Names Categorized "defence"

This is a list of names in which the categories include defence.
gender
usage
Adelma f Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese (Brazilian), Italian (Rare), Literature
Feminine form of Adelmo. This name was used by Carlo Gozzi for a character in his play Turandot (1762).
Adelmo m Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Latin American)
Italian, Portuguese and Spanish form of Adhelm, also used to refer to the English saint Ealdhelm.
Adhelm m Germanic
From the Old German elements atto meaning "father" and helm meaning "helmet, protection".
Ælfweard m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ælf "elf" and weard "guardian".
Æthelweard m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English element æðele "noble" combined with weard "guardian".
Agmundr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Amund.
Alasdair m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander.
Alastair m Scottish
Anglicized form of Alasdair.
Alastar m Irish
Irish form of Alexander.
Alastríona f Irish
Feminine form of Alastar.
Alawar m Germanic (Hypothetical)
Possible Frankish cognate of Álvaro.
Alberich m Germanic, Germanic Mythology
Derived from the Old German elements alb "elf" and rih "ruler, king". It was borne by two Lombard dukes of Spoleto in the 10th century. It was also the name of a 12th-century French saint who helped found the Cistercian Order.... [more]
Alexander m English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Hungarian, Slovak, Biblical, Ancient Greek (Latinized), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀλέξανδρος (Alexandros), which meant "defending men" from Greek ἀλέξω (alexo) meaning "to defend, help" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). In Greek mythology this was another name of the hero Paris, and it also belongs to several characters in the New Testament. However, the most famous bearer was Alexander the Great, king of Macedon. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.... [more]
Alexandra f English, German, Dutch, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Greek, Portuguese, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Catalan, Russian, Ukrainian, Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Feminine form of Alexander. In Greek mythology this was a Mycenaean epithet of the goddess Hera, and an alternate name of Cassandra. It was borne by several early Christian saints, and also by the wife of Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia. She was from Germany and had the birth name Alix, but was renamed Александра (Aleksandra) upon joining the Russian Church.
Alexandre m French, Portuguese, Galician, Catalan
Form of Alexander in several languages. This name was borne by the French author Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870), who wrote The Three Musketeers.
Alexandria f English
Feminine form of Alexander. Alexander the Great founded several cities by this name (or renamed them) as he extended his empire eastward. The most notable of these is Alexandria in Egypt, founded by Alexander in 331 BC.
Alexandrina f Portuguese, Romanian, English (Rare)
Elaborated form of Alexandra. This was the first name of Queen Victoria; her middle name was Victoria.
Alexandrine f French
French diminutive of Alexandra. This was the name of a Danish queen, the wife of King Christian X.
Alexis m & f French, English, Greek, Spanish, Ancient Greek
From the Greek name Ἄλεξις (Alexis) meaning "helper" or "defender", derived from Greek ἀλέξω (alexo) meaning "to defend, to help". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek comic poet, and also of several saints. It is used somewhat interchangeably with the related name Ἀλέξιος or Alexius, borne by five Byzantine emperors.... [more]
Alfher m Germanic
Old German name composed of the elements alb "elf" and heri "army" (making it a cognate of Alvar).
Alistair m Scottish
Anglicized form of Alasdair.
Álvaro m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish form of Alvarus, the Latinized form of a Visigothic name, possibly derived from the elements alls "all" and wars "aware, cautious" or wards "guard". Álvar Fáñez was an 11th-century military commander and duke of Toledo, who appears as a general of El Cid in the epic poem El Cantar de mio Cid. Verdi also used the name in his opera The Force of Destiny (1862).
Alvarus m Gothic (Latinized)
Latinized (Old Spanish) form of a Gothic name (see Álvaro).
Amalaberga f Gothic (Latinized)
From the Gothic name *Amalabairga, derived from the Gothic element amals meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave", also referring to the royal dynasty of the Amali, combined with bairgo meaning "help, protection". This name was borne by a daughter of Theodemir, king of the Ostrogoths in the 5th century.
Amalberga f Germanic
Variant of Amalaberga, as borne by the Frankish saints Amalberga of Maubeuge (7th century) and Amalberga of Temse (8th century).
Aminta m & f Literature, Spanish (Latin American)
Form of Amyntas used by the Italian poet Torquato Tasso for his play Aminta (1573). In the play Aminta is a shepherd who falls in love with a nymph.... [more]
Amund m Norwegian
Derived from the Old Norse name Agmundr, from the element egg "edge of a sword" or agi "awe, fear" combined with mundr "protection".
Amyntas m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ἀμύντωρ (amyntor) meaning "defender". This was the name of several kings of Macedon.
