Browse Names

This is a list of names in which the gender is masculine; and the community's impression is complex.
gender
usage
impression
Aamadu m Fula
Fula form of Ahmad.
Aanakwad m & f Ojibwe
Means "cloud" in Ojibwe.
Aatami m Finnish (Rare)
Finnish form of Adam.
Abaddon m Biblical
Means "ruin, destruction" in Hebrew. In Revelation in the New Testament this is another name of the angel of the abyss.
Abd al-Aziz m Arabic
Means "servant of the powerful" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with عزيز (ʿazīz) meaning "powerful". This was the name of the first king of modern Saudi Arabia.
Abd al-Hamid m Arabic
Means "servant of the praiseworthy" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with حميد (ḥamīd) meaning "praiseworthy". This was the name of two sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
Abd al-Kader m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic عبد القادر (see Abd al-Qadir).
Abd al-Karim m Arabic
Means "servant of the generous" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with كريم (karīm) meaning "generous".
Abd al-Malik m Arabic
Means "servant of the king" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with ملك (malik) meaning "king". This was the name of the fifth Umayyad caliph, who made Arabic the official language of the empire.
Abd al-Qadir m Arabic
Means "servant of the capable, servant of the powerful" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with قادر (qādir) meaning "capable, powerful". This was the name of a 19th-century Algerian resistance leader.
Abd al-Wali m Arabic
Means "servant of the guardian" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with ولي (walī) meaning "guardian, friend".
Abderrahmane m Arabic (Maghrebi)
Alternate transcription of Arabic عبد الرحمٰن (see Abd ar-Rahman) chiefly used in North Africa.
Abdiel m Biblical, Biblical Greek
Means "servant of God" in Hebrew, from עֶבֶד (ʿeveḏ) meaning "servant, slave" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament, this is the name of a member of the tribe of Gad. In John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667), this is the name of a seraph who withstands Satan when he urges the angels to revolt.
Abdiou m Biblical Greek
Form of Obadiah used in the Greek Old Testament, also spelled Ἀβδίας (Abdias).
Abdollah m Persian
Persian form of Abd Allah.
Abdul Aziz m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic عبد العزيز (see Abd al-Aziz).
Abdülhamit m Turkish
Turkish form of Abd al-Hamid.
Abdülkerim m Turkish
Turkish form of Abd al-Karim.
Abdüllatif m Turkish
Turkish form of Abd al-Latif.
Abdul Rahman m Arabic, Malay
Alternate transcription of Arabic عبد الرحمٰن (see Abd ar-Rahman), as well as the regular Malay form.
Abdur Rahman m Arabic, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Arabic عبد الرحمٰن (see Abd ar-Rahman), as well as the usual Bengali transcription.
Abduweli m Uyghur
Uyghur form of Abd al-Wali.
Abednego m Biblical
Means "servant of Nebo" in Akkadian, Nebo being the Babylonian god of wisdom. In the Old Testament Abednego is the Babylonian name given to Azariah, one of the three men cast into a blazing furnace but saved from harm by God, as told in the Book of Daniel.
Abimelech m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Means "my father is king" in Hebrew, derived from the roots אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ) meaning "king". This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament including a king of Gerar who takes Abraham's wife Sarah, but is forced by God to give her back.
Abishai m Biblical
Means "my father is a gift" in Hebrew, from the roots אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and שַׁי (shai) meaning "gift". In the Old Testament he is one of King David's heroes.
Absalom m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name אַבְשָׁלוֹם (ʾAvshalom) meaning "father is peace", derived from אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and שָׁלוֹם (shalom) meaning "peace". In the Old Testament he is a son of King David. He avenged his sister Tamar by arranging the murder of her rapist, their half-brother Amnon. He later led a revolt against his father. While fleeing on the back of a mule he got his head caught in a tree and was killed by Joab.
Abu al-Fadl m Arabic
Combination of Abu and Fadl. This was another name for Abbas, the son of the fourth caliph Ali.
Abul-Fazl m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic أبو الفضل (see Abu al-Fadl).
Achaicus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀχαϊκός (Achaikos), which referred to the region in Greece called Ἀχαΐα (Achaia), situated on the northern coast of the Peloponnese. In the New Testament this is the name of a Corinthian Christian who aids Saint Paul.
Achilleas m Greek
Modern Greek form of Achilles.
Achilles m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek Ἀχιλλεύς (Achilleus), which is of unknown meaning, perhaps derived from Greek ἄχος (achos) meaning "pain" or else from the name of the Achelous River. This was the name of a warrior in Greek legend, one of the central characters in Homer's Iliad. The bravest of the Greek heroes in the war against the Trojans, he was eventually killed by an arrow to his heel, the only vulnerable part of his body.... [more]
Adalberht m Germanic
Old German form of Albert.
Adalbern m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements adal "noble" and bern "bear".
