Names with "friend" in Meaning

This is a list of names in which the meaning contains the keyword friend.
gender
usage
meaning
Abd al-Wali m Arabic
Means "servant of the guardian" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with ولي (walī) meaning "guardian, friend".
Adalwin m Germanic
From the Old German elements adal "noble" and wini "friend" (a cognate of Æðelwine).
Ælfwine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and wine "friend". This name was not commonly used after the Norman Conquest.
Æðelwine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and wine "friend". This was the name of a few Anglo-Saxon saints, including a 7th-century bishop of Lindsey. The name became rare after the Norman Conquest.
Albaweniz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Ælfwine, Alboin and Alfvin.
Alboin m Germanic
From the Old German elements alb "elf" and wini "friend". It is a cognate of Ælfwine. This was the name of a 6th-century king of the Lombards who began the Lombard conquest of Italy.
Aldwin m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements alt "old" and wini "friend". This is a cognate of Old English Ealdwine.
Alfvin m Old Norse
From the Old Norse elements alfr "elf" and vinr "friend". It is a cognate of Ælfwine.
Amice f Medieval English
Medieval name derived from Latin amicus meaning "friend". This was a popular name in the Middle Ages, though it has since become uncommon.
Amit 2 m & f Hebrew
Means "friend" in Hebrew.
Anis m Arabic
Means "friendly, friend" in Arabic, from the root أنس (ʾanisa) meaning "to be friendly".
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.
Audaweniz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Eadwine and Audowin.
Audowin m Germanic
Derived from Old Frankish aud or Old High German ot meaning "wealth, fortune" combined with wini meaning "friend". This is a cognate of Edwin.
Auðun m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse auðr "wealth, fortune" and vinr "friend".
Baldwin m English, Germanic
Means "bold friend", derived from the Old German elements bald "bold, brave" and wini "friend". In the Middle Ages this was a popular name in Flanders and among the Normans, who brought it to Britain. It was borne by one of the leaders of the First Crusade, an 11th-century nobleman from Flanders. After the crusaders conquered Jerusalem, he was crowned as the king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
Bellamy f & m English (Modern)
From an English surname derived from Old French bel ami meaning "beautiful friend".
Buddy m English
From the English word meaning "friend". It probably originated as a nursery form of the word brother.
Cara f English
From an Italian word meaning "beloved" or an Irish word meaning "friend". It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, though it did not become popular until after the 1950s.
Chewbacca m Popular Culture
The name of a Wookiee (a tall shaggy alien) in the Star Wars series of movies, beginning in 1977. Creator George Lucas invented the name by experimenting with different combinations of sounds. It is explained in a later companion book that the name means "honoured friend" in the Wookiee language.
Daniyar m Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tatar
Derived from Persian دانا (dānā) meaning "wise" and یار (yār) meaning "friend, companion".
Deorwine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements deore "dear" and wine "friend".
Ealdwine m Anglo-Saxon
From the Old English elements eald "old" and wine "friend". This name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
Eberwin m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements ebur "boar" and wini "friend".
Edwin m English, Dutch
Means "rich friend", from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and wine "friend". This was the name of a 7th-century Northumbrian king, regarded as a saint. After the Norman Conquest the name was not popular, but it was eventually revived in the 19th century. A notable bearer was the astronaut Edwin Aldrin (1930-), also known as Buzz, the second man to walk on the moon.
Emre m Turkish
Means "friend, brother" in Turkish. This name was borne by the 13th-century Turkish poet Yunus Emre.
Enyinnaya m Igbo
Means "his father's friend" in Igbo.
Eoforwine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements eofor "boar" and wine "friend" (a cognate of Eberwin). This name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
Erwin m German, Dutch, Polish, Germanic
Derived 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.
Ferchar m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Fearchar.
Glædwine m Anglo-Saxon
Old English name derived from the elements glæd "bright, cheerful, glad" and wine "friend". This name was not actually recorded in the Old English era, though it is attested starting in the 11th century.
Godwine m Anglo-Saxon
Means "friend of god", derived from Old English god combined with wine "friend". This was the name of the powerful 11th-century Earl of Wessex, the father of King Harold II of England.
Goswin m Dutch (Archaic)
From the Germanic name Gautwin, derived from the elements *gautaz "Geat" (a North Germanic tribe) and wini "friend".
