Names Categorized "virtues"

This is a list of names in which the categories include virtues.
gender
usage
Fe f Spanish
Means "faith" in Spanish, derived from Latin fides.
Fedele m Italian
Italian form of Fidel.
Feidlimid m & f Old Irish, Irish Mythology
Traditionally said to mean "ever good", it might be related to Old Irish feidil "enduring, constant". This was the name of three early kings of Munster. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint, typically called Saint Felim. In Irish legend, it was the name of the father of Deirdre.
Felicia f English, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Dutch, Swedish, Late Roman
Feminine form of the Latin name Felicius, a derivative of Felix. As an English name, it has occasionally been used since the Middle Ages.
Felicity f English
From the English word felicity meaning "happiness", which ultimately derives from Latin felicitas "good luck". This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans around the 17th century. It can sometimes be used as an English form of the Latin name Felicitas. This name jumped in popularity in the United States after the premiere of the television series Felicity in 1998. It is more common in the United Kingdom.
Femke f Frisian, Dutch
Diminutive of Femme.
Ferdinand m German, French, Dutch, English, Slovak, Czech, Slovene, Croatian
From Fredenandus, the Latinized form of a Gothic name composed of the elements friþus "peace" (or perhaps farþa "journey") and nanþa "boldness, daring". The Visigoths brought the name to the Iberian Peninsula, where it entered into the royal families of Spain and Portugal. From there it became common among the Habsburg royal family of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria, starting with the Spanish-born Ferdinand I in the 16th century. A notable bearer was Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521), called Fernão de Magalhães in Portuguese, who was the leader of the first expedition to sail around the earth.
Fergal m Irish, Old Irish
Means "man of valour", derived from the Old Irish elements fer "man" and gal "valour". This was the name of an 8th-century king of Ireland. As well as the Old Irish form of the name, this is the usual Anglicization of the Modern Irish form Fearghal.
Feyz m Persian
Means "grace" in Persian, from Arabic فئض (faʾiḍ) meaning "abundance, plenty", a derivative of the root فاض (fāḍa) meaning "to overflow, to flood".
Fiadh f Irish (Modern)
Means "wild, wild animal, deer" (modern Irish fia) or "respect" in Irish.
Fidel m Spanish
From the Late Latin name Fidelis meaning "faithful", a derivative of fides "faith". A famous bearer was the revolutionary leader and Cuban president Fidel Castro (1926-2016).
Fidela f Spanish
Feminine form of Fidel.
Fidelia f Spanish (Latin American)
Feminine form of Fidel. It appears in the epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590) belonging to the sister of Speranza.
Fidelis m Late Roman
Original form of Fidel.
Fidelma f Irish
Latinized form of Fedelm.
Fido m & f Pet
From Latin fidus meaning "faithful". This a stereotypical name for dogs.
Frank m English, German, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, French
From an Old German name that referred to a member of the Germanic tribe, the Franks. The Franks settled in the regions now called France, Belgium and the Netherlands in the 3rd and 4th century. They possibly derived their tribal name from a type of spear that they used, from Proto-Germanic *frankô. From medieval times, the various forms of this name have been commonly conflated with the various forms of Francis. In modern times it is sometimes used as a short form of Francis or Franklin.... [more]
Fred m English, Dutch, German, French, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian
Short form of Frederick and other names containing the same element. A famous bearer was the American actor and dancer Fred Astaire (1899-1987). It was also borne by the cartoon caveman Fred Flintstone on the television series The Flintstones (1960-1966).
Frederic m Catalan, Occitan
Catalan and Occitan form of Frederik. A notable bearer was the French/Occitan writer Frederic Mistral (1830-1914), whose name was written Frédéric in French.
Frideswide f History (Ecclesiastical)
Modern form of the Old English name Friðuswiþ, formed of the elements friþ "peace" and swiþ "strong". Saint Frideswide was an 8th-century English princess who became a nun. She is credited with establishing Christ Church in Oxford.
Friduhelm m Germanic
Old German form of Friedhelm.
Fridwald m Germanic
Old German form of Friedhold.
Friedhelm m German
Derived from the Old German elements fridu "peace" and helm "helmet, protection".
Friedhold m German (Rare)
Means "peaceful power", derived from the Old German elements fridu "peace" and walt "power, authority".
Friðuswiþ f Anglo-Saxon
Old English form of Frideswide.
Fróði m Old Norse
Old Norse form of Frode.
