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HelpMedieval English Feminine Names
After all that talk of medieval and historical names I finally got around to going through this [scholarly] medieval name website I bookmarked who knows how many months ago. Oh, the fun! I wanted to share some of the ones that I liked or jumped out to me most, and I also did my own searching for information if it wasn't provided in the listing.
Note: These are all feminine names recorded in England before 1250. And abbreviations used: ME - Middle English, OE - Old English, CG - Continental Germanic, OFr - Old French
Admiranda - Latin "admired"
Bedelove - ME from OE Bíedelufu. Bíede could come from the verb "to command" or see entry for Bede, Lufu = "love." Other forms: Bedeluue, Biedeluue
Belissendis - CG, OFr forms: Belisant, Belsante
Brichtrith - from OE Beorhtðrýð. Beorht = "brightness", ðrýð = "strength". Other form: Brichteriðe
Brightwyna - from OE Beorhtwynn. Beorht = "brightness", wynn = fem. of wine = "friend". Other forms: Brictwen, Brichtwen
Chyldeluve - from OE Cildlufu, ME Childlove.
Dæglufu - OE dæg = "day", lufu = "love". Other forms: Daylove, Dayluue. (Loveday's opposite!)
Dúfe - OE "dove". Other forms: Duva, Doue, Duua
Eglentyne - from OFr Aiglentine. (Eglantine)
Emelot, Amelot - vernacular forms of Latin Amelina, Emelina, same as OFr Ameline, Emmeline
Epicelena - possibly from Greek epikéleusis "cheering, exhortation"
Estrangia - from OFr estrange, from Latin extraneus "external, foreign" possibly in the sense of "uncommon, exceptional."
Éastorhild - OE éastor = Easter?, hild = battle). Other form: Estrild
Finepopla - unknown origin
Freþesant - Other form: Frethesant. From CG Frithesuind, Fredesendis. Possibly related to friþ = "peace"?
Hyssmaye - probably from CG Ismagi. Other forms: Ysemay, Ysmay, Ismay
Imagantia - from Latin imago "picture"
Joia - Other forms: Joiha, Joya, Joye, Johi. "Joy"
Léofgifu, Léofgeofu - OE léof = "love", gifu = "gift". Other forms: Leviva, Leofgife, Leueiua, Lyveva
Loverun - from OE Léofrún. Léof = "love", rún = "whisper". Other forms: Leverun, Leuerun
Merewen - from OE Mærwynn. Mǽre = "great, splendid" (thanks, Pie!), wynn is fem. of wine "friend."
Richemay - from OE Rícmæg. Ríc = used to help form a proper name, mæg = kinsman. Other forms: Rechemay, Richemaya
Roana - from OFr roan (same as English word)
Royse - Norman, whence ME Rose, from CG Hrodohaidis, Rothnaid. I knew this was in the database but I mostly liked the CG form. :)
Salove - from OE Sælufu, sæ = "sea", lufu = "love". Other form: Selova
Scolace - Latin, Scholastica. Other form: Scolacia
Sedemaiden - from OE Sidumægden or Seodumægden. Sidu = "custom, manner", mægden = "maiden" Other forms: Sedemai, Sedemay
Splendora - from Latin "splendor"
Wentliana - from Welsh Gwenllian. Other forms: Wantelien, Wenthelen
Wichtiva - from OE Wihtgifu, wiht = "wight" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wight, yeah I didn't know that either), gifu = "gift". Other forms: Wictiue, Wyghtyeue
I especially am loving Bedelove, Brightwyna, Éastorhild, Hyssmaye, and Loverun. And looking up Éastor led me to Easterdæg... not a name, just the word, but how cute is that?!
