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.
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.
Pascharius m History (Ecclesiastical), MedievalThe earliest known bearer of this name is the 7th-century saint Pascharius of Nantes. He was a native of the city, which is located in the cultural and historical region of Brittany in western France... [
more]
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.
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]
Pitirim m History (Ecclesiastical), Russian (Archaic)The earliest known bearer of this name is the Egyptian saint Pitirim of Porphyry (4th century AD), who is primarily venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The meaning and origin of his name are uncertain... [
more]
Piye m Ancient Egyptian, HistoryFrom Egyptian
py, of uncertain etymology. It could be from Meroitic
*𐦧𐦢 (
*pi) “to live”, thus meaning "the living one", or from Egyptian
pꜣ (
pa) “O, he of, this of, that of” combined with
ꜥnḫy (
ankhi) “living one”, thus meaning "O living one"... [
more]
Plator m HistoryPlator (? –169 BC) the Illyrian was brother to King
Gentius, the last Illyrian king of the Ardiaean State.
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".
Praxedis f HistoryLatin form of
Praxedes. This name was used by Joseph Victor von Scheffel for a character in his historical novel 'Ekkehard' (1857).
Principius m History (Ecclesiastical)From Latin
prī̆ncipium "beginning, origin, commencement", derived from Latin
prī̆nceps "first, chief, distinguished". This was the name of a 5th-century Bishop of Soissons and a brother of St... [
more]
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).
Public Universal Friend HistoryName of 1700s Quaker preacher, originally known as Jemima Wilkinson they changed it after they suffered a severe illness. They claimed to have died and been reanimated as a genderless evangelist.
Purnawarman m Hindi, HistoryMeans "perfect shield" or "complete protector" in Sanskrit, from Sanskrit
पूर्ण (
pūrṇá) "full" and
वर्मन् (
varman) "armor, protection". This was the name of a 5th-century king of Tarumanagara, a Hindu Indianized kingdom.
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.
Qarachaqay m HistoryPossibly derived from Turkic
*qarčïğa(y) meaning "hawk". Qarachaqay Khan was a 17th-century Iranian military commander of Armenian origin.
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]
Ramban m HistoryA Hebrew acronym R-M-B-N (/ˌrɑːmˈbɑːn/; רמב״ן) from Rabbeinu Mōšeh bēn-Nāḥmān, "Our Rabbi Moses son of Nahman"). It is the Hebrew name of
Nachmanides.
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.
Reccared m Germanic, HistoryThis is most likely a form of
Ricarad, though it may also be a form of
Ricarid (which is less likely, because the element in Ricarid was rarely used by the ancient Germans)... [
more]
Redburga f HistoryAccording to a 15th-century chronicle, this was the name of the wife of
Ecgberht, king of Wessex from 802 until his death in 839, but this is dismissed by academic historians (in view of its late date)... [
more]
Remismund m Germanic, HistoryDerived from Gothic
rimis "silence" combined with Old High German
mund "protection." This name might also be a variant of
Reginmund. Remismund was the name of a 5th-century Suebi king of Galicia.
Ricimer m Germanic, HistoryVariant of
Ricmar. Ricimer was a 5th-century
magister militum ("master of the soldiers") of the Western Roman Empire.
Ricsige m Anglo-Saxon, HistoryDerived from the Old English elements
ric "ruler, king" and
sige "victory". This name was borne by Rīcsiġe of Northumbria, who became king of Northumbria from 873 until 876.
Robustian m History (Ecclesiastical, Anglicized)From the patronymic of the Roman cognomen Rōbustus, meaning “oak, oaken, (figuratively) robust, strong, vigorous, resistant, son of Robust, a descendant of Robust.” St. Robustian was an early martyr who was put to death probably in Milan... [
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Roscillus m HistoryRoscillus was a chief of the Allobroges, who had served Julius Caesar with great fidelity in the Gallic Wars, and was treated by him with great distinction.
Rothar m Germanic, HistoryDerived from the Germanic element
hrôthi "fame" combined with Old High German
hari "army." This name was borne by a 7th-century king of the Lombards.