Furqan m Arabic, Urdu
Means "criterion between right and wrong" or "proof" in Arabic. This is the name of the 25th chapter (surah al-Furqan) of the Quran.
Ganzorig m Mongolian
Means "steel courage" in Mongolian, from ган (gan) meaning "steel" and зориг (zorig) meaning "courage".
Garbi f Basque
Means "clean, pure" in Basque.
Gareth m Welsh, English (British), Arthurian Cycle
Meaning uncertain. It appears in this form in Thomas Malory's 15th-century compilation of Arthurian legends Le Morte d'Arthur, in which the knight Gareth (also named Beaumains) is a brother of Gawain. He goes with Lynet to rescue her sister Lyonesse from the Red Knight. Malory based the name on Gaheriet or Guerrehet, which was the name of a similar character in French sources. It may ultimately have a Welsh origin, possibly from the name Gwrhyd meaning "valour" (found in the tale Culhwch and Olwen) or Gwairydd meaning "hay lord" (found in the chronicle Brut y Brenhinedd).
Gaurav m Hindi
Derived from Sanskrit गौरव (gaurava) meaning "importance, dignity".
Gefjon f Norse Mythology
Probably means "the giving one", from Old Norse gefa "to give". Gefjon or Gefion was a Norse goddess associated with ploughing and fertility.
Generoso m Italian, Spanish (Rare)
Italian and Spanish form of Generosus.
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.
Gennadius m Late Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Γεννάδιος (Gennadios), which was derived from Greek γεννάδας (gennadas) meaning "noble, generous". Saint Gennadius was an early martyr from North Africa.
Gerasimos m Greek, Late Greek
Derived from Greek γέρας (geras) meaning "honour, gift". Saint Gerasimus was a 5th-century hermit who lived near the Jordan River.
Gerfried m German (Rare)
Derived from the Old German elements ger "spear" and fridu "peace".
Gerlind f Germanic
Old German form of Gerlinde.
Gerlinde f German, Dutch
Derived from the Old German element ger meaning "spear" combined with lind meaning "soft, flexible, tender".
Ghada f Arabic
Means "graceful woman" in Arabic.
Ghufran f & m Arabic
Means "forgiveness" in Arabic.
Gioconda f Italian
From the Late Latin name Iucunda, which meant "pleasant, delightful, happy". Leonardo da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa is also known as La Gioconda because its subject is Lisa del Giocondo.
Glenys f Welsh
Probably an elaboration of the Welsh word glân "pure, clean, holy" or glyn "valley". This name was created in the late 19th century.
Gloria f English, Spanish, Italian, German
Means "glory", from the Portuguese and Spanish titles of the Virgin Mary Maria da Glória and María de Gloria. Maria da Glória (1819-1853) was the daughter of the Brazilian emperor Pedro I, eventually becoming queen of Portugal as Maria II.... [more]
Glory f English (Rare)
Simply from the English word glory, ultimately from Latin gloria.
Goda 2 f Lithuanian
From Lithuanian godà meaning "thought, dream" or "honour, respect".
Godefrid m Germanic
Old German form of Godfrey.
Godefroy m French
French form of Godefrid (see Godfrey).
Goffredo m Italian
Italian form of Godfrey.
Gordan m Serbian, Croatian
Derived from South Slavic gord meaning "proud". This name and the feminine form Gordana were popularized by the publication of Croatian author Marija Jurić Zagorka's novel Gordana (1935).
Gotthold m German (Rare)
Derived from German Gott "God" and hold "gracious, graceful, loyal". This name was created in the 17th century.
Graça f Portuguese
Means "grace" in Portuguese, making it a cognate of Grace.
Grace f English
From the English word grace, which ultimately derives from Latin gratia. This was one of the virtue names created in the 17th century by the Puritans. The actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) was a famous bearer.... [more]
Gracia f Spanish
Means "grace" in Spanish, making it a cognate of Grace.
Graciana f Spanish, Portuguese
Feminine form of Graciano.
Gratia f Dutch (Rare)
Means "grace" in Latin.
Gratian m History
From the Roman name Gratianus, which was derived from Latin gratus meaning "grateful". Saint Gratian was the first bishop of Tours (4th century). This was also the name of a Roman emperor.
Gratiana f Ancient Roman
Feminine form of Gratianus (see Gratian).
Grazia f Italian
Means "grace" in Italian, making it a cognate of Grace.
Graziana f Italian
Italian feminine form of Gratianus (see Gratian).
Graziella f Italian
Diminutive of Grazia.
Guda m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic جودة (see Juda).
