Ancient Origin Names

This is a list of names in which the origin is Ancient.
gender
usage
origin
Waldo 1 m English
From a surname that was derived from the Anglo-Scandinavian given name Waltheof. Its present use in the English-speaking world is usually in honour of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), an American transcendentalist, poet and author. His name came from a surname from his father's side of the family.
Waldo 2 m Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names containing the Old Frankish element wald or Old High German element walt meaning "power, authority" (Proto-Germanic *waldaz). This was the name of an 8th-century abbot of Reichenau. It was also borne by the 12th-century French merchant Peter Waldo, who founded the religious order of the Waldensians.
Waldomar m Germanic
Old German variant of Waldemar.
Walenty m Polish
Polish form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).
Walentyna f Polish
Polish form of Valentina.
Waleria f Polish
Polish form of Valeria.
Walerian m Polish
Polish form of Valerianus (see Valerian).
Walery m Polish
Polish form of Valerius.
Walhberht m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements walah "foreigner, Celt, Roman" and beraht "bright".
Walherich m Germanic
Old German form of Valéry.
Walker m English
From an English surname that referred to the medieval occupational of a walker, also known as a fuller. Walkers would tread on wet, unprocessed wool in order to clean and thicken it. The word ultimately derives from Old English wealcan "to walk".
Wallace m English, Scottish
From a Scottish and English surname that was derived from Norman French waleis meaning "foreigner, Celt, Welshman" (of Germanic origin). It was first used as a given name in honour of William Wallace, a Scottish hero who led the fight against the English in the 13th century.
Wallis m & f English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Wallace. Wallis Simpson (1895-1986) was the divorced woman whom Edward VIII married, which forced him to abdicate the British throne.
Wally m English
Diminutive of Walter or Wallace.
Walpurga f German
Variant of Walburga.
Walt m English
Short form of Walter. A famous bearer was the American animator and filmmaker Walt Disney (1901-1966).
Wálter m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese variant form of Walter, more common in South America than Europe. It is often written without the diacritic.
Walter m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Italian, Germanic
From the Germanic name Waltheri meaning "power of the army", from the elements walt "power, authority" and heri "army". In medieval German tales (notably Waltharius by Ekkehard of Saint Gall) Walter of Aquitaine is a heroic king of the Visigoths. The name was also borne by an 11th-century French saint, Walter of Pontoise. The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Wealdhere.... [more]
Waltheof m Anglo-Saxon
Old English name derived from the Old Norse Valþjófr. This was the name of a 12th-century English saint, an abbot of Melrose.
Walther m German, Germanic
German variant of Walter. This name was borne by the 13th-century German poet Walther von der Vogelweide.
Waltheri m Germanic
Old German form of Walter.
Walton m English
From a surname that was originally taken from various Old English place names meaning "stream town", "wood town", or "wall town".
Waltraud f German
From the Old German elements walt "power, authority" and drud "strength". This name was borne by a 7th-century Frankish saint who founded a convent near Mons, Belgium.
Waltraut f German
Variant of Waltraud.
Wandal m Germanic
Old German form of Wendel.
Wandalin m Germanic
Old German form of Wendelin.
Warahran m Middle Persian
Middle Persian form of Bahram.
Waramunt m Germanic
Old German form of Veremund.
Warcisław m Polish (Archaic)
Polish form of Vratislav. This was the name of several dukes of Pomerania.
Ward 1 m English
From an occupational surname for a watchman, derived from Old English weard "guard".
Ward 2 m Dutch
Short form of Eduard.
Warda f Arabic
Means "rose" in Arabic, ultimately a borrowing from an Iranian language.
Wardah f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic وردة (see Warda).
Warin m Germanic
Old German name derived from the element war meaning "aware, cautious" (Proto-Germanic *waraz, and the related verbs *warjaną "to ward off" and *warnōną "to ward off").
Warinheri m Germanic
Old German form of Werner.
Wario m Popular Culture
Combination of Mario and Japanese 悪い (warui) meaning "bad, evil". This is the name of Mario's evil counterpart in Nintendo video games, first appearing 1992.
Warner m English
From a Norman surname that was derived from the given name Werner.
Warrick m English (Rare)
From a surname that was a variant of Warwick.
Warwick m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from the name of a town in England, itself from Old English wer "weir, dam" and wic "settlement".