Andromeda f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός) combined with one of the related words μέδομαι (medomai) meaning "to be mindful of, to provide for, to think on" or μέδω (medo) meaning "to protect, to rule over". In Greek mythology Andromeda was an Ethiopian princess rescued from sacrifice by the hero Perseus. A constellation in the northern sky is named for her. This is also the name of a nearby galaxy, given because it resides (from our point of view) within the constellation.
Anik m Hindi, Bengali
From Sanskrit अनीक (anīka) meaning "army" or "splendour".
Anika 2 f Hindi
Feminine form of Anik.
Ansehelm m Germanic
Old German form of Anselm.
Anselm m German, English (Rare), Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements ansi "god" and helm "helmet, protection". This name was brought to England in the late 11th century by Saint Anselm, who was born in northern Italy. He was archbishop of Canterbury and a Doctor of the Church.
Antelmo m Spanish (Rare), Portuguese (Rare), Italian (Rare)
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian form of Anthelm.
Anthelm m Germanic
From the Old German element anto meaning "zeal" combined with helm meaning "helmet, protection". Saint Anthelm was a 12th-century bishop of Belley in France.
Anthelme m French (Rare)
French form of Anthelm.
Arcturus m Astronomy
From Ancient Greek Ἀρκτοῦρος (Arktouros), the name of the fourth brightest star in the sky, part of the constellation Boötes. It means "guardian of the bear", derived from ἄρκτος (arktos) meaning "bear" and οὖρος (ouros) meaning "guardian", referring to the star's position close to the constellations Ursa Minor and Ursa Major.
Aristomache f Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and μάχη (mache) meaning "battle".
Arlet f Catalan
Catalan form of Arlette.
Arleth f Spanish (Latin American)
Variant of Arlette in use in Latin America.
Arlette f French
French form of Herleva.
Aroldo m Italian
Italian form of Harold.
Asim 1 m Arabic, Urdu
Means "protector" in Arabic, from the root عصم (ʿaṣama) meaning "to protect".
Ásketill m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse áss "god" and ketill "cauldron, helmet".
Åsmund m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Ásmundr, derived from the elements áss "god" and mundr "protection" (a cognate of Osmond).
Ásmundr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Åsmund.
Ásmundur m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Åsmund.
Bast f Egyptian Mythology
Variant reading of Bastet.
Bastet f Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian bꜣstt, which was possibly derived from bꜣs meaning "ointment jar" and a feminine t suffix. In Egyptian mythology Bastet was a goddess of cats, fertility and the sun who was considered a protector of Lower Egypt. In early times she was typically depicted with the head of a lioness. By the New Kingdom period she was more associated with domestic cats, while the similar cat goddess Sekhmet took on the fierce lioness aspect.
Belshazzar m Babylonian (Anglicized), Biblical
From בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (Belshatstsar), the Hebrew form of the Akkadian name Bel-sharra-usur meaning "Bel protect the king". This was the name of the son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Babylonian Empire before the Persians conquered it in the 6th century BC. In the Old Testament Book of Daniel Belshazzar is the last king of Babylon who sees the mystical handwriting on the wall, which is interpreted by Daniel to portend the end of the empire.
Bergljót f Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse and Icelandic form of Bergljot.
Bergljot f Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Bergljót, which was composed of the elements bjǫrg "help, salvation" and ljótr "light".
Bertrand m French, English, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements beraht meaning "bright" and rant meaning "rim (of a shield)". From an early date it has been confused with Bertram and the two names have merged to some degree. Saint Bertrand was an 11th-century bishop of Comminges in France. Another famous bearer was the English philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970).
Borghild f Norwegian, Norse Mythology
Derived from the Old Norse elements borg "fortress" and hildr "battle". In the Norse Völsungasaga she is the wife of Sigmund.
Bornimirŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Branimir.
Branimir m Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Slovene
Derived from the Slavic element borna "protection" combined with mirŭ "peace, world".
Branislav m Serbian, Slovak, Czech, Slovene, Croatian, Macedonian
Form of Bronisław in several languages.
Broen m Limburgish
Limburgish form of Bruno.
Bronislav m Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian
Czech, Slovak, Russian and Ukrainian form of Bronisław.
Bronislava f Czech, Slovak, Russian
Czech, Slovak and Russian feminine form of Bronisław.
Bronisław m Polish
Derived from the Slavic elements borna "protection" and slava "glory". A famous Polish anthropologist, Bronisław Malinowski (1884-1942), has borne this name.
Bronisława f Polish
Feminine form of Bronisław.
Bronislovas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Bronisław.
Bruna f Italian, Portuguese, Croatian
Feminine form of Bruno.
Brunella f Italian
Feminine diminutive of Bruno.