Guifré m Catalan (Rare)
Catalan form of Vilifredus, a Latinized form of Willifrid (or perhaps a Visigothic cognate). This was the name of a 9th-century count of Barcelona.
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.
Guiying m & f Chinese
From Chinese (guì) meaning "laurel, cassia, cinnamon" combined with (yīng) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero". This name can be formed from other character combinations as well.
Gunvor f Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
From the Old Norse name Gunnvǫr meaning "cautious in war", derived from gunnr "war" and vǫr "vigilant, cautious".
Güvenç m Turkish
Means "trust" in Turkish.
Gwenaël m French, Breton
Means "blessed and generous" from Breton gwenn meaning "white, blessed" and hael meaning "generous". Saint Gwenhael was a 6th-century abbot of Brittany.
Gwenaëlle f French, Breton
Feminine form of Gwenaël.
Gwenda f Welsh, English
Derived from the Welsh elements gwen meaning "white, blessed" and da meaning "good". This name was created in the 19th century.
Gwenfrewi f Welsh (Rare)
Derived from Welsh gwen meaning "white, blessed" combined with another element of uncertain meaning. It could possibly be Welsh ffreu meaning "stream, flow" or the obscure word ffrewi meaning "pacify, quell, reconcile". This may be the original form of Winifred. In any case, it is the Welsh name for the saint.
Gwenn f Breton
Breton cognate of Gwen.
Gwenneg m Breton
Derived from Breton gwenn meaning "white, blessed" combined with a diminutive suffix. Saint Gwenneg was an 8th-century monk of Brittany.
Gwyn m Welsh, Welsh Mythology
Means "white, blessed" in Welsh. In Welsh legend Gwyn was a king of the Otherworld and the leader of the Wild Hunt. He appears in the Welsh tale Culhwch and Olwen, where he is one of the many who help Culhwch hunt the monstrous boar Trwyth. The story also tells of his rivalry with Gwythyr for the beautiful Creiddylad.
Gwynn m Welsh
Variant of Gwyn.
Gyeong m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean (gyeong) meaning "capital city", (gyeong) meaning "scenery, view", (gyeong) meaning "respect, honour", or other hanja characters with the same pronunciation. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
Ha-Eun f Korean
From Sino-Korean (ha) meaning "summer, great, grand" combined with (eun) meaning "kindness, mercy, charity". This name can also be formed by other hanja character combinations.
Hagne f Late Greek
Original Greek form of Agnes.
Haidee f Literature
Perhaps intended to derive from Greek αἰδοῖος (aidoios) meaning "modest, reverent". This name was created by Lord Byron for a character (written as Haidée) in his 1819 poem Don Juan.
Halim m Arabic, Turkish, Indonesian, Malay
Means "patient, tolerant, mild" in Arabic. In Islamic tradition الحليم (al-Ḥalīm) is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Halima f Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Hausa, Swahili
Feminine form of Halim. Halima was the name of the foster mother of the Prophet Muhammad.
Halimah f Arabic, Malay, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic حليمة (see Halima), as well as the usual form in Malay and Indonesian.
Halime f Turkish
Turkish form of Halima.
Haluk m Turkish
Means "good nature" in Turkish.
Hanan 1 m Biblical
Means "gracious" in Hebrew. This is the name of several minor characters in the Old Testament.
Hanan 2 f Arabic
Means "mercy, compassion" in Arabic, derived from the root حنّ (ḥanna) meaning "to sympathize, to pity".
Hanane f Arabic (Maghrebi)
Alternate transcription of Arabic حنان (see Hanan 2) chiefly used in North Africa.
Hananiah m Biblical
Means "Yahweh is gracious" in Hebrew, from חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This name appears frequently in the Old Testament. It is the Hebrew name of Shadrach.
Hanif m Arabic, Urdu
Means "true, upright" in Arabic.
Haniya f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic هنيّة (see Haniyya).
Haniyya f Arabic
From Arabic هنيء (hanīʾ) meaning "pleasant, beneficial", from the root هنأ (hanaʾa) meaning "to gladden, to enjoy".