Gurmeet m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit गुरु (guru) meaning "teacher, guru" and मित्र (mitra) meaning "friend".
Habibullah m Arabic, Pashto
Means "friend of Allah", from Arabic حبيب (ḥabīb) meaning "friend" combined with الله (Allah).
Hartwin m German (Rare), Germanic
Means "brave friend" from the Old German elements hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy" and wini "friend".
Hữu m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (hữu) meaning "friend, companion".
Jedidah f Biblical
From Hebrew יָדִיד (yaḏiḏ) meaning "beloved, friend". In the Old Testament this is the name of the wife of King Amon of Judah and the mother of Josiah.
Jedidiah m Biblical
Means "beloved of Yahweh" in Hebrew, derived from יָדִיד (yaḏiḏ) meaning "beloved, friend" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is a name given to Solomon by Nathan.
Khalil m Arabic, Persian, Urdu
Means "friend" in Arabic.
Koda m English (Modern)
At least in part inspired by the name of a character from the animated movie Brother Bear (2003). The moviemakers apparently took it from Lakota or Dakota koda meaning "friend, companion".
Lailoken m History
From medieval Latin Laloecen, possibly related to Welsh llallo meaning "brother, friend". This name appears in medieval tales about Saint Kentigern, borne by a prophetic madman at the court of Rhydderch Hael. He may form a basis for Myrddin, who is addressed as llallogan by his sister Gwenddydd in the Red Book of Hergest.
Leobwin m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements liob "dear, beloved" and wini "friend", making it a cognate of Leofwine.
Leofwine m Anglo-Saxon
Means "dear friend", derived from the Old English elements leof "dear, beloved" and wine "friend". This was the name of an 8th-century English saint, also known as Lebuin, who did missionary work in Frisia.
Leutwin m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements liut "people" and wini "friend". Saint Leutwin (or Leudwinus) was an 8th-century bishop of Trier.
Mærwine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements mære "famous" and wine "friend".
Mephistopheles m Literature
Meaning uncertain. It might be based on Hebrew מֵפִיץ (mefits) "scatterer, disperser" and טָפַל (ṭafal) "liar", or on Greek μή (me) "not", φῶς (phos) "light" and φίλος (philos) "friend, lover". Many other etymologies have been proposed. In a German legend, notably retold by Goethe, this is the name of a demon who makes a deal with Faust to exchange his soul for magical powers.
Meshullam m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "friend, ally" in Hebrew, derived from שָׁלַם (shalam) meaning "to be complete, to be at peace". This is the name of many characters in the Old Testament.
Meshullemeth f Biblical
Means "friend, ally" in Hebrew, a feminine form of Meshullam. In the Old Testament, she is mentioned as the one of the queens of Judah, the wife of Manasseh.
Mitra 1 m & f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "friend" in Sanskrit, a cognate of Mithra. This is the name of a Vedic god (मित्र) who is associated with friendship and contracts and is frequently paired with the god Varuna. The feminine form मित्रा (spelled with a final long vowel) is also transcribed as Mitra.
Naji m Arabic
Means "intimate friend" in Arabic, a derivative of نجا (najā) meaning "to save, to entrust, to confide in". This can also be another way of transcribing the name ناجي (see Naaji).
Ortwin m German, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements ort "point" and wini "friend". This is the name of Gudrun's brother in the medieval German epic Kudrun.
Oscar m English, Irish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, French, Irish Mythology
Possibly means "deer friend", derived from Old Irish oss "deer" and carae "friend". Alternatively, it may derive from the Old English name Osgar or its Old Norse cognate Ásgeirr, which may have been brought to Ireland by Viking invaders and settlers. In Irish legend Oscar was the son of the poet Oisín and the grandson of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.... [more]
Oswin m English (Rare)
From the Old English elements os "god" and wine "friend". Saint Oswin was a 7th-century king of Northumbria. After the Norman Conquest this name was used less, and it died out after the 14th century. It was briefly revived in the 19th century.
Pamphilos m Ancient Greek
Means "friend of all" from Greek πᾶν (pan) meaning "all" and φίλος (philos) meaning "friend". This was the name of a 4th-century saint from Caesarea in the Roman province of Syria Palaestina.
