Names Categorized "greatness"

This is a list of names in which the categories include greatness.
gender
usage
Aali m Arabic
Means "high, lofty, sublime" in Arabic, from the root علا (ʿalā) meaning "to be high".
Aaliyah f Arabic, English (Modern), African American (Modern)
Feminine form of Aali. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by the singer Aaliyah Haughton (1979-2001), who was known simply as Aaliyah. This name received a boost in popularity after she released her debut album in 1994, and also in 2001 after her untimely death in an airplane crash.
Aaron m English, French, German, Finnish, Jewish, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
From the Hebrew name אַהֲרֹן (ʾAharon), which is most likely of unknown Egyptian origin. Other theories claim a Hebrew derivation, and suggest meanings such as "high mountain" or "exalted". In the Old Testament this name is borne by the older brother of Moses. He acted as a spokesman for his brother when they appealed to the pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. Aaron's rod produced miracles and plagues to intimidate the pharaoh. After the departure from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, God installed Aaron as the first high priest of the Israelites and promised that his descendants would become the priesthood.... [more]
Abd al-Hamid m Arabic
Means "servant of the praiseworthy" from Arabic عبد (ʿabd) meaning "servant" combined with حميد (ḥamīd) meaning "praiseworthy". This was the name of two sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
Abraham m English, Hebrew, Spanish, French, Dutch, Biblical, Biblical German, Biblical Swedish, Biblical Norwegian, Biblical Danish, Biblical Latin
From the Hebrew name אַבְרָהָם (ʾAvraham), which may be viewed either as meaning "father of many" or else as a contraction of Abram 1 and הָמוֹן (hamon) meaning "many, multitude". The biblical patriarch Abraham was originally named Abram but God changed his name (see Genesis 17:5). With his father Terah, he led his wife Sarah, his nephew Lot and their other followers from Ur into Canaan. He is regarded by Jews as being the founder of the Hebrews through his son Isaac and by Muslims as being the founder of the Arabs through his son Ishmael.... [more]
Abram 1 m English, Biblical
Means "high father" in Hebrew, from the roots אָב (ʾav) meaning "father" and רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt, to be high". In the Old Testament God changed Abram's name to Abraham (see Genesis 17:5).
Ace 1 m English
From the English word meaning "highest rank". More commonly a nickname, it is occasionally used as a given name.
Adoniram m Biblical, Biblical Greek, Biblical Hebrew
Means "my lord is exalted" in Hebrew, derived from אָדוֹן (ʾaḏon) meaning "lord, master" and רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt". In the Old Testament this is the name of an overseer of tribute under the kings David, Solomon and Rehoboam. He was stoned to death when the Israelites revolted.
Afzal m Arabic, Urdu
Means "better, superior" in Arabic, a derivative of the root فضل (faḍala) meaning "to be in excess, to excel".
Aghlab m Arabic (Rare)
Means "predominant, supreme" in Arabic.
Agolant m Carolingian Cycle
Possibly a Romance language form of Arabic الأغلب (al-ʾAghlab), a 9th-century emir of Ifriqiya in North Africa, which is derived from أغلب (ʾaghlab) meaning "predominant, supreme". This is the name of a Saracen king in medieval French tales of Charlemagne and his knights.
Agostina f Italian
Italian feminine form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Agustina f Spanish, Indonesian
Spanish feminine form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1), also used in Indonesia.
Ahmad m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali, Pashto, Indonesian, Malay, Avar, Uzbek
Means "most commendable, most praiseworthy" in Arabic (a superlative form of Hamid 1).
Aigerim f Kazakh
From Kazakh ай (ay) meaning "moon" and керім (kerim) meaning "wonderful, amazing". It was created by the 19th-century Kazakh poet Abai Qunanbaiuly as a nickname for his wife Shukiman.
Aintza f Basque
Means "glory" in Basque.
Akbar m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Pashto, Indonesian, Indian (Muslim)
Means "greater, greatest" in Arabic, a derivative of كبير (kabīr) meaning "great, big". This was the name of a 16th-century Mughal ruler who expanded the empire to include most of India.
Akmad m Maguindanao, Tausug
Maguindanao and Tausug form of Ahmad.
Akmal m Arabic, Urdu, Uzbek, Tajik, Malay
Means "more perfect, more complete" in Arabic, a comparative form of كامل (kāmil) meaning "perfect, complete".
Ala 1 m Arabic
Means "excellence, elevation" in Arabic, from the root علا (ʿalā) meaning "to be high".
Aleyna f Turkish (Modern)
Possibly from Arabic علينا (ʿalaynā) meaning "to us". Alternatively, it could be from Arabic أليناء (ʾalaynāʾ), a plural form of ليّن (layyin) meaning "gentle, soft".
Ali 1 m Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Pashto, Indonesian, Malay, Avar, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tajik, Dhivehi, Albanian, Bosnian
Means "lofty, sublime" in Arabic, from the root علا (ʿalā) meaning "to be high". Ali ibn Abi Talib was a cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the fourth caliph to rule the Muslim world. His followers were the original Shia Muslims, who regard him as the first rightful caliph.... [more]
Alisher m Uzbek, Kazakh, Tajik
From the given name Ali 1 combined with Persian شیر (shīr) meaning "lion". It was borne by the Timurid poet Ali-Shir Nava'i (1441-1501), who wrote in the Chagatai Turkic language.
Alya 1 f Arabic, Indonesian, Malay, Turkish
Means "sky, heaven, loftiness" in Arabic.
