Behind the Name: Medieval English Names

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expand search to ancestral names

the meaning is anything from the name's write-up that is surrounded by "double quotes"
separate search terms with spaces
search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes
- example: "lord of the rings" will match names from the novel 'The Lord of the Rings'
this field understands simple boolean logic
- force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign
- force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign
- example: +greek +(legend myth) -zeus will match Greek names of myths or legends not about Zeus
expand search to ancestral names: meanings for names further up the family tree will be included in the search

ignore name meanings

the description is the meaning and history write-up for the name
separate search terms with spaces
search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes
- example: "lord of the rings" will match names from the novel 'The Lord of the Rings'
this field understands simple boolean logic
- force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign
- force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign
- example: +greek +(legend myth) -zeus will match Greek names of myths or legends not about Zeus
ignore name meanings: keywords from the name meanings are ignored

syllables can only be counted in names that have been assigned pronunciations
names without pronunciations are excluded from results

the pattern will be compared to the name
* is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters
- example: *oo* will match names which contain oo
_ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter
- example: __z will match names which have two letters and then a z

case sensitive

see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds
sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations
names without pronunciations are excluded from results
* is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation
- example: *lee will match names which end with the sound lee
(s) will match exactly one syllable in the pronunciation
- example: (s)(s)rah will match names which have two syllables and then the sound rah
(c) will match a consonant
(k) will match a consonant or consonant cluster
(v) will match a vowel
(p) will match a plosive or stop consonant
(p) will match a fricative consonant
(n) will match a nasal consonant
case sensitive: check this if you wish distinguish between unstressed lowercase sounds and stressed uppercase sounds

expand search to ancestral names

the "relationship" is how the name relates to its parent name
- example: searching for diminutive will return Betsy because it is a diminutive of its parent Elizabeth
selecting (all core forms) will exclude peripheral forms such as diminutives, short forms, and combinations
expand search to ancestral names: relationships between names further up the family tree will be included

name impressions are based on feedback left by the behindthename.com community

enter a behindthename.com username to search that user's public personal name lists
to limit your search to a specific list, put the name of the list in brackets after the username

ADDY (2)mMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of ADAM.

ALDITHfMedieval English
Middle English form of EALDGYÐ.

ALDREDAfMedieval English
Variant of ETHELDRED.

ALDUSm & fMedieval English
Medieval variant of ALDOUS.

AMICEfMedieval English
Medieval name derived from Latin amicus meaning "friend". This was a popular name in the Middle Ages, though it has since become uncommon.

AMISmMedieval English, Medieval French
Medieval name, a masculine form of AMICE. It appears in the medieval French poem 'Amis and Amiles', about two friends who make sacrifices for one another.

BATEmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of BARTHOLOMEW.

COLmMedieval English
Medieval short form of NICHOLAS.

DAWmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of DAVID.

DICUNmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of DICK (1).

DIOTfMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of DIONYSIA.

DYEfMedieval English
Medieval short form of DIONYSIA.

EDA (2)fMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of EDITH.

ELISmSwedish, Medieval English
Swedish variant of ELIAS, as well as the Medieval English form.

ELRICmMedieval English
Middle English form of either of the Old English names ÆLFRIC or ÆÐELRIC. Both were rarely used after the Norman conquest.

ETHELDREDfMedieval English
Middle English form of ÆÐELÞRYÐ.

ETHELDREDAfMedieval English
Middle English form of ÆÐELÞRYÐ.

FIRMINmFrench, Medieval English
From the Late Latin name Firminus which meant "firm". This was the name of several early saints, notably the 3rd-century bishop Saint Firmin (or Fermin) of Amiens who is especially venerated in Navarre, Spain.

HAMOmMedieval English
Norman form of HAIMO. The Normans brought this name to Britain.

HAMONmMedieval English
Variant of HAMO.

HANKINmMedieval English
Diminutive of HANN.

HANNmMedieval English
Medieval English form of Iohannes (see JOHN).

HERRYmMedieval English
Medieval English form of HENRY. Unlike Harry, this form is no longer used.

HOBmMedieval English
Medieval short form of ROBERT.

HOPKINmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of HOB.

HUDDEmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of HUGH or possibly RICHARD.

IBBfMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of ISABEL.

ISEUTfMedieval English
Medieval form of ISOLDE.

JACKINmMedieval English
Variant of JANKIN.

JAN (3)mMedieval English
Medieval English form of JOHN, derived from the Old French form Jehan.

JANKINmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of JAN (3).

JOCOSAfMedieval English
Medieval variant of JOYCE, influenced by the Latin word iocosus or jocosus "merry, playful".