Philander m English (Archaic), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Φίλανδρος (Philandros) meaning "friend of man" from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "friend" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). It was the name of a son of Apollo with the nymph Acalle. In the 18th century this was coined as a word meaning "to womanize", and the name subsequently dropped out of use.
Philip m English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Biblical
From the Greek name Φίλιππος (Philippos) meaning "friend of horses", composed of the elements φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". This was the name of five kings of Macedon, including Philip II the father of Alexander the Great. The name appears in the New Testament belonging to two people who are regarded as saints. First, one of the twelve apostles, and second, an early figure in the Christian church known as Philip the Deacon.... [more]
Philo m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Φίλων (Philon), which was derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend". This was the name of a 1st-century Hellenistic Jewish philosopher and theologian from Alexandria.
Philoctetes m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover" and‎ κτάομαι (ktaomai) meaning "to acquire". In Greek legend this was the name of a hero who was stranded on the island of Lemnos on his way to the Trojan War.
Philokrates m Ancient Greek
Means "friend of power" from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power".
Philomela f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomele), derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and μῆλον (melon) meaning "fruit". The second element has also been interpreted as Greek μέλος (melos) meaning "song". In Greek myth Philomela was the sister-in-law of Tereus, who raped her and cut out her tongue. Prokne avenged her sister by killing her son by Tereus, after which Tereus attempted to kill Philomela. However, the gods intervened and transformed her into a nightingale.
Philophrosyne f Greek Mythology
Means "friendliness, kindliness" in Greek, a derivative of φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover" and φρήν (phren) meaning "mind, heart". In Greek mythology this was the name of the personification of welcome and friendliness.
Philotheos m Ancient Greek
Means "friend of god" from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and θεός (theos) meaning "god".
Rafiq m Arabic, Azerbaijani, Urdu, Bengali
Means either "friend" or "gentle, kind" in Arabic.
Reuel m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "friend of God" in Hebrew, from רֵעַ (reaʿ) meaning "friend" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament this is another name for Jethro. The fantasy author John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was a famous bearer.
Ruth 1 f English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Estonian, Spanish, Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name רוּת (Ruṯ), probably derived from the word רְעוּת (reʿuṯ) meaning "female friend". This is the name of the central character in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. She was a Moabite woman who accompanied her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem after Ruth's husband died. There she met and married Boaz. She was an ancestor of King David.... [more]
Sæwine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements "sea" and wine "friend".
Theophilus m Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόφιλος (Theophilos) meaning "friend of god", derived from θεός (theos) meaning "god" and φίλος (philos) meaning "friend". In the New Testament the evangelist Luke addresses his gospel and the Book of Acts to a man named Theophilus.
Tomoko f Japanese
From Japanese (tomo) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (tomo) meaning "friend" combined with (ko) meaning "child". This name can be formed of other kanji characters as well.
Tomomi f & m Japanese
From Japanese (tomo) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (tomo) meaning "friend" combined with (mi) meaning "beautiful" or (mi) meaning "fruit, good result, truth". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Wendy f English
In the case of the character from J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan (1904), it was created from the nickname fwendy "friend", given to the author by a young friend. However, the name was used prior to the play (rarely), in which case it could be related to the Welsh name Gwendolen and other names beginning with the element gwen meaning "white, blessed". The name only became common after Barrie's play ran.
Wenke f Low German
Low German diminutive of Germanic names containing the element wini meaning "friend".
Wina f Germanic
Germanic name derived from the element wini meaning "friend" (Proto-Germanic *weniz).
Wine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English wine "friend".
Winfred m English
Means "friend of peace" from the Old English elements wine "friend" and friþ "peace". This was the birth name of the 8th-century missionary Saint Boniface. It became rare after the Norman Conquest, though it was revived in the 19th century.
Winifrid m Germanic
Old German cognate of Winfrið.
Yara 1 f Arabic
From Persian یار (yār) meaning "friend, helper".
Yaren f Turkish
Means "close friend", derived from Persian یاران (yārān).
Yumi f Japanese
From Japanese (yumi) meaning "archery bow". It can also come from (yu) meaning "reason, cause", (yu) meaning "friend" or a nanori reading of (yu) meaning "archery bow" combined with (mi) meaning "beautiful". Other kanji or kanji combinations are also possible.
Zhandos m Kazakh
From Kazakh жан (zhan) meaning "soul" and дос (dos) meaning "friend" (both words of Persian origin).