I went through an Anglo-Saxon phase maybe a year ago, and I totally think I just rekindled that. Majorly fun stuff, go check it out:
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/
which I linked to from this site: http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/eng1066to1300.shtml
And you might need this nifty tool: http://www.oldenglishtranslator.co.uk/
Note: These are all feminine names recorded in England before 1250. And abbreviations used: ME - Middle English, OE - Old English, CG - Continental Germanic, OFr - Old French
Admiranda - Latin "admired"
Bedelove - ME from OE Bíedelufu. Bíede could come from the verb "to command" or see entry for Bede, Lufu = "love." Other forms: Bedeluue, Biedeluue
Belissendis - CG, OFr forms: Belisant, Belsante
Brichtrith - from OE Beorhtðrýð. Beorht = "brightness", ðrýð = "strength". Other form: Brichteriðe
Brightwyna - from OE Beorhtwynn. Beorht = "brightness", wynn = fem. of wine = "friend". Other forms: Brictwen, Brichtwen
Chyldeluve - from OE Cildlufu, ME Childlove.
Dæglufu - OE dæg = "day", lufu = "love". Other forms: Daylove, Dayluue. (Loveday's opposite!)
Dúfe - OE "dove". Other forms: Duva, Doue, Duua
Eglentyne - from OFr Aiglentine. (Eglantine)
Emelot, Amelot - vernacular forms of Latin Amelina, Emelina, same as OFr Ameline, Emmeline
Epicelena - possibly from Greek epikéleusis "cheering, exhortation"
Estrangia - from OFr estrange, from Latin extraneus "external, foreign" possibly in the sense of "uncommon, exceptional."
Éastorhild - OE éastor = Easter?, hild = battle). Other form: Estrild
Finepopla - unknown origin
Freþesant - Other form: Frethesant. From CG Frithesuind, Fredesendis. Possibly related to friþ = "peace"?
Hyssmaye - probably from CG Ismagi. Other forms: Ysemay, Ysmay, Ismay
Imagantia - from Latin imago "picture"
Joia - Other forms: Joiha, Joya, Joye, Johi. "Joy"
Léofgifu, Léofgeofu - OE léof = "love", gifu = "gift". Other forms: Leviva, Leofgife, Leueiua, Lyveva
Loverun - from OE Léofrún. Léof = "love", rún = "whisper". Other forms: Leverun, Leuerun
Merewen - from OE Mærwynn. Mǽre = "great, splendid" (thanks, Pie!), wynn is fem. of wine "friend."
Richemay - from OE Rícmæg. Ríc = used to help form a proper name, mæg = kinsman. Other forms: Rechemay, Richemaya
Roana - from OFr roan (same as English word)
Royse - Norman, whence ME Rose, from CG Hrodohaidis, Rothnaid. I knew this was in the database but I mostly liked the CG form. :)
Salove - from OE Sælufu, sæ = "sea", lufu = "love". Other form: Selova
Scolace - Latin, Scholastica. Other form: Scolacia
Sedemaiden - from OE Sidumægden or Seodumægden. Sidu = "custom, manner", mægden = "maiden" Other forms: Sedemai, Sedemay
Splendora - from Latin "splendor"
Wentliana - from Welsh Gwenllian. Other forms: Wantelien, Wenthelen
Wichtiva - from OE Wihtgifu, wiht = "wight" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/wight, yeah I didn't know that either), gifu = "gift". Other forms: Wictiue, Wyghtyeue
I especially am loving Bedelove, Brightwyna, Éastorhild, Hyssmaye, and Loverun. And looking up Éastor led me to Easterdæg... not a name, just the word, but how cute is that?!
I went through an Anglo-Saxon phase maybe a year ago, and I totally think I just rekindled that. Majorly fun stuff, go check it out:
http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/talan/reaney/
which I linked to from this site: http://www.s-gabriel.org/names/eng1066to1300.shtml
And you might need this nifty tool: http://www.oldenglishtranslator.co.uk/
This message was edited 6/9/2011, 2:55 PM
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
That is cool! I've never heard of it used as a surname before.
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Thanks for sharing these Llewella! I like Bedelove, Belissendis, Brightwyna, Emelot, Éastorhild, and Merewen.
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I'm a total Medieval history buff, so I'm loving you right now, Llewella!
I really like:
Admiranda
Bedelove
Bellisendis - BEAUTIFUL!
Brightwyna
Daylove (also a fan of Loveday)
Emelot - Almost like a feminine version of "Camelot".
Epicelena
Imagantia
Loverun
Merewen (this I can see making a comeback with the "-en" name trend)
Roana
Selova
Wenthelen
I really like:
Admiranda
Bedelove
Bellisendis - BEAUTIFUL!