Amenemhat m Ancient Egyptian
From Egyptian jmn-m-ḥꜣt meaning "Amon is foremost". This was the name of four Egyptian pharaohs, including Amenemhat I the founder of the 12th dynasty in the 20th century BC.
América f Spanish, Portuguese (Rare)
Spanish and Portuguese feminine form of Amerigo.
America f English
In the English-speaking world, this name is usually given in reference to the United States of America (see Amerigo). It came into use as an American name in the 19th century.
Américo m Portuguese, Spanish
Portuguese and Spanish form of Amerigo.
Amerigo m Italian
Medieval Italian form of Emmerich. Amerigo Vespucci (1451-1512) was the Italian explorer who gave the continent of America its name (from Americus, the Latin form of his name).
Amitabh m Hindi
From Sanskrit अमिताभ (amitābha) meaning "immeasurable splendour". A famous bearer is Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan (1942-).
Anik m Hindi, Bengali
From Sanskrit अनीक (anīka) meaning "army" or "splendour".
Anish m Hindi, Marathi
Means "supreme, paramount, without a ruler", from the Sanskrit negative prefix (a) and ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler, lord".
Anupam m Hindi, Bengali
From Sanskrit अनुपम (anupama) meaning "incomparable, matchless".
Ardghal m Irish (Rare)
Means "high valour", derived from the Old Irish elements ard "high" and gal "valour".
Arete f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Means "virtue" in Greek. In Greek mythology Arete was the personification of virtue and excellence.
Aristaeus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀρισταῖος (Aristaios), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best". This was the name of a minor Greek god of agriculture, hunting and cattle. He was the son of Apollo and the mortal Cyrene.
Aristarchus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Ἀρίσταρχος (Aristarchos), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and ἀρχός (archos) meaning "master". This name was borne by Aristarchus of Samos, a 3rd-century BC Greek astronomer and mathematician.
Aristides m Ancient Greek (Latinized), Portuguese
From the Greek name Ἀριστείδης (Aristeides), derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This name was borne by the 5th-century BC Athenian statesman Aristides the Just, who was renowned for his integrity. It was also the name of a 2nd-century saint.
Aristocles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἀριστοκλῆς (Aristokles) meaning "the best glory", derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the real name of the philosopher Plato.
Aristodemos m Ancient Greek, Greek Mythology
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and δῆμος (demos) meaning "the people". This was the name of a descendant of Herakles in Greek legend.
Aristomache f Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and μάχη (mache) meaning "battle".
Aristophanes m Ancient Greek
Derived from the Greek elements ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and φανής (phanes) meaning "appearing". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian playwright.
Aristotle m Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
From the Greek name Ἀριστοτέλης (Aristoteles) meaning "the best purpose", derived from ἄριστος (aristos) meaning "best" and τέλος (telos) meaning "purpose, result, completion". This was the name of a Greek philosopher of the 4th century BC who made lasting contributions to Western thought, including the fields of logic, metaphysics, ethics and biology.
Arvo m Finnish, Estonian
Means "value, worth" in Finnish and Estonian.
Ashraf m & f Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Malay
Means "nobler, more illustrious" in Arabic (a superlative form of Sharif). As a Persian name it is typically feminine.
Asma f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Malay
Means "supreme, higher" in Arabic, a derivative of the root سما (samā) meaning "to be high". This was the name of a daughter of Abu Bakr, the first caliph of the Muslims.
Athaliah f & m Biblical
Possibly means "Yahweh is exalted" in Hebrew, from עֲתַל (ʿaṯal) possibly meaning "exalted" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. In the Old Testament this is both a feminine and masculine name. It was borne by the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who later came to rule Judah as a queen.
Augusta f Italian, Portuguese, English, German, Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Augustus. It was introduced to Britain when King George III, a member of the German House of Hanover, gave this name to his second daughter in 1768.
Auguste 2 f German
German variant of Augusta.
Augustė f Lithuanian
Lithuanian form of Augusta.
Augustina f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augustine 1 m English
From the Roman name Augustinus, itself derived from the Roman name Augustus. Saint Augustine of Hippo was a 5th-century Christian theologian and author from North Africa. For his contributions to Christian philosophy he is known as a Doctor of the Church. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world. It became popular in England in the Middle Ages partly because of a second saint by this name, Augustine of Canterbury, a 6th-century Italian monk sent to England to convert the Anglo-Saxons.
Augustine 2 f French
French feminine form of Augustinus (see Augustine 1).
Augustus m Ancient Roman, Dutch (Rare)
Means "exalted, venerable", derived from Latin augere meaning "to increase". Augustus was the title given to Octavian, the first Roman emperor. He was an adopted son of Julius Caesar who rose to power through a combination of military skill and political prowess. In 26 BC the senate officially gave him the name Augustus, and after his death it was used as a title for subsequent emperors. This was also the name of three kings of Poland (called August in Polish).
Avgusta f Slovene, Russian
Slovene and Russian feminine form of Augustus.
Azamat m Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Uzbek, Bashkir
Derived from Arabic عظمة (ʿaẓama) meaning "majesty, glory".
Aziz m Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Indonesian, Malay
Means "powerful, respected, beloved" in Arabic, derived from the root عزّ (ʿazza) meaning "to be powerful" or "to be cherished". In Islamic tradition العزيز (al-ʿAzīz) is one of the 99 names of Allah. A notable bearer of the name was Al-'Aziz, a 10th-century Fatimid caliph.
Bagus m Indonesian
Means "handsome, excellent" in Indonesian.
Baha m Arabic, Turkish
Means "splendour, glory" in Arabic.
Baraz m Persian
Means "exalted" in Persian.
