Names Categorized "medieval"

This is a list of names in which the categories include medieval.
gender
usage
Achard m Old Norman
Medieval Norman form of Ekkehard.
Adalwin m Germanic
From the Old German elements adal "noble" and wini "friend" (a cognate of Æðelwine).
Æðelflæd f Anglo-Saxon
Old English name composed of the elements æðele "noble" and flæd, possibly meaning "beauty". This was the name of a 10th-century ruler of Mercia (a daughter of Alfred the Great).
Æðelstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and stan "stone". This was the name of a 10th-century English king, the first to rule all of England. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, though it enjoyed a modest revival (as Athelstan) in the 19th century.
Agnes f English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Estonian, Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Ἅγνη (Hagne), derived from Greek ἁγνός (hagnos) meaning "chaste". Saint Agnes was a virgin martyred during the persecutions of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The name became associated with Latin agnus "lamb", resulting in the saint's frequent depiction with a lamb by her side. Due to her renown, the name became common in Christian Europe.... [more]
Ailín m Medieval Irish
Possibly an Irish form of Alan or Ælfwine.
Aithbhreac f Medieval Scottish
Older form of Oighrig. This name was borne by the 15th-century Scottish poet Aithbhreac Inghean Coirceadal.
Albert m English, German, French, Catalan, Polish, Czech, Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Icelandic, Finnish, Romanian, Hungarian, Albanian, Germanic
From the Germanic name Adalbert meaning "noble and bright", composed of the elements adal "noble" and beraht "bright". This name was common among medieval German royalty. The Normans introduced it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Æþelbeorht. Though it became rare in England by the 17th century, it was repopularized in the 19th century by the German-born Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.... [more]
Aldith f Medieval English
Middle English form of Ealdgyð.
Aldous m English (Rare)
Probably a diminutive of names beginning with the Old English element eald "old". It has been in use as an English given name since the Middle Ages, mainly in East Anglia. The British author Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) was a famous bearer of this name.
Aldwin m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements alt "old" and wini "friend". This is a cognate of Old English Ealdwine.
Aline f French, Portuguese (Brazilian), English
Medieval short form of Adeline. As an English name, in modern times it has sometimes been regarded as a variant of Eileen. This was the name of a popular 1965 song by the French singer Christophe.
Alison 1 f English, French
Norman French diminutive of Aalis (see Alice). It was common in England, Scotland and France in the Middle Ages, and was later revived in England in the 20th century via Scotland. Unlike most other English names ending in son, it is not derived from a surname.
Alix f & m French
Medieval French variant of Alice, also sometimes used as a masculine name. This is the name of the hero (a young Gaulish man) of a French comic book series, which debuted in 1948.
Amabel f English (Rare)
Medieval feminine form of Amabilis.
Amadis m Literature
Probably an Old Spanish form of Amadeus. In a medieval tale Amadis of Gaul was a heroic knight-errant and the lover of Oriana. The earliest extant version of the story, Amadís de Gaula, was written by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo in 1508.
Amé m Medieval French
Old French form of Aimé.
Amice f Medieval English
Medieval name derived from Latin amicus meaning "friend". This was a popular name in the Middle Ages, though it has since become uncommon.
Amphelise f Medieval English
Meaning unknown. It is attested from the 12th century in the Latin form Amphelisia and the vernacular form Anflis.
Annabel f English, Dutch
Variant of Amabel, with the spelling altered as if it were a combination of Anna and French belle "beautiful". This name appears to have arisen in Scotland in the Middle Ages.
Annis f English
Medieval English form of Agnes.
Annora f English (Rare)
Medieval English variant of Honora.
Arabella f English
Medieval Scottish name, probably a variant of Annabel. It has long been associated with Latin orabilis meaning "invokable, yielding to prayer", and the name was often recorded in forms resembling this.... [more]
Athelstan m English (Archaic)
Modern form of Æðelstan. This name was revived in Britain the latter half of the 19th century.
Audrey f English, French
Medieval diminutive of Æðelþryð. This was the name of a 7th-century saint, a princess of East Anglia who founded a monastery at Ely. It was also used by William Shakespeare for a character in his comedy As You Like It (1599). At the end of the Middle Ages the name became rare due to association with the word tawdry (which was derived from St. Audrey, the name of a fair where cheap lace was sold), but it was revived in the 19th century. A famous bearer was British actress Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993).
Avis f English
Probably a Latinized form of the Germanic name Aveza, which was derived from the element awi, of unknown meaning. The Normans introduced this name to England and it became moderately common during the Middle Ages, at which time it was associated with Latin avis "bird".
Axel m Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German, French, English
Medieval Danish form of Absalom.
Aymeri m Medieval French
Old French form of Aimeric. This is the name of a hero in medieval French romance, Aymeri de Narbonne.
Barbara f English, Italian, French, German, Polish, Hungarian, Slovene, Croatian, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Late Roman
Derived from Greek βάρβαρος (barbaros) meaning "foreign, non-Greek". According to legend, Saint Barbara was a young woman killed by her father Dioscorus, who was then killed by a bolt of lightning. She is the patron of architects, geologists, stonemasons and artillerymen. Because of her renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world in the Middle Ages. In England it became rare after the Protestant Reformation, but it was revived in the 19th century.