Adalbert m Germanic, German
Old German form of Albert. This is the name of a patron saint of Bohemia, Poland and Prussia. He is known by his birth name Vojtěch in Czech and Wojciech in Polish.
Adalwin m Germanic
From the Old German elements adal "noble" and wini "friend" (a cognate of Æðelwine).
Adalwolf m Germanic
Old German form of Adolf.
Adebayo m Yoruba
Means "the crown meets joy" in Yoruba.
Adebola m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown meets wealth" in Yoruba.
Adebowale m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown has returned home" in Yoruba.
Adelmar m Germanic
From the Old German elements adal "noble" and mari "famous". It is a cognate of the Old English name Æðelmær.
Adeodatus m Late Roman
Latin name meaning "given by God". This was the name of a son of Saint Augustine and two popes (who are also known by the related name Deusdedit).
Adeola f & m Yoruba
Means "the crown of wealth" in Yoruba. It is also a surname.
Adetokunbo m & f Yoruba
Means "the crown returns from over the sea" in Yoruba.
Adonai m Theology
Means "my lord" in Hebrew. This was the title used to refer to the God of the Israelites, Yahweh, whose name was forbidden to be spoken.
Adonijah m Biblical
Means "my lord is Yahweh" in Hebrew, from אָדוֹן (ʾaḏon) meaning "lord, master" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of one of King David's sons in the Old Testament. Though he was the eldest surviving son of David, he was passed over as heir to the throne in favour of Solomon.
Adorján m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Adrian.
Adrastos m Greek Mythology
Means "not inclined to run away" in Greek, from the negative prefix (a) and διδράσκω (didrasko) meaning "to run away". This was the name of a king of Argos in Greek legend.
Adrianus m Dutch
Official Dutch form of Adrian, used on birth certificates but not commonly in daily life.
Aegidius m Late Roman
Original Latin form of Giles.
Ælfheah m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and heah "high". This was the name of an 11th-century archbishop of Canterbury, a saint and martyr, who is commonly known as Alphege or Elphege.
Ælfræd m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Alfred.
Ælfric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and ric "ruler, king" (making it a cognate of Alberich). This was the name of a 10th-century archbishop of Canterbury, sometimes considered a saint.
Ælfsige m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and sige "victory".
Ælfstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and stan "stone".
Ælfweard m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and weard "guardian".
Ælfwig m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and wig "war, battle".
Aelius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was possibly derived from the Greek word ἥλιος (helios) meaning "sun". This was the family name of the Roman emperor Hadrian.
Aemilius m Ancient Roman
Original Latin form of Emil.
Aeschylus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Αἰσχύλος (Aischylos), derived from αἶσχος (aischos) meaning "shame". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian playwright, known for his tragedies.
Æþelbeorht m Anglo-Saxon
Old English cognate of Adalbert (see Albert). This was the name of a Saxon king of England and two kings of Kent, one of whom was a saint. It became unused after the Normans introduced their form of Adalbert after their invasion.
Æðelfrið m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and friþ "peace". The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
Æðelmær m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and mære "famous". A famous bearer was the 11th-century English monk Æðelmær of Malmesbury who attempted to fly with a gliding apparatus (breaking his legs in the process).
Æthelnoð m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and noð "boldness, daring".
Æðelræd m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and ræd "counsel, advice". This was the name of two Saxon kings of England including Æðelræd II "the Unready" whose realm was overrun by the Danes in the early 11th century. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
Æðelric m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and ric "ruler, king". This was the name of several early Anglo-Saxon kings.
Æðelstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and stan "stone". This was the name of a 10th-century English king, the first to rule all of England. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, though it enjoyed a modest revival (as Athelstan) in the 19th century.
Aetius m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was probably derived from Greek ἀετός (aetos) meaning "eagle". A famous bearer was the 5th-century Roman general Flavius Aetius, who defeated Attila the Hun at the Battle of Chalons.
Afanasy m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Афанасий (see Afanasiy).
Agamemnon m Greek Mythology, Greek
Possibly means "very steadfast" in Greek. In Greek mythology he was the brother of Menelaus. He led the Greek expedition to Troy to recover his brother's wife Helen. After the Trojan War Agamemnon was killed by his wife Clytemnestra.
Agapetus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Agapetos (see Agapito).
Agapios m Greek, Ancient Greek
Masculine form of Agape. This was the name of a saint from Caesarea who was martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the early 4th century.
Agathangelos m Ancient Greek
Means "bearer of good news", derived from Greek ἀγαθός (agathos) meaning "good" and ἄγγελος (angelos) meaning "messenger, angel". Saint Agathangelus of Rome was a 4th-century deacon who was martyred during the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian.
Agnarr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Agnar.