Brunello m Italian, Carolingian Cycle
Diminutive of Bruno. This is the name of a Saracen thief in the Italian epic Orlando poems (1483 and 1532) by Boiardo and Ariosto.
Brünhild f Germanic Mythology
German form of Brunhild, used when referring to the character from the Nibelungenlied.
Brunhild f German, Germanic Mythology, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements brunna "armour, protection" and hilt "battle". It is cognate with the Old Norse name Brynhildr (from the elements brynja and hildr). In Norse legend Brynhildr was the queen of the valkyries who was rescued by the hero Sigurd. In the medieval German saga the Nibelungenlied she was a queen of Iceland and the wife of Gunther. Both of these characters were probably inspired by the eventful life of the 6th-century Frankish queen Brunhilda (of Visigothic birth).... [more]
Brunhilda f History
Variant of Brunhild, referring to the Frankish queen.
Brunihild f Germanic
Old German variant of Brunhild.
Brunilda f Albanian, Spanish (Rare), Italian (Rare), Portuguese (Rare)
Albanian, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Brunhild.
Bruno m German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Croatian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Latvian, Germanic
Derived from the Old German element brunna meaning "armour, protection" (Proto-Germanic *brunjǭ) or brun meaning "brown" (Proto-Germanic *brūnaz). Saint Bruno of Cologne was a German monk of the 11th century who founded the Carthusian Order. The surname has belonged to Giordano Bruno, a philosopher burned at the stake by the Inquisition. A modern bearer is the American singer Bruno Mars (1985-), born Peter Gene Hernandez.
Brynhildr f Norse Mythology, Old Norse
Old Norse cognate of Brunhild. In the Norse epic the Völsungasaga Brynhildr was rescued by the hero Sigurd in the guise of Gunnar. Brynhildr and Gunnar were married, but when Sigurd's wife Gudrun let slip that it was in fact Sigurd who had rescued her, Brynhildr plotted against him. She accused Sigurd of taking her virginity, spurring Gunnar to arrange Sigurd's murder.
Brynhildur f Icelandic
Icelandic form of Brynhildr.
Brynja f Icelandic, Old Norse
Means "armour" in Old Norse.
Brynjar m Norwegian, Icelandic
Derived from the Old Norse elements brynja "armour" and herr "army, warrior".
Burke m English
From an English surname that was derived from Old English burg meaning "fortress".
Burkhard m German, Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements burg "fortress" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy", or perhaps from the Old English cognate Burgheard. Saint Burkhard was an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon missionary to Germany (a companion of Boniface) who became the first bishop of Würzburg.
Burt m English
Short form of Burton.
Burton m English
From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "fortified town" in Old English. A famous bearer of the surname was Richard Burton (1821-1890), an explorer of Africa and Asia.
Caerwyn m Welsh
Derived from the Welsh elements caer "fortress" and gwyn "white, blessed".
Cenhelm m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Kenelm.
Cennétig m Old Irish
Old Irish byname meaning either "armoured head" or "misshapen head" (Old Irish cenn "head" and étiud "armour, clothing" or étig "ugly, misshapen"). This was the name of an Irish king, the father of Brian Boru.
Ceolmund m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements ceol "keel" and mund "protection".
Chimalma f Aztec and Toltec Mythology
Means "shield hand" in Nahuatl, derived from chīmalli "shield" and māitl "hand". This was the name of an Aztec goddess who was the mother of Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl.
Chizoba f & m Igbo
Means "God continues to save" in Igbo.
Chobin m History
From Persian چوبین (Chūbīn), Middle Persian 𐭰𐭥𐭡𐭩𐭭 (Choben) meaning "spear-like". Bahram Chobin was a 6th-century Sasanian general and, for a short period, the king. He received this nickname because he was tall and thin. He appears in the 10th-century Persian epic the Shahnameh.
Colbert m English
From an English surname that was derived from a Norman form of the Old German name Colobert.
Colobert m Germanic
Old German name composed of (possibly) the element kollo meaning "head, peak" and beraht meaning "bright".
Custódia f Portuguese
Portuguese feminine form of Custodio.
Custodia f Spanish
Feminine form of Custodio.
Custódio m Portuguese
Portuguese form of Custodio.
Custodio m Spanish
Means "guardian" in Spanish, from Latin custodia "protection, safekeeping".
Cyneburg f Anglo-Saxon
Means "royal fortress" from Old English cyne "royal" and burg "fortress". Saint Cyneburga, a daughter of a king of Mercia, was the founder of an abbey at Castor in the 7th century.
Cyneweard m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from Old English cyne "royal" and weard "guard".