Washington m English, Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese (Brazilian)
From a surname that was originally derived from the name of an English town, itself meaning "settlement belonging to Wassa's people". The given name is usually given in honour of George Washington (1732-1799), commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States.
Washti f Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew form of Vashti.
Wassa f Anglo-Saxon
Meaning uncertain. It may be a short form of a longer name such as Wāðsige, composed of the elements wāð "hunt" and sige "victory".
Wassily m Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Василий (see Vasiliy).
Wasyl m Ukrainian (Polonized)
Polonized form of Vasyl.
Wat m English
Medieval short form of Walter.
Watse m Frisian
Possibly a Frisian diminutive of Walter.
Watson m English
From an English surname meaning "son of Wat". A famous fictional bearer of the surname was Dr. Watson, the assistant to Sherlock Holmes in Arthur Conan Doyle's mystery stories beginning in 1887.
Wawrzyniec m Polish
Polish form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Wayland m English, Anglo-Saxon Mythology
From Old English Weland, probably derived from the Germanic root *wīlą meaning "craft, cunning". In Germanic legend Weland (called Vǫlundr in Old Norse) was a master smith and craftsman. He was captured and hamstrung by King Niðhad, but took revenge by killing the king's sons.
Waylon m English
Variant of Wayland. This name was popularized by country music singer Waylon Jennings (1937-2002), who was originally named Wayland.
Wayne m English
From an occupational surname meaning "wagon maker", derived from Old English wægn "wagon". Use of it as a given name can be partly attributed to the popularity of the actor John Wayne (1907-1979). Another famous bearer is Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky (1961-), generally considered the greatest player in the history of the sport.
Wazo m Germanic
Originally a short form of names beginning with Old Frankish waddi or Old High German wetti meaning "pledge" (Proto-Germanic *wadją), or alternatively war meaning "aware, cautious" (Proto-Germanic *waraz).
Wealdhere m Anglo-Saxon
From Old English weald "powerful, mighty" and here "army", making it a cognate of Walter.
Wealdmær m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements weald "powerful, mighty" and mære "famous" (a cognate of Waldemar).
Wealhmær m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wealh "foreigner, Celt" and mære "famous".
Webster m English
From an occupational surname meaning "weaver", derived from Old English webba.
Wednesday f Popular Culture
From the name of the day of the week, which was derived from Old English wodnesdæg meaning "Woden's day". On the Addams Family television series (1964-1966) this was the name of the daughter, based on an earlier unnamed character in Charles Addams' cartoons. Her name was inspired by the popular nursery rhyme line Wednesday's child is full of woe.
Weland m Anglo-Saxon Mythology
Old English form of Wayland.
Wēlandaz m Germanic Mythology (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Wayland.
Wells m English
From an English surname that originally denoted a person who lived near a well or spring, from Middle English wille.
Wemba m Anglo-Saxon (Rare)
Byname derived from Old English wamb meaning "belly".
Wenceslao m Spanish
Spanish form of Václav, via the Latinized form Venceslaus.
Wenceslas m History
English form of Václav, via the Latinized form Venceslaus.
Wenceslaus m History
English form of Václav, via the Latinized form Venceslaus.
Wenche f Norwegian
Norwegian variant of Wenke. A famous bearer is the Norwegian singer Wenche Myhre (1947-), known as Wencke in some countries so as to avoid pronunciation confusion.
Wendel m & f Dutch (Rare), German (Rare), Portuguese (Brazilian)
Old short form of Germanic names beginning with the element wentil meaning "a Vandal". The Vandals were a Germanic tribe who invaded Spain and North Africa in the 5th century. Their tribal name, which may mean "wanderer", has often been confused with that of the Wends, a Slavic people living between the Elbe and the Oder.... [more]
Wendelin m German, Germanic
Old diminutive of Germanic names beginning with the element wentil (see Wendel). Saint Wendelin was a 6th-century hermit of Trier in Germany.
Wendell m English
From a German and Dutch surname that was derived from the given name Wendel. In America this name has been given in honour of the poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) and his son the Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841-1935). The elder's middle name came from his mother's maiden name (which had been brought to America by a Dutch ancestor in the form Wendel, with the extra l added later).
Wenilo m Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names beginning with Old Frankish wani or Old High German wan meaning "hope, expectation".
Wenke f Low German
Low German diminutive of Germanic names containing the element wini meaning "friend".