Bate m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Bartholomew.
Bonaccorso m Medieval Italian
Medieval Italian name derived from bono "good" and accorso "haste, rush, help".
Brian m English, Irish, Old Irish
Meaning uncertain, possibly related to the old Celtic root *brixs "hill, high" (Old Irish brií) or the related *brigā "might, power" (Old Irish briíg). It was borne by the Irish king Brian Boru, who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. He was slain in the Battle of Clontarf, though his forces were decisively victorious. This name was common in Ireland after his time, and it was introduced to northern England by Norse-Gael settlers. It was also used in Brittany, and was brought to England by Bretons in the wake of the Norman Conquest. Though it eventually became rare in the English-speaking world, it was strongly revived in the 20th century, becoming a top-ten name for boys in most regions.
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]
Cecily f English
English form of Cecilia. This was the usual English form during the Middle Ages.
Ceridwen f Welsh
Possibly from cyrrid "bent, crooked" (a derivative of Old Welsh cwrr "corner") combined with ben "woman" or gwen "white, blessed". According to the medieval Welsh legend the Tale of Taliesin (recorded by Elis Gruffyd in the 16th century) this was the name of a sorceress who created a potion that would grant wisdom to her son Morfan. The potion was instead consumed by her servant Gwion Bach, who was subsequently reborn as the renowned bard Taliesin.... [more]
Chaim m Hebrew
Derived from the Hebrew word חַיִּים (chayim) meaning "life". It has been used since medieval times.
Chayim m Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew חַיִּים (see Chaim).
Chayyim m Hebrew
Alternate transcription of Hebrew חַיִּים (see Chaim).
Christabel f English (Rare)
Combination of Christina and the name suffix bel (inspired by Latin bella "beautiful"). This name occurs in medieval literature, and was later used by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his 1816 poem Christabel.
Cicely f English
Medieval variant of Cecily.
Clara f German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Catalan, Romanian, English, Swedish, Danish, Late Roman
Feminine form of the Late Latin name Clarus, which meant "clear, bright, famous". The name Clarus was borne by a few early saints. The feminine form was popularized by the 13th-century Saint Clare of Assisi (called Chiara in Italian), a friend and follower of Saint Francis, who left her wealthy family to found the order of nuns known as the Poor Clares.... [more]
Clare f English
Medieval English form of Clara. The preferred spelling in the English-speaking world is now the French form Claire, though Clare has been fairly popular in the United Kingdom and Australia.... [more]
Clarice f English
Medieval vernacular form of the Late Latin name Claritia, which was a derivative of Clara.
Clemency f English (Rare)
Medieval variant of Clemence. It can also simply mean "clemency, mercy" from the English word, ultimately from Latin clemens "merciful".
Colin 2 m English
Medieval diminutive of Col, a short form of Nicholas. It is now regarded as an independent name.
Constance f English, French
Medieval form of Constantia. The Normans introduced this name to England (it was the name of a daughter of William the Conqueror).
Cressida f Literature
Form of Criseida used by Shakespeare in his play Troilus and Cressida (1602).
Crispian m English (Archaic)
Medieval variant of Crispin.
Crispin m English (Rare)
From the Roman cognomen Crispinus, which was derived from the name Crispus. Saint Crispin was a 3rd-century Roman who was martyred with his twin brother Crispinian in Gaul. They are the patrons of shoemakers. They were popular saints in England during the Middle Ages, and the name has occasionally been used since that time.
Cynbel m Medieval Welsh
Medieval Welsh name of uncertain meaning.
Dick 1 m English
Medieval diminutive of Richard. The change in the initial consonant is said to have been caused by the way the trilled Norman R was pronounced by the English.
Dobrogost m Polish (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements dobrŭ "good" and gostĭ "guest".
Dobromil m Czech (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements dobrŭ "good" and milŭ "gracious, dear".
Dobroslav m Czech, Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian
Derived from the Slavic elements dobrŭ "good" and slava "glory".
Dragomir m Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Slovene, Romanian
Derived from the Slavic element dorgŭ (South Slavic drag) meaning "precious" combined with mirŭ meaning "peace, world".
Dragoslav m Serbian, Croatian, Slovene
Derived from the Slavic elements dorgŭ (South Slavic drag) meaning "precious" and slava meaning "glory".
Dragoslava f Serbian
Feminine form of Dragoslav.
Dragutin m Serbian, Croatian, Slovene
Derived from the Slavic element dorgŭ (South Slavic drag) meaning "precious".
Dye f Medieval English
Medieval short form of Dionysia.
Eda 2 f Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Edith.
Elena f Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovak, Czech, Lithuanian, Estonian, Finnish, Russian, Greek, German, English
Form of Helen used in various languages, as well as an alternate transcription of Russian Елена (see Yelena).