Demelza f English (British, Rare)
From a Cornish place name meaning "fort of Maeldaf". It has been used as a given name since the middle of the 20th century. It was popularized in the 1970s by a character from the British television series Poldark, which was set in Cornwall.
Diethelm m German
Derived from the Old German elements theod meaning "people" (Old High German diota, Old Frankish þeoda) and helm meaning "helmet, protection".
Dilipa m Hinduism
Means "protector of Delhi" from Sanskrit दिल्ली (see Delhi) combined with (pa) meaning "protecting". According to Hindu scripture this was the name of a king who was an ancestor of Rama 1.
Durward m English
From an occupational surname meaning "door guard" in Middle English.
Eadmund m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Edmund.
Eadweard m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Edward.
Ealdhelm m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements eald "old" and helm "helmet, protection". This was the name of a 7th-century English saint (commonly called Aldhelm).
Eamon m Irish
Variant of Éamonn.
Eastmund m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Esmond.
Edmé m French
Short form of Edmond, used independently.
Edmée f French
Feminine form of Edmé.
Edmond m French, Albanian
French and Albanian form of Edmund. A notable bearer was the English astronomer Edmond Halley (1656-1742), for whom Halley's comet is named.
Edmonda f Italian (Rare)
Italian feminine form of Edmund.
Edmonde f French
French feminine form of Edmund.
Edmondo m Italian
Italian form of Edmund.
Edmund m English, German, Polish
Means "rich protection", from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and mund "protection". This was the name of two Anglo-Saxon kings of England. It was also borne by two saints, including a 9th-century king of East Anglia who, according to tradition, was shot to death with arrows after refusing to divide his Christian kingdom with an invading pagan Danish leader. This Old English name remained in use after the Norman Conquest (even being used by King Henry III for one of his sons), though it became less common after the 15th century.... [more]
Edmundas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Edmund.
Edmundo m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Edmund.
Edmunds m Latvian
Latvian form of Edmund.
Edward m English, Polish
Means "rich guard", derived from the Old English elements ead "wealth, fortune" and weard "guard". This was the name of several Anglo-Saxon kings, the last being Saint Edward the Confessor shortly before the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. He was known as a just ruler, and because of his popularity his name remained in use after the conquest when most other Old English names were replaced by Norman ones. The 13th-century Plantagenet king Henry III named his son and successor after the saint, and seven subsequent kings of England were also named Edward.... [more]
Elmo m Italian, English, Finnish, Estonian
Originally a short form of names ending with the Old German element helm meaning "helmet, protection", such as Guglielmo or Anselmo. It is also a derivative of Erasmus, via the old Italian short form Ermo. Saint Elmo, also known as Saint Erasmus, was a 4th-century martyr who is the patron of sailors. Saint Elmo's fire is said to be a sign of his protection.... [more]
Elvar m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Alvar.
Eraldo m Italian
Variant of Aroldo.
Erramun m Basque
Basque form of Raymond.
Ervīns m Latvian
Latvian form of Erwin.
Erwin m German, Dutch, Polish, Germanic
Derived from the Old German name Hariwini, composed of the elements heri "army" and wini "friend". It may have merged somewhat with the name Eberwin. A notable bearer was Erwin Schrödinger (1887-1961), an Austrian physicist who made contributions to quantum theory.
Eskil m Norwegian, Swedish, Danish
Modern Scandinavian form of Ásketill.
Esko m Finnish
Finnish form of Ásketill.
Esmond m English (Rare)
Derived from the Old English elements est "grace" and mund "protection". This Old English name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest. It was occasionally revived in the 19th century.
Ewart m English (Rare)
From an English and Scottish surname that was either based on a Norman form of Edward, or else derived from a place name of unknown meaning.
Faramund m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements fara "journey" and munt "protection". This was the name of a semi-legendary 5th-century king of the Franks.
Florimond m Literature, French
Possibly from Latin florens meaning "prosperous, flourishing" combined with the Old German element munt meaning "protection". This is the name of the prince in some versions of the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.
Friduhelm m Germanic
Old German form of Friedhelm.
Friedhelm m German
Derived from the Old German elements fridu "peace" and helm "helmet, protection".
Gabija f Lithuanian, Baltic Mythology
Probably from Lithuanian gaubti meaning "to cover". In Lithuanian mythology this was the name of the goddess of fire and the home.
Garnier m Medieval French
Medieval French form of Werner.
Geirmundr m Old Norse
Derived from Old Norse geirr "spear" and mundr "protection".
Germund m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements ger "spear" and munt "protection".
Gintautas m Lithuanian
From the Lithuanian root gin- "to defend" and tauta "people, nation".