Hannah f English, Hebrew, German, Dutch, Arabic, Biblical
From the Hebrew name חַנָּה (Ḥanna) meaning "favour, grace", derived from the root חָנַן (ḥanan) meaning "to be gracious". In the Old Testament this is the name of the wife of Elkanah. Her rival was Elkanah's other wife Peninnah, who had children while Hannah remained barren. After a blessing from Eli she finally became pregnant with Samuel.... [more]
Hannibal m Phoenician (Latinized), History
From the Punic name 𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋 meaning "my grace is Ba'al", derived from Phoenician 𐤇𐤍𐤍 (ḥann) meaning "grace, favour" combined with the name of the god Ba'al. This name occurs often in Carthaginian history. It was most notably borne by the famed general and tactician Hannibal Barca, who threatened Rome during the Second Punic War in the 3rd century BC. It is also associated with the fictional villain Hannibal Lecter from the books by Thomas Harris (debuting 1981) and subsequent movie adaptations.
Hanno m Phoenician (Latinized)
Derived from Phoenician 𐤇𐤍𐤍 (ḥann) meaning "grace, favour". This was a fairly common Punic name.
Hardy 1 m English
From a surname that was derived from Middle English hardi "bold, hardy".
Haris 2 m & f Greek
Alternate transcription of Greek Χάρης or Χάρις (see Charis).
Harmony f English
From the English word harmony, ultimately deriving from Greek ἁρμονία (harmonia).
Hartmann m German (Rare)
Means "brave man", derived from the Old German element hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy" combined with man.
Hasan m Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Indonesian, Malay, Albanian, Bosnian
Means "handsome" in Arabic, from the root حسن (ḥasuna) meaning "to be beautiful, to be good". Hasan was the son of Ali and the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. He was poisoned by one of his wives and is regarded as a martyr by Shia Muslims. This was also the name of two kings of Morocco. It is sometimes transcribed as Hassan, though this is a distinct name in Arabic.
Hasim m Arabic
Means "decisive" in Arabic, derived from حسم (ḥasama) meaning "to sever, to finish, to decide".
Hassan m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Malay, Dhivehi
Most commonly this is a variant of the Arabic name حسن, which is typically transcribed Hasan.... [more]
Haydée f Spanish, French (Rare)
Spanish and French form of Haidee, from Lord Byron's Don Juan (1819). It was later used by Alexander Dumas for a character in The Count of Monte Cristo (1844).
Hayri m Turkish
Means "useful man" in Turkish.
Hazim m Arabic, Bosnian
Means "firm, resolute" in Arabic.
He f & m Chinese
From Chinese () meaning "river, stream", () meaning "harmony, peace", or () meaning "lotus, water lily" (which is usually only feminine). Other characters can form this name as well. A famous bearer was the Ming dynasty explorer Zheng He (1371-1433).
Heiðdís f Icelandic
Derived from Old Norse heiðr "honour" and dís "goddess".
Hellä f Finnish
Means "gentle, tender" in Finnish.
Hiếu m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (hiếu) meaning "filial piety, obedience".
Hiroshi m Japanese
From Japanese (hiroshi) meaning "tolerant, generous", (hiroshi) meaning "prosperous", or other kanji and kanji combinations that are read the same way.
Hisham m Arabic, Malay
Means "generous" in Arabic, ultimately from هشم (hashama) meaning "to crush". The meaning derives from the traditional Arab act of crushing bread into crumbs in order to share it. This was the name of an 8th-century caliph of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain.
Honoka f Japanese
From Japanese (hono) meaning "harmony" (using an obscure nanori reading) and (ka) meaning "flower", as well as other combinations of kanji that have the same pronunciation. Very often it is written using the hiragana writing system.
Honor f & m English (Rare)
Variant of Honour, using the American spelling.
Honora f Irish, English
Variant of Honoria. It was brought to England and Ireland by the Normans.
Honorata f Late Roman, Polish
Feminine form of Honoratus.
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.
Honoria f Late Roman
Feminine form of Honorius. This name was borne by the sister of the Western Roman emperor Valentinian III. After her brother had her engaged to a man she did not like, she wrote to Attila the Hun asking for help. Attila interpreted this as a marriage proposal and subsequently invaded.
Honorina f Late Roman
Feminine form of Honorinus.
Honorine f French
French form of Honorina, a feminine form of the Roman name Honorinus, a derivative of Honorius. Saint Honorina was a 4th-century martyr from the Normandy region in France.
Honorinus m Late Roman
Late Latin name that was a derivative of Honorius.
Honorius m Late Roman
Late Latin name meaning "honour, esteem, dignity". This was the name of an emperor of the Western Roman Empire. It was also borne by a few early saints and four popes.
Honour f & m English (Rare)
From the English word honour, which is of Latin origin. This was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans in the 17th century. It can also be viewed as a form of Honoria or Honorata, which are ultimately derived from the same source.
