Submitted Name Revision History

The meaning and origin of the first element is rather uncertain: we know that it comes from #mâtha# but we don't exactly know where #mâtha# itself comes from. It is probably derived from Gallic #matu# "good" or from Anglo-Saxon #maedh# "honour, respect." It might also be a blend of one of the aforementioned elements with #mahti# "power" or Gothic #mathl# "meeting place." The second element in this Germanic name is derived from #rîcja# "powerful, strong, mighty." The second element is also closely related to Celtic #rîg# or #rix# and Gothic #reiks#, which all mean "king, ruler."