Giselmund m Germanic
From the Old German elements gisal meaning "hostage, pledge" and munt meaning "protection".
Gismund m Germanic
Germanic name, possibly a variant of Giselmund.
Gjermund m Norwegian
Norwegian form of Geirmundr.
Goemon m History
Meaning unknown. His name is composed of the kanji (go) meaning "five", (not pronounced) meaning "right-hand, west", (e) meaning "guard, protect", and (mon) meaning "gate, door". This was the name of a semi-legendary 16th-century samurai who stole from the rich to give to the poor. After a failed assassination attempt on the daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he was boiled alive.
Gopala m Hinduism
Means "cow protector" from Sanskrit गो (go) meaning "cow" and पाल (pāla) meaning "guard, protector". This is another name of the Hindu god Krishna. It was also borne by the 8th-century founder of the Pala Empire in Bengal.
Gualterio m Spanish (Rare)
Spanish form of Walter.
Guarin m Medieval French
Norman French form of Warin.
Gudmund m Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Guðmundr, which was derived from the elements guð "god" and mundr "protection".
Guerino m Italian
Italian form of Warin.
Guglielmo m Italian
Italian form of William.
Guillermina f Spanish
Feminine form of Guillermo.
Guillermo m Spanish
Spanish form of William.
Guðmundr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Gudmund.
Guðmundur m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Gudmund.
Hallvarðr m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Halvard.
Halvar m Swedish (Rare)
Swedish form of Halvard.
Halvard m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Hallvarðr, which meant "rock guardian" from hallr "rock" combined with vǫrðr "guard, guardian".
Hammond m English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from either the Norman given name Hamo or the Old Norse given name Hámundr.
Hámundr m Old Norse
From the Old Norse element hár "high" or hǫð "battle, combat" combined with mundr "protection".
Haribert m Germanic
Old German form of Herbert.
Hariwini m Germanic
Old German form of Erwin.
Hávarðr m Old Norse
From the Old Norse element hár "high" or hǫð "battle, combat" combined with vǫrðr "guard, guardian".
Helmo m Germanic
Short form of Germanic names that began with the element helm meaning "helmet, protection" (Proto-Germanic *helmaz).
Helmold m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements helm "helmet" and walt "power, authority".
Helmut m German, Germanic
Derived from the Old German element helm "helmet" (or perhaps heil "healthy, whole") combined with muot "mind, spirit".
Helmuth m German
Variant of Helmut.
Hereward m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements here "army" and weard "guard". This was the name of an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon leader who rebelled against Norman rule.
Heribert m German
German form of Herbert.
Herleva f Germanic (Latinized)
Possibly from the Old German elements heri "army" and leiba "remainder, remnant, legacy" (or the Old Norse cognates herr and leif, see Herleif). This was the name of the mother of William the Conqueror, who, according to tradition, was a commoner.
Herman m English, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Slovene, Germanic
Means "army man", derived from the Old German elements heri "army" and man "person, man". It was introduced to England by the Normans, died out, and was revived in the English-speaking world in the 19th century. It was borne by an 18th-century Russian missionary to Alaska who is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox Church, though in his case the name is an alternate transcription of German. Another famous bearer was the American writer Herman Melville (1819-1891), the author of Moby-Dick.
Hermann m German
German form of Herman. A famous bearer was the German author Hermann Hesse (1877-1962).
Hermína f Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of Hermine.
Hermina f Dutch, Slovene, Hungarian, Croatian
Dutch, Slovene, Hungarian and Croatian form of Hermine.
Hermine f German, French
German feminine form of Herman.
Hjalmar m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Hjálmarr meaning "helmeted warrior" from the element hjalmr "helmet" combined with herr "army, warrior".
Hlíf f Old Norse, Icelandic
Old Norse and Icelandic form of Liv 1.
Hosea m Biblical
Variant English form of Hoshea, though the name is spelled the same in the Hebrew text. Hosea is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Hosea. Written in the northern kingdom, it draws parallels between his relationship with his unfaithful wife and the relationship between God and his people.
Hoshea m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From the Hebrew name הוֹשֵׁעַ (Hosheaʿ) meaning "salvation", from the root יָשַׁע (yashaʿ) meaning "to save". In the Old Testament at Numbers 13:16, Moses gives the spy Hoshea the new name Yehoshuaʿ (see Joshua), which has a related origin. This name was also borne by an 8th-century BC king of Israel, who was the last ruler of that state before it was conquered by Assyria.
Howard m English
From an English surname that can derive from several different sources: the Anglo-Norman given name Huard, which was from the Germanic name Hughard; the Anglo-Scandinavian given name Haward, from the Old Norse name Hávarðr; or the Middle English term ewehirde meaning "ewe herder". This is the surname of a British noble family, members of which have held the title Duke of Norfolk from the 15th century to the present. A famous bearer of the given name was the American industrialist Howard Hughes (1905-1976).
