These
names are used primarily to refer to historical persons. They are not
commonly used by other people.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Mutimir m Croatian, Serbian, HistoryThe first element of this name is possibly derived from Serbo-Croatian
mučiti "to torture, to torment", which is ultimately derived from Proto-Slavic
mǫčiti "to torture, to torment"... [
more]
Myeong-bok m Korean, HistoryMeaning unknown. This was the personal name of Gojong/Emperor Gwangmu (1852-1919), twenty-sixth king of Joseon and first emperor of Korea.
Nabis m Ancient Greek, HistoryThe name of the last king of an independent Sparta, who reigned from 207 BC until his assassination in 192 BC.
Nandua f Indigenous American, HistoryThe name of a 17th-century Native American woman of the Accawmacke tribe, daughter of Chief Debedeavon, who became an ally to the English colonists.
Nanthild f Frankish, HistoryFrom a Germanic name which meant "brave in battle", composed of the elements
nanð "daring, brave, bold" (or Gothic
nand "bravery", or Gothic
nanthjan/
nanþjan "to venture, to risk, to dare") and
hild "battle"... [
more]
Nellanus m History (Latinized)Latinized form of
Niall. It was borne by Niall Ó Glacáin (1563-1653), an Irish physician who was known for working to treat victims of bubonic plague.
Nepotianus m Late Roman, HistoryThis Roman cognomen is derived from the Roman nomen gentile
Nepotius, which itself was derived from the Latin word
nepos meaning "grandson, nephew, descendant". A bearer of this name was the 4th-century Roman usurper Nepotianus, a nephew of Constantine the Great (via Nepotianus' mother, Eutropia).
Nevenoe m Medieval Breton, Breton (Rare), HistoryOlder form of
Neven. Nevenoe was the first Duke of Brittany from 846 to his death in 851. He is the Breton pater patriae and to Breton nationalists he is known as
Tad ar Vro "father of the country".
Nicephorus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical)Latinized form of
Nikephoros. Saint Nicephorus I (c. 758 - 829) was a Greek Orthodox theologian, historian, and patriarch of Constantinople (806–815) whose chronicles of Byzantine history and writings in defense of Byzantine veneration of icons provide data otherwise unavailable on early Christian thought and practice.
Nikator m Ancient Greek, HistoryDerived from νικάτωρ
(nikator), which is the Doric Greek form of νικήτωρ
(niketor) meaning "winner, conqueror". The latter word is ultimately derived from the Greek verb νικάω
(nikao) meaning "to win, to conquer, to prevail".... [
more]
Niklot m Polabian, HistoryNiklot (1090 – August 1160) was a chief or prince of the Slavic Obotrites and an ancestor of the House of Mecklenburg.
Nonia f Late Roman, HistoryFeminine form of
Nonius. A bearer of this name was Nonia Celsa, the wife of Roman Emperor Macrinus as well as the mother of Roman Emperor Diadumenian.
Numa m HistoryNuma Pompilius (753–673 BC; reigned 715–673 BC) was the legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus. He was of Sabine origin, and many of Rome's most important religious and political institutions are attributed to him.... [
more]
Nurhaci m HistoryMeans "skin of a wild boar" in Manchu. This was the name of a Jurchen (Manchu) chieftain and the founder of the Qing dynasty of China.
Oenus m HistoryOenus was a legendary king of the Britons as accounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was preceded by
Cap and succeeded by
Sisillius III... [
more]
Onomaris f Old Celtic (Latinized), HistoryThis is the name of an ancient Galatian Celtic queen. Her name appears to be a compound, with variants the "-
maris" element appearing in several Celtic languages, meaning "great". It may also mean "mountain ash", or possibly "like a great mountain ash or rowan tree"... [
more]
Optatus m Late Roman, HistoryRoman cognomen which was derived from Latin
optatus, which can mean "wished for, longed for, desired, pleasing" as well as "chosen, selected". It is ultimately derived from the Latin verb
opto, which can mean "to wish for, to desire" as well as "to choose, to select"... [
more]
Oreozili f Greek (Rare), History (Ecclesiastical)Meaning uncertain, perhaps a Greek form of a Hebrew name in which the initial element is אוֹר
('or) meaning "light". Saint Horaeozele or Oriozela of Reuma in Byzantium was an early Christian virgin martyr.
