Abishag f BiblicalMeans
"my father strays" in Hebrew, from
אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and
שָׁגָה (shaḡa) meaning "to stray, to err". In the Old Testament Abishag is a young woman who tends King
David in his old age.
Achim 2 m BiblicalPossibly from a Hebrew name meaning
"he will establish". In the New Testament this name is listed as an ancestor of
Jesus.
Adegoke m YorubaMeans
"the crown has ascended the mountain" in Yoruba.
Admir m Bosnian, AlbanianMeaning uncertain. It might be a variant of
Amir 1 or it could be derived from Latin
admiror meaning
"admire".
Ahuludegi m CherokeeMeans
"he throws away the drum" from Cherokee
ᎠᎱᎵ (ahuli) "drum" and
ᎤᏕᎦ (udega) "throw". This was the name of a 19th-century Cherokee chief, also known as John Jolly.
Aija f LatvianOf uncertain meaning, possibly related to Latvian
aijāt meaning
"to rock, to lull". It was used by the Latvian writer Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš for the title character of his novel
Aija (1911).
Algirdas m LithuanianPossibly means
"all-hearing", from the Lithuanian roots
al- "all, every" and
gird- "to hear". This was the name of a 14th-century Grand Duke of Lithuania.
Amaziah m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh strengthens" in Hebrew, derived from
אָמֵץ (ʾamets) meaning "to strengthen" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters, including a king of Judah.
Ameohne'e f CheyenneMeans
"walks along woman", from Cheyenne
ame- "along, by" and
-ehné "walk" combined with the feminine suffix
-e'é.
Anah f & m BiblicalMeans
"answer" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this name belongs to one female character and two male characters.
Aparecida f PortugueseMeans
"appeared" in Portuguese, taken from the Brazilian title of the Virgin
Mary Nossa Senhora da Conceição Aparecida, meaning "Our Lady of the Conception Who Appeared". It refers to a statue of the Virgin Mary that was said to have been pulled from a river by fishermen in the 18th century. Our Lady of Aparecida is regarded as the patron saint of Brazil.
Arsinoe f Ancient GreekMeans
"raising of the mind", from Greek
ἄρσις (arsis) "raising" and
νόος (noos) "mind, thought". This name was borne by Egyptian queens from the Ptolemaic dynasty.
Ascensión f SpanishMeans
"ascension" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the Ascension of
Jesus into heaven.
Asherah f Semitic MythologyPerhaps derived from Semitic roots meaning
"she who walks in the sea". This was the name of a Semitic mother goddess. She was worshipped by the Israelites before the advent of monotheism.
Avalokiteshvara m BuddhismMeans
"the lord who looks down" in Sanskrit, derived from
अवलोक् (avalok) meaning "to look down" and
ईश्वर (īśvara) meaning "lord, god". The original form of the name may have been
अवलोकितस्वर (Avalokitasvara), with the final element being
स्वर (svara) meaning "sound, tone" (as evidenced by the Chinese form
Guanyin). In Buddhist belief this is the name of a bodhisattva associated with compassion.
Ayele m AmharicMeans
"become strong, become powerful" in Amharic.
Ayrat m Tatar, BashkirMeaning uncertain, possibly from Arabic
خيرات (khayrāt) meaning
"good deeds". Alternatively it could be from the name of the Oirat people, a western Mongol tribe.
Baqir m ArabicMeans
"opener, discoverer" in Arabic, from the root
بقر (baqara) meaning "to split open". Muhammad al-Baqir was the fifth imam of the Shia Muslims.
Bellerophon m Greek MythologyFrom
Βελλεροφόντης (Bellerophontes), possibly from Greek
βέλος (belos) meaning "dart" and the suffix
φόντης (phontes) meaning "slayer of". Alternatively the first element might come from a defeated foe named Belleros, who is otherwise unattested. In Greek legend Bellerophon or Bellerophontes was a hero who tamed
Pegasus and killed the monstrous Chimera. He was killed by
Zeus when he attempted to ride Pegasus to Mount Olympus.
Bethuel m BiblicalPossibly means
"destruction of God" in Hebrew, from
בָּתָה (baṯa) meaning "destruction" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of
Rebecca.
Bharata m HinduismMeans
"being maintained" in Sanskrit. This is one of the names of
Agni, the Hindu god of fire, and is also the name of a brother of
Rama in the Hindu epic the
Ramayana. It was also borne by a legendary king, the son of
Dushyanta and
Shakuntala. The official name of the country of India, Bharat, derives from him.
Casimir m English, FrenchEnglish form of the Polish name
Kazimierz, derived from the Slavic element
kaziti "to destroy" combined with
mirŭ "peace, world". Four kings of Poland have borne this name, including Casimir III the Great, who greatly strengthened the Polish state in the 14th century. It was also borne Saint Casimir, a 15th-century Polish prince and a patron saint of Poland and Lithuania. The name was imported into Western Europe via Germany, where it was borne by some royalty.
Cassiel m Judeo-Christian-Islamic LegendFrom Hebrew
קַפצִיאֵל (Qaftsiʾel), of uncertain meaning. Suggested meanings include
"leap of God",
"drawn together by God" or
"wrath of God". This is the name of an angel in medieval Jewish, Christian and Islamic mysticism.
