Ancient Origin Names

This is a list of names in which the origin is Ancient.
gender
usage
origin
Sakshi f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit साक्षिन् (sākṣin) meaning "witness".
Saku m Finnish
Diminutive of Sakari.
Sal f & m English
Short form of Sally, Salvador and other names beginning with Sal.
Salacia f Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin sal meaning "salt". This was the name of the Roman goddess of salt water.
Salah 2 m Biblical
Form of Shelach used in some English versions of the Old Testament.
Salama m & f Arabic
Means "safety" in Arabic, from the root سلم (salima) meaning "to be safe".
Salamatu f Western African
Form of Salama used in West Africa.
Salambek m Chechen
Derived from Arabic سلام (salām) meaning "peace" combined with the Turkic military title beg meaning "chieftain, master".
Salamon m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Solomon.
Salathiel m Biblical, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Shealtiel. This form is also used in some English translations of the Bible (including the King James Version).
Salbjǫrg f Old Norse
Old Norse form of Solbjørg.
Saldís f Old Norse
From the Old Norse elements salr "room, hall" and dís "goddess".
Saleem m Arabic, Urdu
Alternate transcription of Arabic سليم or Urdu سلیم (see Salim).
Salem 1 m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic سالم (see Salim).
Salem 2 f & m English (Modern)
From the name of a biblical town, שָׁלֵם (Shalem) in Hebrew, meaning "complete, safe, peaceful". According to the Old Testament this was the town where Melchizedek was king. It is usually identified with Jerusalem. Many places are named after the biblical town, most in America, notably a city in Massachusetts where the infamous Salem witch trials occurred in 1692.
Salena f English (Modern)
Perhaps an invented name based on similar-sounding names such as Selina.
Salim m Arabic, Urdu
Means "safe, sound, intact" in Arabic, derived from the root سلم (salima) meaning "to be safe". This transcription represents two related yet distinct Arabic names: سليم, in which the second vowel is long, and سالم, in which the first vowel is long.
Salima f Arabic
Feminine form of Salim.
Salina f English
Perhaps an invented name based on similar-sounding names such as Selina.
Salka f Icelandic
Possibly a diminutive of Sara.
Salli f Finnish
Finnish form of Sally.
Sallie f English
Variant of Sally.
Sally f English
Diminutive of Sarah, often used independently.
Salma f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian
Means "safe" in Arabic, derived from سلم (salima) meaning "to be safe".
Salman m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay
Means "safe" in Arabic, a derivative of سلم (salima) meaning "to be safe".
Salomão m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Solomon.
Salome f English (Rare), German (Rare), Georgian, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From an Aramaic name that was related to the Hebrew word שָׁלוֹם (shalom) meaning "peace". According to the historian Josephus this was the name of the daughter of Herodias (the consort of Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee). In the New Testament, though a specific name is not given, it was a daughter of Herodias who danced for Herod and was rewarded with the head of John the Baptist, and thus Salome and the dancer have traditionally been equated.... [more]
Salomé f French, Spanish, Portuguese
French, Spanish and Portuguese form of Salome.
Salomè f Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Salome.
Salomea f Polish (Rare)
Polish form of Salome.
Salomo m Biblical German, Biblical Dutch
German and Dutch form of Solomon.
Salomon m French, Biblical French, Biblical Polish, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
French and Polish form of Solomon. This form also occurs in the Greek and Latin Old Testament (with the forms Σολομών and Solomon in the New Testament).
Salud f Spanish
Spanish cognate of Salut.
Salut f Catalan
Means "health" or "cheers" in Catalan.
Salvacion f Spanish (Philippines)
Filipino form of Spanish salvación meaning "salvation". It refers to a title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de Salvación, meaning "Our Lady of Salvation". This is the name of a statue of Mary in Joroan, the Philippines, that is associated with several miracles.
Salvador m Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan
Spanish, Portuguese and Catalan form of the Late Latin name Salvator, which meant "saviour", referring to Jesus. A famous bearer of this name was the Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí (1904-1989).
Salvadora f Spanish
Feminine form of Salvador.