Elias m Portuguese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, English, Dutch, Greek, Amharic, Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek
Form of Elijah used in several languages. This is also the form used in the Greek New Testament, as well as some English translations.
Elis m Swedish, Medieval English
Swedish variant of Elias, as well as a medieval English form.
Elric m Medieval English
Middle English form of either of the Old English names Ælfric or Æðelric. Both were rarely used after the Norman Conquest.
Enguerran m Medieval French
Old French form of Engilram (see Ingram). This was the name of several medieval French nobles from Picardy.
Ermintrude f English (Archaic)
English form of Ermendrud. It was occasionally used until the 19th century.
Ermo m Medieval Italian
Italian diminutive of Erasmus.
Estienne m Medieval French
Medieval French form of Stephen.
Ethelbert m English (Archaic)
Middle English form of Æþelbeorht. The name was very rare after the Norman Conquest, but it was revived briefly in the 19th century.
Etheldred f Medieval English
Middle English form of Æðelþryð.
Etheldreda f Medieval English
Middle English form of Æðelþryð.
Ethelfleda f Medieval English
Middle English form of Æðelflæd.
Etzel m Germanic Mythology
Form of Attila used in the medieval German saga the Nibelungenlied. In the story Etzel is a fictional version of Attila the Hun.
Eudes m Medieval French
Old French form of Odo.
Eve f English, Estonian, Biblical
From the Hebrew name חַוָּה (Ḥawwa), which was derived from the Hebrew word חָוָה (ḥawa) meaning "to breathe" or the related word חָיָה (ḥaya) meaning "to live". According to the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Eve and Adam were the first humans. God created her from one of Adam's ribs to be his companion. At the urging of a serpent she ate the forbidden fruit and shared some with Adam, causing their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.... [more]
Everard m English (Rare)
From Everardus, the Latinized form of Eberhard. The Normans introduced it to England, where it joined the Old English cognate Eoforheard. It has only been rarely used since the Middle Ages. Modern use of the name may be inspired by the surname Everard, itself derived from the medieval name.
Firmin m French, Medieval English
From the Late Latin name Firminus meaning "firm". This was the name of several early saints, notably the 3rd-century bishop Saint Firmin (or Fermin) of Amiens who is especially venerated in Navarre, Spain.
Florence f & m English, French
From the Latin name Florentius or the feminine form Florentia, which were derived from florens "prosperous, flourishing". Florentius was borne by many early Christian saints, and it was occasionally used in their honour through the Middle Ages. In modern times it is mostly feminine.... [more]
Gaheriet m Arthurian Cycle
Medieval French form of Gareth (appearing in the works of Chrétien de Troyes and in the Lancelot-Grail Cycle).
Garnier m Medieval French
Medieval French form of Werner.
Garsea m Medieval Spanish
Meaning unknown, possibly related to the Basque word hartz meaning "bear". This was the name of several medieval kings of Navarre and Leon.
Gavin m English, Scottish
Medieval form of Gawain. Though it died out in England, it was reintroduced from Scotland in the 20th century.
Gemma f Italian, Catalan, English (British), Dutch
Medieval Italian nickname meaning "gem, precious stone". It was borne by the wife of the 13th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri.
Geoffroi m Medieval French
Medieval French form of Geoffrey.
Georgii m Medieval Slavic
Medieval Slavic form of George.
Gidie m Medieval French
Medieval French form of Aegidius (see Giles).
Gilbert m English, French, Dutch, Germanic
Means "bright pledge", derived from the Old German elements gisal "pledge, hostage" and beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to England, where it was common during the Middle Ages. It was borne by a 12th-century English saint, the founder of the religious order known as the Gilbertines.
Gillian f English
Medieval English feminine form of Julian. This spelling has been in use since the 13th century, though it was not declared a distinct name from Julian until the 17th century.
Gomes m Medieval Portuguese
Medieval Portuguese form of the Visigothic name Guma, derived from the Gothic element guma meaning "man".
Gosse m Medieval French
Old French form of Gozzo.
Gostislav m Medieval Slavic (Hypothetical)
Slavic name derived from the elements gostĭ "guest" and slava "glory". It is attested in Czech Hostislav and Polish Gościsław (both archaic).
Grigorii m Russian, Medieval Slavic
Alternate transcription of Russian Григорий (see Grigoriy), as well as the usual transcription of the medieval Slavic form.
Guarin m Medieval French
Norman French form of Warin.
Guiscard m Medieval French
Norman French form of the Norman name Wischard, from Old Norse vizkr "wise" and the Old French pejorative suffix -ard (from Old Frankish hard "hard, firm, brave, hardy"). This was the byname of Robert Guiscard, an 11th-century Norman conqueror of Sicily.
Gwenllian f Welsh
Derived from the Welsh elements gwen meaning "white, blessed" and possibly lliain meaning "flaxen, made of linen" or lliant meaning "flow, flood". This name was used by medieval Welsh royalty, notably by a 12th-century princess of Deheubarth who died in battle with the Normans. It was also borne by the 13th-century daughter of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last prince of Gwynedd.