Ceyhun m Turkish, AzerbaijaniFrom Arabic
جيحون (Jayḥūn), from Hebrew
גִּיחוֹן (Giḥon), which in the Old Testament is a river originating in the Garden of Eden. The river's name itself is derived from Hebrew
גִּיחַ (giyaḥ) meaning "to burst forth". In Islamic tradition it is identified with the Amu Darya, a river in central Asia.
Chae-Won f KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
采 (chae) meaning "collect, gather, pluck" or
彩 (chae) meaning "colour" combined with
原 (won) meaning "source, origin, beginning". Other hanja combinations can also form this name.
Christopher m EnglishFrom the Late Greek name
Χριστόφορος (Christophoros) meaning
"bearing Christ", derived from
Χριστός (Christos) combined with
φέρω (phero) meaning "to bear, to carry". Early Christians used it as a metaphorical name, expressing that they carried Christ in their hearts. In the Middle Ages, literal interpretations of the name's etymology led to legends about a Saint Christopher who carried the young
Jesus across a river. He has come to be regarded as the patron saint of travellers.
... [more] Consus m Roman MythologyPossibly derived from Latin
conserere meaning
"to sow, to plant". Consus was a Roman god of the harvest and grain.
Cuauhtemoc m NahuatlMeans
"descending eagle" in Nahuatl, from
cuāuhtli "eagle" and
temo "descend". This was the name of the last Aztec emperor, ruling until he was captured and executed by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in the year 1525.
Damir 1 m Croatian, Serbian, SlovenePossibly derived from the Slavic elements
danŭ "given" and
mirŭ "peace, world". Otherwise, it might be of Turkic or Russian origin (see
Damir 2). It was popularized by a character from Marija Jurić Zagorka's novel
Gordana (1935).
Damon m Greek Mythology, EnglishDerived from Greek
δαμάζω (damazo) meaning
"to tame". According to Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who lived on Syracuse in the 4th century BC. When Pythias was sentenced to death, he was allowed to temporarily go free on the condition that Damon take his place in prison. Pythias returned just before Damon was to be executed in his place, and the king was so impressed with their loyalty to one another that he pardoned Pythias. As an English given name, it has only been regularly used since the 20th century.
Dasoda-hae m ApacheMeans
"he just sits there" in Apache. This was the name of a 19th-century chief of the Tchihende Apache, also known by the Spanish nickname
Mangas Coloradas meaning "red sleeves".
Degataga m CherokeeDerived from Cherokee
ᎦᏙᎦ (gadoga) meaning
"standing". This was the name of a Cherokee chief, also called Stand Watie (1806-1871).
Delaiah m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh has drawn up" in Hebrew, from
דָּלָה (dala) meaning "to draw up, to hang" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters.
Dezba f NavajoMeans
"going raiding" in Navajo, derived from
baa' meaning "raid".
Diksha f HindiMeans
"preparation for a religious ceremony" in Sanskrit.
Django m Popular CultureThe name of Romani-French musician Django Reinhardt (1910-1953), whose real name was Jean. It is possibly from a Romani word meaning
"I awake", though it might in fact be derived from the name
Jean 1. This is the name of the title character in the Italian western movie
Django (1966), as well as numerous subsequent films.
Drogo m English (Archaic)Norman name, possibly derived from Gothic
dragan meaning
"to carry, to pull" or Old Saxon
drog meaning
"ghost, illusion". Alternatively, it could be related to the Slavic element
dorgŭ meaning
"precious, dear". The Normans introduced this name to England.
Ekwueme m IgboMeans
"one says, one does" in Igbo, indicating a person who is truthful about his behaviour.
Eliakim m BiblicalMeans
"God raises" in Hebrew, from the roots
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise". In the Old Testament this is the name of the master of
Hezekiah's household.
Eligius m Late RomanLate Latin name derived from Latin
eligere "to choose". The 7th-century Saint Eligius is the patron saint of metalworkers.
Elkanah m BiblicalMeans
"God has purchased" in Hebrew, from
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God" and
קָנָה (qana) meaning "to acquire, to purchase". In the Old Testament this is the name of the father of
Samuel.
Endymion m Greek MythologyDerived from Greek
ἐνδύω (endyo) meaning
"to dive into, to enter". In Greek mythology he was an Aeolian mortal loved by the moon goddess
Selene, who asked
Zeus to grant him eternal life. Zeus complied by putting him into an eternal sleep in a cave on Mount Latmos.
Enzokuhle m & f Zulu, XhosaMeans
"to do good" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots
enza "to do" and
hle "beautiful, good".
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.
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.
Faunus m Roman MythologyPossibly means
"to befriend" from Latin. Faunus was a Roman god of fertility, forests, and agriculture.
Fungai m & f ShonaFrom Shona
funga meaning
"think, judge".
Fuxi m Chinese MythologyFrom Chinese
伏 (fú) meaning "prostrate, lying down" and
羲 (xī), a character that refers to the god himself. In Chinese mythology Fuxi is the twin brother and husband of
Nüwa. He is said to have taught humans how to hunt and cook, as well as devising the trigrams. He is sometimes depicted with the body of a snake.