Behdad m Persian
From Persian به (beh) meaning "good, excellent" and داد (dād) meaning "justice".
Behnam m Persian
Means "reputable" in Persian, from به (beh) meaning "good, excellent" and نام (nām) meaning "name".
Behnaz f Persian
From Persian به (beh) meaning "good, excellent" and ناز (nāz) meaning "delight, comfort".
Behnoosh f Persian
From Persian به (beh) meaning "good, excellent" and نوش (nūsh) meaning "ambrosia, nectar".
Behzad m Persian
Means "noble, high-born" in Persian, from به (beh) meaning "good, excellent" and the suffix زاد (zād) meaning "child of".
Berezi f Basque
Means "special" in Basque.
Bhima m Hinduism
Means "terrible, formidable" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of the second son of Pandu, and thus one of the five Pandavas. His true father was the wind god Vayu. He was known for his terrific strength and skill as a warrior.
Bihter f Turkish
Means "most good" in Turkish.
Bile m Irish Mythology
Possibly an Irish form of Belenus, though it may derive from an Irish word meaning "sacred tree, scion, hero". In Irish mythology this was the name of one of the Milesians who was drowned while invading Ireland.
Bohumír m Czech, Slovak
Derived from the Slavic elements bogŭ "god" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Bolesław m Polish
Derived from Slavic boľe "more, greater" and slava "glory". This was the name of kings of Poland, starting in the 11th century with the first Polish king Bolesław the Brave.
Bragi m Norse Mythology, Icelandic
Derived from Old Norse bragr meaning "first, foremost" or "poetry". In Norse mythology Bragi is the god of poetry and the husband of Iðunn.
Brynmor m Welsh
From the Welsh place name Brynmawr meaning "great hill".
Bülent m Turkish
From Persian بلند (boland) meaning "high, mighty".
Cassandra f English, French, Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Κασσάνδρα (Kassandra), possibly derived from κέκασμαι (kekasmai) meaning "to excel, to shine" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). In Greek myth Cassandra was a Trojan princess, the daughter of Priam and Hecuba. She was given the gift of prophecy by Apollo, but when she spurned his advances he cursed her so nobody would believe her prophecies.... [more]
Cernunnos m Gaulish Mythology (Latinized)
Means "great horned one", from Celtic *karnos "horn" and the divine or augmentative suffix -on. This was the name of the Celtic god of fertility, animals, wealth, and the underworld. He was usually depicted having antlers, and was identified with the Roman god Mercury.
Čestmír m Czech
Derived from the Slavic elements čĭstĭ "honour" and měrŭ "great, famous" or mirŭ "peace, world".
Charlemagne m History
From Old French Charles le Magne meaning "Charles the Great". This is the name by which the Frankish king Charles the Great (742-814) is commonly known.
Chika 1 f & m Igbo
Means "God is greater" in Igbo.
Chukwu m Igbo Mythology
Means "the great god", derived from Igbo chi "god, spiritual being" and úkwú "great". In traditional Igbo belief Chukwu is the supreme deity and the creator the universe. Christian Igbo people use this name to refer to the Christian god.
Dakila m Tagalog
Means "great" in Tagalog.
Derin f Turkish
Means "deep, profound" in Turkish.
Divna f Serbian, Macedonian
From Serbian диван (divan) or Macedonian дивен (diven) meaning "wonderful".
Durga f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Nepali, Telugu
Means "unattainable, unassailable" in Sanskrit. Durga is a Hindu warrior goddess, usually depicted with multiple arms and riding on the back of a lion or tiger. The Puranas relate that she came into being to combat the buffalo demon Mahishasura. She is sometimes considered a fierce aspect of Parvati the wife of Shiva. In Shaktism she is viewed as a principal aspect of the supreme goddess Mahadevi.
Eder 2 m Basque
Means "handsome, beautiful" in Basque.
Eliud m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Eastern African
From a Greek form of a Hebrew name meaning "God is grandeur". The Gospel of Matthew lists him as an ancestor of Jesus. This name is popular in Kenya.
Émeric m French
French form of Emmerich.
Emery m & f English
Norman French form of Emmerich. The Normans introduced it to England, and though it was never popular, it survived until the end of the Middle Ages. As a modern given name, now typically feminine, it is likely inspired by the surname Emery, which was itself derived from the medieval given name. It can also be given in reference to the hard black substance called emery.
Emma f English, French, Italian, Spanish, Catalan, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Latvian, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Germanic
Originally a short form of Germanic names that began with the element irmin meaning "whole" or "great" (Proto-Germanic *ermunaz). It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, who was the wife both of King Ethelred II (and by him the mother of Edward the Confessor) and later of King Canute. It was also borne by an 11th-century Austrian saint, who is sometimes called Hemma.... [more]
Emmerich m German, Germanic
Germanic name, in which the second element is rih "ruler, king". The first element may be irmin "whole, great" (making it a relative of Ermenrich), amal "unceasing, vigorous, brave" (making it a relative of Amalric) or heim "home" (making it a relative of Henry). It is likely that several forms merged into a single name.
Emrik m Swedish, Norwegian
Swedish and Norwegian form of Emmerich.
Eormenhild f Anglo-Saxon
From the Old English elements eormen "whole, great" and hild "battle". This was the name of a 7th-century saint, a daughter of King Eorcenberht of Kent.
Ereshkigal f Sumerian Mythology
Means "lady of the great earth", from Sumerian 𒊩𒌆 (ereš) meaning "lady, queen" combined with 𒆠 (ki) meaning "earth" and 𒃲 (gal) meaning "great, big". In Sumerian mythology she was the goddess of death and the underworld.