Hope f English
From the English word hope, ultimately from Old English hopian. This name was first used by the Puritans in the 17th century.
Hróarr m Old Norse
Old Norse name, derived from the element hróðr "praise, fame" combined with either geirr "spear" (making it a relation of Hróðgeirr), herr "army, warrior" or varr "aware, cautious". This is the name of a legendary Danish king, the same one who is featured in the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf with the name Hroðgar.
Hrodland m Germanic
Old German form of Roland.
Hughard m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements hugu "mind, thought, spirit" and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy".
Hulda 1 f Icelandic, Swedish, Norwegian, Norse Mythology
Derived from Old Norse hulda meaning "hiding, secrecy". This was the name of a sorceress in Norse mythology. As a modern name, it can also derive from archaic Swedish huld meaning "gracious, sweet, lovable".
Hulderic m Germanic
Derived from the Old German elements hold "favourable, gracious, graceful, loyal" and rih "ruler, king".
Hunfrid m Germanic
Old German form of Humphrey.
Husni m Arabic
Derived from Arabic حسْن (ḥusn) meaning "beauty, excellence, goodness".
Hyeon m & f Korean
From Sino-Korean (hyeon) meaning "virtuous, worthy, able" or other characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
Hyeon-Jeong f Korean
From Sino-Korean (hyeon) meaning "virtuous, worthy, able" or (hyeon) meaning "shine, glitter" combined with (jeong) meaning "courtyard" or (jeong) meaning "virtuous, chaste, loyal". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Hyeon-Ju f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean (hyeon) meaning "virtuous, worthy, able" and (ju) meaning "jewel, pearl". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Hyeon-U m Korean
From Sino-Korean (hyeon) meaning "virtuous, worthy, able" or (hyeon) meaning "manifest, clear" combined with (u) meaning "divine intervention, protection" or (u) meaning "rain". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Hyun m & f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Hyeon).
Hyun-Joo f & m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 현주 (see Hyeon-Ju).
Hyun-Jung f & m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 현정 (see Hyeon-Jeong).
Hyun-Woo m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 현우 (see Hyeon-U).
Ianto m Welsh
Diminutive of Ifan.
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.
Ihsan m Arabic, Urdu, Indonesian
Means "charity, good deed" in Arabic, from the root حسن (ḥasuna) meaning "to be good".
Iines f Finnish
Finnish form of Agnes.
Ikram f & m Arabic, Urdu
Means "honour" in Arabic, from the root كرم (karuma) meaning "to be generous".
Imaan f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic إيمان (see Iman).
Imaculada f Portuguese
Portuguese cognate of Inmaculada.
Iman f & m Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Indonesian, Malay
Means "faith" in Arabic, derived from أمن (ʾamuna) meaning "to be faithful". It is typically feminine in Arabic and masculine in Persian.
Imane f Arabic (Maghrebi)
Alternate transcription of Arabic إيمان (see Iman) chiefly used in North Africa.
Imani f & m Swahili, African American
Means "faith" in Swahili, ultimately from Arabic إيمان (ʾīmān).
Imbi f Estonian
Estonian cognate of Impi.
Ime 1 m & f Ibibio
Means "patience" in Ibibio.
Imeda m Georgian
Derived from Georgian იმედი (imedi) meaning "hope".
Imen f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic إيمان (see Iman).
Immacolata f Italian
Italian cognate of Inmaculada.
Immaculada f Catalan
Catalan cognate of Inmaculada.
Imona f Uzbek
Uzbek form of Iman.
Impi f Finnish
Means "maiden, virgin" in Finnish.
Inam f Arabic
Means "giving, bestowal, act of kindness" in Arabic, ultimately related to نعم (naʿima) meaning "to live in comfort, to be delighted".
Inas f Arabic
Means "friendliness" in Arabic, from the root أنس (ʾanisa) meaning "to be friendly".
Inés f Spanish
Spanish form of Agnes.
Inès f French
French form of Inés.
Inês f Portuguese
Portuguese form of Agnes.
Inessa f Russian, Ukrainian
Russian and Ukrainian form of Inés.
Inez f English, Swedish, Dutch
Variant of Inés.
Inmaculada f Spanish
Means "immaculate" in Spanish. This name is given to commemorate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.
Inocencia f Spanish
Spanish feminine form of Innocentius (see Innocent).
Irini f Greek
Modern Greek form of Irene.
Isamu m Japanese
From Japanese (isamu) meaning "brave" or other kanji having the same pronunciation.
'Ismat m & f Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic عصمت (see Ismat).