Wenzel m German
German form of Václav.
Wenzeslaus m German (Rare)
German form of Václav, via the Latinized form Venceslaus.
Wera f Polish
Polish form of Vera 1 or a short form of Weronika.
Werdheri m Germanic
Old German form of Werther.
Werner m German, Dutch
From an Old German name derived from the element warin, related to war meaning "aware, cautious", combined with heri meaning "army". This was the name of a 13th-century boy from Oberwesel, Germany who was formerly regarded as a saint. He is no longer recognized as such by the Church. Another famous bearer was the German physicist Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976).
Wernher m German, Germanic
Variant of Werner. A famous bearer was the German-American rocket engineer Wernher von Braun (1912-1977).
Weronika f Polish, Sorbian
Polish and Sorbian form of Veronica.
Werther m German (Rare)
Derived from the Old German elements werd "worthy" and heri "army". Goethe used this name in his novel The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774).
Wes m English
Short form of Wesley.
Wesley m English
From an English surname that was derived from a place name, itself meaning "west meadow" from Old English west "west" and leah "woodland, clearing". It has been sometimes given in honour of John Wesley (1703-1791), the founder of Methodism.
Wessel m Frisian, Dutch
Old Frisian diminutive of Werner.
Westley m English
From a surname that was a variant of Wesley.
Weston m English
From an English surname that was derived from a place name, itself from Old English west "west" and tun "enclosure, yard, town".
Wetzel m German (Rare)
Diminutive of Werner.
Whitney f & m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "white island" in Old English. Its popular use as a feminine name was initiated by actress Whitney Blake (1925-2002) in the 1960s, and further boosted in the 1980s by singer Whitney Houston (1963-2012).
Wibke f German
Feminine form of Wiebe.
Wibo m Frisian
Variant of Wiebe.
Widald m Germanic
Old German name composed of the elements witu "wood" and walt "power, authority".
Wide m Frisian
Frisian form of Wido.
Wido m Germanic
Originally a short form of names beginning with the Old Frankish or Old Saxon element widu, Old High German witu, meaning "wood" (Proto-Germanic *widuz). This was the name of two 11th-century saints, one from Belgium and one from northern Italy, both commonly called Guido or Guy. From early times this name has been confused with the Latin name Vitus.
Widogast m Germanic
Old German name composed of the elements witu "wood" and gast "guest, stranger".
Widukind m Germanic
Old Saxon name composed of the elements widu "wood" and kind "child". This was the name of an 8th-century Saxon leader who fought against the Franks, in the end unsuccessfully.
Wiebe m Frisian, Dutch
Originally a Frisian short form of Wigberht (and other names starting with the Old German element wig meaning "war" and a second element beginning with b).
Wiebke f Frisian, German
Feminine form of Wiebe.
Więcesław m Polish (Archaic)
Older Polish form of Veceslav (see Václav).
Wielisław m Polish (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements velĭ "great" and slava "glory".
Wiera f Polish
Polish form of Vera 1.
Wiesław m Polish
Contracted form of Wielisław.
Wiesława f Polish
Feminine form of Wielisław.
Wīgaberhtaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Wigberht.
Wigand m German (Rare), Germanic
Derived from the Old German word wigant meaning "warrior".
Wigberht m Anglo-Saxon, Germanic
Derived from the Old English elements wig "battle" and beorht "bright". This is also a continental Germanic equivalent, derived from the Old German elements wig and beraht. The name was borne by an 8th-century English saint who did missionary work in Frisia and Germany.
Wigbert m German
German form of Wigberht.
Wigbrand m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements wig "war" and brant "fire, torch, sword".
Wigburg f Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements wig "war" and burg "fortress".
Wighard m Germanic
Old German name composed of the elements wig "battle" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy", a cognate of Wigheard.
Wigheard m Anglo-Saxon
Old English name composed of the elements wig "battle" and heard "hard, firm, brave, hardy".
Wigmar m Germanic
Old German form (possibly) of Guiomar.
Wigmund m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Wymond.
Wigstan m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Wystan.
Wihtburg f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wiht "creature, being" and burg "fortress". This was the name of an 8th-century saint, said to be the youngest daughter of King Anna of East Anglia.
Wikolia f Hawaiian
Hawaiian form of Victoria.
Wiktor m Polish
Polish form of Victor.
Wiktoria f Polish
Polish form of Victoria.