Ermelinde f Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements irmin "whole, great" and lind "soft, flexible, tender". This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Meldert, Flanders.
Ermendrud f Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements irmin "whole, great" and drud "strength". This was the name of the wife of the Frankish king Charles the Bald (9th century).
Ermenegilda f Italian
Feminine form of Ermenegildo.
Ermengard f Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements irmin meaning "whole, great" and gart meaning "enclosure, yard". This name was borne by the wife of the Frankish king Louis the Pious (9th century). This was also the name of one of her granddaughters, an abbess of Frauenwörth who is regarded as a saint.
Ermenrich m Germanic
From the Gothic name *Airmanareiks, from the elements airmans "great, immense" and reiks "ruler, king". Ermenrich (also often called Ermanaric) was a 4th-century Gothic king.
Erminigild m Germanic
Old German form of Hermenegildo.
Esmanur f Turkish
From the name Esma combined with Arabic نور (nūr) meaning "light".
Fadil m Arabic, Albanian
Means "virtuous, generous" in Arabic.
Fadila f Arabic
Feminine form of Fadil.
Fadile f Albanian
Feminine form of Fadil.
Gedaliah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is great" in Hebrew, from גָּדַל (gaḏal) meaning "to grow, to become great" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several characters in the Old Testament, including the governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar.
Generosus m Late Roman
Derived from Latin generosus meaning "well-born, noble, excellent", from genus meaning "birth, origin". This name was borne by a few early saints, including a 4th-century martyr from Ortona dei Marsi in Italy.
Gormlaith f Old Irish
Derived from Old Irish gorm "blue" or "illustrious" and flaith "ruler, sovereign, princess". This was the name of several medieval Irish royals, including the wife of the 11th-century king Brian Boru.
Gotama m Hinduism
Means "the best ox" from Sanskrit गो (go) meaning "ox, cow" and तम (tama) meaning "best". It is best known in its patronymic form Gautama (with the initial vowel lengthened), which was borne by the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In Hindu texts this is also the name of one of the Saptarshis, or seven sages. Additionally it was borne by an early Indian philosopher who wrote the Nyaya Sutras.
Grant m English, Scottish
From an English and Scottish surname that was derived from Norman French grand meaning "great, large". A famous bearer of the surname was Ulysses Grant (1822-1885), the commander of the Union forces during the American Civil War who later served as president. In America the name has often been given in his honour.
Grosvenor m English (Rare)
From an English surname that meant "great hunter" in Norman French.
Gula f Sumerian Mythology
Means "the great" in Sumerian. This may have originally been a title rather then a name. Gula was a Sumerian and Akkadian goddess of healing, medicine and midwifery. She was often depicted alongside dogs. In later periods she was equated with other healing goddesses such as Ninisina.
Gwrtheyrn m Old Welsh (Modernized)
From Old Welsh Guorthigirn meaning "supreme king", from guor meaning "over" and tigirn meaning "king, monarch". It is possible that this is not a name, but a title. According to medieval chroniclers, Gwrtheyrn (also known as Vortigern) was a 5th-century king of the Britons. It was he who invited the brothers Hengist and Horsa to Britain, which eventually led to the Anglo-Saxon conquest of England.
Hadar f & m Hebrew
Means "splendour, glory" in Hebrew.
Hamidullah m Arabic, Pashto
Means "praiseworthy of Allah", derived from Arabic حميد (ḥamīd) meaning "praiseworthy" combined with الله (Allah).
Haoyu m & f Chinese
From Chinese (hào) meaning "great, numerous, vast" and () meaning "house, eaves, universe". Other combinations of similar-sounding characters can also form this name.
Hávarðr m Old Norse
From the Old Norse element hár "high" or hǫð "battle, combat" combined with vǫrðr "guard, guardian".
Hein 2 m Burmese
Means "great, grand, large" in Burmese.
Hermenegildo m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of a Visigothic name, from the Gothic elements airmans "great, immense" and gild "payment, tribute, compensation". It was borne by a 6th-century saint, the son of Liuvigild the Visigothic king of Hispania.
Hideko f Japanese
From Japanese (hide) meaning "excellent, outstanding" or (hide) meaning "excellent, fine" combined with (ko) meaning "child". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji characters.
Hidemi m Japanese
From Japanese (hide) meaning "excellent, outstanding" and (mi) meaning "beautiful", as well as other combinations of kanji characters.
Hirah m Biblical
Means "splendour" in Hebrew. This is the name of a companion of Judah in the Old Testament.
Hodiah f & m Biblical
Means "majesty of Yahweh" in Hebrew, from הוֹד (hoḏ) meaning "majesty, splendour" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is (probably) the name of a wife of Ezra in the Old Testament. It is also borne by a few male biblical characters.
Honoratus m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "esteemed, distinguished". This was the name of at least seven saints, including a 5th-century archbishop of Arles and a 6th-century bishop of Amiens who is the patron saint of bakers.
Husni m Arabic
Derived from Arabic حسْن (ḥusn) meaning "beauty, excellence, goodness".
Hypatia f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek ὕπατος (hypatos) meaning "highest, supreme". Hypatia of Alexandria was a 5th-century philosopher and mathematician, daughter of the mathematician Theon.
Hypatos m Ancient Greek
Masculine form of Hypatia.
Hyperion m Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek ὑπέρ (hyper) meaning "over". In Greek myth this was the name of a Titan who presided over the sun and light. By Theia he was the father of the sun god Helios, the moon goddess Selene, and the dawn goddess Eos.