Ganga f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, TeluguFrom Sanskrit
गङ्गा (Gaṅgā), the name of the
Ganges River, derived from
गम् (gam) meaning "to go". In Hindu tradition this is a personification of the river, typically depicted as a fair-skinned goddess riding a sea creature. As a given name, it is used by males as well.
Gentius m AlbanianPossibly means
"to beget" in Illyrian. This was the name of a 2nd-century BC Illyrian king who went to war with Rome.
Gideon m Biblical, Hebrew, English, DutchFrom the Hebrew name
גִּדְעוֹן (Giḏʿon) meaning
"feller, hewer", derived from
גָּדַע (gaḏaʿ) meaning "to cut, to hew". Gideon is a hero and judge of the Old Testament. He led the vastly outnumbered Israelites against the Midianites, defeated them, and killed their two kings. In the English-speaking world,
Gideon has been used as a given name since the Protestant Reformation, and it was popular among the Puritans.
Gonggong m Chinese MythologyMeaning unknown, though usually spelled using the Chinese characters
共 (gòng) meaning "together" and
工 (gōng) meaning "work". This is the name of a Chinese water god, depicted as a serpent with a human head. He damaged the heavenly pillar Mount Buzhou, making the sky tilt to the northwest and the earth tilt to the southeast. A dwarf planet in the outer solar system was named for him in 2019.
Gotarzes m Parthian (Hellenized)Greek form of Parthian
𐭂𐭅𐭕𐭓𐭆 (Gotarz), from an Old Iranian name *
Gautarza meaning
"ox crusher". This name was borne by two kings of Parthia.
Goyaałé m ApacheMeans
"one who yawns" in Chiricahua Apache. This was the real name of the Apache leader
Geronimo (1829-1909), who fought against Mexican and American expansion into his territory.
Hafsa f Arabic, Urdu, TurkishMeans
"gathering" in Arabic. This was the name of the daughter of
Umar, the second caliph, and a wife of
Muhammad. It was also borne by the influential mother of
Süleyman the Magnificent.
Ha-o-zinne f ApacheMeans
"standing up straight" in Apache. This was the name of a wife of the Chiricahua Apache chief
Naiche.
Hasdrubal m Phoenician (Latinized), HistoryMeans
"Ba'al helps", derived from Phoenician
𐤏𐤆𐤓 (ʿazru) meaning "to help" combined with the name of the god
Ba'al. This name was borne by several figures from Carthaginian history, including the 3rd-century BC general Hasdrubal Barca (brother of
Hannibal) who fought in the Second Punic War.
Havilah m BiblicalProbably means
"to dance, to circle, to twist" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is both a place name and a masculine personal name.
Hector m English, French, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Arthurian CycleLatinized form of Greek
Ἕκτωρ (Hektor), which was derived from
ἕκτωρ (hektor) meaning
"holding fast", ultimately from
ἔχω (echo) meaning "to hold, to possess". In Greek legend Hector was one of the Trojan champions who fought against the Greeks. After he killed
Achilles' friend
Patroclus in battle, he was himself brutally slain by Achilles, who proceeded to tie his dead body to a chariot and drag it about. This name also appears in Arthurian legends where it belongs to King
Arthur's foster father.
... [more] Hezekiah m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
חִזְקִיָהוּ (Ḥizqiyahu), which means
"Yahweh strengthens", from the roots
חָזַק (ḥazaq) meaning "to strength" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name was borne by a powerful king of Judah who reigned in the 8th and 7th centuries BC. Also in the Old Testament, this is the name of an ancestor of the prophet
Zephaniah.
Hiawatha m History, Iroquois (Anglicized)Meaning uncertain, of Iroquois origin, possibly meaning
"he who combs". This was the name of a Mohawk or Onondaga leader who founded the Iroquois Confederacy around the 15th century. He was later the subject of a fictionalized 1855 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Hiʻiaka f Polynesian MythologyMeans
"held essence", derived from Hawaiian
hiʻi meaning "hold, carry" and
aka meaning "essence, image, embryo". This is the name of a Hawaiian goddess, the youngest sister of the volcano goddess
Pele. To help her sister, Hiʻiaka volunteered to retrieve Pele's lover Lohiʻau from a neighbouring island, as long as Pele promised to protect her sacred grove of trees and her lover Hōpoe in her absence. The task took longer than expected and Pele grew impatient, destroying Hiʻiaka's grove and killing her lover.
Hranislav m SerbianDerived from the Slavic element
xorniti (Serbo-Croatian
hraniti) meaning "to feed, to protect" combined with
slava meaning "glory".
Ida f English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Italian, French, Polish, Finnish, Hungarian, Slovak, Slovene, GermanicDerived from the Germanic element
id possibly meaning
"work, labour" (Proto-Germanic *
idiz). The Normans brought this name to England, though it eventually died out there in the Middle Ages. It was strongly revived in the 19th century, in part due to the heroine in Alfred Tennyson's poem
The Princess (1847), which was later adapted into the play
Princess Ida (1884) by Gilbert and Sullivan.
... [more] Igone f BasqueMeans
"ascension" in Basque. It is an equivalent of
Ascensión coined by the Basque writer Sabino Arana in 1910.
Imants m LatvianPossibly from Livonian (a Finnic language that was spoken in Latvia)
im "miracle" and
and "to give".