Itidal f Arabic (Rare)
Means "temperance, moderation" in Arabic.
Itxaro f Basque
Means "hope, wait" in Basque.
Iucunda f Late Roman
Latin form of Gioconda.
Ivan m Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Serbian, Macedonian, Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, English, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian
Newer form of the Old Church Slavic name Іѡаннъ (Ioannŭ), which was derived from Greek Ioannes (see John). This was the name of six Russian rulers, including the 15th-century Ivan III the Great and 16th-century Ivan IV the Terrible, the first tsar of Russia. It was also borne by nine emperors of Bulgaria. Other notable bearers include the Russian author Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883), who wrote Fathers and Sons, and the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), who is best known for his discovery of the conditioned reflex.
Jagienka f Polish
Diminutive of Jagna.
Jagna f Polish
Originally a diminutive of Agnieszka, Agata or Jadwiga. It is now used independently.
Jagusia f Polish (Rare)
Diminutive of Jaga.
Jahid m Arabic, Bengali
Means "diligent, striving" in Arabic, from the root جهد (jahada) meaning "to struggle, to strive".
Jalo m Finnish
Means "noble, gracious" in Finnish.
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.
Janette f English
Variant of Janet.
Janja f Croatian, Serbian, Slovene
Croatian, Serbian and Slovene form of Agnes. It also may be inspired by Serbo-Croatian janje meaning "lamb".
Jaromír m Czech, Slovak
Derived from the Slavic elements jarŭ "fierce, energetic" and mirŭ "peace, world". This name was borne by an 11th-century duke of Bohemia.
Jaromir m Polish
Polish form of Jaromír.
Jaromíra f Czech
Feminine form of Jaromír.
Javad m Persian
Persian form of Jawad.
Jawad m Arabic
Means "generous" in Arabic, a derivative of جاد (jāda) meaning "to be excellent, to be generous".
Jefimija f Serbian
Serbian form of Euphemia. This name was adopted by a 14th-century Serbian poet (born Jelena Mrnjavčević).
Jeong f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean (jeong) meaning "quiet, still, gentle" or (jeong) meaning "virtuous, chaste, loyal", as well as other characters that are pronounced similarly. It usually occurs in combination with another character, though it is sometimes used as a stand-alone name.
Jeong-Suk f Korean
From Sino-Korean (jeong) meaning "virtuous, chaste, loyal" or (jeong) meaning "right, proper, correct" combined with (suk) meaning "good, pure, virtuous, charming". Other hanja combinations are possible.
Ji-Hoon m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 지훈 (see Ji-Hun).
Ji-Hun m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" combined with (hun) meaning "meritorious deed, rank". This name can be formed by other hanja character combinations as well.
Ji-Min f & m Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "will, purpose, ambition" or (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" combined with (min) meaning "gentle, affable", (min) meaning "quick, clever, sharp" or (min) meaning "jade, stone resembling jade". Other hanja character combinations are possible.
Jin 2 m Japanese
From Japanese (jin) meaning "compassionate" or other kanji having the same reading.
Jing f & m Chinese
From Chinese (jìng) meaning "quiet, still, gentle", (jīng) meaning "essence, spirit", (jīng) meaning "clear, crystal" or (jīng) meaning "capital city". Other characters can also form this name.
Jingyi m & f Chinese
From Chinese (jìng) meaning "quiet, still, gentle" combined with () meaning "joy, harmony". Other character combinations are possible as well.
Ji-Yeong f Korean
From Sino-Korean (ji) meaning "wisdom, intellect" or (ji) meaning "know, perceive, comprehend" combined with (yeong) meaning "flower, petal, brave, hero" or (yeong) meaning "glory, honour, flourish, prosper". Many other hanja character combinations are possible.
Ji-Young f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 지영 (see Ji-Yeong).
Johnnie m & f English
Diminutive of John, sometimes used as a feminine form.
Jong f & m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Jeong).
Joy f English
Simply from the English word joy, ultimately derived from Norman French joie, Latin gaudium. It has been regularly used as a given name since the late 19th century.
Juda m Arabic
Means "goodness, excellence" in Arabic, derived from جاد (jāda) meaning "to be excellent, to be generous".
Judicaël m French, Breton
French form of the Old Breton name Iudicael, derived from the elements iudd "lord" and hael "generous". This was the name of a 7th-century Breton king, also regarded as a saint.
Jung f & m Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Jeong).
Jung-Sook f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul 정숙 (see Jeong-Suk).