Hywel m Welsh
From Old Welsh Higuel meaning "eminent, prominent" (literally "well-seen"). This was the name of a few Welsh kings, including the 10th-century Hywel the Good who was known for establishing laws.
Ime 2 m & f Frisian
Originally a short form of names beginning with the Old German element irmin meaning "whole, great".
Imre m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Emmerich. This was the name of an 11th-century Hungarian saint, the son of Saint Istvan. He is also known as Emeric.
Imrich m Slovak
Slovak form of Emmerich.
Imriška f Slovak
Slovak feminine form of Emmerich.
Imtiyaz m Arabic, Urdu
Means "distinction, privilege" in Arabic.
Irma f German, English, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, Spanish, Italian, Georgian, Lithuanian, Hungarian, Slovene, Germanic
German short form of names beginning with the Old German element irmin meaning "whole, great" (Proto-Germanic *ermunaz). It is thus related to Emma. It began to be regularly used in the English-speaking world in the 19th century.
Irmgard f German
German contracted form of Ermengard.
Irmhild f German
Derived from the Old German elements irmin "whole, great" and hilt "battle". It is a cognate of the Old English name Eormenhild.
Ishita f Hindi
Means "supremacy" in Sanskrit.
Itzamna m Mayan Mythology, Mayan
From Classic Maya itzam, an element found in the names of some Maya gods (possibly from itz "enchanted, nectar" and mam "grandfather"), combined with nah "great". Itzamna was the Maya creator god.
İzzet m Turkish
Means "glory, might" in Turkish.
Jalal m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Bengali
Means "greatness" in Arabic, from the root جلّ (jalla) meaning "to be great".
Jalal ad-Din m Arabic
Means "greatness of the faith" from Arabic جلال (jalāl) meaning "greatness, splendour" and دين (dīn) meaning "religion, faith". Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, commonly called just Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet.
Jalil m Arabic, Persian
Means "important, exalted" in Arabic, from the root جلّ (jalla) meaning "to be great".
Jawdat m & f Arabic
Means "goodness, excellence" in Arabic, derived from جاد (jāda) meaning "to be excellent, to be generous".
Jehoram m Biblical
From the Hebrew name יְהוֹרָם (Yehoram) meaning "exalted by Yahweh", derived from יְהוֹ (yeho) referring to the Hebrew God and רוּם (rum) meaning "to exalt". In the Old Testament this is the name of a king of Judah and a king of Israel, both of whom ruled at about the same time in the 9th century BC.
Jeremiah m English, Biblical
From 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]
Jezebel f Biblical
From 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 Chinese
From Chinese (jiàn) meaning "build, establish" combined with (hóng) meaning "wide, spacious, great, vast". This name can also be formed from other character combinations.
Jie m & f Chinese
From Chinese (jié) meaning "heroic, outstanding" or other characters that are pronounced similarly.
Jörmungandr m Norse Mythology
From Old Norse Jǫrmungandr, derived from jǫrmun "great, immense" and gandr "monster, magic, wand". In Norse mythology Jörmungandr was an enormous sea serpent, also known as the World Serpent because he was said to encircle the world. He was one of the offspring of Loki and Angrboða. During Ragnarök, the battle at end of the world, it is said that he will fight his old enemy Thor and both of them will die.
Juda m Arabic
Means "goodness, excellence" in Arabic, derived from جاد (jāda) meaning "to be excellent, to be generous".
Kleitos m Ancient Greek
Means "splendid, famous" in Greek. This was the name of one of the generals of Alexander the Great. He was killed by Alexander in a dispute.
Kunzang m & f Tibetan, Bhutanese
Means "all good, ever excellent" in Tibetan.
Magnus m Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "great". It was borne by a 7th-century saint who was a missionary in Germany. It became popular in Scandinavia after the time of the 11th-century Norwegian king Magnus I, who was said to have been named after Charlemagne, or Carolus Magnus in Latin (however there was also a Norse name Magni). The name was borne by six subsequent kings of Norway as well as three kings of Sweden. It was imported to Scotland and Ireland during the Middle Ages.
Mahadevi f Hinduism, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi
Means "great goddess", derived from Sanskrit महा (mahā) meaning "great" and देवी (devī) meaning "goddess". This is the Hindu mother goddess who manifests herself as all other goddesses.
Mahatma m History
From the Indian title महात्मा (Mahātmā) meaning "great soul", derived from Sanskrit महा (mahā) meaning "great" and आत्मन् (ātman) meaning "soul, spirit, life". This title was given to, among others, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948).
Mahavira m Sanskrit
Means "great hero" in Sanskrit, from महा (mahā) meaning "great" and वीर (vīra) meaning "hero, man". Mahavira (or Mahāvīra) was the 6th-century BC founder of Jainism.
Mahendra m Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Sanskrit
From Sanskrit महा (mahā) meaning "great" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra. This was the name of a son of the 3rd-century BC Indian emperor Ashoka, also called Mahinda. He is credited with introducing Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Mahesha m Hinduism
Means "great lord" from Sanskrit महा (mahā) meaning "great" and ईश (īśa) meaning "lord, ruler". This is another name of the Hindu god Shiva.
Maia 2 f Roman Mythology
Probably from Latin maior meaning "greater". This was the name of a Roman goddess of spring, a companion (sometimes wife) of Vulcan. She was later conflated with the Greek goddess Maia. The month of May is named for her.
Mainio m Finnish (Rare)
Means "excellent" in Finnish.
Majdi m Arabic
Means "glorious, praiseworthy" in Arabic, from the root مجد (majada) meaning "to be glorious".