Salvator m Late Roman
Latin form of Salvador.
Salvatore m Italian
Italian cognate of Salvador.
Salvatrice f Italian
From Salvatrix, the feminine form of Salvator (see Salvador).
Salvatrix f Late Roman
Feminine form of Salvator.
Salvio m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Salvius.
Salvius m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from Latin salvus meaning "safe". This was the family name of the short-lived Roman emperor Otho. It was also borne by several early saints.
Salvo m Italian
Variant of Salvio (see Salvius) or directly from Italian salvo meaning "safe".
Sam 1 m & f English
Short form of Samuel, Samson, Samantha and other names beginning with Sam. A notable fictional bearer is Sam Spade, a detective in Dashiell Hammett's novel The Maltese Falcon (1930). In J. R. R. Tolkien's 1954 novel The Lord of the Rings (1954) this is a short form of Samwise.
Sam 2 m Persian, Persian Mythology
Means "fire" in Persian (from an earlier Iranian root meaning "black"). This is the name of a hero in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh.
Samanta f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Latvian, Polish
Variant of Samantha used in several languages.
Samantha f English, Italian, Dutch
Perhaps intended to be a feminine form of Samuel, using the name suffix antha (possibly inspired by Greek ἄνθος (anthos) meaning "flower"). It originated in America in the 18th century but was fairly uncommon until 1964, when it was popularized by the main character on the television show Bewitched.
Samara f English (Modern), Portuguese (Brazilian)
Possibly derived from the name of the city of Samarra (in Iraq) or Samara (in Russia). The former appears in the title of the novel Appointment in Samarra (1934) by John O'Hara, which refers to an ancient Babylonian legend about a man trying to evade death. Alternatively, this name could be derived from the word for the winged seeds that grow on trees such as maples and elms.... [more]
Sameer 2 m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi समीर, Bengali সমীর or Gujarati સમીર (see Samir 2).
Sameera 2 f Telugu, Marathi, Hindi
Alternate transcription of Telugu సమీరా or Marathi/Hindi समीरा (see Samira 2).
Sameera 3 m Sinhalese
Sinhala form of Samir 2.
Sami 1 m Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Samuel.
Samir 2 m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati
From Sanskrit समीर (samīra) meaning "wind, air".
Samira 2 f Marathi, Hindi, Telugu
Feminine form of Samir 2.
Sammi f English (Rare)
Diminutive of Samantha.
Sammie f & m English
Diminutive of Samuel, Samson or Samantha.
Sammy m & f English
Diminutive of Samuel, Samson or Samantha.
Samoil m Macedonian
Macedonian form of Samuel.
Samouel m Biblical Greek
Form of Samuel found in the Greek Bible.
Sampath m Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Sinhalese
From Sanskrit सम्पत्ति (sampatti) meaning "success, wealth".
Samppa m Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Samuli or Aleksanteri, or else a variant of Sampo.
Sampson 1 m Biblical Greek
Greek form of Shimshon (see Samson).
Sampson 2 m English
From an English surname that was itself derived from a medieval form of the given name Samson.
Samson m Biblical, English, French, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name שִׁםְשׁוֹן (Shimshon), derived from שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh) meaning "sun". Samson was an Old Testament hero granted exceptional strength by God. His mistress Delilah betrayed him and cut his hair, stripping him of his power. Thus he was captured by the Philistines, blinded, and brought to their temple. However, in a final act of strength, he pulled down the pillars of the temple upon himself and his captors.... [more]
Samu m Hungarian, Finnish, Spanish
Hungarian, Finnish and Spanish diminutive of Samuel.
Sámuel m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Samuel.
Samuël m Dutch
Dutch form of Samuel.
Samuel m English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Romanian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Jewish, Amharic, Biblical
From the Hebrew name שְׁמוּאֵל (Shemuʾel) meaning "name of God", from the roots שֵׁם (shem) meaning "name" and אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". Other interpretations have the first root being שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear" leading to a meaning of "God has heard". As told in the Books of Samuel in the Old Testament, Samuel was the last of the ruling judges. He led the Israelites during a period of domination by the Philistines, who were ultimately defeated in battle at Mizpah. Later he anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel, and even later anointed his successor David.... [more]
Samuela 1 f Italian
Italian feminine form of Samuel.