Brightwyna
Daylove (also a fan of Loveday)
Emelot - Almost like a feminine version of "Camelot".
Epicelena
Imagantia
Loverun
Merewen (this I can see making a comeback with the "-en" name trend)
Roana
Selova
Wenthelen
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Merewen- could mer- be from the Latin mer- sea? Since they're all from England, there could be a mix of origins for the name.
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That was my first thought, but mere is from mær. But Pie solved the Mær mystery. It means "splendid."
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Yay, what an excellent list. I can go through these things for hours. Interesting about Hyssmaye; I know a male Ismay, and we always thought it was a corruption/translation/whatever of Esme- but maybe not so!
mǽre = great, splendid, so Mærwynn = splendid friend. LOL, I never thought I'd ever find a use again for Old English. :)
mǽre = great, splendid, so Mærwynn = splendid friend. LOL, I never thought I'd ever find a use again for Old English. :)
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There was no fada over the æ (didn't even know there could be...), but I'll take your word for it that's what was meant. Nice meaning. Thanks!
So you've studied Old English? I've always wanted to but they didn't offer it at my school that I'm aware of. I plan on getting a book on it sometime. I assume they make them. :)
So you've studied Old English? I've always wanted to but they didn't offer it at my school that I'm aware of. I plan on getting a book on it sometime. I assume they make them. :)
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I've probably still got my old textbooks somewhere. :) It's quite fun to learn - easier than Welsh! And you get to read Beowulf in the original. (And a lot of battles that bored me silly at the time, but I suspect I might be more interested in now.)
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I have the Canterbury Tales in Old English. It should be fairly easy to learn since you can understand a reasonable portion of it anyway without knowing much about it!
I'll have to look up a book that seems good to get and keep it for my birthday or Christmas list. I have always wanted to study Welsh, too, but hope maybe someday to get a CD-ROM for that.
I'll have to look up a book that seems good to get and keep it for my birthday or Christmas list. I have always wanted to study Welsh, too, but hope maybe someday to get a CD-ROM for that.
This message was edited 6/9/2011, 3:33 PM
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Chaucer is Middle English ;) This is Old English: http://www8.georgetown.edu/departments/medieval/labyrinth/library/oe/texts/a4.1.html
- this has an overview if you still fancy it! http://www.jebbo.co.uk/learn-oe/contents.htm
- this has an overview if you still fancy it! http://www.jebbo.co.uk/learn-oe/contents.htm
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Oh yes
Silly me. I knew that. :)
Thanks for that link! I will definitely check it out tomorrow.
Silly me. I knew that. :)
Thanks for that link! I will definitely check it out tomorrow.
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"splendid friend" is such a lovely meaning, so warm! Look at you and your useful archaic knowledge!
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This post reminded me of my female ancestor named Freelove. I looked it up and it's an Old English name (Friðulaf) meaning "peace-survivor".
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Interesting! I guess "peace-survivor" is a much better meaning than if it literally were "free-love." :)
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aw!
Peace-survivor as a name meaning is really lovely in a kind of tragic way...
Peace-survivor as a name meaning is really lovely in a kind of tragic way...
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Neat sites :-)
Bedelove reminds me of Beloved. I like it. I also loooove Emelot and Roana.
Bedelove reminds me of Beloved. I like it. I also loooove Emelot and Roana.
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Ha, I didn't even notice the similarity between Bedelove and "beloved." That's a nice "association." I liked it mostly because I like Bede (the guy, but also the name), so Bedelove, yeah.
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Belissendis - CG, OFr forms: Belisant, Belsante
I love these! And Brightwyna is cool too.
I love these! And Brightwyna is cool too.
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I thought Belissendis was very sweet. It made me think of bells and "Bliss."
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I love Belisant!
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Ok I am totally gaga for these:
Admiranda - I'm not normally a Miranda fan, but this is shivery-great. Makes me think of a sea Admiral and pirates.
Belissendis - and Belisant, Belsante, gorgeous
Brightwyna - This would be stunning modernized as "Brightwen"
Dæglufu - Daylove, Dayluue. They can come play with Loveday any time!