Orgetorix m Old Celtic, HistoryDerived from Celtic
orgeto "killer" (which comes from
orge "to kill") combined with Celtic
rix "king." This name was borne by a leader of the Helvetii (a Celtic tribe), who lived in the 1st century BC.
Orophernes m Old Persian (Hellenized), HistoryHellenized form of an ancient Persian name, which must have consisted of two elements. The first element is still unknown to me, but the second element must probably have been derived from Old Persian
farnah "glory, splendour, fortune"... [
more]
Orsabaris f History, Old Persian (Hellenized, ?)Allegedly the Greek form of a Persian name meaning "brilliant Venus". This was the name of a 1st-century BC princess of Pontus, a state founded by the Persian Mithridatic dynasty, of which Orsabaris was a member as the youngest daughter of Mithridates VI.
Osana f Anglo-Saxon, History (Ecclesiastical)Derived from the Old English elements
os "god" and
āna "sole, alone". This name was borne by Saint Osana, a Northumbrian princess whose local following as a saint developed informally after her death, though she was never officially canonised... [
more]
Osburga f HistoryDerived from the Old English elements os "god" and burh "fortress". This was the name of the mother of Alfred the Great.
Osceola m History, Creek (Anglicized)Anglicized form of Creek
Asi Yahola meaning "black drink singer" from
asi, the name of a ritual beverage, and
yahola "shouter". It was borne by a 19th-century Seminole leader.
Otacilia f Late Roman, HistoryFeminine form of
Otacilius. Marcia Otacilia Severa was the Empress of Rome and wife of Emperor Philip the Arab, who reigned over the Roman Empire from 244 to 249.
Ouen m History (Ecclesiastical)French form of
Audwin via the Latinization
Audoenus. Saint Ouen (609 in Sancy close to Soissons - 686 in Clichy) was a Frankish bishop, courtier, chronicler, and Catholic saint.
Oxathres m Old Persian (Hellenized), HistoryHellenized form of the Ghata Avestan male name
Huxšathra, which is said to be a distinct Zoroastrian name. It is probably related to Old Persian
Vaxšuvadarva (see
Oxyartes), which is why Oxathres (and its variant form Oxyathres) are often confused with Oxyartes (and its variant form Oxartes)... [
more]
Oxyartes m Old Persian (Hellenized), HistoryHellenized form of the Old Persian male name
Vaxšuvarda (also seen spelled as
Vakhshuvarda), which was derived from older Persian
Vaxšuvadarva. At the moment, it is still unknown to me what the original meaning of this name was in Persian... [
more]
Pacatian m HistoryFrom the Roman cognomen Pacatianus of unknown origin. This was the name of the 3rd-Century Roman usurper during the time of Philip the Arab whose full name was Tiberius Claudius Marinus Pacatianus. The 4th-century Roman governor of Britain is also known by this name in the English language.
Pacianus m Late Roman, History (Ecclesiastical)Late Latin name, a derivative of Latin
pax "peace" (genitive
pacis). This name was borne by a 4th-century Spanish saint, a bishop of Barcelona who is mentioned in Jerome's
De Viris Illustribus (which is dedicated to Saint Pacianus's son, Nummius Aemilianus Dexter).
Pamvo m History (Ecclesiastical)Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian form of
Pambo. Pamvo (non-canonical name Pavlo) Berynda was a Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monk who created one of the oldest bilingual Church Slavic-Old Ukrainian dictionaries.
Pandulf m Germanic, HistoryThe first element of this name comes from
banda, which is derived from Langobardic
bando "flag, banner" or from Old High German
banz "province, countryside." The first element might also come from Greek
pan "all", but this is unlikely... [
more]
Pandwyna f History (Ecclesiastical)This was the name of an obscure saint, who may have been a virgin martyr; Pandwyna (died ca. 904) was a nun at Eltisley in Cambridgeshire, England.