Wil m & f English, Dutch
Short form of William and other names beginning with Wil.
Wilbert m Dutch
Means "bright will", derived from the Old German elements willo "will, desire" and beraht "bright".
Wilburg f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements willa "will, desire" and burg "fortress".
Wilder m English
From an English surname meaning "wild, untamed, uncontrolled", from Old English wilde.
Wiley m English
From a surname that was derived from various English place names: towns named Willey or the River Wylye.
Wilf m English
Short form of Wilfred.
Wilfred m English
Means "desiring peace" from Old English willa "will, desire" and friþ "peace". Saint Wilfrid was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, but it was revived in the 19th century.
Wilfreda f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Wilfred.
Wilfredo m Spanish
Spanish form of Wilfred.
Wilfrid m English
Variant of Wilfred.
Wilfried m German
German cognate of Wilfred.
Wilfrið m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Wilfred.
Wilheard m Anglo-Saxon
Old English cognate of Willihard.
Wilhelm m German, Polish, Germanic
German cognate of William. This was the name of two German emperors. It was also the middle name of several philosophers from Germany: Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831), Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900), and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), who was also a notable mathematician. Another famous bearer was the physicist Wilhelm Röntgen (1845-1923).
Wilhelmina f Dutch, German (Rare), English
Dutch and German feminine form of Wilhelm. This name was borne by a queen of the Netherlands (1880-1962).
Wilhelmine f German
German feminine form of Wilhelm.
Wilhelmus m Dutch
Latinized form of Wilhelm. This is also the official Dutch form of the name, used on birth certificates but not commonly in daily life.
Wiljafriþuz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Wilfrið and Willifrid.
Wiljahelmaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of William.
Wilkie m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a diminutive of the given name William.
Wilkin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of William.
Wilky m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of William.
Will m English
Short form of William and other names beginning with Will. A famous bearer is American actor Will Smith (1968-), whose full name is Willard.
Willa f English
Feminine form of William.
Willard m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old German given name Willihard (or the Old English cognate Wilheard).
Willehad m Germanic
Old German or Old English name derived from the elements willo "will, desire" and hadu "battle, combat". This was the name of an 8th-century Northumbrian saint active in Frisia and Saxony.
Willehelm m Germanic
Old German form of William.
Willem m Dutch
Dutch form of William. Willem the Silent, Prince of Orange, was the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spain that brought about the independence of the Netherlands. He is considered the founder of the Dutch royal family. In English he is commonly called William of Orange.
Willemijn f Dutch
Feminine form of Willem.
Willemina f Dutch
Feminine form of Willem.
Willi m German
Diminutive of Wilhelm.
William m English
From the Germanic name Willehelm meaning "will helmet", composed of the elements willo "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". An early saint by this name was the 8th-century William of Gellone, a cousin of Charlemagne who became a monk. The name was common among the Normans, and it became extremely popular in England after William the Conqueror was recognized as the first Norman king of England in the 11th century. From then until the modern era it has been among the most common of English names (with John, Thomas and Robert).... [more]
Williamina f Scottish
Feminine form of William. A famous bearer of this name was Williamina Fleming (1857-1911), a Scottish astronomer.
Willibald m German, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements willo "will, desire" and bald "bold, brave". Saint Willibald was an 8th-century bishop of Eichstätt, Bavaria.
Willibert m Germanic
Old German form of Wilbert.
Willidrud f Germanic
Old German form of Wiltrud.
Willie m & f English
Masculine or feminine diminutive of William. Notable bearers include the retired American baseball player Willie Mays (1931-) and the musician Willie Nelson (1933-).
Willifrid m Germanic
From the Old German elements willo "will, desire" and fridu "peace" (a cognate of Wilfred).
Willihard m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements willo "will, desire" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy".
Willimar m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements willo "will, desire" and mari "famous". It is a cognate of Wilmǣr.
Williric m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements willo "will, desire" and rih "ruler, king".
Willis m English
From an English surname that was derived from Will, a diminutive of William.
Willy m & f English, German, Dutch
Diminutive of William, Wilhelm or Willem. It is both masculine and feminine in Dutch.
Wilma f German, Dutch, English, Swedish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Latin American)
Short form of Wilhelmina. German settlers introduced it to America in the 19th century.
Wilmǣr m Anglo-Saxon
From the Old English elements willa "will, desire" and mære "famous".