Samuela 2 m Fijian
Fijian form of Samuel.
Samuele m Italian
Italian form of Samuel.
Samuhel m Biblical Latin
Form of Samuel found in the Latin Old Testament.
Samuil m Russian, Bulgarian
Russian and Bulgarian form of Samuel.
Samuilŭ m Old Church Slavic
Old Church Slavic form of Samuel.
Samuli m Finnish
Finnish form of Samuel.
Samvel m Armenian
Armenian form of Samuel.
Samwel m Eastern African
Form of Samuel used in Tanzania and Kenya.
San f & m Burmese
Means "moon" in Burmese, ultimately from Sanskrit चन्द्र (candra).
Sanaz f Persian
Possibly means "full of grace" in Persian.
Sancho m Spanish, Portuguese
Possibly a Spanish and Portuguese form of the Late Latin name Sanctius, which was derived from the word sanctus meaning "saintly, holy". Alternatively, Sancho and Sanctius may be derived from an older Iberian name. This was the name of a 9th-century saint who was martyred by the Moors at Córdoba. It was also borne by several Spanish and Portuguese kings. Miguel de Cervantes used it in his novel Don Quixote (1605), where it belongs to the squire of Don Quixote.
Sanctius m Late Roman
Latin form of Sancho.
Sanda 1 f Romanian, Croatian, Latvian
Romanian, Croatian and Latvian short form of Alexandra.
Sanda 2 f Burmese
Means "moon" in Burmese, ultimately from Sanskrit चन्द्र (candra).
Sandar f Burmese
Alternate transcription of Burmese စန္ဒာ (see Sanda 2).
Sander m Dutch, Estonian, Danish, Norwegian
Dutch, Estonian, Danish and Norwegian short form of Alexander.
Sandford m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Sanford.
Sandie f English
Variant of Sandy.
Sándor m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Alexander.
Sandra f Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Czech, Romanian
Short form of Alessandra. It was introduced to the English-speaking world (where it is usually used independently of Alexandra) by author George Meredith, who used it for the heroine in his novel Emilia in England (1864) and the reissued version Sandra Belloni (1887). A famous bearer is the American actress Sandra Bullock (1964-).
Sandrine f French
French diminutive of Sandra.
Sandro m Italian, Georgian
Short form of Alessandro (Italian) or Aleksandre (Georgian). Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) was an Italian Renaissance artist, the painter of The Birth of Venus and other famous works.
Sandu m Romanian
Short form of Alexandru.
Sandy m & f English
Originally a diminutive of Alexander. As a feminine name it is a diminutive of Alexandra or Sandra. It can also be given in reference to the colour.
Sanel m Croatian
Masculine form of Sanela.
Sanela f Croatian, Slovene
Apparently derived from Latin sana meaning "healthy".
Sanford m English
From an English surname, originally from a place name, which meant "sand ford" in Old English.
Sanja f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Derived from South Slavic sanjati meaning "to dream".
Sanjana f Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit सञजन (sañjana) meaning "uniting, joining".
Sanjeet m Hindi
Alternate transcription of Hindi संजीत (see Sanjit).
Sanjeev m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu, Kannada
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi संजीव, Gujarati સંજીવ, Gurmukhi ਸੰਜੀਵ, Telugu సంజీవ్ or Kannada ಸಂಜೀವ್ (see Sanjiv).
Sanjib m Bengali
Bengali form of Sanjiv.
Sanjica f Croatian
Diminutive of Sanja.
Sanjin m Croatian
Masculine form of Sanja.
Sanjit m Hindi, Bengali
From Sanskrit संजित (saṃjita) meaning "complete victory".
Sanjiv m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu, Kannada
Derived from Sanskrit संजीव (saṃjīva) meaning "living, reviving".
Sankar m Malayalam, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Malayalam ശങ്കർ or Bengali শংকর (see Shankar).
