Enitan m & f YorubaMeans
"person with a story, storied person" in Yoruba.
Enki m Sumerian MythologyFrom Sumerian
𒂗 (en) meaning "lord" and
𒆠 (ki) meaning "earth, ground" (though maybe originally from
𒆳 (kur) meaning "underworld, mountain"). Enki, called
Ea by the Akkadians, Assyrians and Babylonians, was the Sumerian god of water and wisdom and the keeper of the Me, the divine laws.
Enkidu m Sumerian Mythology, Semitic MythologyProbably means
"lord of the good place", from Sumerian
𒂗 (en) meaning "lord",
𒆠 (ki) meaning "place" and
𒄭 (du) meaning "good". This was the name of a wild man who became a companion of the Sumerian hero
Gilgamesh, notably appearing in the Akkadian poem the
Epic of Gilgamesh.
Enlil m Sumerian Mythology, Semitic MythologyFrom Sumerian
𒂗 (en) meaning "lord" and possibly
𒆤 (lil) meaning "wind". Enlil was the Sumerian god of the wind and storms, the son of
An and
Ki. He was later worshipped by the Akkadians, Assyrians, Babylonians, and other Mesopotamian peoples.
Énna m Old IrishPossibly from Old Irish
én meaning
"bird". This was the name of several Irish kings and heroes. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint who built the monastery of Killeany on Aran.
Ennio m ItalianItalian form of the Roman family name
Ennius, which is of unknown meaning. Quintus Ennius was an early Roman poet.
Ennis m EnglishFrom an Irish surname that was derived from
inis meaning
"island".
Enola f EnglishMeaning unknown. This name first appeared in the late 19th century. It is the name of the main character in the novel
Enola; or, her Fatal Mistake (1886) by Mary Young Ridenbaugh. The aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was named
Enola Gay after the mother of the pilot, who was herself named for the book character.
Enu m & f AkanMeans
"fifth born child" in Akan.
Enzokuhle m & f Zulu, XhosaMeans
"to do good" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots
enza "to do" and
hle "beautiful, good".
Eochaidh m Medieval IrishFrom the Old Irish name
Eochaid meaning
"horseman", derived from
ech "horse". This name was borne by many historical and legendary Irish kings.
Eoforhild f Anglo-SaxonDerived from the Old English elements
eofor "boar" and
hild "battle". This name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
Eoghan m Irish, Irish MythologyPossibly means
"born from the yew tree", from Old Irish
eó "yew" and the suffix
gan "born". Alternatively, it might be derived from the Latin name
Eugenius. It was borne by several legendary or semi-legendary Irish figures, including a son of the king
Niall of the Nine Hostages.
Eormenhild f Anglo-SaxonFrom the Old English elements
eormen "whole, great" and
hild "battle". This was the name of a 7th-century saint, a daughter of King Eorcenberht of Kent.
Eos f Greek MythologyMeans
"dawn" in Greek. This was the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn.
Éowyn f LiteratureMeans
"horse joy" in Old English. This name was invented by J. R. R. Tolkien who used Old English to represent the Rohirric language. In his novel
The Lord of the Rings (1954) Eowyn is the niece of King Theoden of Rohan. She slays the Lord of the Nazgul in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Epaphroditos m Ancient Greek, Biblical GreekMeans
"lovely, charming", derived from Greek
ἐπί (epi) meaning "on" combined with the name of the Greek love goddess
Aphrodite. It appears in the epistle to the Philippians in the New Testament (as
Epaphroditus, the Latinized form, in the English version).
Epaphus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)Derived from Greek
ἐπαφή (epaphe) meaning
"touch". According to Greek mythology this was the name of a king of Egypt. He was the son of
Zeus and
Io, who became pregnant when Zeus touched her with his hand.
Ephraim m Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
אֶפְרָיִם (ʾEfrayim) meaning
"fruitful". In the Old Testament Ephraim is a son of
Joseph and
Asenath and the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. This name was also borne by two early saints: Ephraim or Ephrem the Syrian, a 4th-century theologian, and Ephraim of Antioch, a 6th-century patriarch of Antioch.
Epicurus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)Latinized form of the Greek name
Ἐπίκουρος (Epikouros), derived from a word meaning
"helper, ally". Epicurus was a 3rd-century BC Greek philosopher who founded the school of philosophy called Epicureanism.
Epifanio m Spanish, ItalianFrom the Latin name
Epiphanius, which was from the Greek name
Ἐπιφάνιος (Epiphanios), itself derived from the Greek word
ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) meaning
"appearance, manifestation". This name was borne by a few early saints. It is associated with the event known in English as the Epiphany (Spanish
Epifanía, Italian
Epifania, Latin
Epiphania), the coming of the three Magi to visit the infant
Jesus.
Epiktetos m Ancient GreekAncient Greek name meaning
"newly acquired". This was the name of a 1st-century Greek stoic philosopher.