Hal m English
Medieval diminutive of Harry. In Shakespeare's two historical plays about Henry IV, Prince Hal is the name of the future King Henry V.
Hamo m Medieval English
Norman form of Haimo. The Normans brought this name to Britain.
Hankin m Medieval English
Diminutive of Hann.
Hann m Medieval English
Medieval English form of Iohannes (see John).
Harry m English, Dutch, Swedish, German
Medieval English form of Henry. In modern times it is used as a diminutive of both Henry and names beginning with Har. Famous bearers include the American president Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), who was named after his uncle Harrison, and the British royal Prince Harry (1984-), who is actually named Henry. It is also the name of the boy wizard in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of books, first released in 1997.
Hawise f Medieval English
English form of a medieval French name appearing in various spellings such as Haueis or Haouys, which were derived from Hadewidis. The name was borne by a number of Norman and Anglo-Norman noblewomen from the 11th to 13th centuries.
Herry m Medieval English
Medieval English form of Henry. Unlike Harry, this form is no longer used.
Hopkin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Hob.
Horsa m Anglo-Saxon Mythology
From Old English or Old Saxon hors meaning "horse". According to medieval chronicles, Horsa and his brother Hengist were the leaders of the first Saxon settlers to arrive in Britain. Horsa was said to have died in battle with the Britons. He is first mentioned in the 8th-century writings of the English historian Bede.
Hudde m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Hugh or possibly Richard.
Ibb f Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Isabel.
Idonea f English (Archaic)
Medieval English name, probably a Latinized form of Iðunn. The spelling may have been influenced by Latin idonea "suitable". It was common in England from the 12th century.
Idony f English (Archaic)
Medieval English vernacular form of Idonea.
Isabeau f Medieval French, French (Rare), Dutch (Modern)
Medieval French variant of Isabel. A famous bearer of this name was Isabeau of Bavaria (1385-1422), wife of the French king Charles VI.
Isabella f Italian, German, English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch, Romanian
Latinate form of Isabel. This name was borne by many medieval royals, including queens consort of England, France, Portugal, the Holy Roman Empire and Hungary, as well as the powerful ruling queen Isabella of Castile (properly called Isabel).... [more]
Iseult f Arthurian Cycle
The origins of this name are uncertain, though some Celtic roots have been suggested. It is possible that the name is ultimately Germanic, from a hypothetical name like *Ishild, composed of the elements is "ice" and hilt "battle".... [more]
Ishild f Germanic (Hypothetical)
Germanic name, a hypothetical early form of Iseult.
Jack m English
Derived from Jackin (earlier Jankin), a medieval diminutive of John. There could be some early influence from the unrelated French name Jacques. It is often regarded as an independent name. During the Middle Ages it was very common, and it became a slang word meaning "man", as seen in the terms jack-o'-lantern, jack-in-the-box, lumberjack and so on. It was frequently used in fairy tales and nursery rhymes, such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Jack and Jill, Little Jack Horner, and Jack Sprat.... [more]
Jake m English
Medieval variant of Jack. It is also sometimes used as a short form of Jacob.
Jan 3 m Medieval English
Medieval English form of John, derived from the Old French form Jehan.
Janet f English
Medieval diminutive of Jane. This was a popular name throughout the English-speaking world in the 20th century, especially the 1930s to the 60s. Its popularity has since faded.
Jankin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Jan 3.
Jarogněvŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Jarogniew.
Jehan m Medieval French
Old French form of Iohannes (see John).
Jehanne f Medieval French
Old French feminine form of Iohannes (see John).
Jenny f English, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, German, Dutch, French, Spanish
Originally a medieval English diminutive of Jane. Since the middle of the 20th century it has been primarily considered a diminutive of Jennifer.
Jim m English
Medieval diminutive of James.
Joan 1 f English
Medieval English form of Johanne, an Old French form of Iohanna (see Joanna). This was the usual English feminine form of John in the Middle Ages, but it was surpassed in popularity by Jane in the 17th century. It again became quite popular in the first half of the 20th century, entering the top ten names for both the United States and the United Kingdom, though it has since faded.... [more]
Jocosa f Medieval English
Medieval variant of Joyce, influenced by the Latin word iocosus or jocosus "merry, playful".
Johanne f French, Danish, Norwegian, Medieval French
French, Danish and Norwegian form of Iohanna (see Joanna).
Jolyon m English (Rare)
Medieval form of Julian. The author John Galsworthy used it for a character in his Forsyte Saga novels (published between 1906 and 1922).
Joscelin m Old Norman
Norman form of Jocelyn.
Josse m French (Rare), Medieval French
French form of Iudocus (see Joyce).
Joyce f & m English
From the medieval masculine name Josse, which was derived from the earlier Iudocus, which was a Latinized form of the Breton name Judoc meaning "lord". The name belonged to a 7th-century Breton saint, and Breton settlers introduced it to England after the Norman Conquest. It became rare after the 14th century, but was later revived as a feminine name, perhaps because of similarity to the Middle English word joise "to rejoice". This given name also became a surname, as in the case of the Irish novelist James Joyce (1882-1941).