Sanna f Swedish, Finnish
Short form of Susanna. It can also be derived from Swedish sann meaning "true".
Sanne f Dutch, Danish
Dutch and Danish short form of Susanna.
Sanni f Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Susanna.
Sans m Medieval Spanish
Old variant of Sancho.
Sansone m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Samson.
Santa 1 f Italian
Feminine form of Santo.
Santa 2 f Latvian
Either from Latin sanctus meaning "holy, saint" or a short form of Aleksandra.
Santana f & m Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese (Brazilian), English (Modern)
From a contraction of Santa Ana (referring to Saint Anna) or from a Spanish and Portuguese surname derived from any of the numerous places named for the saint. It can be given in honour of the Mexican-American musician Carlos Santana (1947-), the founder of the band Santana. The name received a boost in popularity for American girls after the character Santana Andrade began appearing on the soap opera Santa Barbara in 1984.
Sante m Italian
Variation of Santo.
Santeri m Finnish
Finnish short form of Alexander.
Santi m Spanish, Italian
Short form of Santiago or a variant of Santo.
Santiago m Spanish, Portuguese
Means "Saint James", derived from Spanish santo "saint" combined with Yago, an old Spanish form of James, the patron saint of Spain. It is the name of the main character in the novella The Old Man and the Sea (1951) by Ernest Hemingway. This also is the name of the capital city of Chile, as well as several other cities in the Spanish-speaking world.
Santina f Italian
Feminine diminutive of Santo.
Santino m Italian
Diminutive of Santo.
Santo m Italian
Means "saint" in Italian, ultimately from Latin sanctus.
Santos m Spanish
Means "saints" in Spanish. It is used in reference to the Christian festival Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints' Day) celebrated on November 1.
Santtu m Finnish
Finnish diminutive of Alexander.
Sanya 2 m & f Russian
Diminutive of Aleksandr or Aleksandra.
Sanyi m Hungarian
Diminutive of Sándor.
Sao f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek σῶς (sos) meaning "whole, unwounded, safe". This was the name of one of the Nereids in Greek mythology. A small moon of Neptune is named for her.
Saoirse f Irish
Means "freedom" in Irish Gaelic. It was first used as a given name in the 20th century.
Saoul m Biblical Greek
Form of Saul used in the Greek Old Testament. In the Greek New Testament this spelling is used alongside Saulos.
Sapphira f Biblical
From the Greek name Σαπφείρη (Sappheire), which was from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros) meaning "sapphire" or "lapis lazuli" (ultimately derived from the Hebrew word סַפִּיר (sappir)). Sapphira is a character in Acts in the New Testament who is killed by God for lying.
Sapphire f English (Modern)
From the name of the gemstone, typically blue, which is the traditional birthstone of September. It is derived from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros), ultimately from the Hebrew word סַפִּיר (sappir).
Sappho f Ancient Greek
Possibly from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros) meaning "sapphire" or "lapis lazuli". This was the name of a 7th-century BC Greek poetess from Lesbos.
Sára f Hungarian, Czech, Slovak
Hungarian, Czech and Slovak form of Sarah.
Sarah f English, French, German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Hebrew, Arabic, Biblical
From the Hebrew name שָׂרָה (Sara) meaning "lady, princess, noblewoman". In the Old Testament this is the name of Abraham's wife, considered the matriarch of the Jewish people. She was barren until she unexpectedly became pregnant with Isaac at the age of 90. Her name was originally Sarai, but God changed it at the same time Abraham's name was changed (see Genesis 17:15).... [more]
Sarai f Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Hebrew, Spanish
Means "my princess" in Hebrew, a possessive form of שָׂרָה (sara) meaning "lady, princess, noblewoman". In the Old Testament, this was Sarah's name before God changed it (see Genesis 17:15).
Saraid f Irish, Irish Mythology
From Old Irish Sárait, derived from sár meaning "excellent". This was the name of a daughter of the legendary high king of Ireland, Conn of the Hundred Battles.
Sárait f Irish Mythology
Old Irish form of Saraid.