Epiphanes m Ancient GreekMeans
"appearing, manifesting" in Greek. This was an epithet of two 2nd-century BC Hellenistic rulers: the Seleucid king Antiochus IV and the Ptolemaic king Ptolemy V.
Epiphany f English (Rare)From the name of the Christian festival (January 6) that commemorates the visit of the Magi to the infant
Jesus. It is also an English word meaning "sudden appearance" or "sudden perception", ultimately deriving from Greek
ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) meaning "manifestation".
Epona f Gaulish MythologyDerived from Gaulish
epos meaning
"horse" with the divine or augmentative suffix
-on. This was the name of a Gaulish goddess of horses and fertility. She was worshipped not only in Gaul, but elsewhere in the Roman Empire.
Era f AlbanianDerived from Albanian
erë meaning
"wind".
Erasmus m Late Greek (Latinized)Derived from Greek
ἐράσμιος (erasmios) meaning
"beloved, desired". Saint Erasmus, also known as Saint
Elmo, was a 4th-century martyr who is the patron saint of sailors. Erasmus was also the name of a Dutch scholar of the Renaissance period.
Erastus m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Ἔραστος (Erastos) meaning
"beloved, lovely". This was the name of an assistant of
Paul mentioned in Acts and two epistles in the New Testament.
Erasyl m KazakhMeans
"noble hero" in Kazakh, from
ер (er) meaning "man, hero" and
асыл (asyl) meaning "precious, noble".
Erato f Greek MythologyMeans
"lovely" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was one of the nine Muses, the muse of lyric poetry.
Eratosthenes m Ancient GreekDerived from Greek
ἐρατός (eratos) meaning "lovely" and
σθένος (sthenos) meaning "vigour, strength". A notable bearer was the Greek scientist Eratosthenes of Cyrene (3rd century BC), the first person to calculate the circumference of the Earth.
Ercan m TurkishFrom Turkish
er meaning "man, hero, brave" and
can meaning "soul, life".
Erdoğan m TurkishFrom Turkish
er meaning "man, hero, brave" and
doğan meaning "falcon".
Ereshkigal f Sumerian MythologyMeans
"lady of the great earth", from Sumerian
𒊩𒌆 (ereš) meaning "lady, queen" combined with
𒆠 (ki) meaning "earth" and
𒃲 (gal) meaning "great, big". In Sumerian mythology she was the goddess of death and the underworld.
Erhan m TurkishFrom Turkish
er meaning "man, hero, brave" and
han, which is from the title
khan meaning "leader".
Erhard m German, GermanicDerived from the Old German element
era "honour, respect" combined with
hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". Saint Erhard was a 7th-century bishop of Regensburg in Bavaria.
Eric m English, Swedish, German, SpanishMeans
"ever ruler", from the Old Norse name
Eiríkr, derived from the elements
ei "ever, always" and
ríkr "ruler, king". A notable bearer was Eiríkr inn Rauda (Eric the Red in English), a 10th-century navigator and explorer who discovered Greenland. This was also the name of several early kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
... [more] Erika f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, German, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Croatian, English, ItalianFeminine form of
Erik. It also coincides with the word for
"heather" in some languages.
Eris f Greek MythologyMeans
"strife, discord" in Greek. In Greek mythology Eris was the goddess of discord. She was the sister and companion of
Ares.
Ériu f Irish MythologyFrom the name of an Irish goddess, who according to legend gave her name to Ireland (which is called
Éire in Irish). In reality, the goddess probably got her name from that of the island, which may mean something like "abundant land" in Old Irish.
Erkan m TurkishFrom Turkish
er "man, hero, brave" combined with either
kan "blood" or
han "khan, leader".
Erling m Norwegian, Danish, SwedishMeans
"descendant of the jarl", a derivative of the Old Norse word
jarl meaning "chieftain, nobleman, earl".
Ermelinde f GermanicDerived from the Old German elements
irmin "whole, great" and
lind "soft, flexible, tender". This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Meldert, Flanders.
Ermendrud f GermanicDerived from the Old German elements
irmin "whole, great" and
drud "strength". This was the name of the wife of the Frankish king Charles the Bald (9th century).
Ermengard f GermanicDerived from the Old German elements
irmin meaning "whole, great" and
gart meaning "enclosure, yard". This name was borne by the wife of the Frankish king Louis the Pious (9th century). This was also the name of one of her granddaughters, an abbess of Frauenwörth who is regarded as a saint.
Ermenrich m GermanicFrom the Gothic name *
Airmanareiks, from the elements
airmans "great, immense" and
reiks "ruler, king". Ermenrich (also often called Ermanaric) was a 4th-century Gothic king.
Ernest m English, French, Catalan, Polish, Slovak, SloveneDerived from Old High German
ernust meaning
"serious, earnest". It was introduced to England by the German House of Hanover when they inherited the British throne in the 18th century, though it did not become common until the following century. The American author and adventurer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) was a famous bearer of the name. It was also used by Oscar Wilde for a character in his comedy
The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).