Agostino m Italian
Italian form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Ágoston m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Agrippa m & f Ancient Roman, Biblical
Roman cognomen of unknown meaning, possibly from a combination of Greek ἄγριος (agrios) meaning "wild" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse" or alternatively of Etruscan origin. It was also used as a praenomen, or given name, by the Furia and Menenia families. In the New Testament this name was borne by Herod Agrippa (a grandson of Herod the Great), the king of Israel who put the apostle James to death. It was also borne by the 1st-century BC Roman general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
Agustí m Catalan
Catalan form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Ahenobarbus m Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen meaning "bronze beard" in Latin. This name was borne by a series of consuls of the late Roman Republic.
Ahtahkakoop m Cree (Anglicized)
From Cree ᐊᑖᐦᑲᑯᐦᑊ (Atâhkakohp) meaning "star blanket", derived from ᐊᑖᕁ (atâhk) "star" and ᐊᑯᐦᑊ (akohp) "blanket". This was the name of an early 19th-century chief of a Plains Cree people.
Ahura Mazda m Persian Mythology
Means "lord of wisdom", from Avestan 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀 (ahura) meaning "lord" and 𐬨𐬀𐬰𐬛𐬁 (mazdā) meaning "wisdom". In Zoroastrianism Ahura Mazda was the supreme creator, and the god of light, truth, and goodness.
Ailpean m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Alpin.
Aineias m Greek Mythology
Ancient Greek form of Aeneas.
Aingeru m Basque
Basque form of Angelus (see Angel).
Akakios m Greek, Ancient Greek
From a Greek word meaning "innocent, not evil", derived from (a), a negative prefix, combined with κάκη (kake) meaning "evil". This was the name of three early saints, two of whom were martyred.
Ala al-Din m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic علاء الدين (see Ala ad-Din).
Alaois m Irish (Rare)
Irish form of Aloysius.
Alastor m Greek Mythology
Means "avenger" in Greek. This was an epithet of Zeus, as well as the name of several other characters from Greek mythology.
Albrecht m German
German variant of Albert. A notable bearer was the German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528).
Alcaeus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλκαῖος (Alkaios) meaning "strong", derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess". This was the name of a 7th-century BC lyric poet from the island of Lesbos.
Alcibiades m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλκιβιάδης (Alkibiades), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess" and βία (bia) meaning "force" with the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a notable Greek statesman and general during the Peloponnesian War. He changed allegiance from Athens to Sparta and back again during the course of the war. He features in Shakespeare's tragedy Timon of Athens (1607).
Alcide m Italian, French
Italian and French form of Alcides.
Alcides m Greek Mythology (Latinized), Portuguese, Spanish
Latinized form of Greek Ἀλκείδης (Alkeides), derived from ἀλκή (alke) meaning "strength, prowess" and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This was another name for the hero Herakles.
Aldebrand m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements alt meaning "old" and brant meaning "fire, torch, sword". Saint Aldebrand was a 12th-century bishop of Fossombrone in Italy.
Aldhard m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements alt "old" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy".
Aleksandro m Esperanto
Esperanto form of Alexander.
Aleksandrŭ m Medieval Slavic
Medieval Slavic form of Alexander.
Aleksanteri m Finnish
Finnish form of Alexander.
Alemayehu m & f Amharic
Means "I have seen the world" in Amharic.
Alesander m Basque
Basque form of Alexander.
Alexandre m French, Portuguese, Galician, Catalan
Form of Alexander in several languages. This name was borne by the French author Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), who wrote The Three Musketeers.
Algernon m English
Originally a Norman French nickname, derived from aux gernons "having a moustache", which was applied to William de Percy, a companion of William the Conqueror. It was first used a given name in the 15th century (for a descendant of William de Percy). This name was borne by a character (a mouse) in the short story Flowers for Algernon (1958) and novel of the same title (1966) by the American author Daniel Keyes.
Algirdas m Lithuanian
Possibly means "all-hearing", from the Lithuanian roots al- "all, every" and gird- "to hear". This was the name of a 14th-century Grand Duke of Lithuania.
Alikhan m Kazakh
Combination of the name Ali 1 and the Turkic title khan meaning "ruler, leader".
Alistair m Scottish
Anglicized form of Alasdair.
Alkiviadis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Alcibiades.
Alojzy m Polish
Polish form of Aloysius.
Aloysius m English
Latinized form of Aloys, an old Occitan form of Louis. This was the name of an Italian saint, Aloysius Gonzaga (1568-1591). The name has been in occasional use among Catholics since his time.
Alparslan m Turkish, Azerbaijani
From Turkish alp meaning "brave" and arslan meaning "lion", referring to the 11th-century Seljuk sultan Alp Arslan, who expanded the Seljuk Empire into Anatolia.
Alphaeus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From Ἀλφαῖος (Alphaios), the Greek form of a Hebrew name that meant "exchange". In the New Testament this is the name of the fathers of the apostles James the Lesser and Levi.
Alvise m Italian
Venetian form of Louis.
Amabilis m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "lovable". Saint Amabilis was a 5th-century priest in Riom, central France.