Eglentyne - Aiglentine. I love both of these
Emelot, Amelot - cute!
Epicelena - makes me think of spices, from the french word for spice, épice.
Estrangia - witchy!
Éastorhild - Estrild is so beautiful, so silvery-light! The "Easter" part could also be from the Germanic Eostre, which is from austro, "to shine", and is related to Ostara, the goddess of springtime (and where the word Easter comes from). So maybe it means "shining battle"?
Finepopla - heeeeeee!
Hyssmaye - oooooo. reminds my of Hyssop, which is an oft-forgotten GP of mine
Imagantia - this sounds like the title of a fantasy video game. I'm loving that.
Loverun - "whisper of love" = AMAZING
Merewen - no ideas on meaning, but this name is a real looker, very glossy and neat.
Scolace - oooh, reminds me of Solace, which would be an EXCELLENT word-name
Sedemaiden - is this male or female? I think it would make a gorgeous girl's name
Wichtiva - more witchy fun!
These were great Shannon! Thanks for sharing!
Admiranda - I'm not normally a Miranda fan, but this is shivery-great. Makes me think of a sea Admiral and pirates.
Belissendis - and Belisant, Belsante, gorgeous
Brightwyna - This would be stunning modernized as "Brightwen"
Dæglufu - Daylove, Dayluue. They can come play with Loveday any time!
Eglentyne - Aiglentine. I love both of these
Emelot, Amelot - cute!
Epicelena - makes me think of spices, from the french word for spice, épice.
Estrangia - witchy!
Éastorhild - Estrild is so beautiful, so silvery-light! The "Easter" part could also be from the Germanic Eostre, which is from austro, "to shine", and is related to Ostara, the goddess of springtime (and where the word Easter comes from). So maybe it means "shining battle"?
Finepopla - heeeeeee!
Hyssmaye - oooooo. reminds my of Hyssop, which is an oft-forgotten GP of mine
Imagantia - this sounds like the title of a fantasy video game. I'm loving that.
Loverun - "whisper of love" = AMAZING
Merewen - no ideas on meaning, but this name is a real looker, very glossy and neat.
Scolace - oooh, reminds me of Solace, which would be an EXCELLENT word-name
Sedemaiden - is this male or female? I think it would make a gorgeous girl's name
Wichtiva - more witchy fun!
These were great Shannon! Thanks for sharing!
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I thought the same thing about Admiranda! And I'm not a Miranda fan, either.
Ohh, Brightwen would be neat. So shiny.
I didn't know that French word. That makes me really like Epicelena. I thought it was funny because I first read it as "Epic Elena."
Your Eostre idea makes more sense. I didn't think to break down Easter itself.
Yes, Hyssmaye made me think of Hyssop, too. It makes it so herby and fresh. I love it, that's definitely going to be a new favorite.
Sedemaiden is female. I broke down all those components of it, but I'm now thinking I broke it down too far because mægden means maiden. So something about manner and a maiden. Neato.
You're welcome, I had you and a few others particularly in mind when I posted this. :)
Ohh, Brightwen would be neat. So shiny.
I didn't know that French word. That makes me really like Epicelena. I thought it was funny because I first read it as "Epic Elena."
Your Eostre idea makes more sense. I didn't think to break down Easter itself.
Yes, Hyssmaye made me think of Hyssop, too. It makes it so herby and fresh. I love it, that's definitely going to be a new favorite.
Sedemaiden is female. I broke down all those components of it, but I'm now thinking I broke it down too far because mægden means maiden. So something about manner and a maiden. Neato.
You're welcome, I had you and a few others particularly in mind when I posted this. :)
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Pay dirt!
I have to do some work now and can't give this the time it needs. Suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about the names and wil come back and steal some of them soon -- er -- put them on my long ist.
Thanks! :-)
(Eastorild / Estrild will be stuck in my head, I can tell.)
I have to do some work now and can't give this the time it needs. Suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about the names and wil come back and steal some of them soon -- er -- put them on my long ist.
Thanks! :-)
(Eastorild / Estrild will be stuck in my head, I can tell.)
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