Pantea f Persian, Persian Mythology (?), History (?)Persian form of
Panthea. Pantea Arteshbod was a 6th-century BC Persian commander during the reign of Cyrus the Great. She was said to be the most beautiful woman in Asia, so she wore a mask during battle to stop men from falling in love with her.
Paracelsus m HistoryParacelsus (c. 1493 – 24 September 1541), born Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, was a Swiss physician, alchemist, lay theologian, and philosopher of the German Renaissance.
Parmenion m Ancient Greek, HistoryDiminutive form of
Parmenon, as this name contains the Greek diminutive suffix -ιων
(-ion). Parmenion was the name of a Macedonian general from the 4th century BC, who had been in the service of Philip II of Macedon and Alexander the Great.
Paulin m German, Polish, French, Lengadocian, Provençal, Gascon, Romansh, Romanian, Moldovan, History (Ecclesiastical)Romanian, Polish, French, Languedocian, Provençal, Gascon, Romansh and obsolescent German male form of
Paulinus.
Pausanias m Ancient Greek, HistoryDerived from the Greek noun παῦσις
(pausis) meaning "stopping, ceasing" combined with the Greek noun ἀνία
(ania) meaning "grief, sorrow, distress, trouble".... [
more]
Penda m History, Anglo-SaxonOld English name of unknown origin. Penda was a 7th-century king of Mercia, the Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is today the English Midlands.
Persinna f History, LiteraturePossibly derived from Greek Περσίς
(Persis) meaning "Persian woman" or περσέα
(persea), the Greek name for a type of tree (species Mimusops kummel)... [
more]
Petrislav m Croatian, Serbian, HistoryCroatian and Serbian form of
Petroslav. Known bearers of this name were Serbian rulers Petrislav of Duklja and Petrislav of Rascia, who both lived in the 11th century AD.
Peukolaos m Ancient Greek, HistoryDerived from the Greek noun πεύκη
(peuke) meaning "pine (tree)" combined with the Greek noun λαός
(laos) meaning "(the) people". This was the name of one of the men who participated in Dimnos of Chalastra's conspiracy to assassinate Alexander the Great (4th century BC).... [
more]
Phaine f History (Ecclesiastical)Probably related to
Phaenna, or perhaps from Greek φανης (
phanes) meaning "appearing". A notable bearer was Saint Phaine of Ancyra, a 3rd-century Christian martyr... [
more]
Phocion m HistoryMost likely derived from Greek φώκη
(phoke), meaning "seal", referring to the animal. This name was borne by an Athenian politician who was also known as a subject of one of Plutarch's
Parallel Lives.
Phryne f History, LiteratureAncient Greek nickname meaning "toad", literally "the brown animal". Phryne was a 4th-century BC hetaira or courtesan, famed for her beauty, whose stage name - like those of many hetairai - was based on a physical feature; she was called that either because of a dark complexion (*
phrynos being cognate with
brown) or because of a "snub nose" (
phrynē "a kind of toad")... [
more]
Piala f History (Ecclesiastical)The name of an obsuce Irish saint. According to legend, Piala and her brother Fingar were children of an Irish king. They were converted by Saint Patrick, driven into exile by their father, and landed first in Brittany, where they were well received, before moving on to Cornwall where they died at the hand of Tewdrick, king of Dumnonia... [
more]
Pigmenius m History (Ecclesiastical)This name is best known for being the name of the 4th-century saint Pigmenius of Rome, who was martyred during the reign of the Roman emperor
Julian the Apostate (died in 363 AD)... [
more]
Plator m HistoryPlator (? –169 BC) the Illyrian was brother to King
Gentius, the last Illyrian king of the Ardiaean State.
Pleistoanax m Ancient Greek, HistoryDerived from the Greek adjective πλεῖστος
(pleistos) meaning "most, greatest, largest" combined with the Greek noun ἄναξ
(anax) meaning "master, lord, chief".... [
more]
Polyanus m History (Ecclesiastical)Saint Polyanus was a 3rd century African Bishop and companion of Saint Nemesianus. They were seized in the persecution under Valerian, scourged and otherwise tortured, finally condemned to servitude in the mines (A.D. 260).