Saral m Hindi
From Sanskrit सरल (sarala) meaning "straight".
Sarala f Tamil, Telugu, Kannada
Feminine form of Saral.
Saramama f Inca Mythology
Means "corn mother" in Quechua, from sara "corn, maize" and mama "mother". This was the name of the Inca goddess of grain.
Saranna f English (Rare)
Combination of Sarah and Anna, in occasional use since the 18th century.
Sarasvati f Hinduism
Alternate transcription of Sanskrit सरस्वती (see Saraswati).
Saraswati f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "possessing water" from Sanskrit सरस् (saras) meaning "fluid, water, lake" and वती (vatī) meaning "having". This is the name of a Hindu river goddess, also associated with learning and the arts, who is the wife of Brahma. She appears in the Vedas.
Saray f Spanish
Spanish variant of Sarai.
Sardar m Persian, Urdu, Pashto
From a title meaning "chief, leader", derived from Persian سر (sar) meaning "head, authority" and the suffix دار (dār) meaning "possessor".
Sardor m Uzbek
Uzbek form of Sardar.
Sare f Turkish
Turkish form of Sarah.
Sargis m Armenian
Armenian form of Sergius.
Sargon m Akkadian (Anglicized), Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From the Hebrew form סַרְגּוֹן (Sargon) of the Akkadian name Sharru-ukin, from šarru meaning "king" and kīnu meaning "legitimate, true". This was the name of the first king of the Akkadian Empire, beginning in the 24th century BC. It was also borne by the 8th-century BC Assyrian king Sargon II, who appears briefly in the Old Testament. The usual English spelling of the name is based on this biblical mention, applied retroactively to the earlier king.
Sári f Hungarian
Hungarian diminutive of Sarah.
Sari 1 f Finnish
Finnish variant of Saara.
Sariah f Mormon
Possibly from an alternate reading of Hebrew שׂריה (see Seraiah). In the Book of Mormon this is the name of Lehi's wife.
Sárika f Hungarian (Rare)
Hungarian diminutive of Sarah.
Sarika f Hindi, Marathi
From a Sanskrit word referring to a type of thrush (species Turdus salica) or myna bird (species Gracula religiosa).
Sarina f German, Dutch, English (Modern)
Diminutive of Sara, or sometimes a variant of Serena.
Sarit f Hebrew
Hebrew diminutive of Sarah.
Sarita 1 f Spanish
Spanish diminutive of Sara.
Sarita 2 f Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "flowing" in Sanskrit.
Sarkis m Armenian
Western Armenian transcription of Sargis.
Šarlota f Czech
Czech form of Charlotte.
Šarlote f Latvian
Latvian form of Charlotte.
Sarolta f Hungarian
Variant of Sarolt, also used as a Hungarian form of Charlotte.
Sarpedon m Greek Mythology
Meaning unknown. In Greek legend Sarpedon was the son of Zeus and Laodamia, and the king of the Lycians. He was one of the chief warriors who fought against the Greeks in defence of Troy, but he was killed by Patroclus. Another Sarpedon was the son of Zeus and Europa.
Sarra f Biblical Latin, Old Church Slavic
Biblical Latin and Old Church Slavic form of Sarah. The spelling Sara also occurs in Latin Bibles.
Sarrha f Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Sarah.
Sarvesh m Hindi, Marathi
Means "ruler of all" from Sanskrit सर्व (sarva) meaning "all" and ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler, lord".
Saša m & f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Croatian, Serbian and Slovene diminutive of Aleksander or Aleksandra.
Sascha m & f German, Dutch
German and Dutch form of Sasha.
Sasha m & f Russian, Ukrainian, English, French
Russian and Ukrainian diminutive of Aleksandr or Aleksandra.
Sashenka f Russian
Diminutive of Sasha.
Sashi m & f Kannada
Alternate transcription of Kannada ಶಶಿ (see Shashi).
Sashka f Bulgarian, Macedonian
Bulgarian diminutive of Aleksandra, as well as an alternate transcription of Macedonian Сашка (see Saška).