Amadeus m Late Roman
Means "love of God", derived from Latin amare "to love" and Deus "God". A famous bearer was the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), who was actually born Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart but preferred the Latin translation of his Greek middle name. This name was also assumed as a middle name by the German novelist E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822), who took it in honour of Mozart.
Amalric m Gothic (Anglicized)
From the Visigothic name *Amalareiks, derived from the Gothic element amals meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave", also referring to the royal dynasty of the Amali, combined with reiks meaning "ruler, king". This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Visigoths, as well as two 12th-century rulers of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Amandus m Late Roman
Derived from Latin amanda meaning "lovable, worthy of love". Saint Amandus was a 5th-century bishop of Bordeaux. It was also borne by a 7th-century French saint who evangelized in Flanders.
Amantius m Late Roman
Means "loving" in Latin. This was the name of several early saints. It has sometimes been confused with the name Amandus.
Amariah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh has said" in Hebrew, derived from the roots אָמַר (ʾamar) meaning "to say" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Amator m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "lover (of God)". Saint Amator was a 5th-century bishop of Auxerre.
Amatore m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Amator.
Ambrogio m Italian
Italian form of Ambrosius (see Ambrose).
Amedeo m Italian
Italian form of Amadeus. A notable bearer of this name was Amedeo Avogadro (1776-1856), an Italian chemist most famous for the constant that now bears his name: Avogadro's Number. Another famous bearer was the Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920).
Amenhotep m Ancient Egyptian
From Egyptian jmn-ḥtp meaning "Amon is satisfied", derived from the name of the Egyptian god Amon combined with ḥtp "peace, satisfaction". This was the name of four pharaohs of the New Kingdom, including Amenhotep III (14th century BC), known as the Magnificent, who ruled over Egypt during a time of great prosperity.
Ameqran m Berber
Means "large, great" in Tamazight.
Amhlaoibh m Irish (Rare)
Irish form of Olaf.
Amichai m Hebrew
Means "my people are alive" in Hebrew.
Amilcare m Italian
Italian form of Hamilcar.
Amulius m Roman Mythology
Meaning unknown. In Roman mythology Amulius overthrew his brother Numitor, king of Alba Longa, but was eventually deposed by Numitor's grandsons Romulus and Remus.
Amyntas m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἀμύντωρ (amyntor) meaning "defender". This was the name of several kings of Macedon.
Anacleto m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Anacletus.
Ananias m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From Ἁνανίας (Hananias), the Greek form of Hananiah. In Acts in the New Testament this is the name of three characters: a disciple in Damascus, the husband of Sapphira, and the high priest of the Jews who tries Paul.
Anargyros m Greek
From the Greek term ἀνάργυρος (anargyros) meaning "poor, incorruptible", derived from Greek (a), a negative prefix, combined with ἄργυρος (argyros) meaning "silver". This term referred to saints who did not accept payment for their services.
Anastasie f & m French, Romanian (Rare)
French form of Anastasia (feminine) and Romanian form of Anastasius (masculine).
Anastasio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Anastasius.
Anastasius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀναστάσιος (Anastasios), which meant "resurrection" from Greek ἀνάστασις (anastasis) (composed of the elements ἀνά (ana) meaning "up" and στάσις (stasis) meaning "standing"). This was the name of numerous early saints and martyrs, including a 7th-century monk and writer from Alexandria who is especially venerated in the Eastern Church.
Anastasiy m Russian (Archaic), Bulgarian (Archaic)
Older Russian and Bulgarian form of Anastasius.
Anatole m French
French form of Anatolius.
Anatoliy m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Anatolius.
Anatoly m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Анатолий (see Anatoliy).
Anaxagoras m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἄναξ (anax) meaning "master, lord" and ἀγορά (agora) meaning "assembly, marketplace". This name was borne by a 5th-century BC Greek philosopher.
Andebert m Germanic
From the Old German element anto meaning "zeal" combined with beraht meaning "bright".
Anđelko m Croatian, Serbian
Croatian and Serbian form of Angel.
Andriy m Ukrainian
Ukrainian form of Andrew.
Androcles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek Ἀνδροκλῆς (Androkles) meaning "glory of a man", derived from ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός) and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the name of a man who pulled a thorn from a lion's paw in one of Aesop's fables.
Andronicus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of Greek Ἀνδρόνικος (Andronikos) meaning "victory of a man", from ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός) and νίκη (nike) meaning "victory". This name is mentioned briefly in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament. Shakespeare later used it in his play Titus Andronicus (1593).
Aneirin m Old Welsh, Welsh
Old Welsh name, possibly from the Latin name Honorius. This was the name of a 6th-century Brythonic poet, also known as Neirin or Aneurin, who is said to be the author of the poem Y Gododdin.
Aneurin m Welsh
Modern form of Aneirin.