Iqbi-Damiq f Semitic MythologyMeans
"she said: it is good", derived from Akkadian
qabû "to say" and
damqu "good, fine". This was the name of a goddess worshipped in Kish and Ashur.
Iqra f UrduFrom Arabic
اقْرأ (iqraʾ) meaning
"read, recite, confess". This is another name of the 96th chapter of the Quran.
Itai 2 m & f ShonaFrom Shona
ita meaning
"do, act, perform".
Izanagi m Japanese MythologyProbably means
"male who invites" in Japanese, from
誘 (izana) meaning "invite, lure, attract". In Japanese mythology the god Izanagi was the husband of
Izanami. When she died he unsuccessfully journeyed to the underworld to retrieve her. In the purifying rites that followed his return, the gods of the sun, moon and wind were created.
Jachin m BiblicalMeans
"he establishes" in Hebrew, derived from
כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish". This was the name of a son of
Simeon in the Old Testament. It was also the name of one of the two pillars that stood outside Solomon's Temple,
Boaz being the other.
Jahleel m BiblicalMeans
"God waits" in Hebrew, from
יָחַל (yaḥal) meaning "to wait" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Jasone f BasqueFrom Basque
jaso meaning
"to lift up, to raise". It was coined by Sabino Arana in 1910 as an equivalent of the Spanish name
Asunción.
Jehoiachin m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh will establish" in Hebrew, from the roots
יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and
כּוּן (kun) meaning "to establish". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah. Also known as
Jeconiah, he was imprisoned in Babylon by
Nebuchadnezzar after a brief reign in the early 6th century BC.
Jephthah m BiblicalMeans
"he opens" in Hebrew, derived from the root
פָּתַח (paṯaḥ) meaning "to open". In the Old Testament this is the name of a ruling judge. He successfully defended Israel from the Ammonites, but was then obliged to sacrifice his daughter because of a vow he had made.
Jeremiah m English, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
יִרְמְיָהוּ (Yirmeyahu) meaning
"Yahweh will exalt", from the roots
רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of one of the major prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Jeremiah and the Book of Lamentations (supposedly). He lived to see the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in the 6th century BC.
... [more] Jeriah m BiblicalMeans
"taught by Yahweh" in Hebrew, from
יָרָה (yara) meaning "to teach" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament, Jeriah is a descendant of Hebron.
Jezebel f BiblicalFrom Hebrew
אִיזֶבֶל (ʾIzevel), probably from a Phoenician name, possibly containing the Semitic root
zbl meaning
"to exalt, to dwell". According to one theory it might be an altered form of the Phoenician name
𐤁𐤏𐤋𐤀𐤆𐤁𐤋 (Baʿlʾizbel) meaning "Ba'al exalts" with the first element removed or replaced.
... [more] Jianhong m ChineseFrom Chinese
健 (jiàn) meaning "build, establish" combined with
宏 (hóng) meaning "wide, spacious, great, vast". This name can also be formed from other character combinations.
Jorah m Biblical, LiteratureFrom the Hebrew name
יוֹרָה (Yora), derived from the root
יָרָה (yara) meaning variously
"to teach, to throw, to rain". This name is mentioned briefly in the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament. It was used by George R. R. Martin for a character in his fantasy series
A Song of Ice and Fire (first published 1996) and the television adaptation
Game of Thrones (2011-2019). It is not known if Martin took the name from the Bible.
Jordan m & f English, French, Macedonian, SerbianFrom the name of the river that flows between the countries of Jordan and Israel. The river's name in Hebrew is
יַרְדֵן (Yarḏen), and it is derived from
יָרַד (yaraḏ) meaning
"descend, flow down". In the New Testament
John the Baptist baptizes
Jesus Christ in its waters, and it was adopted as a personal name in Europe after crusaders brought water back from the river to baptize their children. There may have been some influence from the Latin name
Jordanes, notably borne by a 6th-century Gothic historian.
... [more] Joseph m English, French, German, BiblicalFrom
Ioseph, the Latin form of Greek
Ἰωσήφ (Ioseph), which was from the Hebrew name
יוֹסֵף (Yosef) meaning
"he will add", from the root
יָסַף (yasaf) meaning "to add, to increase". In the Old Testament Joseph is the eleventh son of
Jacob and the first with his wife
Rachel. Because he was the favourite of his father, his older brothers sent him to Egypt and told their father that he had died. In Egypt, Joseph became an advisor to the pharaoh, and was eventually reconciled with his brothers when they came to Egypt during a famine. This name also occurs in the New Testament, belonging to Saint Joseph the husband of
Mary, and to Joseph of Arimathea.
... [more] Kanata m & f JapaneseFrom Japanese
奏 (kana) meaning "play music, complete" and
多 (ta) meaning "many", as well as other combinations of kanji that have the same pronunciation.
Kaneonuskatew m Cree (Anglicized)Means
"he who walks on four claws" in Cree, derived from
ᓀᐅᐧ (newo) "four" and the root
ᐊᐢᑲᓯᕀ (askasiy) "claw". This was the name of a 19th-century Plains Cree chief in Saskatchewan, also known as George Gordon.
Kartini f IndonesianDerived from Indonesian
karti meaning
"act, deed", ultimately from Sanskrit
कृति (kṛti). A notable bearer was the Indonesian women's rights activist Kartini (1879-1904).