Judd m English, Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Jordan. Modern use of this name is inspired by the surname that was derived from the medieval name.
Jurian m Medieval Low German
Medieval Low German form of George.
Kazimir m Croatian, Slovene, Russian
Croatian, Slovene and Russian form of Casimir.
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.
Kinborough f Medieval English
Middle English form of Cyneburg.
Kirilŭ m Medieval Slavic
Medieval Slavic form of Cyril.
Krasimir m Bulgarian
Derived from the Slavic elements krasa "beauty, adornment" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Larkin m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Laurence 1.
Law m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Laurence 1.
Layla f Arabic, English
Means "night" in Arabic. Layla was the love interest of the poet Qays (called Majnun) in an old Arab tale, notably retold by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi in his poem Layla and Majnun. This story was a popular romance in medieval Arabia and Persia. The name became used in the English-speaking world after the 1970 release of the song Layla by Derek and the Dominos, the title of which was inspired by the medieval story.
Leila f Persian, Arabic, Kurdish, English, French, Georgian
Variant of Layla, and the usual Persian transcription.... [more]
Leutwin m Germanic
Old German name derived from the elements liut "people" and wini "friend". Saint Leutwin (or Leudwinus) was an 8th-century bishop of Trier.
Lewis m English
Medieval English form of Louis. A famous bearer was Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. This was also the surname of C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), the author of the Chronicles of Narnia series.
Lorencio m Medieval Spanish
Archaic Spanish form of Laurentius (see Laurence 1).
Lucy f English
English form of Lucia, in use since the Middle Ages.
Ludovic m French
French form of Ludovicus, the Latinized form of Ludwig. This was the name of an 1833 opera by the French composer Fromental Halévy.
Lyubomir m Bulgarian
Bulgarian form of Lubomír.
Lyudmil m Bulgarian
Bulgarian masculine form of Ludmila.
Lyudmila f Russian, Bulgarian
Russian and Bulgarian form of Ludmila. This was the name of a character in Aleksandr Pushkin's poem Ruslan and Lyudmila (1820).
Mac Beatha m Medieval Scottish
Scottish Gaelic form of Macbeth.
Mack 2 m Medieval English
Medieval short form of Magnus, brought to Britain by Scandinavian settlers.
Malle f Estonian, Medieval English
Estonian diminutive of Maria or Maarja, now used independently. This was also a medieval English diminutive of Mary.
Margery f English
Medieval English form of Margaret.
Marjorie f English
Medieval variant of Margery, influenced by the name of the herb marjoram. After the Middle Ages this name was rare, but it was revived at the end of the 19th century.
Matty 2 f Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Martha.
Maud f English, French, Dutch, Swedish
Medieval English and French form of Matilda. Though it became rare after the 14th century, it was revived and once more grew popular in the 19th century, perhaps due to Alfred Tennyson's 1855 poem Maud.
Meggy f Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Margaret.
Melanie f English, German, Dutch
From Mélanie, the French form of the Latin name Melania, derived from Greek μέλαινα (melaina) meaning "black, dark". This was the name of a Roman saint who gave all her wealth to charity in the 5th century. Her grandmother was also a saint with the same name.... [more]
Melisende f Medieval French
Old French form of Millicent.
Militsa f Bulgarian
Bulgarian form of Milica.
Milivoj m Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Derived from the Slavic elements milŭ "gracious" and vojĭ "soldier".
Milodorgŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Miodrag.
Milogostŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Miłogost.
Milosh m Macedonian
Alternate transcription of Macedonian Милош (see Miloš).
Miloslav m Czech, Slovak
Derived from the Slavic elements milŭ "gracious, dear" and slava "glory".
Miloslava f Czech
Feminine form of Miloslav.
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.
Mirche m Macedonian
Alternate transcription of Macedonian Мирче (see Mirče).
Miroslav m Czech, Slovak, Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Derived from the Slavic elements mirŭ "peace, world" and slava "glory". This was the name of a 10th-century king of Croatia who was deposed by one of his nobles after ruling for four years.
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.
Molle f Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Mary.
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.
Morris m English, Medieval English
Usual medieval form of Maurice.
Moss m English (Archaic), Jewish
Medieval form of Moses.
Mstislav m Czech (Rare), Russian (Rare)
Means "vengeance and glory" from the Slavic elements mĭstĭ "vengeance" and slava "glory". Mstislav the Great was a 12th-century grand prince of Kiev.
Mundzuk m Medieval Turkic
Old Turkic form of Bendegúz.
Muriel f English, French, Irish, Scottish, Medieval Breton (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Irish Muirgel and Scottish Muireall. A form of this name was also used in Brittany, and it was first introduced to medieval England by Breton settlers in the wake of the Norman Conquest. In the modern era it was popularized by a character from Dinah Craik's novel John Halifax, Gentleman (1856).
Nancy f English
Previously a medieval diminutive of Annis, though since the 18th century it has been a diminutive of Ann. It is now usually regarded as an independent name. During the 20th century it became very popular in the United States. A city in the Lorraine region of France bears this name, though it derives from a different source.