Angra Mainyu m Persian Mythology
Means "evil spirit", from Avestan 𐬀𐬢𐬭𐬀 (angra) meaning "evil, destructive" and 𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬥𐬌𐬌𐬎 (mainiiu) meaning "spirit, mind". In Zoroastrianism Angra Mainyu was the god of darkness, death and destruction, the enemy of Ahura Mazda.
Anicetus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀνίκητος (Aniketos) meaning "unconquerable". This was the name of an early pope.
Annibale m Italian
Italian form of Hannibal.
Annunziato m Italian
Masculine form of Annunziata.
Ansbert m Germanic
Composed of the Old German elements ansi "god" and beraht "bright". It is a cognate of Osbert. This name was borne by a 7th-century Frankish saint, a bishop of Rouen.
Ansehelm m Germanic
Old German form of Anselm.
Anthelm m Germanic
From the Old German element anto meaning "zeal" combined with helm meaning "helmet, protection". Saint Anthelm was a 12th-century bishop of Belley in France.
Anthelme m French (Rare)
French form of Anthelm.
Antigonus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίγονος (Antigonos), derived from ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and γόνος (gonos) meaning "offspring, race, stock". This was the name of one of Alexander the Great's generals. After Alexander died, he took control of most of Asia Minor.
Antiochus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀντίοχος (Antiochos), derived from Greek ἀντί (anti) meaning "against, compared to, like" and ὀχή (oche) meaning "support". This was the name of several rulers of the Seleucid Empire. It was also borne by a 2nd-century Christian martyr, the patron saint of Sardinia.
Antonije m Serbian
Serbian form of Antonius (see Anthony).
Antonín m Czech
Czech form of Antoninus, also used as the Czech form of Antonius (see Anthony). A famous bearer was the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904).
Antonius m Ancient Roman, Dutch
Latin form of Anthony. This is also the official Dutch form of the name, used on birth certificates but commonly rendered Anton or Antoon in daily life.
Anubis m Egyptian Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Ἄνουβις (Anoubis), the Greek form of Egyptian jnpw (reconstructed as Anapa and other forms), which coincided with a word meaning "royal child, prince". However, it might alternatively be derived from the root jnp meaning "to decay". Anubis was the Egyptian god who led the dead to the underworld. He was often depicted as a man with the head of a jackal. The Greeks equated him with their god Hermes.
Anwar m Arabic, Urdu, Indonesian
Means "brighter, more luminous" in Arabic, related to نور (nūr) meaning "light". This name was borne by Egyptian president Anwar Sadat (1918-1981), who was assassinated three years after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Aodhagán m Irish
Diminutive of Aodh (actually double diminutive).
Aonghas m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Aonghus.
Aonghus m Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Mythology
From Old Irish Óengus, possibly meaning "one strength" from óen "one" and guss "force, strength". Aonghus (sometimes surnamed Mac Og meaning "young son") was an Irish god of love and youth, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He was the son of Dagda and Boann. The name was also borne by an 8th-century Pictish king, several Irish kings, and a few saints, including a 9th-century bishop of Tallaght.
Aphrodisios m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Apolinar m Spanish
Spanish form of Apollinaris.
Apollinaire m French (Rare)
French form of Apollinaris. It was adopted as a surname by the Polish-French poet Guillaume Apollinaire (1880-1918), who based it on his Polish middle name Apolinary.
Apollinaris m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek name derived from the name of the god Apollo. This was the name of several early saints and martyrs, including a bishop of Ravenna and a bishop of Hierapolis.
Apollodoros m Ancient Greek
Means "gift of Apollo" from the name of the god Apollo combined with Greek δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift".
Apollonios m Ancient Greek
From an ancient Greek personal name that was derived from the name of the Greek god Apollo. It was borne by a Greek poet of the 3rd century BC. Several saints have also had this name.
Apostolos m Greek
Means "messenger, apostle" in Greek.
Apurva m & f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit अपूर्व (apūrva) meaning "unpreceded, new". This is a transcription of both the masculine form अपूर्व and the feminine form अपूर्वा.
Aputsiaq m Greenlandic
Means "snowflake" in Greenlandic.
Aqissiaq m Greenlandic
Means "young ptarmigan" in Greenlandic (a ptarmigan is a type of bird that lives in cold regions).
Aquila m & f Biblical, Ancient Roman
From a Roman cognomen meaning "eagle" in Latin. In Acts in the New Testament Paul lives with Aquila and his wife Priscilla (or Prisca) for a time.
Aquilinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was a derivative of Aquila.
Aragorn m Literature
Meaning unexplained, though the first element is presumably Sindarin ara "noble, kingly". This is the name of a character in The Lord of the Rings (1954) by J. R. R. Tolkien. In the book Aragorn is the heir of the Dúnedain kings of the north.
Arastoo m Persian
Persian form of Aristotle.
Arcangelo m Italian
Means "archangel" in Italian.