Kawisenhawe f MohawkMeans
"she holds the ice" in Mohawk, from
ka- "she",
ówise "ice" and
-hawe "hold, have".
Kemuel m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
קְמוּאֵל (Qemuʾel) meaning
"raised by God", derived from
קוּם (qum) meaning "to raise" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of a nephew of
Abraham in the Old Testament.
Kenaniah m BiblicalMeans
"Yahweh establishes" in Hebrew, from
כָּנַן (kanan) meaning "to establish" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This was the name of two minor Old Testament characters.
Kęstutis m LithuanianFrom Lithuanian
kęsti meaning
"to cope, to endure" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 14th-century ruler of Lithuania.
Khayra f ArabicMeans
"good deed" in Arabic, a derivative of
خير (khayr) meaning "goodness, charity".
Klotho f Greek MythologyMeans
"spinner" in Greek. In Greek mythology Klotho was one of the three Fates or
Μοῖραι (Moirai). She was responsible for spinning the thread of life.
Lachesis f Greek MythologyMeans
"apportioner" in Greek. She was one of the three Fates or
Μοῖραι (Moirai) in Greek mythology. She was responsible for deciding how long each person had to live.
Lady f Spanish (Latin American)From the English noble title
Lady, derived from Old English
hlæfdige, originally meaning "bread kneader". This name grew in popularity in Latin America after the marriage of Diana Spencer, known as Lady Di, to Prince Charles in 1981 and her death in 1997.
Laertes m Greek MythologyMeans
"gatherer of the people" in Greek. This is the name of the father of
Odysseus in Greek mythology. It was later utilized by Shakespeare for a character in his tragedy
Hamlet (1600), in which he is the son of
Polonius. His ultimate duel with
Hamlet leads to both of their deaths.
Leida f EstonianMeaning unknown. It was popularized by a character in Estonian writer Andres Saal's historical stories
Vambola (1889) and
Aita (1891). Saal associated it with Estonian
leidma "to find".
Lethokuhle f & m Xhosa, ZuluMeans
"bring goodness" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots
letha "to bring" and
hle "beautiful, good".
Levana 2 f Roman MythologyFrom Latin
levare meaning
"to raise, to lift". This was the name of a Roman goddess associated with newborn babies and the rituals of childbirth.
Lucifer m Judeo-Christian-Islamic LegendMeans
"bringing light", derived from Latin
lux "light" and
ferre "to bring". In Latin this name originally referred to the morning star, Venus, but later became associated with the chief angel who rebelled against God's rule in heaven (see
Isaiah 14:12). In later literature, such as the
Divine Comedy (1321) by Dante and
Paradise Lost (1667) by John Milton, Lucifer became associated with Satan himself.
Manasseh m BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
מְנַשֶּׁה (Menashshe) meaning
"causing to forget", a derivative of
נָשָׁה (nasha) meaning "to forget". In the Old Testament this is the name of the oldest son of
Joseph and
Asenath and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It was also borne by a 7th-century BC king of Judah, condemned in the Bible for allowing the worship of other gods.
Maqsud m Arabic, UrduMeans
"intention, aim" in Arabic, a derivative of
قصد (qaṣada) meaning "to intend, to aim, to seek".
Maytham m Arabic (Rare)Possibly means
"crushing" in Arabic. This was the name of a companion of
Ali, the fourth caliph.
Melete f Greek MythologyMeans
"practice, exercise" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was one of the original three muses, the muse of meditation.
Melokuhle f & m Xhosa, ZuluMeans
"stand for goodness" in Zulu and Xhosa, from the roots
mela "to stand for, to represent" and
hle "beautiful, good".
Melpomene f Greek MythologyDerived from Greek
μέλπω (melpo) meaning
"to sing, to celebrate with song". This was the name of one of the nine Muses in Greek mythology, the muse of tragedy.
Menesa f Turkish (Modern)From the biblical name
Manasseh. This name became popular in Turkey after it appeared on the Turkish version of the popular Iranian television series
Prophet Joseph (2008). In the series Menesa is the daughter of
Joseph and
Asenath, whereas in the biblical account Manasseh was their son.
Meona'hane m CheyenneMeans
"morning killer" in Cheyenne, derived from
méo- "morning" and
-na'hané "kill, coup".
Mephistopheles m LiteratureMeaning 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.
Mindaugas m LithuanianPossibly from Lithuanian
mintis "thought" or
minti "to remember" combined with
daug "much". This was the name of a 13th-century ruler of Lithuania.
Motecuhzoma m NahuatlMeans
"he becomes angry like a lord" in Nahuatl, from
mo- "himself",
tēcu- "lord" and
zōma "become angry, frown". This name was borne by two emperors of the Aztec Empire.
Mukami f KikuyuPossibly means
"the one who milks the cows" in Kikuyu.
Mumbi f KikuyuMeans
"she who shapes" in Kikuyu. In Kikuyu mythology Mumbi was the wife of Gikuyu and the mother of his nine daughters.
Mu'tamid m Arabic (Rare)Means
"relying on, leaning on" in Arabic. Al-Mu'tamid was a 9th-century Abbasid caliph. This was also the name of an 11th-century Abbadid ruler of Seville, who was a patron of the arts and a poet.