Makeda f History
Possibly means "greatness" in Ethiopic. This was the name of an Ethiopian queen of the 10th-century BC. She is probably the same person as the Queen of Sheba, who visited Solomon in the Old Testament.
Maponos m Celtic Mythology
Means "great son", from the Celtic root *makwos meaning "son" (Gaulish and Brythonic mapos) combined with the divine or augmentative suffix -on. This was the name of a god of youth worshipped in Gaul and Britain. He was commonly equated with the Greco-Roman god Apollo.
Matrona 2 f Celtic Mythology
Means "great mother", from Celtic *mātīr meaning "mother" and the divine or augmentative suffix -on. This was the name of a Gaulish and Brythonic mother goddess, the namesake of the River Marne.
Maxence m French
French form of the Roman name Maxentius, a derivative of Latin maximus "greatest". This was the agnomen of an early 4th-century Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius, a rival of Constantine. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint from Agde in France.
Máxima f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Maximus.
Maxima f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Maximus.
Maxime m French
French form of Maximus.
Maximian m History
Usual English form of Maximianus, used to refer to the Roman emperor.
Maximiano m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Maximianus.
Maximianus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was derived from Maximus. This was the name of a 3rd-century Roman emperor (Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus) who ruled jointly with Diocletian.
Maximin m French
French form of Maximinus.
Maximino m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Maximinus.
Maximinus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen that was derived from Maximus. Saint Maximinus was a 4th-century bishop of Trier. Another saint by this name (also called Mesmin) was a 6th-century abbot from Orléans.
Maximus m Ancient Roman
Roman family name that was derived from Latin maximus "greatest". Saint Maximus was a monk and theologian from Constantinople in the 7th century.
Mazhar m Turkish
Means "honoured" in Turkish.
Mirabelle f French (Rare), English (Rare)
Derived from Latin mirabilis meaning "wonderful". This name was coined during the Middle Ages, though it eventually died out. It was briefly revived in the 19th century.
Miracle f English (Modern)
From the English word miracle for an extraordinary event, ultimately deriving from Latin miraculum "wonder, marvel".
Miranda f English, Dutch
Derived from Latin mirandus meaning "admirable, worthy of being admired". The name was created by Shakespeare for the heroine in his play The Tempest (1611), in which Miranda and her father Prospero are stranded on an island. It did not become a common English given name until the 20th century. This is also the name of one of the moons of Uranus, named after the Shakespearean character.
Mirinda f Esperanto
Means "wonderful" in Esperanto.
Mislav m Croatian
Derived from the Slavic element myslĭ "thought" or mojĭ "my" combined with slava "glory". This was the name of a 9th-century duke of Croatia, also called Mojslav. His name was recorded in Latin as Muisclavo.
Mistawasis m Cree (Anglicized)
Means "big child" in Cree, derived from ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ (mistahi) "big, great" and ᐊᐋᐧᓯᐢ (awâsis) "child". This was the name of a prominent 19th-century Cree chief.
Móirín f Irish (Rare)
Diminutive of Mór 1.
Mór 1 f Medieval Irish
Means "great" in Irish. This was a popular medieval Irish name. It was probably given in some cases as an alternative to Máire, which was considered too sacred for general use.
Moreen f Irish, English
Anglicized form of Móirín. It is sometimes used as a variant of Maureen.
Morrígan f Irish Mythology
Means either "demon queen" or "great queen", derived from Old Irish mor "demon, evil spirit" or mór "great, big" combined with rígain "queen". In Irish mythology Morrígan (called also The Morrígan) was a goddess of war and death who often took the form of a crow.
Muhammad m Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Bengali, Tajik, Uzbek, Indonesian, Malay, Avar
Means "praised, commendable" in Arabic, derived from the root حمد (ḥamida) meaning "to praise". This was the name of the prophet who founded the Islamic religion in the 7th century. According to Islamic belief, at age 40 Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel, who provided him with the first verses of the Quran. Approximately 20 years later he conquered Mecca, the city of his birth, and his followers controlled most of the Arabian Peninsula at the time of his death in 632.... [more]
Mulyadi m Indonesian
Derived from Indonesian mulia meaning "noble, honourable", ultimately from Sanskrit मूल्य (mūlya) meaning "cost, worth".
Mumba f Hinduism
From Marathi महा (mahā) meaning "great" and अंबा (ambā) meaning "mother". This is the name of a Marathi incarnation of the mother goddess Mahadevi.
Mumtaz m & f Arabic, Urdu
Means "distinguished, outstanding" in Arabic, derived from امتاز (imtāza) meaning "to be distinguished". The Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631).
Murtada m Arabic
Means "chosen" in Arabic. This is an epithet of Ali, the fourth caliph.
Mustafa m Arabic, Turkish, Bosnian, Urdu, Kazakh, Indonesian, Malay
Means "chosen" in Arabic, derived from اصطفا (iṣṭafā) meaning "to choose". This is an epithet of the Prophet Muhammad. It was borne by four Ottoman sultans. Another famous bearer was Mustafa Kemal (1881-1938), also known as Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey.
Naif m Arabic
Means "high, excellent" in Arabic.
Najib m Arabic
Means "noble, distinguished" in Arabic.
Ningal f Sumerian Mythology
Means "great lady", from Sumerian 𒎏 (nin) meaning "lady" and 𒃲 (gal) meaning "big, great". This was the name of a goddess of reeds in Sumerian mythology. She was the daughter of Enki and the wife of Nanna.
Nirupama f Hindi, Kannada
Means "unequaled, matchless" in Sanskrit.