Archelaus m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Biblical Latin, Biblical
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀρχέλαος (Archelaos), which meant "master of the people" from ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master" and λαός (laos) meaning "people". This was the name of a son of Herod the Great. He ruled over Judea, Samaria and Idumea.
Archibald m Scottish, English
Derived from the Germanic name Ercanbald, composed of the elements erkan meaning "pure, holy, genuine" and bald meaning "bold, brave". The first element was altered due to the influence of Greek names beginning with the element ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master". The Normans brought this name to England. It first became common in Scotland in the Middle Ages (sometimes used to Anglicize the Gaelic name Gilleasbuig, for unknown reasons).
Archimedes m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master" and μήδεα (medea) meaning "plans, counsel, cunning". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek mathematician, astronomer and inventor.
Arcturus m Astronomy
From Ancient Greek Ἀρκτοῦρος (Arktouros), the name of the fourth brightest star in the sky, part of the constellation Boötes. It means "guardian of the bear", derived from ἄρκτος (arktos) meaning "bear" and οὖρος (ouros) meaning "guardian", referring to the star's position close to the constellations Ursa Minor and Ursa Major.
Ardalion m Late Greek, Georgian (Rare), Russian (Rare)
Probably derived from Greek ἀρδάλιον (ardalion) meaning "water pot". This was the name of a 4th-century saint and martyr from Asia Minor.
Arduino m Italian
Italian form of Hartwin.
Aretas m Biblical
Greek form of an Aramaic name, of unknown meaning. This was the name of four Nabataean kings of Petra in Jordan, including the first king (2nd century BC). King Aretas IV is mentioned briefly in the New Testament.
Argider m Basque
Derived from Basque argi "light" and eder "beautiful".
Argyris m Greek
Modern Greek form of Argyros.
Argyros m Ancient Greek
Means "silver" in Greek.
Aristaeus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀρισταῖος (Aristaios), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best". This was the name of a minor Greek god of agriculture, hunting and cattle. He was the son of Apollo and the mortal Cyrene.
Aristarchus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀρίσταρχος (Aristarchos), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master". This name was borne by Aristarchus of Samos, a 3rd-century BC Greek astronomer and mathematician.
Aristarkh m Russian
Russian form of Aristarchus.
Aristide m French, Italian
French and Italian form of Aristides.
Aristocles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀριστοκλῆς (Aristokles) meaning "the best glory", derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the real name of the philosopher Plato.
Aristodemos m Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people". This was the name of a descendant of Herakles in Greek legend.
Ariston m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "the best".
Aristophanes m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and φανής (phanes) meaning "appearing". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian playwright.
Aristotelis m Greek
Modern Greek form of Aristotle.
Arisztid m Hungarian (Rare)
Hungarian form of Aristides.
Arkadi m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Аркадий (see Arkadiy).
Arkadios m Ancient Greek
From an ancient Greek name meaning "of Arcadia". Arcadia was a region in Greece, its name deriving from ἄρκτος (arktos) meaning "bear". This was the name of a 3rd-century saint and martyr.
Arkadiusz m Polish
Polish form of Arkadios.
Arminius m Old Germanic (Latinized)
Latinized form of a Germanic name, possibly derived from the element *ermunaz meaning "whole, universal". Other theories claim that it is related to Herman, or that it is not Germanic at all. Arminius was a 1st-century chief of the Germanic tribe of the Cherusci. Raised in Rome as a hostage, he eventually became a citizen and joined the army. However, he turned against the Empire, leading the Germans in a surprise attack in the Teutoburg Forest and driving the Romans from Germania.
Arnfried m German (Rare)
From an Old German name derived from the elements arn "eagle" and fridu "peace".
Arsène m French
French form of Arsenios. A notable fictional bearer is Arsène Lupin, a gentleman burglar in novels by Maurice Leblanc, beginning 1907.
Arseni m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Арсений (see Arseniy).
Arseniy m Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Arsenios.
Arslan m Turkish, Turkmen
Turkish variant and Turkmen form of Aslan.
Artaxerxes m Old Persian (Hellenized), Biblical, History
Greek form of the Old Persian name 𐎠𐎼𐎫𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎠 (Artaxšaça) meaning "reign through truth", derived from 𐎠𐎼𐎫 (arta) meaning "truth" and 𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎶 (xšaçam) meaning "reign, kingdom". This was the name of several Achaemenid Persian rulers. It was also borne by the founder of the Sasanian Empire, usually known by the Middle Persian form Ardashir.
Artaxshaça m Old Persian
Old Persian form of Artaxerxes.
Artemios m Ancient Greek
Derived from the name of the Greek goddess Artemis. This was the name of a 4th-century general in the Roman army who is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church.
Artemiy m Russian
Russian variant form of Artemios.
Arthfael m Medieval Welsh
Medieval Welsh form of Armel.
Ásbjörn m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Ásbjǫrn.
Ascelin m Germanic
Derived from a diminutive of the Old German element asc meaning "ash tree" (Proto-Germanic *askaz).
