Doctor of the Church. Other famous bearers include the Irish playwright and essayist George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) and the British World War II field marshal Bernard Montgomery (1887-1976).
BERTHA f German, English, Ancient GermanicOriginally a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element
beraht meaning
"bright, famous". It was borne by the mother of
Charlemagne in the 8th century, and it was popularized in England by the Normans. It died out as an English name after the Middle Ages, but was revived in the 19th century. The name also appears in southern Germanic legends (often spelled
Perchta or
Berchta) belonging to a goddess of animals and weaving.
BERTRAM m English, German, Ancient GermanicMeans
"bright raven", derived from the Germanic element
beraht "bright" combined with
hramn "raven". The Normans introduced this name to England. Shakespeare used it in his play
All's Well That Ends Well (1603).
BERTRAND m French, English, Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic elements
beraht meaning "bright" and
rand meaning "rim (of a shield)". From an early date it has been confused with
BERTRAM and the two names have merged to some degree. A famous bearer was English philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970).
BRUNO m German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Croatian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Latvian, Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic element
brun "armour, protection" or
brun "brown". Saint Bruno of Cologne was a German monk of the 11th century who founded the Carthusian Order. The surname has belonged to Giordano Bruno, a philosopher burned at the stake by the Inquisition.
BRYNHILDR f Norse Mythology, Ancient ScandinavianOld Norse cognate of
BRÜNHILD. In the Norse legend the
Volsungasaga Brynhildr was rescued by the hero
Sigurd in the guise of
Gunnar. Brynhildr and Gunnar were married, but when Sigurd's wife
Gudrun let slip that it was in fact Sigurd who had rescued her, Brynhildr plotted against him. She accused Sigurd of taking her virginity, spurring Gunnar to arrange Sigurd's murder.
BURKHARD m German, Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic elements
burg meaning "protection" and
hard "brave, hardy". Saint Burkhard was a bishop who founded several monasteries in Germany in the 8th century.
COLA m Anglo-SaxonOld English byname meaning
"charcoal", originally given to a person with dark features.
CONRAD m English, German, Ancient GermanicMeans
"brave counsel", derived from the Germanic elements
kuoni "brave" and
rad "counsel". This was the name of a 10th-century saint and bishop of Konstanz, in southern Germany. It was also borne by several medieval German kings and dukes. In England it was occasionally used during the Middle Ages, but has only been common since the 19th century when it was reintroduced from Germany.
CYNEBURG f Anglo-SaxonMeans
"royal fortress" from Old English
cyne "royal" and
burg "fortress". Saint Cyneburga, a daughter of a king of Mercia, was the founder of an abbey at Gloucester in the 7th century.
DUNSTAN m English (Rare), Anglo-SaxonFrom the Old English elements
dunn "dark" and
stan "stone". This name was borne by a 10th-century saint, the archbishop of Canterbury. It was occasionally used in the Middle Ages, though it died out after the 16th century. It was revived by the Tractarian movement in the 19th century.
EADBERHT m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
beorht "bright". This was the name of an 8th-century king of Northumbria and three kings of Kent.
EADWALD m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
weald "power, ruler". This was the name of an 8th-century king of East Anglia.
EADWIG m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
wig "war". This was the name of a Saxon king of England in the 10th century. The name fell out of use after the Norman Conquest.
EADWULF m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
ead "wealth, fortune" and
wulf "wolf". This name fell out of use after the Norman Conquest.
EALDRÆD m Anglo-SaxonFrom the Old English elements
eald "old" and
ræd "counsel". This name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
EDDA (2) f Icelandic, Ancient ScandinavianPossibly 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.
EMMA f English, French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Ancient GermanicOriginally a short form of Germanic names that began with the element
ermen meaning
"whole" or
"universal". It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, who was the wife both of King Ethelred II (and by him the mother of Edward the Confessor) and later of King Canute. It was also borne by an 11th-century Austrian saint, who is sometimes called
Hemma.
... [more] EMMERICH m German, Ancient GermanicGermanic name, in which the second element is
ric meaning "ruler". The first element may be
ermen "whole, universal" (making it a relative of
Ermenrich),
amal "work, labour" (making it a relative of
Amalric) or
heim "home" (making it a relative of
Henry). It is likely that several forms merged into a single name.
ENGEL m German (Rare), Ancient GermanicOriginally this was a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element
angil, referring to the Germanic tribe known in English as the Angles. Since the Middle Ages it has been firmly associated with the German word
engel meaning "angel".
ENGELBERT m German, Ancient GermanicGermanic name composed of the elements
angil, the name of a Germanic tribe known in English as the Angles, and
beraht "bright". Saint Engelbert was a 13th-century archbishop of Cologne murdered by assassins.
EOFORHILD f Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
eofor "boar" and
hild "battle". This name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
EOFORWINE m Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
eofor "boar" and
wine "friend". This name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
ERMENRICH m Ancient GermanicFrom the Germanic elements
ermen "whole, universal" and
ric "ruler, mighty". Ermenrich (also often called Ermanaric) was a 4th-century Gothic king.
ERWIN m German, Dutch, Polish, Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic name
Hariwini, composed of the elements
hari "army" and
win "friend". It may have merged somewhat with the Germanic name
EBURWIN. A notable bearer was Erwin Schrödinger (1887-1961), an Austrian physicist who made contributions to quantum theory.
FARAMUND m Ancient GermanicDerived from the Germanic elements
fara "journey" and
mund "protection". This was the name of a semi-legendary 5th-century king of the Franks.