JUDDmEnglish, Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of JORDAN. Modern use of this name is inspired by the surname that was derived from the medieval name.

KINBOROUGHfMedieval English
Middle English form of CYNEBURG.

LARKINmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of LAURENCE (1).

LAWmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of LAURENCE (1).

MACK (2)mMedieval English
Medieval short form of MAGNUS, brought to Britain by Scandinavian settlers.

MALLEfMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of MARY.

MATTY (2)fMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of MARTHA.

MEGGYfMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of MARGARET.

MOLLEfMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of MARY.

MORRISmEnglish, Medieval English
Usual medieval form of MAURICE.

NICHOLmScottish, Medieval English
Variant of NICOL (1).

NICOL (1)mScottish, Medieval English
Medieval English and Scottish form of NICHOLAS. This was the middle name of character in the novel 'Rob Roy' (1817) by Sir Walter Scott.

NOLLmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of OLIVER.

ODEmMedieval English
Medieval English form of Odo (see OTTO).

PATEmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of PATRICK.

RANDELmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of RANDOLF and other names beginning with the Germanic element rand meaning "rim (of a shield)".

ROHESEfMedieval English
Norman French form of HRODOHAIDIS.

ROHESIAfMedieval English (Latinized)
Latinized form of the medieval name Rohese (see ROSE).

ROULmMedieval French, Medieval English
Norman French form of ROLF.

ROYSEfMedieval English
Medieval variant of ROSE.

STACEm & fMedieval English, English
Medieval short form of EUSTACE. As a modern name it is typically a short form of STACY.

TENNEYmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of DENIS.

WILKINmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of WILLIAM.

WILKYmMedieval English
Medieval diminutive of WILLIAM.

WILMOTm & fMedieval English
Medieval diminutive and feminine form of WILLIAM.

WYBERTmMedieval English
Middle English form of the Old English name Wigberht, composed of the elements wig "battle" and beorht "bright".

WYMONDmMedieval English
Middle English form of the Old English name Wigmund, composed of the elements wig "battle" and mund "protector".

WYOTmMedieval English
Middle English form of the Old English name Wigheard, composed of the elements wig "battle" and heard "brave, hardy".

	Gender
	Usage
	Initial letter
	Meaning	expand search to ancestral names the meaning is anything from the name's write-up that is surrounded by "double quotes" separate search terms with spaces search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes example: "lord of the rings" will match names from the novel 'The Lord of the Rings' this field understands simple boolean logic force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign example: +greek +(legend myth) -zeus will match Greek names of myths or legends not about Zeus expand search to ancestral names: meanings for names further up the family tree will be included in the search
	Description	ignore name meanings the description is the meaning and history write-up for the name separate search terms with spaces search for an exact phrase by surrounding it with double quotes example: "lord of the rings" will match names from the novel 'The Lord of the Rings' this field understands simple boolean logic force a term to be included by preceding it with a + sign force a term to be excluded by preceding it with a - sign example: +greek +(legend myth) -zeus will match Greek names of myths or legends not about Zeus ignore name meanings: keywords from the name meanings are ignored
	Origin
	Length
	Syllables	syllables can only be counted in names that have been assigned pronunciations names without pronunciations are excluded from results
	Pattern	the pattern will be compared to the name * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters example: oo will match names which contain oo _ is a wildcard that will match exactly one letter example: __z will match names which have two letters and then a z
	Sound	case sensitive see the pronunciation key for a guide on how to write the sounds sounds can only be searched in names that have been assigned pronunciations names without pronunciations are excluded from results * is a wildcard that will match zero or more letters in the pronunciation example: lee will match names which end with the sound lee* (s) will match exactly one syllable in the pronunciation example: (s)(s)rah will match names which have two syllables and then the sound rah (c) will match a consonant (k) will match a consonant or consonant cluster (v) will match a vowel (p) will match a plosive or stop consonant (p) will match a fricative consonant (n) will match a nasal consonant case sensitive: check this if you wish distinguish between unstressed lowercase sounds and stressed uppercase sounds
	Related name
	Relationship	expand search to ancestral names the "relationship" is how the name relates to its parent name example: searching for diminutive will return Betsy because it is a diminutive of its parent Elizabeth selecting *(all core forms)* will exclude peripheral forms such as diminutives, short forms, and combinations expand search to ancestral names: relationships between names further up the family tree will be included
	Popularity
	Namesake
	Name day
	Impression	name impressions are based on feedback left by the behindthename.com community
	User list	enter a behindthename.com username to search that user's public personal name lists to limit your search to a specific list, put the name of the list in brackets after the username
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