Ashanti f & m Various
From the name of an African people who reside in southern Ghana. It possibly means "warlike" in the Twi language.
Asier m Basque
Means "the beginning", from Basque hasi.
Ásketill m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse áss "god" and ketill "cauldron, helmet".
Asklepios m Greek Mythology
Meaning unknown. Asklepios (Aesculapius to the Romans) was the god of healing and medicine in Greek mythology. He was the son of Apollo and Coronis.
Asmodeus m Biblical, Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
From Greek Ἀσμοδαῖος (Asmodaios) and Hebrew אשְׁמְדּאי (ʾAshmedʾai), probably from Avestan 𐬀𐬉𐬱𐬆𐬨𐬀 (aēshəma) meaning "wrath" and 𐬛𐬀𐬉𐬎𐬎𐬀 (daēuua) meaning "demon". In the apocryphal Book of Tobit this is the name of a demon who successively kills seven of Sarah's husbands on their wedding nights. He also appears in the Talmud.
Astaroth m Literature
From Ashtaroth, the plural form of Ashtoreth used in the Bible to refer to Phoenician idols. This spelling was used in late medieval demonology texts to refer to a type of (masculine) demon.
Asterius m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀστέριος (Asterios) meaning "starry", a derivative of ἀστήρ (aster) meaning "star". This is the name of several figures from Greek mythology. It was also borne by a few early saints.
Asterix m Popular Culture
The name of a Gaulish hero (Astérix in the original French) in a comic book series of the same name, debuting 1959. His name is a pun based on French astérisque meaning "asterisk, little star" but appearing to end with the Gaulish element rix meaning "king" (seen for example in the historical figure Vercingetorix). All male Gauls in the series have humorous names ending with -ix.
Astrophel m Literature
Probably intended to mean "star lover", from Greek ἀστήρ (aster) meaning "star" and φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend". This name was first used by the 16th-century poet Philip Sidney in his collection of sonnets Astrophel and Stella.
'Atalya f & m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Athaliah.
Ataullah m Arabic
Means "gift of Allah" from Arabic عطاء (ʿaṭāʾ) meaning "gift" combined with الله (Allah).
Athaliah f & m Biblical
Possibly means "Yahweh is exalted" in Hebrew, from עֲתַל (ʿaṯal) possibly meaning "exalted" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is both a feminine and masculine name. It was borne by the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who later came to rule Judah as a queen.
Athanaric m Gothic (Anglicized)
From the Gothic name *Aþanareiks, derived from the element aþn meaning "year" combined with reiks meaning "ruler, king". Athanaric was a 4th-century ruler of the Visigoths.
Athanasius m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀθανάσιος (Athanasios) meaning "immortal", from Greek (a), a negative prefix, combined with θάνατος (thanatos) meaning "death". Saint Athanasius was a 4th-century bishop of Alexandria who strongly opposed Arianism.
Athaulf m Gothic (Modernized)
Contemporary spelling of the Gothic name *Aþawulfs, derived from the elements aþals "nobility" and wulfs "wolf" (making it a cognate of Adolf). Alternatively, the first element could be atta "father". This was the name of a 5th-century king of the Visigoths.
Athelstan m English (Archaic)
Modern form of Æðelstan. This name was revived in Britain the latter half of the 19th century.
Atticus m Literature, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Greek Ἀττικός (Attikos) meaning "from Attica", referring to the region surrounding Athens in Greece. This name was borne by a few notable Greeks from the Roman period (or Romans of Greek background). The author Harper Lee used the name in her novel To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) for an Alabama lawyer who defends a black man accused of raping a white woman.
Auberon m Carolingian Cycle
From a diminutive form of Auberi, an Old French form of Alberich. It is the name of the fairy king in the 13th-century epic Huon de Bordeaux.
Augustijn m Dutch (Rare)
Dutch form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augustín m Slovak
Slovak form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augustinas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augustine 1 m English
From the Roman name Augustinus, itself derived from the Roman name Augustus. Saint Augustine of Hippo was a 5th-century Christian theologian and author from North Africa. For his contributions to Christian philosophy he is known as a Doctor of the Church. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world. It became popular in England in the Middle Ages partly because of a second saint by this name, Augustine of Canterbury, a 6th-century Italian monk sent to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons.
Augustus m Ancient Roman, Dutch (Rare)
Means "exalted, venerable", derived from Latin augere meaning "to increase". Augustus was the title given to Octavian, the first Roman emperor. He was an adopted son of Julius Caesar who rose to power through a combination of military skill and political prowess. In 26 BC the senate officially gave him the name Augustus, and after his death it was used as a title for subsequent emperors. This was also the name of three kings of Poland (called August in Polish).
Augustyn m Polish
Polish form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Aurangzeb m History
Means "honouring the throne" in Persian. This was the name of a 17th-century Mughal emperor of India.