Hursamundō f Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Rosamund.
Hyeon-U m Korean
From Sino-Korean (hyeon) meaning "virtuous, worthy, able" or (hyeon) meaning "manifest, clear" combined with (u) meaning "divine intervention, protection" or (u) meaning "rain". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Hyun-Woo m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 현우 (see Hyeon-U).
Ingeborg f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German
From the Old Norse name Ingibjǫrg, which was derived from the name of the Germanic god Ing combined with bjǫrg meaning "help, save, rescue". This name was borne by a Danish princess who married Philip II of France in the 12th century.
Ingeburg f German
German variant of Ingeborg.
Irnerius m History
Probably from Wernerius, a Latinized form of the Germanic name Werner. This was the name of a 12th-century Italian scholar and jurist. He sometimes wrote his name as Wernerius.
Ishmerai m Biblical
Means "he guards me" in Hebrew, derived from שָׁמַר (shamar) meaning "to guard". This name is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
'Ismat m & f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic عصمت (see Ismat).
Itzal f Basque
Means "shadow, protection" in Basque.
Kenelm m English (Rare)
From the Old English name Cenhelm, which was composed of the elements cene "bold, keen" and helm "helmet". Saint Kenelm was a 9th-century martyr from Mercia, where he was a member of the royal family. The name was occasionally used during the Middle Ages, but has since become rare.
Kennard m English (Rare)
From a surname that was derived from the Old English given names Cyneweard or Cyneheard.
Kinborough f Medieval English
Middle English form of Cyneburg.
Leuthar m Germanic
Old German name composed of the elements liut "people" and heri "army".
Liv 1 f Norwegian, Swedish, Danish
Derived from the Old Norse name Hlíf meaning "protection". Its use has been influenced by the modern Scandinavian word liv meaning "life".
Liva f Danish
Variant of Liv 1.
Live f Norwegian
Variant of Liv 1.
Luther m English
From a German surname, itself derived from the Old German given name Leuthar. The surname was borne by Martin Luther (1483-1546), a monk and theologian who started the Protestant Reformation by nailing his famous 95 theses to a church door. It has since been used as a given name in his honour, especially among Protestants. A notable bearer from the modern era was the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968).
Mago m Phoenician (Latinized)
From the Punic name 𐤌𐤂𐤍 (Magon) possibly meaning "shield". This name was borne by three kings of Carthage, and also by a brother of Hannibal Barca.
Medusa f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Μέδουσα (Medousa), which was derived from μέδω (medo) meaning "to protect, to rule over". In Greek myth this was the name of one of the three Gorgons, ugly women who had snakes for hair. She was so hideous that anyone who gazed upon her was turned to stone, so the hero Perseus had to look using the reflection in his shield in order to slay her.
Mildburg f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements milde "gentle" and burg "fortress". Saint Mildburg or Milburga, the sister of Saint Mildred, was a daughter of a 7th-century Mercian king. She was supposedly in possession of magical powers.
Millard m English
From an occupational English surname meaning "guardian of the mill" in Old English.
Mundi m Old Norse
Short form of Old Norse names ending with the element mundr "protection".
Myrddin m Welsh Mythology, Welsh
Original Welsh form of Merlin. It is probably ultimately from the name of the Romano-British settlement Moridunum, derived from Celtic *mori "sea" and *dūnom "rampart, hill fort". Prefixed with Welsh caer "fort", this town has been called Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen in English) from medieval times. It is thought that Caerfyrddin may have mistakenly been interpreted as meaning "fort of Myrddin", as if Myrddin were a personal name instead of a later development of Moridunum.... [more]
Nabopolassar m Babylonian (Anglicized)
From the Akkadian name Nabu-apla-usur meaning "Nabu protect my son", derived from the god's name Nabu combined with aplu meaning "son, heir" and an imperative form of naṣāru meaning "to protect". This was the name of a 7th-century BC king of the Babylonian Empire, the first of the Chaldean dynasty.
Oddmund m Norwegian
From the Old Norse elements oddr "point of a sword" and mundr "protection". This name was coined in the 19th century.
Oliver m English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Estonian, Catalan, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian, Czech, Slovak, Carolingian Cycle
From Old French Olivier, which was possibly derived from Latin oliva "olive tree". Alternatively there could be an underlying Germanic name, such as Old Norse Áleifr (see Olaf) or Frankish Alawar (see Álvaro), with the spelling altered by association with the Latin word. In the Middle Ages the name became well-known in Western Europe because of the French epic La Chanson de Roland, in which Olivier is a friend and advisor to the hero Roland.... [more]
Olivette f Literature
Feminine form of Oliver. This was the name of the title character in the French opera Les noces d'Olivette (1879) by Edmond Audran.