Naiche m ApacheMeans
"mischief maker" in Apache. This name was borne by a 19th-century Chiricahua Apache chief, the son of
Cochise.
Nanabah f NavajoMeans
"returning warrior" in Navajo, derived from
nááná "again" and
baa' "warrior, heroine, raid, battle".
Natsumi f JapaneseFrom Japanese
夏 (natsu) meaning "summer" and
美 (mi) meaning "beautiful". It can also come from
菜 (na) meaning "vegetables, greens" and
摘 (tsumi) meaning "pick, pluck". Other kanji combinations are possible.
Neohne'e f CheyenneMeans
"walks toward woman", from Cheyenne
nėh- "toward" and
-ehné "walk" combined with the feminine suffix
-e'é.
Neuza f PortugueseMeaning uncertain. Some theories connect it to Greek
νέουσα (neousa) meaning
"swimming", though the reasons for this formation are unclear.
Nîga f KurdishMeans
"look, gaze" in Kurdish, of Persian origin.
Nikephoros m & f Ancient Greek, Greek MythologyMeans
"carrying victory" from Greek
νίκη (nike) meaning "victory" and
φέρω (phero) meaning "to carry, to bear". This name was borne by several Byzantine emperors, including the 10th-century Nikephoros II Phokas. Besides being a masculine personal name, it was also a title borne by the goddess
Athena.
Noah 2 f BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
נֹעָה (Noʿa) meaning
"motion". In the Old Testament this is the name of a daughter of
Zelophehad. In English this name is typically spelled the same as the name of the male biblical character
Noah, though in Hebrew they are written distinctly.
Noboru m JapaneseFrom Japanese
登 (noboru) meaning "rise, ascend" or other kanji pronounced in the same way.
Nodens m Celtic MythologyPossibly from the old Celtic root *
snowdo- meaning "mist, haze". Alternatively it might be related to the Indo-European root *
neud- meaning
"to acquire, to use". This is the name of a Celtic god associated with healing, hunting and fishing. He is known from a shrine excavated at Gloucestershire, where the name is only found in the dative forms
Nodenti and
Nodonti. He probably forms the basis for the legendary figures of
Nuada (Irish) and
Nudd (Welsh).
Ophiuchus m AstronomyLatinized form of Greek
Ὀφιοῦχος (Ophiouchos) meaning
"serpent bearer". This is the name of an equatorial constellation that depicts the god
Asklepios holding a snake.
Orinthia f LiteraturePossibly related to Greek
ὀρίνω (orino) meaning
"to excite, to agitate". George Bernard Shaw used this name in his play
The Apple Cart (1929).
Osamu m JapaneseFrom Japanese
修 (osamu) meaning "discipline, study", as well as other kanji that have the same pronunciation.
Ọṣun f Yoruba MythologyPossibly related to
ṣán meaning
"flow". In traditional Yoruba belief this is the name of the patron goddess of the Osun River, also associated with wealth, beauty and love.
Pachakutiq m QuechuaMeans
"changer of the world" in Quechua, derived from
pacha "world, time" and
kutiy "to return, to change" combined with the agentive suffix
-q "doer". This name was borne by a 15th-century (precontact) ruler of the Inca Empire.
Paltiel m Biblical, Biblical HebrewMeans
"God is my deliverance" in Hebrew, derived from
פָּלַט (palaṭ) meaning "to deliver, to rescue, to escape" combined with
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". This is the name of two Israelites in the Old Testament.
Paraskeve f Late GreekDerived from Greek
παρασκευή (paraskeue) meaning
"preparation" or
"Friday" (being the day of preparation). This was the name of a 2nd-century saint who was martyred in Rome.
Persephone f Greek MythologyMeaning unknown, probably of Pre-Greek origin, but perhaps related to Greek
πέρθω (pertho) meaning "to destroy" and
φόνος (phonos) meaning "murder". In Greek myth she was the daughter of
Demeter and
Zeus. She was abducted to the underworld by
Hades, but was eventually allowed to return to the surface for part of the year. The result of her comings and goings is the changing of the seasons. With her mother she was worshipped in the Eleusinian Mysteries, which were secret rites practiced at the city of Eleusis near Athens.
Perseus m Greek MythologyPossibly derived from Greek
πέρθω (pertho) meaning
"to destroy". In Greek mythology Perseus was a hero who was said to have founded the ancient city of Mycenae. He was the son of
Zeus and
Danaë. Mother and child were exiled by Danaë's father Acrisius, and Perseus was raised on the island of Seriphos. The king of the island compelled Perseus to kill the Gorgon
Medusa, who was so ugly that anyone who gazed upon her was turned to stone. After obtaining winged sandals and other tools from the gods, he succeeded in his task by looking at Medusa in the reflection of his shield and slaying her in her sleep. On his return he defeated a sea monster in order to save
Andromeda, who became his wife.
Pitikwahanapiwiyin m Cree (Anglicized)From Cree
ᐲᐦᑐᑲᐦᐊᓇᐱᐏᔨᐣ (Pîhtokahanapiwiyin) meaning
"sits at the buffalo pound", derived from
ᐲᐦᑐᑲᐦᐋᐣ (pîhtokahân) "buffalo pound, buffalo corral" and
ᐊᐱᐤ (apiw) "sit". This was the name of a Plains Cree chief, also known as Poundmaker (1842-1886).