Eros m Greek MythologyMeans
"love" in Greek. In Greek mythology he was a young god, the son of
Aphrodite, who was armed with arrows that caused the victim to fall in love.
Erskine m English (Rare)From a Scottish surname that was originally derived from the name of a town near Glasgow. The town's name possibly means
"projecting height" in Gaelic. A famous bearer was the Irish novelist and nationalist Erskine Childers (1870-1922).
Ertuğrul m TurkishFrom Turkish
er meaning "man, hero, brave" and
tuğrul, referring to a mythical bird of prey. This was the name of the father of
Osman, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.
Erwin m German, Dutch, Polish, GermanicDerived from the Old German name
Hariwini, composed of the elements
heri "army" and
wini "friend". It may have merged somewhat with the name
Eberwin. A notable bearer was Erwin Schrödinger (1887-1961), an Austrian physicist who made contributions to quantum theory.
Esau m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
עֵשָׂו (ʿEsaw), which possibly meant
"hairy". In the Old Testament Esau is the elder of the twin sons of
Isaac and
Rebecca. Once when he was very hungry he sold his birthright to his twin
Jacob for a bowl of stew. Later Jacob disguised himself as Esau and received the elder son's blessing from the blind Isaac. Esau, also called
Edom, was the ancestor of the Edomites.
Eser f & m TurkishMeans
"product, achievement" in Turkish.
Esha f HindiMeans
"desire, wish" in Sanskrit.
Esi f AkanMeans
"born on Sunday" in Akan.
Esmé f & m EnglishMeans
"esteemed" or
"loved" in Old French. It was first recorded in Scotland, being borne by the first Duke of Lennox in the 16th century. It is now more common as a feminine name.
Esmeralda f Spanish, Portuguese, English, Albanian, LiteratureMeans
"emerald" in Spanish and Portuguese. Victor Hugo used this name in his novel
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831), in which Esmeralda is the Romani girl who is loved by Quasimodo. It has occasionally been used in the English-speaking world since that time.
Esmond m English (Rare)Derived from the Old English elements
est "grace" and
mund "protection". This Old English name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest. It was occasionally revived in the 19th century.
Esperanza f SpanishSpanish form of the Late Latin name
Sperantia, which was derived from
sperare "to hope".
Essence f English (Modern)From the English word
essence, which means either
"odour, scent" or else
"fundamental quality". Ultimately it derives from Latin
esse "to be".
Estelle f English, FrenchFrom an Old French name meaning
"star", ultimately derived from Latin
stella. It was rare in the English-speaking world in the Middle Ages, but it was revived in the 19th century, perhaps due to the character Estella Havisham in Charles Dickens' novel
Great Expectations (1860).
Esther f English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical GreekFrom the Hebrew name
אֶסְתֵר (ʾEsṯer), which possibly means
"star" in Persian. Alternatively it could be a derivative of the name of the Near Eastern goddess
Ishtar. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells the story of Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the king of Persia. The king's advisor
Haman persuaded the king to exterminate all the Jews in the realm. Warned of this plot by her cousin
Mordecai, Esther revealed her Jewish ancestry and convinced the king to execute Haman instead. Her original Hebrew name was
Hadassah.
... [more] Estíbaliz f SpanishFrom a Spanish title of the Virgin
Mary,
Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz, meaning "Our Lady of Estíbaliz". Estíbaliz is a sanctuary in Álava, Spain. It may be derived from Latin
aestivalis "pertaining to the summer", a derivative of
aestas "summer". Folk etymology connects it to Basque
ezti "honey" and
balitz "as if it were".
Étaín f Irish, Irish Mythology, Old IrishPossibly derived from Old Irish
ét meaning
"jealousy, passion". In Irish legend she is the subject of the 9th-century tale
The Wooing of Étaín. She was the wife of Midir, but his jealous first wife Fuamnach transformed her into a fly. She was accidentally swallowed, and then reborn to the woman who swallowed her. After she grew again to adulthood she married the Irish high king Eochaid Airem, having no memory of Midir. Midir and Étaín were eventually reunited after Midir defeated Eochaid in a game of chess.
... [more] Étan f Irish MythologyPossibly a variant of
Étaín. In Irish mythology she was the daughter of Dian Cécht, the god of healing.
Eter f GeorgianMeans
"ether, air" in Georgian. This name features in the opera
Abesalom and Eteri (1918), which was based on a medieval Georgian folktale.
Ethan m English, French, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom the Hebrew name
אֵיתָן (ʾEṯan) meaning
"solid, enduring, firm". In the Old Testament this name is borne by a few minor characters, including the wise man Ethan the Ezrahite, supposedly the author of Psalm 89.
... [more] Ethel f EnglishShort form of names beginning with the Old English element
æðele meaning
"noble". It was coined in the 19th century, when many Old English names were revived. It was popularized by the novels
The Newcomes (1855) by William Makepeace Thackeray and
The Daisy Chain (1856) by C. M. Yonge. A famous bearer was American actress and singer Ethel Merman (1908-1984).