Olivia f English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch
This name was used in this spelling by William Shakespeare for a character in his comedy Twelfth Night (1602). This was a rare name in Shakespeare's time that may have been based on Oliva or Oliver, or directly on the Latin word oliva meaning "olive". In the play Olivia is a noblewoman wooed by Duke Orsino. Instead she falls in love with his messenger Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise.... [more]
Olve m Norwegian
From the Old Norse name Ǫlvir, possibly derived from allr "all" or alh "temple, shelter" combined with vir "holy man" or "warrior".
Ölvir m Icelandic (Rare)
Icelandic form of Olve.
Ǫlvir m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Olve.
Osmond m English (Rare)
From the Old English elements os "god" and mund "protection". During the Anglo-Saxon period a Norse cognate Ásmundr was also used in England, and another version was imported by the Normans. Saint Osmund was an 11th-century Norman nobleman who became an English bishop. Though it eventually became rare, it was revived in the 19th century, in part from a surname that was derived from the given name.
Osmund m Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Osmond.
Pan m Greek Mythology
Possibly from the Indo-European root *peh- meaning "shepherd, protect". In Greek mythology Pan was a half-man, half-goat god associated with shepherds, flocks and pastures.
Pharamond m History
Variant of Faramund. This form was used by Shakespeare in his historical play Henry V (1599), referring to the Frankish king.
Raginmund m Germanic
Old German form of Raymond.
Raimo m Finnish
Finnish form of Raymond.
Raimon m Catalan
Catalan variant form of Raymond.
Raimond m Estonian
Estonian form of Raymond.
Raimonda f Italian
Italian feminine form of Raymond.
Raimondas m Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Raymond.
Raimondo m Italian
Italian form of Raymond.
Raimonds m Latvian
Latvian form of Raymond.
Raimund m German, Germanic
German form of Raymond.
Raimunda f Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of Raymond.
Raimundo m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Raymond.
Rainerio m Spanish (Rare)
Spanish form of Rayner.
Rajmund m Polish, Hungarian, Slovene
Polish, Hungarian and Slovene form of Raymond.
Ramón m Spanish
Spanish form of Raymond.
Ramon m Catalan
Catalan form of Raymond.
Ramóna f Hungarian
Hungarian form of Ramona.
Ramona f Spanish, Romanian, English
Feminine form of Ramón. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by Helen Hunt Jackson's novel Ramona (1884), as well as several subsequent movies based on the book.
Randolf m English
From the Old German elements rant meaning "rim (of a shield)" and wolf meaning "wolf". The Normans brought this name to England, where there existed already an Old Norse cognate Randúlfr, which had been introduced by Scandinavian settlers. Randolf became rare after the Middle Ages, though it was revived in the 18th century (usually in the spelling Randolph).
Randulf m Germanic
Old German form of Randolf.
Raniero m Italian
Italian form of Rayner.
Raymond m English, French
From the Germanic name Raginmund, composed of the elements regin "advice, counsel, decision" and munt "protection". The Normans introduced this name to England in the form Reimund. It was borne by several medieval (mostly Spanish) saints, including Saint Raymond Nonnatus, the patron of midwives and expectant mothers, and Saint Raymond of Peñafort, the patron of canonists.
Raymonde f French
French feminine form of Raymond.
Raymundo m Spanish (Latin American), Portuguese (Brazilian)
Spanish and Portuguese variant form of Raymond.
Réamann m Irish
Irish form of Raymond.
Réamonn m Irish
Irish form of Raymond.
Redmond m Irish
Anglicized form of Réamonn.
Redmund m Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Réamann.
Reima m Finnish
Finnish form of Raymond.
Reimund m German
German form of Raymond.
Rémann m Medieval Irish
Medieval Irish form of Raymond.
Remao m Limburgish
Limburgish form of Raymond. Its spelling has been influenced by the French pronunciation of Raymond.
Rosamond f English
Variant of Rosamund, in use since the Middle Ages.
Rosamund f English (Rare)
Derived from the Old German elements hros "horse" and munt "protection". This name was borne by the wife of the Lombard king Alboin in the 6th century. The Normans introduced it to England. It was subsequently interpreted as coming from Latin rosa munda "pure rose" or rosa mundi "rose of the world". This was the name of the mistress of Henry II, the king of England in the 12th century. According to legends she was murdered by his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Rosemonde f French
French form of Rosamund.
Rosmunda f Germanic
Old German form of Rosamund.