Neil m Irish, Scottish, English
From the Irish name Niall, which is of disputed origin, possibly connected to the old Celtic root *nītu- "fury, passion" or the (possibly related) Old Irish word nia "hero". A derivation from Old Irish nél "cloud" has also been suggested. This was the name of a few early Irish kings, notably Niall of the Nine Hostages, a semi-legendary high king of the 4th or 5th century.... [more]
Nell f English
Medieval diminutive of names beginning with El, such as Eleanor, Ellen 1 or Helen. It may have arisen from the medieval affectionate phrase mine El, which was later reinterpreted as my Nel.
Nicol 1 m Medieval English, Scottish
Medieval English and Scottish form of Nicholas. This was the middle name of a character in the novel Rob Roy (1817) by Walter Scott.
Nigel m English
From Nigellus, a medieval Latinized form of Neil. It was commonly associated with Latin niger "black". It was revived in the 19th century, perhaps in part due to Walter Scott's novel The Fortunes of Nigel (1822).
Nikola 1 m Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Czech, Basque
Form of Nicholas in several languages. Note, in Czech this is also a feminine name (see Nikola 2). A famous bearer was the Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla (1856-1943).
Ninoslav m Serbian, Croatian, Medieval Slavic
From a Slavic element, possibly nyně "now", combined with slava "glory". Matej Ninoslav was a 13th-century duke of Bosnia.
Noël m French
Means "Christmas" in French. In the Middle Ages it was used for children born on the holiday. A famous bearer was the English playwright and composer Noël Coward (1899-1973).
Noll m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Oliver.
Nuño m Medieval Spanish
Spanish form of Nuno.
Nuno m Portuguese, Medieval Portuguese
Medieval Portuguese and Spanish name, possibly from Latin nonus "ninth" or nunnus "grandfather". Saint Nuno was a 14th-century Portuguese general who defeated a Castilian invasion.
Ode m Medieval English
Medieval English form of Odo.
Onfroi m Medieval French
Norman French form of Humphrey.
Parnel f English (Archaic)
Contracted form of Petronel. In the later Middle Ages it became a slang term for a promiscuous woman, and the name subsequently fell out of use.
Pate m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Patrick.
Peronel f English (Archaic)
Contracted form of Petronel.
Petronel f English (Archaic)
Medieval English form of Petronilla.
Petruccio m Medieval Italian
Medieval diminutive of Pietro.
Piers m English (British), Medieval French
Medieval form of Peter. This is the name of the main character in the 14th-century poem Piers Plowman by William Langland.
Polly f English
Medieval variant of Molly. The reason for the change in the initial consonant is unknown.
Predbor m Medieval Slavic
Earlier Slavic form of Preben.
Pridbjørn m Old Danish
Old Danish form of Preben.
Prudence f & m English, French
Medieval English form of Prudentia, the feminine form of Prudentius. In France it is both the feminine form and a rare masculine form. In England it was used during the Middle Ages and was revived in the 17th century by the Puritans, in part from the English word prudence, ultimately of the same source.
Radomil m Czech
Derived from the Slavic elements radŭ "happy, willing" and milŭ "gracious, dear".
Radomir m Serbian, Bulgarian
Derived from the Slavic element radŭ "happy, willing" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Radovan m Slovak, Czech, Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, Macedonian
Derived from Slavic radovati meaning "to make happy, to gladden".
Randel m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Randolf and other names beginning with the Germanic element rant meaning "rim (of a shield)".
Ranulf m Medieval English
Medieval English form of Raginolf. Norman settlers and invaders introduced this name to England and Scotland.
Ratimir m Croatian
Croatian form of Ratomir.
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.
Rémann m Medieval Irish
Medieval Irish form of Raymond.
Reynard m English (Rare)
From the Germanic name Raginhard, composed of the elements regin "advice, counsel, decision" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". The Normans brought it to England in the form Reinard, though it never became very common there. In medieval fables the name was borne by the sly hero Reynard the Fox (with the result that renard has become a French word meaning "fox").
Reynold m English
From the Germanic name Raginald, composed of the elements regin "advice, counsel, decision" and walt "power, authority". The Normans (who used forms like Reinald or Reinold) brought the name to Britain, where it reinforced rare Old English and Norse cognates already in existence. It was common during the Middle Ages, but became more rare after the 15th century.
Robin m & f English, French, Dutch, Swedish, Czech
Medieval English diminutive of Robert, now usually regarded as an independent name. Robin Hood was a legendary hero and archer of medieval England who stole from the rich to give to the poor. In modern times it has also been used as a feminine name, and it may sometimes be given in reference to the red-breasted bird.
Rohese f Medieval English
Norman French form of Hrodohaidis.
Rohesia f Medieval English (Latinized)
Latinized form of the medieval name Rohese (see Rose).
Roland m English, French, German, Swedish, Dutch, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Albanian, Georgian, Carolingian Cycle
From the Old German elements hruod meaning "fame" and lant meaning "land", though some theories hold that the second element was originally nand meaning "brave".... [more]
Rosalin f English (Rare)
Medieval variant of Rosalind.