Sasho m Bulgarian, Macedonian
Bulgarian diminutive of Alexander, as well as an alternate transcription of Macedonian Сашо (see Sašo).
Sashok m Russian
Diminutive of Aleksandr.
Saskia f Dutch, German
From the Old German element sahso meaning "a Saxon". The Saxons were a Germanic tribe, their name ultimately deriving from the Germanic word *sahsą meaning "knife". Saskia van Uylenburgh (1612-1642) was the wife of the Dutch painter Rembrandt.
Saško m Macedonian
Macedonian diminutive of Alexander.
Sašo m Slovene, Macedonian
Slovene and Macedonian diminutive of Alexander.
Sassa f Swedish (Rare)
Swedish diminutive of Astrid, Alexandra or Sara.
Satan m Theology, Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Derived from Hebrew שָׂטָן (saṭan) meaning "adversary". This is the Hebrew name of the enemy of the Judeo-Christian god. In the New Testament he is also known by the title Devil (Diabolos in Greek).
Sati f Hinduism
From Sanskrit सत् (sat) meaning "true, virtuous". This is the name of a Hindu goddess, the first wife of Shiva. A daughter of King Daksha, she threw herself onto a fire when her husband was insulted by her father. After her death she was eventually reborn as the goddess Parvati.
Satisha m Hinduism
Means "lord of Sati" from the name of the Hindu goddess Sati combined with ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler". This is another name of the Hindu god Shiva.
Saturn m Roman Mythology (Anglicized)
From the Latin Saturnus, which is of unknown meaning. In Roman mythology he was the father of Jupiter, Juno and others, and was also the god of agriculture. This is also the name of the ringed sixth planet in the solar system.
Saturnina f Ancient Roman, Spanish
Feminine form of Saturninus. This was the name of a legendary saint who was supposedly martyred in northern France.
Saturnino m Spanish, Italian (Rare), Portuguese (Rare)
Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Saturninus.
Saturninus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from the name of the Roman god Saturnus (see Saturn). This was the name of several early saints.
Satyavati f Hinduism, Hindi, Telugu
Means "truthful", derived from Sanskrit सत्य (satya) meaning "true, real" and the suffix वती (vatī) meaning "having". In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata she is a commoner who becomes the wife of Shantanu, king of Hastinapura.
Saúl m Spanish
Spanish form of Saul.
Saul m Biblical, Jewish, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name שָׁאוּל (Shaʾul) meaning "asked for, prayed for". This was the name of the first king of Israel, as told in the Old Testament. Before the end of his reign he lost favour with God, and after a defeat by the Philistines he was succeeded by David as king. In the New Testament, Saul was the original Hebrew name of the apostle Paul.
Sauli m Finnish
Finnish form of Saul.
Saulius m Lithuanian
Masculine form of Saulė. This is also the Lithuanian form of Saul.
Saulos m Biblical Greek
Form of Saul used in the Greek New Testament.
Saundra f English
Variant of Sondra.
Sava m Serbian, Bulgarian
Serbian and Bulgarian form of Sabas.
Saveli m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Савелий (see Saveliy).
Saveliy m Russian
Russian form of the Latin name Sabellius meaning "a Sabine". The Sabines were an ancient people who lived in central Italy.
Savely m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Савелий (see Saveliy).
Savina f Italian
Italian variant of Sabina.
Savino m Italian
Italian variant form of Sabinus (see Sabina).
Savitr m Hinduism
Means "rouser, stimulator" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Vedic Hindu sun god, sometimes identified with Surya.
Savitri f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "of the sun" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a hymn in the Rigveda dedicated to Savitr, a sun god. This is also the name of Savitr's daughter, a wife of Brahma, considered an aspect of Saraswati. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata it is borne by King Satyavan's wife, who successfully pleas with Yama, the god of death, to restore her husband to life.
Savva m Russian
Russian form of Sabas.
Savvas m Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Sabbas.
Sawney m Scots
Scots diminutive of Alexander.
Sawsan f Arabic
Arabic form of Susanna.