Etsuko f JapaneseFrom Japanese
悦 (etsu) meaning "joy, pleased" and
子 (ko) meaning "child", as well as other kanji combinations.
Euboia f Greek MythologyMeans
"good ox" in Greek, from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
βοῦς (bous) meaning "ox, cow". This is the name of several minor characters in Greek mythology, including a naiad who is said to have given her name to the island of Euboia.
Eudocia f Ancient Greek (Latinized)Latinized form of the Greek name
Εὐδοκία (Eudokia), derived from the word
εὐδοκέω (eudokeo) meaning
"to be well pleased, to be satisfied", itself derived from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
δοκέω (dokeo) meaning "to think, to imagine, to suppose". This name was common among Byzantine royalty. Saint Eudocia was the wife of the 5th-century emperor Theodosius II.
Eudora f Greek MythologyMeans
"good gift" in Greek, from the elements
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
δῶρον (doron) meaning "gift". This was the name of a nymph, one of the Hyades, in Greek mythology.
Eudoxos m Ancient GreekFrom Greek
εὔδοξος (eudoxos) meaning
"of good repute, honoured", itself from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
δόξα (doxa) meaning "notion, reputation, honour". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek mathematician and astronomer.
Eugene m EnglishEnglish form of
Eugenius, the Latin form of the Greek name
Εὐγένιος (Eugenios), which was derived from the Greek word
εὐγενής (eugenes) meaning
"well born". It is composed of the elements
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
γενής (genes) meaning "born". This was the name of several saints and four popes.
... [more] Eugraphios m Ancient GreekFrom Greek
εὐγραφής (eugraphes) meaning
"well-drawn" or
"well-written", itself from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
γραφή (graphe) meaning "drawing, writing". Saint Eugraphios or Eugraphos was a 3rd or 4th-century martyr from Alexandria.
Eulalia f Spanish, Italian, Polish, English, Ancient GreekDerived from Greek
εὔλαλος (eulalos) meaning
"sweetly-speaking", itself from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
λαλέω (laleo) meaning "to talk". This was the name of an early 4th-century saint and martyr from Mérida in Spain. Another martyr by this name, living at the same time, is a patron saint of Barcelona. These two saints might be the same person.
Eun f & m KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" or
銀 (eun) meaning "silver, money", as well as other hanja characters that are pronounced in the same way. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
Eun-Gyeong f KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" or
銀 (eun) meaning "silver" combined with
敬 (gyeong) meaning "respect, honour" or
景 (gyeong) meaning "scenery, view". Other hanja character combinations can also form this name.
Eunice f Biblical, English, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Εὐνίκη (Eunike) meaning
"good victory", derived from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
νίκη (nike) meaning "victory". The New Testament mentions her as the mother of
Timothy. As an English name, it was first used after the Protestant Reformation.
Eun-Jeong f KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" or
慇 (eun) meaning "careful, anxious, attentive" combined with
廷 (jeong) meaning "courtyard" or
婷 (jeong) meaning "pretty, graceful". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Eun-Ji f KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" combined with
智 (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or
地 (ji) meaning "earth, soil, ground". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
Eunomia f Greek MythologyMeans
"good order" in Greek, ultimately from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
νόμος (nomos) meaning "law, custom". Eunomia was a Greek goddess, one of the
Ὥραι (Horai), presiding over law.
Eun-U m & f KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" combined with
宇 (u) meaning "house, universe" or
祐 (u) meaning "divine intervention, protection". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Eun-Yeong f KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
恩 (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity" and
英 (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Euodia f Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek, BiblicalDerived from Greek
εὐοδία (euodia) meaning
"a good journey", a derivative of
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
ὁδός (hodos) meaning "road, way, journey". This name is mentioned briefly in
Paul's epistle to the Philippians in the New Testament (though some translations assume it belongs to a man named
Euodias).
Euphranor m Ancient GreekDerived from Greek
εὐφραίνω (euphraino) meaning
"to delight, to cheer". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Athenian artist.
Euphrasia f Ancient GreekMeans
"good cheer" in Greek, a derivative of
εὐφραίνω (euphraino) meaning
"to delight, to cheer". This name was borne by a 5th-century saint from Constantinople.
Euphrosyne f Greek MythologyMeans
"mirth, merriment, cheerfulness" in Greek, a derivative of
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
φρήν (phren) meaning "mind, heart". She was one of the three Graces or
Χάριτες (Charites) in Greek mythology.
Euric m Gothic (Anglicized)From the Gothic name *
Aiwareiks, derived from
aiws "eternity, age" and
reiks "ruler, king". This was the name of a 5th-century king of the Visigoths.
Eurig m WelshDerived from Welsh
aur meaning
"gold" combined with a diminutive suffix.
Euripides m Ancient GreekDerived from Greek
Εὔριπος (Euripos), referring to the strait between Euboea and Boeotia, combined with the patronymic suffix
ἴδης (ides). This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek tragic poet.