Prochorus m Biblical, Biblical LatinLatinized form of the Greek name
Πρόχορος (Prochoros) meaning
"leader of the dance". Saint Prochorus was one of the original seven deacons of the church, as told in Acts in the New Testament.
Prokopios m Greek, Late GreekDerived from Greek
προκοπή (prokope) meaning
"progress, advance". Saint Prokopios was an early Christian martyr who was beheaded in Palestine during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian.
Pythios m Greek MythologyFrom the Greek place name
Πυθώ (Pytho), an older name of the city of Delphi, which was probably derived from Greek
πύθω (pytho) meaning "to rot". This was an epithet of
Apollo.
Raniya f ArabicPossibly related to the Arabic root
رنا (ranā) meaning
"to gaze, to look intently".
Raphael m German, English, BiblicalFrom the Hebrew name
רָפָאֵל (Rafaʾel) meaning
"God heals", from the roots
רָפָא (rafa) meaning "to heal" and
אֵל (ʾel) meaning "God". In Hebrew tradition Raphael is the name of an archangel. He appears in the Book of Tobit, in which he disguises himself as a man named
Azarias and accompanies
Tobias on his journey to Media, aiding him along the way. In the end he cures Tobias's father
Tobit of his blindness. He is not mentioned in the New Testament, though tradition identifies him with the angel troubling the water in
John 5:4.
... [more] Reumah f BiblicalMeans
"elevated, exalted" in Hebrew, derived
רָאַם (raʾam) meaning "to rise". According to the Old Testament, Reumah was a concubine of
Nahor and by him the mother of four sons.
Reva f Hinduism, HindiMeans
"one that moves" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess
Rati.
Ritika f HindiMeans either
"movement, stream" or
"brass" in Sanskrit.
Rodomonte m Carolingian CycleUsed by Matteo Maria Boiardo for a Saracen warrior king in his epic poem
Orlando Innamorato (1483). It could be related to Italian
rotolare "to roll" and
monte "mountain". He also appears in Ludovico Ariosto's continuation
Orlando Furioso (1532).
Rogatus m Late RomanFrom Latin
rogatus meaning
"request, entreaty", in turn derived from
rogo meaning "to ask, to request". This name was borne by several early and relatively obscure martyrs and saints.
Sacagawea f Indigenous AmericanProbably from Hidatsa
tsakáka wía meaning
"bird woman". Alternatively it could originate from the Shoshone language and mean "boat puller". This name was borne by a Native American woman who guided the explorers Lewis and Clark. She was of Shoshone ancestry but had been abducted in her youth and raised by a Hidatsa tribe.
Saddam m Arabic, Urdu, BengaliMeans
"one who confronts" in Arabic. It was borne by the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein (1937-2006).
Sajid m ArabicMeans
"worshipping" in Arabic, a derivative of
سجد (sajada) meaning "to bow down, to prostrate".
Sanjar m Uzbek, Medieval TurkicTurkic name meaning
"he who pierces, he who thrusts". Ahmad Sanjar was an 11th-century sultan of the Seljuq Empire.
Saul m Biblical, Jewish, Biblical LatinFrom 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.
Savitr m HinduismMeans
"rouser, stimulator" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Vedic Hindu sun god, sometimes identified with
Surya.
Shadrach m BiblicalMeans
"command of Aku" in Akkadian,
Aku being the name of the Babylonian god of the moon. In the Old Testament Shadrach is the Babylonian name of
Hananiah, one of the three men cast into a fiery furnace but saved by God.
Sheridan m & f EnglishFrom an Irish surname (Anglicized from Irish Gaelic
Ó Sirideáin), which was derived from the given name
Sirideán possibly meaning "searcher".
Shimei m BiblicalFrom Hebrew
שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning
"to hear, to listen". This is the name of many characters in the Old Testament.
Skanda m HinduismMeans
"hopping, spurting, spilling" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu god of war, also known as
Kartikeya or
Murugan. He is the son of
Shiva and
Parvati. He is worshipped especially by the Tamils in southern India.
Socorro f SpanishMeans
"succour, help, relief" in Spanish. It is taken from the title of the Virgin
Mary María del Socorro meaning "Mary of Perpetual Succour".
Stribog m Slavic MythologyPossibly from Old Slavic
sterti "to extend, to spread" and
bogŭ "god". Alternatively it could come from
strybati "to flow, to move quickly". Stribog was a Slavic god who was possibly associated with the wind.
Tarhunna m Hittite MythologyFrom Hittite or Luwian
tarh meaning
"to cross, to conquer". This was the name of the Hittite god of the weather, storms, and the sky, and the slayer of the dragon Illuyanka. He was closely identified with the Hurrian god
Teshub, and sometimes with the Semitic god
Hadad.
Tariq m Arabic, UrduMeans
"visitor, knocker at the door" in Arabic, from
طرق (ṭaraqa) meaning "to knock". This is the Arabic name of the morning star. Tariq ibn Ziyad was the Islamic general who conquered Spain for the Umayyad Caliphate in the 8th century.
Tatenda m & f ShonaMeans
"thank you" in Shona, from
tenda meaning "thank".