Sawyer m & f English (Modern)
From an English surname meaning "sawer of wood". Mark Twain used it for the hero in his novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876).... [more]
Sawyl m Welsh
Welsh form of Samuel.
Saxa f Germanic (Latinized)
Old German form of Saskia.
Saxon m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the name of the Germanic tribe the Saxons, ultimately deriving from the Germanic word *sahsą meaning "knife". This name can also be given in direct reference to the tribe.
Sayfullah m Arabic, Urdu
Means "sword of Allah" from Arabic سيف (sayf) meaning "sword" combined with الله (Allah).
Scáthach f Irish Mythology
Means "shadowy" in Irish. In Irish legend this was the name of a warrior woman. She instructed Cúchulainn in the arts of war, and he in turn helped her defeat her rival Aoife.
Scevola m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of the Roman cognomen Scaevola, which was derived from Latin scaevus "left-handed". The first bearer of this name was Gaius Mucius Scaevola, who acquired it, according to legend, after he thrust his right hand into a blazing fire in order to intimidate the Etruscan king Porsenna, who was blockading the city of Rome.
Scheherazade f Literature
Anglicized form of Shahrazad.
Schneeweißchen f Literature
Means "snow white" in High German, thus a cognate of Low German Sneewittchen (see Snow White). This is the name of a peasant girl in the German folktale Snow-White and Rose-Red, recorded by the Brothers Grimm in 1837. Her sister is Rosenrot, translated into English as Rose-Red. This story is distinct from the Grimms' earlier tale Snow White.
Scholastica f Late Roman
From a Late Latin name that was derived from scholasticus meaning "rhetorician, orator". Saint Scholastica was a 6th-century Benedictine abbess, the sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia.
Scholastique f French (Rare)
French form of Scholastica. It is more common in French-speaking Africa than France.
Schuyler m & f English
From a Dutch surname meaning "scholar". Dutch settlers brought the surname to America, where it was subsequently adopted as a given name in honour of the American general and senator Philip Schuyler (1733-1804).
Scilla f Italian
Short form of Priscilla. This is also the Italian word for the squill flower (genus Scilla).
Scipio m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen derived from Latin scipio meaning "staff, walking stick". A famous bearer was the 3rd-century Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, usually called only Scipio Africanus, notable for his victories during the Second Punic War.
Scipione m Italian (Rare)
Italian form of Scipio.
Scorpio m Astronomy
Means "scorpion" in Latin, from Greek σκορπίος (skorpios). This is the name of the eighth sign of the zodiac, associated with the constellation Scorpius.
Scorpius m Astronomy
From a Latin variant of Scorpio. This is the name of a zodiacal constellation said to have the shape of a scorpion. According to Greek and Roman legend it was the monster that was sent to kill Orion.
Scot m English, Scottish
Variant form of Scott.
Scott m English, Scottish
From an English and Scottish surname that referred to a person from Scotland or a person who spoke Scottish Gaelic. It is derived from Latin Scoti meaning "Gael, Gaelic speaker", with the ultimate origin uncertain.
Scottie m & f English
Diminutive of Scott, also used as a feminine form.
Scotty m English
Diminutive of Scott.
Scovia f Eastern African
Short form of Proscovia, mainly used in Uganda.
m Irish
Modern Irish form of Séaghdha.
Seachlann m Irish (Rare)
Metathesized variant of Seachnall.
Seachnall m Irish (Rare)
Possibly an Irish form of Secundinus. This was the name of a 5th-century Irish saint, also known as Secundinus.
Séafra m Irish
Irish form of Geoffrey.
Seaghdh m Scottish Gaelic (Rare)
Scottish Gaelic form of Séaghdha.
Séaghdha m Irish (Rare)
From Old Irish Ségdae, probably derived from ségda meaning "fine, good, favourable, learned". According to an Irish legend this was the name of a boy who was set to be sacrificed but was saved by his mother.
Séamas m Irish
Irish form of James.
Séamus m Irish
Irish form of James.
Seán m Irish
Irish form of John, derived via the Old French form Jehan.