Europa f Greek Mythology (Latinized)Latinized form of Greek
Εὐρώπη (Europe), which meant
"wide face" from
εὐρύς (eurys) meaning "wide" and
ὄψ (ops) meaning "face, eye". In Greek mythology Europa was a Phoenician princess who was abducted and taken to Crete by
Zeus in the guise of a bull. She became the first queen of Crete, and later fathered
Minos by Zeus. The continent of Europe said to be named for her, though it is more likely her name is from that of the continent. This is also the name of a moon of Jupiter.
Eurydice f Greek Mythology (Latinized)From the Greek
Εὐρυδίκη (Eurydike) meaning
"wide justice", derived from
εὐρύς (eurys) meaning "wide" and
δίκη (dike) meaning "justice, custom, order". In Greek myth she was the wife of Orpheus. Her husband tried to rescue her from Hades, but he failed when he disobeyed the condition that he not look back upon her on their way out.
Eusebios m Late GreekDerived from Greek
εὐσεβής (eusebes) meaning
"pious", itself derived from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
σέβω (sebo) meaning "to worship, to honour". This was the name of several saints.
Eustorgio m Italian (Rare)From
Eustorgius, the Latin form of the Greek name
Εὐστόργιος (Eustorgios), which was from the word
εὔστοργος (eustorgos) meaning
"content", a derivative of
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
στέργω (stergo) meaning "to love, to be content". Saint Eustorgius was a 6th-century bishop of Milan.
Euterpe f Greek MythologyMeans
"delight" in Greek, ultimately from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
τέρπω (terpo) meaning "to satisfy, to cheer". In Greek mythology she was one of the nine Muses, the muse of music and joy. She was said to have invented the double flute.
Euthalia f Late GreekMeans
"flower, bloom" from the Greek word
εὐθάλεια (euthaleia), itself derived from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
θάλλω (thallo) meaning "to blossom". This name was borne by a 3rd-century saint and martyr from Sicily.
Eutychus m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Εὔτυχος (Eutychos), which was derived from Greek
εὐτυχής (eutyches) meaning
"fortunate". The word was formed of the elements
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
τύχη (tyche) meaning "chance, luck, fortune". In the New Testament this is the name of a young man who went to sleep while
Paul was preaching and fell from the third story of the building. He was believed to be dead, but later turned out to be alive.
Evadne f Greek Mythology (Latinized)From Greek
Εὐάδνη (Euadne), from
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" possibly combined with Cretan Greek
ἀδνός (adnos) meaning "holy". This name was borne by several characters in Greek legend, including the wife of Capaneus. After Capaneus was killed by a lightning bolt sent from
Zeus she committed suicide by throwing herself onto his burning body.
Evangeline f EnglishMeans
"good news" from Greek
εὖ (eu) meaning "good" and
ἄγγελμα (angelma) meaning "news, message". It was (first?) used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1847 epic poem
Evangeline. It also appears in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel
Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) as the full name of the character Eva.
Evangelista m & f Italian, Spanish, PortugueseMeans
"evangelist, preacher" in Italian, Spanish and Portuguese, derived from Latin, ultimately from Greek
εὐάγγελος (euangelos) meaning "bringing good news". It is often used in honour of the Four Evangelists (the authors of the gospels in the New Testament:
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke and
John). It is traditionally masculine, though occasionally given to girls. A famous bearer was the Italian physicist and mathematician Evangelista Torricelli (1608-1647), who invented the barometer.
Eve f English, Estonian, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
חַוָּה (Ḥawwa), which was derived from the Hebrew word
חָוָה (ḥawa) meaning
"to breathe" or the related word
חָיָה (ḥaya) meaning
"to live". According to the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Eve and
Adam were the first humans. God created her from one of Adam's ribs to be his companion. At the urging of a serpent she ate the forbidden fruit and shared some with Adam, causing their expulsion from the Garden of
Eden.
... [more] Evelyn f & m English, GermanFrom an English surname that was derived from the given name
Aveline. In the 17th century when it was first used as a given name it was more common for boys, but it is now regarded as almost entirely feminine, probably in part because of its similarity to
Eve and
Evelina.
... [more] Everest m & f English (Modern)From the English name for the world's highest mountain, itself named after the British surveyor George
Everest (1790-1866).
Everly f English (Modern)From an English surname that was from a place name, itself derived from Old English
eofor "boar" and
leah "woodland, clearing". Notable bearers of the surname were the musical duo the Everly Brothers, Don (1937-2021) and Phil (1939-2014).
... [more] Evren m & f TurkishMeans
"cosmos, the universe" in Turkish. In Turkic mythology the Evren is a gigantic snake-like dragon.
Evron m Hebrew (Rare)From a biblical place name, also called
עַבְדּוֹן (ʿAvdon) meaning "servile", for which it may be a clerical error.
Ewald m German, Dutch, GermanicFrom an Old German name that was composed of the elements
ewa "law, custom" and
walt "power, authority". This name was borne by two 7th-century saints from Northumbria who were martyred in Saxony.