Rotrude f Germanic, HistoryVariant spelling of
Rotrud. Rotrude of Treves was the first wife of Charles Martel, a Frankish king from the Carolingian dynasty.
Ruffinus m History (Ecclesiastical)Wulfhade and Ruffinus were martyrs of England. Little is known about them with any certainty, although according to tradition they were two princes of Mercia who were baptized by St. Chad and were swiftly executed by their pagan father... [
more]
Rumbold m History (Ecclesiastical)Means "bold fame" from the Germanic elements "hrom", meaning "fame" and "bald", meaning "bold". This is the name of a Hiberno-Scottish saint from around 8th century, though his nationality is unknown.
Rusla f Medieval Scandinavian, HistoryRusla, sometimes translated as "Rusila" is the nickname given to a fierce Norwegian warrior from the 900's C.E. She is mentioned in Gesta Danorum of Saxo Grammaticus.
Ryōnin m Japanese, HistoryRyōnin was a Tendai Buddhist monk in the late Heian period and the founder of the Yuzu Nembutsu sect.
Sæthryth f History (Ecclesiastical)Variant of
Sǣþrȳð. Saint Sæthryth (fl. 660s), was the stepdaughter of king Anna of East Anglia, who became a Benedictine nun at the abbey of Faremoutiers-en-Brie, Gaul under its foundress Saint Burgundofara, whom she succeeded as abbess... [
more]
Samaratungga m HistoryFrom Sanskrit समर
(samara) meaning "war, battle, conflict" or "coming together, meeting" combined with तुङ्ग
(tuṅga) meaning "lofty, tall, high". This was the name of a 9th-century ruler of Java who oversaw the construction of the Borobudur temple.
Samudravarman m Sanskrit, HistoryFrom Sanskrit
समुद्र (
samudra) "sea, ocean" and
वर्मन् (
varman) "armor, protection". This was the name of a ruler of Kamarupa from 374 to 398 AD.
Sarmeane m Georgian (Archaic), History (Ecclesiastical)Meaning unknown. It might possibly be related to the Greek verb σαρμεύω
(sarmeuo) meaning "to dig sand", which is ultimately derived from the Greek noun σαρμός
(sarmos) meaning "heap of earth, that what is swept together"... [
more]
Satenik f Armenian, HistoryMost sources state that this name is derived from the Armenian noun սաթ
(sat') meaning "(black) amber" combined with the Armenian diminutive suffix իկ
(ik). At least one source theorises that the name might ultimately be of Scythian origin, and compares it to the name of the Ossetian deity
Satana (a figure in the
Nart sagas).... [
more]
Saurmag m Georgian (Rare), HistoryGeorgian form of the Scythian personal name
Sawarmag, which literally means "black hand". It is derived from Scythian
syāva meaning "black" combined with Scythian
arma meaning "hand" and the suffix
-aka... [
more]
Sauromates m Late Greek, Late Roman, HistoryDerived from the Roman cognomen
Sauromates, itself derived from Greek Σαυρομάτης
(Sauromates) meaning "a Sarmatian". The Sarmatians were an Iranian people that spoke Sarmatian, a Scythian language... [
more]
Sawbu f HistoryOf uncertain meaning. A famous bearer of that name was a Queen of the Hanthawaddy empire.
Scerdilaidas m History (Latinized)Scerdilaidas (ruled 218 – 206 BC) was an Illyrian ruler of the Illyrian kingdom under the Labeatan dynasty. He was the grandfather of
Gentius. The name itself is of uncertain origin and meaning; theories include a derivation from Albanian
herdhe "nest; herd", ultimately from Proto-Albanian
*skarda- "herd" and Proto-Albanian
*laida "to leave, to die, to lead", thus meaning something like "herd or flock leader".
Scribonianus m Late Roman, HistoryThis Roman cognomen is an extended form of
Scribonius. A known bearer of this name was Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus, a Roman usurper from the 1st century AD.
Seondeok f HistoryPosthumous name of the queen regnant of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, from 632 to 647. She was Silla's twenty-seventh ruler, and its first reigning queen.
Seong-gye m Korean, HistoryMeaning unknown. This was the personal name of Taejo of Joseon (1335-1408), founder and first king of the Joseon dynasty.