Pomp m & f HistoryThis was what explorer, Captain William Clark, of Lewis and Clark fame, nicknamed the son of
Sacagawea. The child's real name was
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau... [
more]
Porphyry m HistoryAnglicized form of
Porphyrios (see
Porfirio). This name was borne by a Neoplatonic philosopher from the 3rd century AD.
Pot m HistoryUsed as a nom de guerre by Cambodian communist dictator Pol Pot (1925-1998; born Saloth Sâr), in which case it is derived from French
politique potentielle, meaning "potential politics".
Praxedes f History, LiteratureDerived from Greek
praxis "a doing, success, accomplishment" (see
Praxis). This was the name of a 2nd-century saint. The Latin form Praxedis was used for a character in Joseph Victor von Scheffel's historical novel
Ekkehard (1857).
Praxedis f HistoryLatin form of
Praxedes. This name was used by Joseph Victor von Scheffel for a character in his historical novel 'Ekkehard' (1857).
Proclus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), History (Ecclesiastical)Latinized form of
Proklos. Proclus of Constantinople (c. 390 – 24 July 446) was the archbishop of Constantinople from 434 until his death. His contributions to the theology of the developing cult of the Virgin Mary place him among the early and foremost Marian theologians... [
more]
Prokopia f Late Greek, HistoryFeminine form of
Prokopios. This name was most notably borne by the empress consort of the Byzantine emperor Michael I Rangabe (9th century AD).
Pusuwan f Medieval Mongolian, History, ChineseDerived from Chinese 普 (
pu) meaning "wide, universal", 速 (
su) meaning "quick, fast" and 完 (
wan) meaning "whole, complete". It was the name of the name of an Empress of Qara Khitai.
Puyi m HistoryFrom Chinese 溥
(pǔ) meaning "big, great, vast, wide" combined with 仪
(yí) meaning "ceremony, rites". This was the name of the last emperor of China who was forced to abdicate the throne in 1912.
Quadragesimus m HistoryMeans "fortieth" in Latin, from
quadraginta "forty". The number 40 has many biblical references, including the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness before beginning his ministry, and the 40 hours he lay in the tomb before the resurrection... [
more]
Quadratus m Late Roman, History (Ecclesiastical)Cognomen from the Roman Republic and Roman Empire derived from Latin
quadratus meaning "square, squared" as well as "proportionate; regular, well made; vigorous". This name was borne by several saints, such as Quadratus the Apologist of Athens.
Quinidius m History (Ecclesiastical)Catholic saint, hermit and bishop. He was originally a hermit in the region of Aix in Provence, France, becoming bishop of Vaison in that region.
Quintianus m Ancient Roman, HistoryFrom the Roman cognomen
Quintianus (originally written as
Quinctianus), which was derived from the Roman nomen gentile
Quintius. This was the name of the father and a nephew of the Roman general Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus (2nd century AD), as well as of several Roman Catholic saints.
Quirillus m HistoryPerhaps a form of
Cyrillus. It was borne by an obscure saint, one of a group of 35 martyrs executed in northwestern Africa.
Quodvultdeus m History (Ecclesiastical)Means "what God wants" in Latin. This was the name of a 5th-century saint from North Africa who was martyred in the Valerianus persecutions. He was a spiritual student and friend of Saint
Augustine of Hippo.
Radegund f Germanic, HistoryVariant of
Radgund. Radegund lived in the 6th century AD and was a daughter of Berthar/Bertachar, one of the three kings of Thuringia. She later became the second wife of Chlothar I, a Frankish king from the Merovingian dynasty.
Ragnachar m Germanic, HistoryDerived from Gothic
ragin (
regin in Old High German) "advice" combined with Old High German
wachar "vigilant." It might also be a form of
Raginher... [
more]
Ranavalona f HistoryMeans "folded, kept aside" or "calm, smooth" in Malagasy. This was the name of three queens of Madagascar.
Rasoherina f HistoryRasoherina (1814 – 1 April 1868) (also Rasoherina-Manjaka) was Queen of Madagascar from 1863 to 1868, succeeding her husband Radama II following his presumed assassination.