Ewart m English (Rare)From an English and Scottish surname that was either based on a Norman form of
Edward, or else derived from a place name of unknown meaning.
Ezekiel m Biblical, EnglishFrom the Hebrew name
יְחֶזְקֵאל (Yeḥezqel) meaning
"God will strengthen", from the roots
חָזַק (ḥazaq) meaning "to strengthen" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Ezekiel is a major prophet of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Ezekiel. He lived in Jerusalem until the Babylonian conquest and captivity of Israel, at which time he was taken to Babylon. The Book of Ezekiel describes his vivid symbolic visions that predict the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. As an English given name,
Ezekiel has been used since the Protestant Reformation.
Ezer 1 m BiblicalFrom Hebrew
אָצַר (ʾatsar) meaning
"treasured". In the Old Testament this is the name of a son of Seir the Horite. See also
Ezer 2.
Ezra m English, Hebrew, BiblicalMeans
"help" in Hebrew. Ezra is a prophet of the Old Testament and the author of the Book of Ezra. It has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the Protestant Reformation. The American poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) was a famous bearer.
Fabius m Ancient RomanRoman family name that was derived from Latin
faba meaning
"bean". Quintus Fabius Maximus was the Roman general who used delaying tactics to halt the invasion of
Hannibal in the 3rd century BC.
Fabrice m FrenchFrench form of the Roman family name
Fabricius, which was derived from Latin
faber meaning
"craftsman". Gaius Fabricius Luscinus was a 3rd-century BC Roman general and statesman.
Facundo m Spanish (Latin American)From the Late Latin name
Facundus, which meant
"eloquent". This was the name of a few early saints, including a 3rd-century Spanish martyr.
Fadhili m SwahiliMeans
"kindness, favour" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic.
Fadl m ArabicMeans
"grace, generosity" in Arabic. This was a name of both a cousin of
Muhammad and a son of
Abbas (the son of the fourth caliph
Ali).
Fadzai f ShonaFrom Shona
fadza meaning
"please, make happy".
Faith f EnglishSimply from the English word
faith, ultimately from Latin
fidere "to trust". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century.
Fajr f ArabicMeans
"dawn, beginning" in Arabic. This is the name of a daily prayer that is recited in the morning by observant Muslims.
Fajra f EsperantoMeans
"fiery" in Esperanto, from
fajro meaning "fire".
Fallon f English (Modern)From an Irish surname that was an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic
Ó Fallamháin, itself derived from the given name
Fallamhán meaning "leader". It was popularized in the 1980s by a character on the soap opera
Dynasty.
Fancy f English (Rare)From the English word
fancy, which means either
"like, love, inclination" or
"ornamental". It is derived from Middle English
fantasie, which comes (via Norman French and Latin) from Greek
φαίνω (phaino) meaning "to show, to appear".
Fang f & m ChineseFrom Chinese
芳 (fāng) meaning "fragrant, virtuous, beautiful" or other characters with a similar pronunciation.
Fannar m IcelandicPossibly derived from Old Norse
fǫnn meaning
"snow drift".
Faolán m Irish (Rare)Means
"little wolf", derived from Old Irish
fáel "wolf" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an Irish saint who did missionary work in Scotland.
Farai m & f ShonaFrom Shona
fara meaning
"rejoice, be happy".
Faramund m GermanicDerived from the Old German elements
fara "journey" and
munt "protection". This was the name of a semi-legendary 5th-century king of the Franks.
Farhad m PersianFrom Parthian
𐭐𐭓𐭇𐭕 (Frahat) meaning
"gained, earned". This was the name of several rulers of the Parthian Empire. Their names are often spelled
Phraates after the Hellenized form
Φραάτης.
Farid m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, BengaliMeans
"unique, precious" in Arabic, derived from
فرد (farada) meaning "to be unique, to be alone". This was the name of a 13th-century Persian poet.
Farley m English (Rare)From a surname that was originally from a place name meaning
"fern clearing" in Old English. A notable bearer of this name was Canadian author Farley Mowat (1921-2014).
Faro m GermanicOriginally a short form of Germanic names containing the element
fara meaning "journey" (Proto-Germanic *
farō). This was the name of a 7th-century Burgundian bishop of Meaux, France.
Faroald m GermanicDerived from the Old German elements
fara "journey" and
walt "power, authority". This name was borne by the first Duke of Spoleto, a 6th-century Lombard.
Farrell m EnglishFrom an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of
Ó Fearghail, derived from the given name
Fearghal.
Farrokh m PersianMeans
"happy, auspicious" in Persian. This was the birth name of the musician Freddie Mercury (1946-1991), who was born on Zanzibar to Parsi parents.
Faruq m ArabicMeans
"person who can tell right from wrong" in Arabic. This was the name of the last king of Egypt (1920-1965).
Fatih m Turkish, ArabicMeans
"conqueror" in Arabic, derived from the root
فتح (fataḥa) meaning "to open, to conquer". The Ottoman sultan
Mehmed II the Conqueror is called
Fatih Sultan Mehmed in Turkish.