Tecumseh m ShawneeMeans
"panther passing across" in Shawnee. This name was borne by the Shawnee leader Tecumseh (1768-1813), who resisted American expansion along with his brother the spiritual leader
Tenskwatawa.
Tekakwitha f MohawkMeans
"she who bumps into things" or
"she who puts things in place" in Mohawk. Tekakwitha, also named
Kateri, was a 17th-century Mohawk woman who has become the first Native American Catholic saint.
Tendai m & f ShonaFrom Shona
tenda meaning
"be thankful, thank".
Tenzin m & f Tibetan, BhutaneseFrom Tibetan
བསྟན་འཛིན (bstan-'dzin) meaning
"upholder of teachings". This is one of the given names of the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso (1935-).
Terrell m English, African AmericanFrom an English surname that was probably derived from the Norman French nickname
tirel "to pull", referring to a stubborn person. It may sometimes be given in honour of civil rights activist Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954). It was common in the African-American community from the 1970s to the 1990s, typically stressed on the second syllable. A famous bearer is American football player Terrell Owens (1973-).
Thetis f Greek MythologyPossibly derived from Greek
θέτης (thetes) meaning
"one who places", a derivative of
τίθημι (tithemi) meaning "to set, to place". This was the name of one of the Nereids in Greek mythology. With
Peleus she was the mother of
Achilles.
Tisiphone f Greek MythologyMeans
"avenging murder" in Greek, derived from
τίσις (tisis) meaning "vengeance" and
φόνος (phonos) meaning "murder". This was the name of one of the Furies or
Ἐρινύες (Erinyes) in Greek mythology. She killed Cithaeron with the bite of one of the snakes on her head.
Tollak m Norwegian (Rare)From the Old Norse name
Þórleikr, which meant
"Thor's play" from the name of the Norse god
Þórr (see
Thor) combined with
leikr "play, game (involving weapons)".
Tránsito f & m SpanishMeans
"transit, travel" in Spanish. This name is given in reference to the movement of the Virgin
Mary into heaven.
Tripp m English (Modern)From a surname derived from Middle English
trippen "to dance". It could also be inspired by the English word
trip "journey, stumble".
Varuna m HinduismProbably from Sanskrit
वृ (vṛ) meaning
"to surround, to encompass". In Hindu mythology Varuna is a god of water and the ocean, also associated with the sky and law. He appears frequently in the Vedas, often paired with the god
Mitra.
Venantius m Late RomanDerived from Latin
venans meaning
"hunting, chasing, pursuing". This name was borne by several early saints, including a 6th-century bishop of Poitiers who was a noted poet.
Verdandi f Norse MythologyFrom Old Norse
Verðandi meaning
"becoming, happening". Verdandi was one of the three Norns, or goddesses of destiny, in Norse mythology. She was responsible for the present.
Vratislav m Czech, SlovakDerived from the Slavic elements
vortiti (Czech
vrátit) meaning "to return" and
slava meaning "glory". This was the name of two dukes of Bohemia (the second later a king).
Vural m TurkishPossibly from Turkish
vur meaning
"strike, hit".
Vyasa m HinduismMeans
"arranger, compiler" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief this is the name of a sage who is the traditional author of the
Mahabharata and the Puranas. According to the text itself, he was a son of
Satyavati and
Parashara. His birth name was
Krishna Dvaipayana, while
Vyasa was his title.
Waverly f & m EnglishFrom the rare English surname
Waverley, derived from the name of a place in Surrey, itself possibly from Old English
wæfre "flickering, wavering" and
leah "woodland, clearing".
... [more] Xiadani f ZapotecMeaning uncertain, said to mean
"the flower that arrived" in Zapotec.
Yeong-Gi m KoreanFrom Sino-Korean
榮 (yeong) meaning "glory, honour, flourish, prosper" and
起 (gi) meaning "rise, stand up, begin". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
Yonaguska m CherokeeMeans
"drowning bear" from Cherokee
ᏲᎾ (yona) "bear" and possibly
ᎫᏂᏍᎧ (guniska) "drown". This was the name of a 19th-century Eastern Cherokee chief.
Yuzuru m JapaneseFrom Japanese
譲 (yuzuru) meaning "allow, permit, yield, concede", as well as other kanji combinations with the same pronunciation.
Zbigniew m PolishDerived from the Slavic elements
jĭzbyti "to dispel" and
gněvŭ "anger". This was the name of a 12th-century duke of Poland.
Zebidah f BiblicalDerived from Hebrew
זָבַד (zavaḏ) meaning "to give". In the Old Testament she is a wife of King
Josiah of Judah and the mother of
Jehoiakim. Her name is spelled as
Zebudah in some translations.
Zechariah m Biblical, EnglishFrom the Hebrew name
זְכַרְיָה (Zeḵarya) meaning
"Yahweh remembers", from the roots
זָכַר (zaḵar) meaning "to remember" and
יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of many characters in the Old Testament, including the prophet Zechariah, the author of the Book of Zechariah. The name also appears in the New Testament belonging to the father of
John the Baptist, who was temporarily made dumb because of his disbelief. He is regarded as a saint by Christians. In some versions of the New Testament his name is spelled in the Greek form
Zacharias or the English form
Zachary. As an English given name,
Zechariah has been in occasional use since the Protestant Reformation.