Nkiruka f Igbo
Means "that to come is greater" in Igbo.
Nneka f Igbo
Means "mother is greater" in Igbo.
Nwanneka f Igbo
Means "sibling is greater" in Igbo.
Ogechukwukamma f Igbo (Rare)
Means "God's time is greater" in Igbo.
Oiva m Finnish
Means "splendid" in Finnish.
Onangwatgo m Oneida (Anglicized)
Means "big medicine" in Oneida, from onúhkwaht "medicine" and the suffix -koó "big, great". This was the name of a chief of the Oneida people, also named Cornelius Hill (1834-1907).
Oriṣanla m Yoruba Mythology
From Yoruba òrìṣà "deity, spirit" and ńlá "great". This is another name for the god Ọbatala.
Pallu m Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
Means "distinguished" in Hebrew. This was the name of a son of Reuben in the Old Testament.
Parminder m & f Indian (Sikh)
From Sanskrit परम (parama) meaning "highest, best" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra.
Passang m & f Tibetan, Bhutanese
Means "good, excellent" in Tibetan.
Pellinore m Arthurian Cycle
Possibly from Welsh Beli Mawr meaning "Beli the Great". In Arthurian romance this was the name of a king of Listenois, a son of Pellehan who pursued the elusive Questing Beast and later joined Arthur's court. He first appears in the 13th-century Lancelot-Grail Cycle.
Pepin m Germanic
Frankish name of unknown meaning. It possibly means "awe-inspiring" from the Germanic word *bibēną "to tremble". This was the name of three majordomos of Austrasia including Pepin III the Short, who became the first Carolingian king of the Franks. He was the father of Charlemagne.
Phuntsok m & f Tibetan
Means "abundant, excellent" in Tibetan.
Pleione f Greek Mythology
Possibly from Greek πλείων (pleion) meaning "more, greater". According to Greek mythology Pleione was an Oceanid nymph who was the husband of Atlas. Together with her seven daughters and Atlas she forms the group of stars called the Pleiades, part of the constellation Taurus.
Polycrates m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Πολυκράτης (Polykrates) meaning "much power", derived from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This name was borne by a 6th-century BC ruler of the Greek island of Samos.
Polyphemos m Greek Mythology
Means "abounding in fame", derived from Greek πολύς (polys) meaning "much" and φήμη (pheme) meaning "rumour, fame, reputation". In Greek mythology this was the name of the cyclops who captured Odysseus and his crew, as told in the Odyssey. He ate several of the crew before Odysseus blinded him and orchestrated an escape.
Prasert m Thai
Means "excellent, superb" in Thai.
Pratap m Hindi, Marathi
From Sanskrit प्रताप (pratāpa) meaning "heat, splendour, glory".
Purushottama m Hinduism
Means "the highest man" from Sanskrit पुरुष (puruṣa) meaning "man" and उत्तम (uttama) meaning "highest". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu or his avatars Krishna and Rama.
Radomir m Serbian, Bulgarian
Derived from the Slavic element radŭ "happy, willing" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Rama 1 m Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam
Means "pleasing, beautiful" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief this is the name of an incarnation of the god Vishnu. He is the hero of the Ramayana, a Hindu epic, which tells of the abduction of his wife Sita by the demon king Ravana, and his efforts to recapture her.... [more]
Reumah f Biblical
Means "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.
Rhiannon f Welsh, English, Welsh Mythology
Probably derived from an unattested Celtic name *Rīgantonā meaning "great queen" (Celtic *rīganī "queen" and the divine or augmentative suffix -on). It is speculated that Rigantona was an old Celtic goddess, perhaps associated with fertility and horses like the Gaulish Epona. As Rhiannon, she appears in Welsh legend in the Mabinogi as a beautiful magical woman who rides a white horse. She was betrothed against her will to Gwawl, but cunningly broke off that engagement and married Pwyll instead. Their son was Pryderi.... [more]
Rifat m Arabic
Derived from Arabic رفعة (rifʿa) meaning "high rank, elevation".
Romi f Hebrew
Means "my height, my exaltation" in Hebrew.
Rupinder m & f Indian (Sikh)
Means "greatest beauty" from Sanskrit रूप (rūpa) meaning "beauty, form" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra, used here to mean "greatest".
Sagi m Hebrew
Means "elevated, sublime" in Hebrew.
Sami 2 m Arabic, Turkish, Albanian
Means "elevated, sublime, supreme" in Arabic, from the root سما (samā) meaning "to be high".
Sanaa f Arabic
Means "brilliance, radiance, splendour" in Arabic, derived from the root سنا (sanā) meaning "to gleam, to shine".
Sani 1 m Arabic
Means "brilliant, splendid" in Arabic, a derivative of سنا (sanā) meaning "to gleam, to shine".
Saraid f Irish, Irish Mythology
From Old Irish Sárait, derived from sár meaning "excellent". This was the name of a daughter of the legendary high king of Ireland, Conn of the Hundred Battles.
Sebastian m German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Finnish, Romanian, Czech
From the Latin name Sebastianus, which meant "from Sebaste". Sebaste was the name a town in Asia Minor, its name deriving from Greek σεβαστός (sebastos) meaning "venerable" (a translation of Latin Augustus, the title of the Roman emperors). According to Christian tradition, Saint Sebastian was a 3rd-century Roman soldier martyred during the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian. After he was discovered to be a Christian, he was tied to a stake and shot with arrows. This however did not kill him. Saint Irene of Rome healed him and he returned to personally admonish Diocletian, whereupon the emperor had him beaten to death.... [more]
Shalmaneser m Ancient Assyrian (Anglicized), Biblical, Biblical Hebrew
From שַׁלְמַנְאֶסֶר (Shalmanʾeser), the Hebrew form of the Akkadian name Shulmanu-ashared meaning "Shulmanu is preeminent". This was the name of five Assyrian kings, including the 9th-century BC Shalmaneser III who expanded the empire. He is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament.