Junko f Japanese
From Japanese (jun) meaning "obedience" or (jun) meaning "pure" combined with (ko) meaning "child". Other combinations of kanji characters are also possible.
Justa f Late Roman, Spanish
Feminine form of Justus. This was the name of a few early saints.
Juste m French
French form of Justus.
Justice m & f English
From an occupational surname meaning "judge, officer of justice" in Old French. This name can also be given in direct reference to the English word justice.
Justin m English, French, Slovene
From the Latin name Iustinus, which was derived from Justus. This was the name of several early saints including Justin Martyr, a Christian philosopher of the 2nd century who was beheaded in Rome. It was also borne by two Byzantine emperors. As an English name, it has occasionally been used since the late Middle Ages, though it did not become common until the second half of the 20th century. Famous modern bearers include pop stars Justin Timberlake (1981-) and Justin Bieber (1994-).
Justino m Spanish, Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese form of Iustinus (see Justin).
Justo m Spanish
Spanish form of Justus.
Justus m German, Dutch, Finnish, Late Roman
Latin name meaning "just". This name was borne by at least eight saints.
Kagiso m & f Tswana
Means "peace" in Tswana.
Kala 1 f Tamil
Means "art form, virtue" in Sanskrit.
Karam m & f Arabic
Means "nobility, generosity" in Arabic, derived from كرم (karuma) meaning "to be generous".
Kareem m Arabic
Alternate transcription of Arabic كريم (see Karim). A famous bearer of this name is basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1947-).
Karim m Arabic, Persian, Tajik, Uzbek, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tatar
Means "generous, noble" in Arabic, from the root كرم (karuma) meaning "to be generous". In Islamic tradition الكريم (al-Karīm) is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Karissa f English
Variant of Charissa.
Karuna f & m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Telugu
From Sanskrit करुणा (karuṇā) meaning "compassion, mercy".
Kasumi f Japanese
From Japanese (kasumi) meaning "mist". It can also come from (ka) meaning "flower, blossom" combined with (sumi) meaning "clear, pure". Other kanji combinations are also possible.
Kavi m Hindi
From a title for a poet, meaning "wise man, sage, poet" in Sanskrit.
Kayra m & f Turkish
Means "kindness, favour" in Turkish, ultimately from Arabic خير (khayr) meaning "goodness, charity".
Kazuki m Japanese
From Japanese (kazu) meaning "one" or (kazu) meaning "harmony, peace" combined with (ki) meaning "brightness", (ki) meaning "hope" or (ki) meaning "tree", as well as other combinations of kanji characters.
Kazuyuki m Japanese
From Japanese (kazu) meaning "harmony, peace" and (yuki) meaning "happiness, good luck", as well as other combinations of kanji characters having the same reading.
Keeva f Irish
Anglicized form of Caoimhe.
Kelemen m Hungarian
Hungarian form of Clement.
Kemen m Basque
Means "courage, vigour" in Basque.
Kenshin m Japanese
From Japanese (ken) meaning "humble, modest" and (shin) meaning "trust, believe". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Kenzō m Japanese
From Japanese (ken) meaning "humble", (ken) meaning "healthy, strong" or (ken) meaning "wise" combined with () meaning "three". Other kanji combinations can also form this name.
Khalil m Arabic, Persian, Urdu
Means "friend" in Arabic.
Khariton m Russian
Russian form of Chariton.
Khayr m Arabic
Means "goodness, charity" in Arabic.
Khayra f Arabic
Means "good deed" in Arabic, a derivative of خير (khayr) meaning "goodness, charity".
Khayri m Arabic
Means "charitable, benificent" in Arabic, a derivative of خير (khayr) meaning "goodness, charity".
Khayriyya f Arabic
Feminine form of Khayri.
Kheira f Arabic (Maghrebi)
Alternate transcription of Arabic خيرة (see Khayra) chiefly used in Algeria.
Kittum f Semitic Mythology
From Akkadian kīttu meaning "truth", a derivative of kīnu "legitimate, true". This was the name of the Akkadian goddess of truth.
Kiyo f Japanese
From Japanese (kiyo) meaning "clear, pure, clean" or other homophonic words. This was a popular name in the Edo period and remained common until the early 20th century, at which time it was usually spelled using katakana.
Kiyoko f Japanese
From Japanese (kiyo) meaning "clear, pure, clean" or (kiyo) meaning "holy" and (ko) meaning "child". This name can also be formed from other combinations of kanji characters.
Kiyoshi m Japanese
From Japanese (kiyoshi) or (kiyoshi) both meaning "pure". Other kanji or kanji combinations can also form this name.