Wilmer m English, Spanish (Latin American), Swedish
From the Old English name Wilmǣr, likely via a surname that was derived from it. In some cases it might be regarded as a masculine form of Wilma.
Wilmot m & f Medieval English
Medieval diminutive and feminine form of William.
Wilson m English, Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese
From an English surname meaning "son of William". The surname was borne by Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the American president during World War I.
Wilt m English
Short form of Wilton. This name was borne by basketball player Wilt Chamberlain (1936-1999).
Wilton m English
From a surname that was derived from the names of several English towns. The town names mean variously "willow town", "well town" or "town on the River Wylye" in Old English. The river name is itself of Celtic origin, possibly meaning "tricky".
Wiltrud f German
Derived from the Old German elements willo "will, desire" and drud "strength". This name was borne by a 10th-century German saint from Bergen.
Wim m Dutch
Dutch short form of Willem.
Wina f Germanic
Germanic name derived from the element wini meaning "friend" (Proto-Germanic *weniz).
Wincenty m Polish
Polish form of Vincent.
Wine m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English wine "friend".
Winfield m English
From a surname that originated from various English place names, themselves derived from Old English winn "meadow, pasture" and feld "field".
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.
Winfried m German
German form of Winfred.
Winfrið m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Winfred.
Winifred f English, Welsh
From Latin Winifreda, possibly from a Welsh name Gwenfrewi (maybe influenced by the Old English masculine name Winfred). Saint Winifred was a 7th-century Welsh martyr, probably legendary. According to the story, she was decapitated by a prince after she spurned his advances. Where her head fell there arose a healing spring, which has been a pilgrimage site since medieval times. Her story was recorded in the 12th century by Robert of Shrewsbury, and she has been historically more widely venerated in England than in Wales. The name has been used in England since at least the 16th century.
Winifrid m Germanic
Old German cognate of Winfrið.
Winnie f English
Diminutive of Winifred. Winnie-the-Pooh, a stuffed bear in children's books by A. A. Milne, was named after a real bear named Winnipeg who lived at the London Zoo.
Winoc m Breton
Variant of Gwenneg.
Winslow m & f English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from an Old English place name meaning "hill belonging to Wine". A famous bearer of this name was American painter Winslow Homer (1836-1910).
Winston m English
From an English surname that was derived from the Old English given name Wynnstan. A famous bearer was Winston Churchill (1874-1965), the British prime minister during World War II. This name was also borne by the fictional Winston Smith, the protagonist in George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984.
Winthrop m English (Rare)
From a surname that was originally taken from town names meaning either "Wine's village" or "Wigmund's village" in Old English.
Winton m English
From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "enclosure belonging to Wine" in Old English.
Wiola f Polish
Polish form of Viola.
Wioleta f Polish
Polish form of Violet.
Wioletta f Polish
Polish form of Violet.
Wira m Indonesian, Malay
Means "hero" in Indonesian and Malay, ultimately from Sanskrit वीर (vīra).
Wiremu m Maori
Maori form of William.
Wischard m Old Norman
Norman form of Guiscard.
Wisław m Polish (Rare)
Contracted form of Witosław.
Wisława f Polish (Rare)
Feminine form of Witosław.
Wit m Polish
Polish form of Vitus.
Witek m Polish
Diminutive of Witold or Wit.
Witołd m Polish (Archaic)
Polish variant of Witold.
Witold m Polish
Polish form of Vytautas. Alternatively it could be derived from the Old German name Widald.
Witosław m Polish
Polish form of Vítězslav.
Władek m Polish
Diminutive of Władysław.
Władysław m Polish
Polish form of Vladislav. This was the name of four kings of Poland.
Władysława f Polish
Feminine form of Władysław.
Włodek m Polish
Diminutive of Włodzimierz.
Włodzimierz m Polish
Polish cognate of Vladimir.
Wob m Frisian (Archaic)
Frisian diminutive of Germanic names beginning with the element walt meaning "power, authority".
Wobbe m Frisian
Originally a Frisian short form of Waldebert (and other names starting with the Old German element walt meaning "power, authority" and a second element beginning with b).
Wodan m Germanic Mythology
Old High German form of *Wōdanaz (see Odin).
Wōdanaz m Germanic Mythology (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Odin, Wodan and Woden.