Rosaline f English
Medieval variant of Rosalind. This is the name of characters in Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost (1594) and Romeo and Juliet (1596).
Rosamond f English
Variant of Rosamund, in use since the Middle Ages.
Rostislav m Russian, Czech
Derived from the Slavic elements orsti "to grow" and slava "glory".
Roul m Medieval French, Medieval English
Norman French form of Rolf.
Rowland m English
Medieval variant of Roland.
Royse f Medieval English
Medieval variant of Rose.
Samo m Slovene, History
Meaning uncertain. This was the name of a 7th-century ruler of the Slavs, who established a kingdom including parts of modern Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. He was possibly of Frankish origin.
Sans m Medieval Spanish
Old variant of Sancho.
Sence f Medieval Spanish
Old variant of Sancha.
Sens f Medieval Spanish
Old variant of Sancha.
Sibyl f English
From Greek Σίβυλλα (Sibylla), meaning "prophetess, sibyl". In Greek and Roman legend the sibyls were female prophets who practiced at different holy sites in the ancient world. In later Christian theology, the sibyls were thought to have divine knowledge and were revered in much the same way as the Old Testament prophets. Because of this, the name came into general use in the Christian world during the Middle Ages. The Normans imported it to England, where it was spelled both Sibyl and Sybil. It became rare after the Protestant Reformation, but it was revived in the 19th century, perhaps helped by Benjamin Disraeli's novel Sybil (1845).
Sidony f English (Archaic)
Feminine form of Sidonius. This name was in use in the Middle Ages, when it became associated with the word sindon (of Greek origin) meaning "linen", a reference to the Shroud of Turin.
Sítheach m Medieval Irish
Means "peaceful" or "fairy-like" in Irish, from Old Irish síd. Alternatively, it could be from sídach "wolf".
Slavitsa f Bulgarian (Rare)
Bulgarian form of Slavica.
Slavomir m Serbian, Croatian
Serbian and Croatian form of Sławomir.
Sophia f English, Greek, German, Ancient Greek
Means "wisdom" in Greek. This was the name of an early, probably mythical, saint who died of grief after her three daughters were martyred during the reign of the emperor Hadrian. Legends about her probably arose as a result of a medieval misunderstanding of the phrase Hagia Sophia "Holy Wisdom", which is the name of a large basilica in Constantinople.... [more]
Stace m & f Medieval English, English
Medieval short form of Eustace. As a modern name it is typically a short form of Stacy.
Stanimir m Bulgarian, Serbian
Derived from the Slavic elements stati "stand, become" (in an inflected form) and mirŭ "peace, world".
Stanislav m Czech, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Slovene, Serbian, Croatian
Derived from the Slavic element stati "stand, become" (inflected forms in stan-) combined with slava "glory". This name was borne by a few medieval saints (typically called by the Polish form Stanisław or Latinized form Stanislaus), including a bishop of Krakow who was martyred in the 11th century.
Steven m English, Dutch
Medieval English variant of Stephen, and a Dutch variant of Stefan. The filmmaker Steven Spielberg (1946-), director of E.T. and Indiana Jones, is a famous bearer of this name.
Sture m Swedish, Medieval Scandinavian
Derived from Old Norse stura meaning "to be contrary". This was the name of three viceroys of Sweden.
Svętopŭlkŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Svatopluk.
Svetoslav m Bulgarian
Bulgarian form of Svyatoslav.
Sybil f English
Variant of Sibyl. This spelling variation has existed since the Middle Ages.
Tancred m Old Norman
Norman form of the Germanic name Thancrat meaning "thought and counsel", derived from the elements thank meaning "thought, consideration, thanks" (Old High German danc, Old Frankish þank) and rat meaning "counsel, advice". This name was common among the medieval Norman nobility of southern Italy, being the name of the founder of the Hauteville family. It was borne by a leader of the First Crusade, described by Torquato Tasso in his epic poem Jerusalem Delivered (1580).
Temüjin m Medieval Mongolian
Mongolian form of Temujin.
Temür m Medieval Turkic
Old Turkic form of Timur.
Tenney m Medieval English
Medieval diminutive of Denis.
Thomasina f English
Medieval feminine form of Thomas.
Tielo m Medieval German
Earlier form of Till.
Tiffany f English
Medieval form of Theophania. This name was traditionally given to girls born on the Epiphany (January 6), the festival commemorating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. The name died out after the Middle Ages, but it was revived by the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), the title of which refers to the Tiffany's jewelry store in New York.
Tikhomir m Bulgarian
Alternate transcription of Bulgarian Тихомир (see Tihomir).
Toby m & f English
Medieval form of Tobias. It was sometimes used as a feminine name in the 1930s and 40s due to the influence of American actress Toby Wing (1915-2001).
Tomila f Russian (Rare)
Possibly from Slavic tomiti meaning "to torment". In some cases communist parents may have derived it from the phrase торжество Маркса и Ленина (torzhestvo Marksa i Lenina) meaning "victory of Marx and Lenin".