Aurelian m Romanian, History
Romanian form of Aurelianus, as well as the usual English form when referring to the Roman emperor.
Aureliano m Spanish, Portuguese, Italian
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Aurelianus.
Aurelio m Italian, Spanish
Italian and Spanish form of Aurelius.
Aurelius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin aureus meaning "golden, gilded". Marcus Aurelius was a 2nd-century Roman emperor and philosophical writer. This was also the name of several early saints.
Aureliusz m Polish
Polish form of Aurelius.
Avgust m Slovene, Russian
Slovene and Russian form of Augustus.
'Avi'el m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Abiel.
Avishai m Hebrew
Modern Hebrew form of Abishai.
'Avishay m Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Abishai.
Avtandil m Georgian, Literature
Created by the Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli for his 12th-century epic The Knight in the Panther's Skin. Rustaveli based it on Persian آفتاب (āftāb) meaning "sunshine" and دل (del) meaning "heart". In the poem Avtandil is a knight who is sent by Tinatin to search for the mysterious knight of the title.
Ayokunle m Yoruba
Means "joy has filled the home" in Yoruba.
Azarel m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "God has helped" in Hebrew, derived from עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "to help" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of several minor Old Testament characters.
Azaria m & f Hebrew, English (Modern)
Hebrew form of Azariah (masculine), as well as a feminine variant in the English-speaking world.
Azariah m Biblical
From the Hebrew name עֲזַרְיָה (ʿAzarya) meaning "Yahweh has helped", derived from עָזַר (ʿazar) meaning "help" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of many Old Testament characters including of one of the three men the Babylonian king ordered cast into a fiery furnace. His Babylonian name was Abednego.
Azarias m Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin
Form of Azariah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament.
Azazel m Biblical
Means "scapegoat" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, this is the name of the recipient of a sacrificial goat. The identity of Azazel is not clear; it may in fact be the name of the place where the goat is to be sacrificed, or it may be the name of some sort of evil desert demon.
Azaziah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is strong" in Hebrew, from עָזַז (ʿazaz) meaning "to be strong" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of three minor characters in the Old Testament.
Azrael m Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Variant of Azarel. This is the name of an angel in Jewish and Islamic tradition who separates the soul from the body upon death. He is sometimes referred to as the Angel of Death.
Azriel m Biblical
Means "my help is God" in Hebrew, derived from עֶזְרָה (ʿezra) meaning "help" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of three minor characters in the Old Testament.
Azubuike m Igbo
Means "the past is your strength" or "your back is your strength" in Igbo.
Ąžuolas m Lithuanian
Means "oak tree" in Lithuanian.
Baal-Zebub m Biblical
Form of Beelzebub used in many English versions of the Old Testament.
Babajide m Yoruba
Means "father has awakened" in Yoruba.
Bagadata m Old Persian
Old Persian name derived from 𐏎 (baga) meaning "god" and 𐎭𐎠𐎫 (data) meaning "given". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Persian satrap under the Seleucid Empire.
Bahram m Persian, Persian Mythology
Modern Persian form of Avestan 𐬬𐬆𐬭𐬆𐬚𐬭𐬀𐬖𐬥𐬀 (Vərəthraghna) meaning "victory over resistance". This was the name of a Zoroastrian god (one of the Amesha Spenta) associated with victory and war. It was also borne by several Sasanian emperors. It is also the Persian name for the planet Mars.
Bairrfhionn m Irish (Rare)
Means "fair-haired", derived from Old Irish barr "top, head" and finn "white, blessed".
Baldassare m Italian
Italian form of Balthazar.
Baldewin m Germanic
Old German form of Baldwin.
Baldomero m Spanish
Derived from the Old German elements bald "bold, brave" and mari "famous".
Baldovino m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Baldwin.
Baltasar m Spanish, Biblical Greek
Spanish form of Balthazar. This is also the form (of Belshazzar) used in the Greek Old Testament.
Balthasar m Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Latin form of Balthazar. Shakespeare used it for minor characters in Romeo and Juliet (1596) and Much Ado About Nothing (1599).
Balthazar m Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Variant of Belshazzar. Balthazar is the name traditionally assigned to one of the wise men (also known as the Magi, or three kings) who visited the newborn Jesus. He was said to have come from Arabia. This name was utilized by Shakespeare for minor characters in The Comedy of Errors (1594) and The Merchant of Venice (1596).
Barnabas m German (Rare), English (Rare), Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Greek form of an Aramaic name. In Acts in the New Testament the byname Barnabas was given to a man named Joseph, a Jew from Cyprus who was a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. The original Aramaic form is unattested, but it may be from בּר נביא (bar navi) meaning "son of the prophet", though in Acts 4:36 it is claimed that the name means "son of encouragement".... [more]
Bartholomaios m Biblical Greek
New Testament Greek form of Bartholomew.
Bartholomeus m Dutch, Biblical Latin
Dutch and Latin form of Bartholomew.