Shandar m Urdu
Means "fabulous" in Urdu.
Sharif m Arabic, Urdu, Pashto, Persian, Tajik, Uzbek, Malay
Means "noble, eminent" in Arabic, a derivative of شرف (sharufa) meaning "to be noble, to be illustrious". This was a title used by the descendants of Muhammad.
Shawkat m Arabic, Bengali
Derived from Arabic شوكة (shawka) meaning "bravery, valour, power".
Shkëlqim m Albanian
Means "shining, blaze" Albanian.
Shresth m Hindi
Means "most excellent, best" in Sanskrit.
Shreya f Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati
From Sanskrit श्रेयस् (śreyas) meaning "superior, better".
Shubham m Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शुभ (śubha) meaning "splendid, bright, auspicious".
Somchai m Thai
Derived from Thai สม (som) meaning "worthy" combined with ชาย (chai) meaning "man" or ชัย (chai) meaning "victory".
Sriyani f Sinhalese
From Sanskrit श्रेयस् (śreyas) meaning "best, superior".
Sumayya f Arabic
Means "high, elevated, lofty" in Arabic, derived from سما (samā) meaning "to be high". This was the name of the first martyr for Islam.
Taweret f Egyptian Mythology
From Egyptian tꜣ-wrt meaning "O great female". In Egyptian mythology Taweret was a goddess of childbirth and fertility. She was typically depicted as an upright hippopotamus.
Tejal f Marathi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit तेजस् (tejas) meaning "brilliance, splendour".
Temitope f & m Yoruba
Means "mine is worthy of gratitude" in Yoruba.
Themistocles m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Θεμιστοκλῆς (Themistokles) meaning "glory of the law", from θέμις (themis) meaning "law of nature, divine law, custom" (genitive θέμιστος) and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". This was the name of an Athenian statesman and general who was victorious over the Persians in the Battle of Salamis.
Ulvi m Turkish
Means "exalted, high" in Turkish, from Arabic علْويّ (ʿulwīy).
Uzma f Arabic
Means "supreme, greatest" in Arabic, a derivative of عظم (ʿaẓuma) meaning "to be great".
Vasishtha m Hinduism
Means "best, most excellent" in Sanskrit, a superlative form of वसु (vasu) meaning "good, excellent". This is the name of one of the Saptarshis, or seven sages in Hinduism. He is traditionally believed to be the author of parts of the Rigveda.
Vasu m Hinduism, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi
Means "excellent, good, wealthy, bright" in Sanskrit. This is a name for the Hindu gods, in particular the eight elemental deities who are attendants of Indra. It is also borne by several other characters in Hindu legend.
Vasudeva m Hinduism
From Sanskrit वसु (vasu) meaning "excellent, good, wealthy" and देव (deva) meaning "god". This was the name of the father of Krishna. Krishna is also called by the patronymic वसूदेव (Vasūdeva).
Velibor m Serbian, Croatian
Derived from the Slavic elements velĭ "great" and borti "battle".
Velichko m Bulgarian
Derived from Bulgarian велик (velik) meaning "great".
Velimir m Croatian, Serbian
Derived from the Slavic elements velĭ "great" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Venčeslav m Slovene
Slovene form of Veceslav (see Václav).
Venera 2 f Italian
Derived from the Latin name Veneranda, from venerandus meaning "venerable, worthy of veneration". This was the name of a 2nd-century saint who was martyred in Rome or Sicily.
Vercingetorix m Gaulish
Means "king over warriors" from Gaulish wer "on, over" combined with kingeto "marching men, warriors" and rix "king". This name was borne by a 1st-century BC chieftain of the Gaulish tribe the Arverni. He led the resistance against Julius Caesar's attempts to conquer Gaul, but he was eventually defeated, brought to Rome, and executed.
Vladimir m Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovene, Albanian
From the Old Slavic name *Voldiměrŭ, derived from the elements volděti meaning "to rule" and měrŭ meaning "great, famous". The second element has also been associated with mirŭ meaning "peace, world".... [more]
Wahid m Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian
Means "peerless, unique" in Arabic. In Islamic tradition الوحيد (al-Waḥīd) is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Waqar m Arabic, Urdu
Means "majesty, dignity" in Arabic.
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).
Wielisław m Polish (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements velĭ "great" and slava "glory".
Yeray m Spanish (Canarian)
Canarian Spanish name of recent origin, possibly from a Guanche word or place name meaning "big, grand".
Zebulun m Biblical
Derived from Hebrew זְבוּל (zevul) meaning "exalted house". In the Old Testament Zebulun is the tenth son of Jacob (his sixth son by Leah) and the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Genesis 30:20 connects the name to the related verb זָבַל (zaval), translated as "exalt, honour" or "dwell with" in different versions of the Bible, when Leah says my husband will exalt/dwell with me.
Ziya m Arabic, Turkish
Means "splendour, light, glow" in Arabic. This was the name of a 14th-century Islamic Indian historian.
Zubaida f Arabic, Urdu
Means "elite, prime, cream" in Arabic. This was the name of a 9th-century wife of Harun ar-Rashid, the Abbasid caliph featured in the stories of The 1001 Nights.