Fatiha f Arabic (Maghrebi)Means
"opener" in Arabic, from the root
فتح (fataḥa) meaning "to open, to conquer". This is the name of the first chapter (surah al-Fatiha) of the Quran.
Fátima f Portuguese, SpanishFrom the name of a town in Portugal, which was derived from the Arabic feminine name
Fatima, apparently after a Moorish princess who converted to Christianity during the Reconquista. The town became an important Christian pilgrimage center after 1917 when three local children reported witnessing repeated apparitions of the Virgin
Mary.
Fatima f Arabic, Urdu, BosnianDerived from Arabic
فطم (faṭama) meaning
"to abstain, to wean". Fatima was a daughter of the Prophet
Muhammad and the wife of
Ali, the fourth caliph. She is regarded as the exemplary Muslim woman, especially among Shias.
Fatjon m AlbanianDerived from Albanian
fat "luck, fate, destiny" and
jonë "our".
Faunus m Roman MythologyPossibly means
"to befriend" from Latin. Faunus was a Roman god of fertility, forests, and agriculture.
Faust m LiteratureFrom a German surname that was derived from the Latin name
Faustus. This is the name of a character in German legends about a man who makes a pact with the devil, via his representative
Mephistopheles. He is believed to be based on the character of Dr. Johann Faust (1480-1540). His story was adapted by writers such as Christopher Marlowe and Goethe.
Faustus m Ancient RomanRoman cognomen meaning
"auspicious, lucky" in Latin. It was also occasionally used as a praenomen, or given name. This was the name of several early Christian saints.
Favour m & f English (African)From the English word
favour, ultimately from Latin
faveo "to favour". This name is most common in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
Fawn f EnglishFrom the English word
fawn for a young deer.
Fawzi m ArabicMeans
"triumph, victory" in Arabic, a derivative of
فاز (fāza) meaning "to triumph".
Fay f & m EnglishIn part from the English word
fay meaning
"fairy", derived from Middle English
faie meaning "magical, enchanted", ultimately (via Old French) from Latin
fata meaning "the Fates". It appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's chronicles in the name of
Morgan le Fay. In some cases it may be used as a short form of
Faith. It has been used as a feminine given name since the 19th century.
... [more] Fayruz f ArabicMeans
"turquoise (gemstone)" in Arabic, ultimately of Persian origin.
Fe f SpanishMeans
"faith" in Spanish, derived from Latin
fides.
Febronia f Late RomanPossibly from
Februa, a Roman purification festival that was held during the month of February (and which gave the month its name). The festival was derived from Latin
februum meaning "purging, purification". This name was borne by Saint Febronia of Nisibis, a 4th-century martyr.
Féchín m Old IrishMeans
"little raven" from Old Irish
fiach "raven" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an Irish saint of the 7th century, the founder of the monastery at Fore. He died of the yellow plague.
Fedde m FrisianOriginally a short form of names beginning with the Old German element
fridu "peace".
Feidlimid m & f Old Irish, Irish MythologyTraditionally said to mean
"ever good", it might be related to Old Irish
feidil "enduring, constant". This was the name of three early kings of Munster. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint, typically called Saint Felim. In Irish legend, it was the name of the father of
Deirdre.
Felicitas f Late Roman, Roman Mythology, German, SpanishLatin name meaning
"good luck, fortune". In Roman mythology the goddess Felicitas was the personification of good luck. It was borne by a 3rd-century saint, a slave martyred with her master Perpetua in Carthage.
Felicity f EnglishFrom the English word
felicity meaning
"happiness", which ultimately derives from Latin
felicitas "good luck". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans around the 17th century. It can sometimes be used as an English form of the Latin name
Felicitas. This name jumped in popularity in the United States after the premiere of the television series
Felicity in 1998. It is more common in the United Kingdom.
Felinus m Late RomanLate Latin name meaning
"cat-like". This was the name of a possibly legendary saint who was martyred with Gratian in the 3rd century.
Felix m German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English, Romanian, Ancient Roman, Biblical, Biblical LatinFrom a Roman cognomen meaning
"lucky, successful" in Latin. It was acquired as an agnomen, or nickname, by the 1st-century BC Roman general Sulla. It also appears in the New Testament belonging to the governor of Judea who imprisoned Saint
Paul.
... [more] Fen 1 f & m ChineseFrom Chinese
芬 (fēn) meaning "fragrance, aroma, perfume" (which is usually only feminine) or
奋 (fèn) meaning "strive, exert" (usually only masculine). Other Chinese characters are also possible.
Fenrir m Norse MythologyFrom Old Norse
fen meaning
"marsh, fen". In Norse mythology Fenrir was a ferocious wolf, one of the offspring of
Loki and the giantess
Angrboða. Because it was foretold he would bring about disaster, the gods bound him with a magical fetter, though in the process
Tyr's hand was bitten off. At the time of Ragnarök, the end of the world, it is told that he will break free and kill
Odin.