Woden m Anglo-Saxon Mythology
Anglo-Saxon form of *Wōdanaz (see Odin). The day of the week Wednesday is named for him.
Wojciech m Polish
Derived from the Slavic elements vojĭ "warrior, soldier" and utěxa "solace, comfort, joy". Saint Wojciech (also known by the Czech form of his name Vojtěch or his adopted name Adalbert) was a Bohemian missionary to Hungary, Poland and Prussia, where he was martyred in the 10th century.
Wojciecha f Polish (Rare)
Feminine form of Wojciech.
Wojtek m Polish
Diminutive of Wojciech.
Wolf m German, Jewish, English (Rare), Germanic
Short form of Wolfgang, Wolfram and other names containing the Old German element wolf meaning "wolf" (Proto-Germanic *wulfaz). It can also be simply from the German or English word. As a Jewish name it can be considered a vernacular form of Zeev.
Wolfdietrich m Literature, German (Rare)
Compound of Wolf and Dietrich. Wolfdietrich is the title hero of a 13th-century Middle High German epic poem. By some traditions he is the grandfather of the more famous hero Dietrich von Bern.
Wolfe m English (Rare)
Variant of Wolf, influenced by the spelling of the surname (which is also derived from the animal).
Wolfgang m German, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements wolf meaning "wolf" and gang meaning "path, way". Saint Wolfgang was a 10th-century bishop of Regensburg. Two other famous bearers of this name were Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) and German novelist and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832).
Wolfhard m German
Derived from the Old German element wolf meaning "wolf" combined with hart meaning "hard, firm, brave, hardy".
Wolfram m German
Derived from the Old German element wolf meaning "wolf" combined with hram meaning "raven". Saint Wolfram (or Wulfram) was a 7th-century archbishop of Sens. This name was also borne by the 13th-century German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach, the author of Parzival.
Wöllem m Limburgish
Limburgish form of William.
Wolodymyr m Ukrainian
Alternate transcription of Ukrainian Володимир (see Volodymyr).
Wolter m Dutch
Dutch variant form of Walter.
Woodie m English
Variant of Woody.
Woodrow m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "row of houses by a wood" in Old English. It was borne by the American president Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), who was given his mother's maiden name as his middle name (his first name was Thomas). During his candidacy and presidency (1912-1921) the name became popular, reaching the 44th rank in 1913, though it quickly declined after that.
Woody m English
Either a diminutive of names containing wood such as Woodrow, or else from a nickname derived from the English word wood. Famous bearers include the folk singer Woodrow "Woody" Guthrie (1912-1967), the comedian and film director Heywood "Woody" Allen (1935-; born as Allan Stewart Konigsberg), and the actor Woodrow "Woody" Harrelson (1961-). It is also borne by the cartoon characters Woody Woodpecker (debuting 1940) and Woody from the Toy Story movies (beginning 1995).
Wout m Dutch
Short form of Wouter.
Wouter m Dutch
Dutch form of Walter.
Wright m English
From an occupational surname meaning "craftsman", ultimately from Old English wyrhta. Famous bearers of the surname were the Wright brothers (Wilbur 1867-1912 and Orville 1871-1948), the inventors of the first successful airplane, and Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), an American architect.
Wubbe m Frisian
Variant of Wobbe.
Wulf m German
Variant of Wolf.
Wulfflæd f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and flæd, possibly meaning "beauty".
Wulfgang m Germanic
Old German form of Wolfgang.
Wulfgifu f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and giefu "gift".
Wulfhard m Germanic
Old German form of Wolfhard.
Wulfhram m Germanic
Old German form of Wolfram.
Wulfila m Gothic (Hypothetical)
Means "little wolf", from a diminutive of the Gothic element wulfs. This was the name of a 4th-century Gothic bishop and missionary. He translated the New Testament into Gothic.
Wulfnoð m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and noð "boldness, daring". This name became rare after the Norman Conquest.
Wulfram m Germanic
Old German form of Wolfram.
Wulfric m Anglo-Saxon
Old English name meaning "wolf ruler", from the elements wulf "wolf" and ric "ruler, king".
Wulfrun f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and run "secret lore, rune". This was the name of a 10th-century English noblewoman who founded the city of Wolverhampton.
Wulfruna f History
Form of Wulfrun sometimes used in reference to the 10th-century noblewoman.
Wulfsige m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and sige "victory".
Wulfstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and stan "stone".
Wulfwynn f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wulf "wolf" and wynn "joy".
Wullem m Limburgish
Limburgish form of William.
Wum m Limburgish
Short form of Wullem.
Wyatt m English
From an English surname that was derived from the medieval given name Wyard or Wyot, from the Old English name Wigheard. Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) was an American lawman and gunfighter involved in the famous shootout at the OK Corral.
Wybert m Medieval English
Middle English form of Wigberht.
Wymond m Medieval English
Middle English form of the Old English name Wigmund, composed of the elements wig "battle" and mund "protection".
Wyn m Welsh
Derived from Welsh gwyn meaning "white, blessed".
Wynn m Welsh
Variant of Wyn.
Wynne 1 m & f Welsh
Variant of Wyn, sometimes used as a feminine form.
Wynne 2 m & f English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Wine.
Wynnflæd f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wynn "joy" and flæd, possibly meaning "beauty".
Wynnstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wynn "joy" and stan "stone".
Wyot m Medieval English
Middle English form of Wigheard.
Wystan m English (Rare)
From the Old English name Wigstan, composed of the elements wig "battle" and stan "stone". This was the name of a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon saint. It became rare after the Norman Conquest, and in modern times it is chiefly known as the first name of the British poet W. H. Auden (1907-1973).
Xaawo f Somali
Somali form of Eve.
Xacobe m Galician
Galician form of Iacobus (see James).
Xaime m Galician
Galician form of Iacomus (see James).
Xan m Galician
Galician form of John.
Xande m Portuguese
Portuguese diminutive of Alexandre.
Xander m Dutch, English (Modern)
Short form of Alexander. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by a character on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003).
Xandinho m Portuguese (Rare)
Portuguese diminutive of Alexandre.
Xandra f Dutch
Short form of Alexandra.
Xanthe f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow, blond, fair-haired". This was the name of a few minor figures in Greek mythology.
Xanthi f Greek
Modern Greek form of Xanthe.
Xanthia f English (Rare)
Modern elaborated form of Xanthe.
Xanthippe f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Xanthippos. This was the name of the wife of Socrates. Because of her supposedly argumentative nature, the name has been adopted (in the modern era) as a word for a scolding, ill-tempered woman.
Xanthippi f Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Xanthippe.
Xanthippos m Ancient Greek
From the Greek elements ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian general.
Xanthos m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
From Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow". This is the name of several minor figures in Greek mythology, including kings of Pelasgia and Thebes.
Xanti m Basque
Basque form of Santiago.
Xbalanque m Mayan Mythology
Possibly from Classic Maya balam "jaguar" and k'in "sun" or kej "deer". In the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the K'iche' Maya, Xbalanque and his twin brother Hunahpu avenge their father's death at the hands of the underworld gods.
Xela f Galician
Short form of Ánxela.
Xena f Popular Culture
Probably a variant of Xenia. This was the name of the main character in the 1990s television series Xena: Warrior Princess.
Xenagoras m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreign, strange" and ἀγορά (agora) meaning "assembly, marketplace". This was the name of a 2nd-century BC Greek historian.
Xene f Late Greek
Variant of Xenia. This was occasionally adopted as a monastic name during the Byzantine era.
Xeni f Greek
Modern Greek transcription of Xene.
Xènia f Catalan
Catalan form of Xenia.
Xenia f Greek, Spanish, Ancient Greek
Means "hospitality" in Greek, a derivative of ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreigner, guest". This was the name of a 5th-century saint who is venerated in the Eastern Church.
Xenie f Czech
Czech form of Xenia.
Xeno f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Xenon.
Xenocrates m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ξενοκράτης (Xenokrates), which was derived from ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreigner, guest" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek philosopher.
Xenofon m Greek
Modern Greek form of Xenophon.
Xenon m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreigner, guest".
Xenophon m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreign, strange" and φωνή (phone) meaning "voice". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek military commander and historian. This name was also borne by a 5th-century saint from Constantinople.
Xerxes m Old Persian (Hellenized), History
Greek form of the Old Persian name 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 (Xšayarša), which meant "ruler over heroes". This was the name of a 5th-century BC king of Persia, the son of Darius the Great. He attempted an invasion of Greece, which ended unsuccessfully at the battle of Salamis.
Xesús m Galician
Galician form of Jesus, used as a personal name.