Sean m Irish, English
Anglicized form of Seán. This name name, along with variants Shawn and Shaun, began to be be used in the English-speaking world outside of Ireland around the middle of the 20th century.
Seanán m Irish
Modern Irish form of Senán.
Seanna f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Seán.
Séarlait f Irish
Irish form of Charlotte.
Séarlas m Irish
Irish form of Charles.
Sebastiaan m Dutch
Dutch form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sebastián m Spanish, Czech
Spanish and Czech form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sebastian m German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Finnish, Romanian, Czech
From the Latin name Sebastianus, which meant "from Sebaste". Sebaste was the name a town in Asia Minor, its name deriving from Greek σεβαστός (sebastos) meaning "venerable" (a translation of Latin Augustus, the title of the Roman emperors). According to Christian tradition, Saint Sebastian was a 3rd-century Roman soldier martyred during the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian. After he was discovered to be a Christian, he was tied to a stake and shot with arrows. This however did not kill him. Saint Irene of Rome healed him and he returned to personally admonish Diocletian, whereupon the emperor had him beaten to death.... [more]
Sebastiana f Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sebastiano m Italian
Italian form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sebastião m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sébastien m French
French form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sébastienne f French
French feminine form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sebastijan m Slovene, Croatian
Slovene and Croatian form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sebastjan m Slovene
Slovene form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Šebestián m Czech (Archaic)
Older Czech form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sebestyén m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Sebastianus (see Sebastian).
Sébire f Norman
Norman form of Sibyl.
Şebnem f Turkish
Turkish form of Shabnam.
Sechnall m Old Irish
Old Irish form of Seachnall.
Secunda f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Secundus. Saint Secunda and her sister Rufina were martyred in Rome in the 3rd century.
Secundino m Spanish
Spanish form of Secundinus.
Secundinus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name derived from the praenomen Secundus. Saint Secundinus, also known as Seachnall, was a 5th-century assistant to Saint Patrick who became the first bishop of Dunshaughlin.
Secundus m Ancient Roman
Roman praenomen, or given name, which meant "second" in Latin. This name was borne by a few early saints, including a 2nd-century martyr from Asti, Italy.
Seela f Finnish
Possibly a Finnish form of Sela.
Seema f Hindi, Marathi
Alternate transcription of Hindi/Marathi सीमा (see Sima 2).
Seera f Biblical Greek
Biblical Greek form of Sheerah.
Segismundo m Spanish
Spanish form of Sigismund.
Ségolène f French
From the Germanic name Sigilina, itself a diminutive derivative of the element sigu meaning "victory" (Proto-Germanic *segiz). This was the name of a 7th-century saint from Albi, France.
Segunda f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Secundus.
Segundo m Spanish
Spanish form of Secundus.
Şehrazat f Turkish
Turkish form of Shahrazad.
Şehzade m Turkish
Turkish form of Shahzad.
Seisyll m Old Welsh
Old Welsh form of Sextilius. This name was borne by a 7th-century king of Ceredigion.
Sekar m Tamil
Tamil form of Shekhar.
Sekhar m Telugu, Bengali
Telugu and Bengali form of Shekhar.
Sekhmet f Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian sḫmt, derived from sḫm meaning "powerful" and a feminine t suffix. Sekhmet was an Egyptian warrior goddess, also associated with healing, violence and plague. She was commonly depicted with the head of a lioness, and was sometimes conflated with the cat-headed goddess Bastet.
Sela f English (Rare)
From the name of a city, the capital of Edom, which appears in the Old Testament. It means "rock" in Hebrew.
Selbi f Turkmen
Means "cypress" in Turkmen (derived from Persian, ultimately from Sumerian).
Selby m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that was from a place name meaning "willow farm" in Old Norse.
Selena f Spanish, English, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of Selene. This name was borne by popular Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla (1971-1995), who was known simply as Selena. Another famous bearer is the American actress and singer Selena Gomez (1992-).
Selene f Greek Mythology
Means "moon" in Greek. This was the name of a Greek goddess of the moon, a Titan. She was sometimes identified with the goddess Artemis.