Fenton m EnglishFrom a surname that was originally taken from a place name meaning
"marsh town" in Old English.
Ferdinand m German, French, Dutch, English, Slovak, Czech, Slovene, CroatianFrom
Fredenandus, the Latinized form of a Gothic name composed of the elements
friþus "peace" (or perhaps
farþa "journey") and
nanþa "boldness, daring". The Visigoths brought the name to the Iberian Peninsula, where it entered into the royal families of Spain and Portugal. From there it became common among the Habsburg royal family of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria, starting with the Spanish-born Ferdinand I in the 16th century. A notable bearer was Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521), called Fernão de Magalhães in Portuguese, who was the leader of the first expedition to sail around the earth.
Ferdowsi m HistoryFrom the Persian byname
فردوسی (Ferdōsī) meaning "paradisiacal, heavenly", derived from Arabic
فردوس (firdaws), itself of Iranian origin. Ferdowsi was a 10th-century poet and historian, the author of the epic
Shahnameh, which tells the history of Persia.
Fereydoun m Persian, Persian MythologyModern Persian form of Old Iranian *
Thraitauna meaning
"the third". In the 10th-century Persian epic the
Shahnameh this is the name of a virtuous king who ruled for 500 years. The Avestan form of the name
𐬚𐬭𐬀𐬉𐬙𐬀𐬊𐬥𐬀 (Thraētaona) appears in the earlier texts of the
Avesta.
Fergal m Irish, Old IrishMeans
"man of valour", derived from the Old Irish elements
fer "man" and
gal "valour". This was the name of an 8th-century king of Ireland. As well as the Old Irish form of the name, this is the usual Anglicization of the Modern Irish form
Fearghal.
Fergus m Irish, Scottish, Irish Mythology, Old IrishMeans
"man of vigour", derived from the Old Irish elements
fer "man" and
guss "vigour, strength, force". This was the name of several early rulers of Ireland and Dál Riata, as well as many characters from Irish legend. Notably it was borne by the hero Fergus mac Róich, who was tricked into giving up the kingship of Ulster to
Conchobar. However, he remained loyal to the new king until Conchobar betrayed
Deirdre and
Naoise, at which point he defected to Connacht in anger. The name was also borne by an 8th-century saint, a missionary to Scotland.
... [more] Fern f EnglishFrom the English word for the plant, ultimately from Old English
fearn. It has been used as a given name since the late 19th century.
Ferrer m VariousFrom a surname that meant
"blacksmith" in Catalan. This name is often given in honour of Saint Vicente Ferrer, a 14th-century missionary who is the patron saint of builders.
Ferruccio m ItalianDerived from the Late Latin name
Ferrutius, a derivative of
ferrum meaning
"iron, sword". Saint Ferrutius was a 3rd-century martyr with his brother Ferreolus.
Fester m Popular CultureFrom the English word
fester meaning
"rot, rankle". This is the name of the uncle on the
Addams Family television series (1964-1966) and subsequent adaptations. The character was created by the cartoonist Charles Addams in the 1930s, though he was not named.
Feyz m PersianMeans
"grace" in Persian, from Arabic
فئض (faʾiḍ) meaning
"abundance, plenty", a derivative of the root
فاض (fāḍa) meaning "to overflow, to flood".
Ffion f WelshMeans
"foxglove" in Welsh (species Digitalis purpurea). This is a recently created Welsh name.
Fiachna m Irish Mythology, Old IrishDerived from Irish
fiach meaning
"raven". This is the name of several characters from Irish legend. It was also borne by Fiachna mac Báetáin, a 7th-century king of Dál Araide.
Fiachra m Irish, Irish MythologyFrom Old Irish
Fiachrae, possibly from
fiach "raven" or
fích "battle" combined with
rí "king". This was the name of several legendary figures, including one of the four children of
Lir transformed into swans for a period of 900 years. This is also the name of the patron saint of gardeners: a 7th-century Irish abbot who settled in France, usually called Saint Fiacre.
Fiadh f Irish (Modern)Means
"wild, wild animal, deer" (modern Irish
fia) or
"respect" in Irish.
Fidel m SpanishFrom the Late Latin name
Fidelis meaning
"faithful", a derivative of
fides "faith". A famous bearer was the revolutionary leader and Cuban president Fidel Castro (1926-2016).
Fido m & f PetFrom Latin
fidus meaning
"faithful". This a stereotypical name for dogs.
Figaro m LiteratureCreated by playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais for the central character in his plays
The Barber of Seville (1775),
The Marriage of Figaro (1784) and
The Guilty Mother (1792). Beaumarchais may have based the character's name on the French phrase
fils Caron meaning
"son of Caron", which was his own nickname and would have been pronounced in a similar way. In modern French the word
figaro has acquired the meaning "barber", reflecting the character's profession.
Fihr m ArabicMeans
"stone pestle" in Arabic. This was the name of an ancestor of the Prophet
Muhammad.