Salman m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay
Means "safe" in Arabic, a derivative of سلم (salima) meaning "to be safe".
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".
Segismundo m Spanish
Spanish form of Sigismund.
Seward m English
From an English surname, either Seward 1 or Seward 2.
Shahrivar m Persian Mythology
Persian form of Avestan 𐬑𐬱𐬀𐬚𐬭𐬀⸱𐬬𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀 (Xshathra Vairiia) meaning "desirable power". In Zoroastrianism this was the name of a god (one of the Amesha Spenta) associated with the creation of metals. The sixth month of the Iranian calendar is named for him.
Shamira f Hebrew
Means "guardian, protector" in Hebrew, from the root שָׁמַר (shamar) "to guard, to watch".
Sharma m Hindi
From Sanskrit शर्मन् (śarman) meaning "protection, comfort, joy".
Sharmila f Tamil, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शर्मन् (śarman) meaning "protection, comfort, joy".
Shemer m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Possibly means "preserved" in Hebrew, derived from שָׁמַר (shamar) meaning "to guard, to watch". In the Old Testament this is the name of the owner of the hill upon which Samaria was built.
Siegmund m German
German variant of Sigmund.
Sieuwerd m Dutch (Rare)
Dutch form of Sigiward, the Germanic cognate of Sigurd.
Sigeweard m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements sige "victory" and weard "guard, guardian", making it a cognate of Sigurd.
Sigimund m Germanic
Old German form of Sigmund.
Sigimundaz m Old Germanic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Germanic reconstruction of Sigimund and Sigmundr.
Sigismund m German (Rare), Germanic
Form of Sigmund in which the first element is sigis, an extended form of sigu. Saint Sigismund was a 6th-century king of the Burgundians. This was also the name of kings of Poland and a ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.
Sigiward m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements sigu "victory" and wart "guard, guardian". It is a cognate of Sigurd.
Sigmund m German, Norwegian, English, Norse Mythology
Derived from the Old German elements sigu "victory" and munt "protection" (or in the case of the Scandinavian cognate, from Old Norse sigr and mundr). An early variant of this name was Sigismund, borne by a 6th-century saint and king of the Burgundians. In the Norse Völsungasaga Sigmund is the hero Sigurd's father, the bearer of the powerful sword Gram. A notable bearer was the Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), the creator of the revolutionary theory of psychoanalysis.
Sigmundur m Icelandic
Icelandic form of Sigmund.
Sigurd m Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Norse Mythology
From the Old Norse name Sigurðr, which was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and vǫrðr "guard, guardian". Sigurd was the hero of the Norse epic the Völsungasaga, which tells how his foster father Regin sent him to recover a hoard of gold guarded by the dragon Fafnir. After slaying the dragon Sigurd tasted some of its blood, enabling him to understand the language of birds, who told him that Regin was planning to betray him. In a later adventure, Sigurd disguised himself as Gunnar (his wife Gudrun's brother) and rescued the maiden Brynhildr from a ring of fire, with the result that Gunnar and Brynhildr were married. When the truth eventually came out, Brynhildr took revenge upon Sigurd. The stories of the German hero Siegfried were in part based on him.
Sikandar m Urdu, Pashto
Urdu and Pashto form of Alexander.
Si-U m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean (si) meaning "begin, start" combined with (u) meaning "divine intervention, protection" or (u) meaning "rain". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
Siward m Germanic
Variant of Sigiward.
Si-Woo m & f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 시우 (see Si-U).
Tasgall m Scottish Gaelic (Rare)
Variant of Asgall, Scottish Gaelic form of Ásketill. It is used by the MacAskill family of the Hebrides.
Taskill m Scottish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Tasgall.
Theodoard m Germanic
Germanic name composed of the elements theod meaning "people" (Old High German diota, Old Frankish þeoda) and wart meaning "guard, guardian".
Theothelm m Germanic
Old German form of Diethelm.
Þórbjǫrg f Old Norse
Old Norse name meaning "Thor's protection", from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with bjǫrg "help, save, rescue".
Tolga m Turkish
Means "helmet" in Turkish.
Torborg f Swedish (Rare), Norwegian (Rare)
Swedish and Norwegian form of Þórbjǫrg.
Uilleag m Irish
Either an Irish form of the Old Norse name Hugleikr, or else a diminutive of Uilliam.
Uilleam m Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of William.
U-Jin m Korean
From Sino-Korean (u) meaning "house, universe" or (u) meaning "help, protect, bless" combined with (jin) meaning "real, genuine" or (jin) meaning "town, market place". Other combinations of hanja characters can form this name as well.
Ulick m Irish
Anglicized form of Uilleag.