Tomislav m Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian, Bulgarian
Probably derived from the Slavic element tomiti "to torment" combined with slava "glory". This was the name of the first king of Croatia (10th century).
Tomislava f Croatian, Serbian
Feminine form of Tomislav.
Tristan m English, French, Arthurian Cycle
Probably from the Celtic name Drustan, a diminutive of Drust, which occurs as Drystan in a few Welsh sources. As Tristan, it first appears in 12th-century French tales, probably altered by association with Old French triste "sad". According to the tales Tristan was sent to Ireland by his uncle King Mark of Cornwall in order to fetch Iseult, who was to be the king's bride. On the way back, Tristan and Iseult accidentally drink a potion that makes them fall in love. Later versions of the tale make Tristan one of King Arthur's knights. His tragic story was very popular in the Middle Ages, and the name has occasionally been used since then.
Tristram m English (British)
Medieval English form of Tristan.
Tybalt m Literature
The name of a cousin of Juliet killed by Romeo in William Shakespeare's drama Romeo and Juliet (1596). The character earlier appears as Tebaldo, an Italian form of Theobald, in Luigi Da Porto's novella Giulietta e Romeo (1524), one of Shakespeare's sources. Shakespeare was also inspired by the character of Tybalt the Cat (from Thibault the French form of Theobald) in medieval fables of Reynard the Fox (evidenced by Mercutio calling Tybalt the "prince of cats").
Undine f Literature
Derived from Latin unda meaning "wave". The word undine was created by the 16th-century Swiss author Paracelsus, who used it for female water spirits.
Vasilii m Medieval Slavic
Medieval Slavic form of Basil 1.
Vauquelin m Medieval French
Old French form of the Norman name Walchelin, derived from Old Frankish walh or Old High German walah meaning "foreigner, Celt, Roman" (Proto-Germanic *walhaz).
Velasco m Medieval Spanish
Medieval Spanish form of Vasco.
Velimir m Croatian, Serbian
Derived from the Slavic elements velĭ "great" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Venceslaus m Medieval Slavic (Latinized)
Medieval Latinized form of Veceslav (see Václav).
Vęťeslavŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Veceslav (see Václav).
Vitomir m Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Derived from the Slavic elements vitŭ "master, lord" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Vlad m Romanian, Russian, Ukrainian
Old short form of Vladislav and other names beginning with the Slavic element volděti (Church Slavic vladati) meaning "to rule, to control". This name was borne by several princes of Wallachia (in Romania) including the 15th-century Vlad III Dracula, who was Bram Stoker's inspiration for the name of his vampire Count Dracula.
Vladiměrŭ m Medieval Slavic
Old Church Slavic form of Vladimir.
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]
Vladislav m Russian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian
From the Old Slavic name *Voldislavŭ, derived from the elements volděti "to rule" and slava "glory". This name has been borne by kings, princes and dukes of Croatia, Serbia, Bohemia, Poland and Wallachia.
Vlastimir m Serbian
Derived from the Slavic element volstĭ (Serbian vlast) meaning "power, rule, sovereignty" combined with mirŭ meaning "peace, world". This was the name of a 9th-century prince of Serbia.
Vlastislav m Czech
Derived from the Slavic elements volstĭ "power, rule, sovereignty" (Czech vlast "homeland") and slava "glory".
Vojĭtěxŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Wojciech.
Voldislavŭ m Old Slavic (Hypothetical)
Proto-Slavic reconstruction of Vladislav.
Volodiměrŭ m Medieval Slavic
Old East Slavic form of Vladimir.
Vratislav m Czech, Slovak
Derived 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).
Vsevolod m Russian, Ukrainian
Derived from the Slavic elements vĭśĭ "all" and volděti "to rule". This was the name of an 11th-century grand prince of Kyiv.
Walker m English
From an English surname that referred to the medieval occupational of a walker, also known as a fuller. Walkers would tread on wet, unprocessed wool in order to clean and thicken it. The word ultimately derives from Old English wealcan "to walk".
Wat m English
Medieval short form of Walter.
Wymond m Medieval English
Middle English form of the Old English name Wigmund, composed of the elements wig "battle" and mund "protection".
Wynnstan m Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements wynn "joy" and stan "stone".
Wyot m Medieval English
Middle English form of Wigheard.
Ximeno m Medieval Spanish
Medieval Spanish or Basque name of uncertain meaning. It is possibly a form of Simon 1, though it may in fact derive from Basque seme meaning "son".
Yaropolk m Russian (Rare)
Derived from the Slavic elements jarŭ "fierce, energetic" and pŭlkŭ "people, host". This name was borne by two rulers of Kievan Rus (10th and 12th centuries).
Yaroslav m Russian, Ukrainian
Means "fierce and glorious", derived from the Slavic elements jarŭ "fierce, energetic" and slava "glory". Yaroslav the Wise was an 11th-century grand prince of Kyiv who expanded Kievan Rus to its greatest extent.