Klahan m Thai
Means "brave" in Thai.
Klemens m German, Polish
German and Polish form of Clemens (see Clement). Prince Klemens Metternich (1773-1859) was an Austrian chancellor who guided the Austrian Empire to victory in the Napoleonic Wars.
Klement m Czech, Slovak
Czech and Slovak form of Clemens (see Clement).
Klementina f Slovene, Croatian
Slovene and Croatian form of Clementina.
Klementyna f Polish
Polish form of Clementina.
Klim m Russian
Short form of Kliment.
Kliment m Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Russian, Bulgarian and Macedonian form of Clemens (see Clement).
Klimentina f Macedonian
Macedonian form of Clementina.
Kōki m Japanese
From Japanese () meaning "light" or () meaning "happiness, good luck" combined with (ki) meaning "hope" or (ki) meaning "brightness". This name can be formed from other combinations of kanji characters as well.
Kouki m Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji 光希 or 幸輝 (see Kōki).
Krasimir m Bulgarian
Derived from the Slavic elements krasa "beauty, adornment" and mirŭ "peace, world".
Krasimira f Bulgarian
Feminine form of Krasimir.
Krešimir m Croatian
From the Slavic elements krěsiti "to spark, to flare up, to bring to life, to resurrect" and mirŭ "peace, world". This was the name of four kings of Croatia in the 10th and 11th centuries. Their names were recorded in Latin as Cresimirus.
Kunthea f Khmer
Means "perfume, fragrance" in Khmer, ultimately from Sanskrit गनध (gandha). It is also said to derive from Khmer គុណ (kun) meaning "virtue, good deed" and ធារ (thear) meaning "profusion, abundance".
Kurt m German, English, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian
German contracted form of Conrad. A famous bearer was the American musician Kurt Cobain (1967-1994).
Kyo m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji or or or (see Kyō).
Kyou m & f Japanese
Alternate transcription of Japanese Kanji or or or (see Kyō).
Kyung m & f Korean
Alternate transcription of Korean Hangul (see Gyeong).
Lalita f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Thai
Means "playful, charming, desirable" in Sanskrit. According to the Puranas this was the name of one of the gopis, who were milkmaids devoted to the young Krishna. Additionally, in Shaktism, this is the name of a goddess who is also called Tripura Sundari.
Lành m & f Vietnamese
Means "good, favourable, gentle" in Vietnamese.
Latif m Arabic, Urdu
Means "gentle, kind" in Arabic. In Islamic tradition اللطيف (al-Laṭīf) is one of the 99 names of Allah.
Latifah f Arabic, Malay, Indonesian
Alternate transcription of Arabic لطيفة (see Latifa), as well as the usual Malay and Indonesian form.
Lelle m Swedish
Diminutive of Lennart.
Lempi f Finnish
Means "love" in Finnish.
Len m English
Short form of Leonard.
Lenard m English
Variant of Leonard.
Lenart m Slovene
Slovene form of Leonard.
Lennard m Dutch
Dutch variant of Leonard.
Lennart m Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Estonian, Low German, Dutch
Swedish and Low German form of Leonard.
Lennie m & f English
Diminutive of Leonard, sometimes a feminine form.
Lenny m English
Diminutive of Leonard.
Leofgyð f Anglo-Saxon
Derived from the Old English elements leof "dear, beloved" and guð "battle".
Leofwine m Anglo-Saxon
Means "dear friend", derived from the Old English elements leof "dear, beloved" and wine "friend". This was the name of an 8th-century English saint, also known as Lebuin, who did missionary work in Frisia.
Léonard m French
French form of Leonard.
Leonard m English, Dutch, German, Polish, Romanian, Germanic
Means "brave lion", derived from the Old German elements lewo "lion" (of Latin origin) and hart "hard, firm, brave, hardy". This was the name of a 6th-century Frankish saint from Noblac who is the patron of prisoners and horses. The Normans brought this name to England, where it was used steadily through the Middle Ages, becoming even more common in the 20th century.
Leonardo m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Leonard. A notable bearer was Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), an Italian artist and scientist of the Renaissance. He is known as the inventor of several contraptions, including flying machines, as well as the painter of the Mona Lisa. Another famous bearer was Leonardo Fibonacci, a 13th-century Italian mathematician. A more recent bearer is American actor Leonardo DiCaprio (1974-).
Leonhard m German
German form of Leonard. A famous bearer was the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), who made many important contributions to calculus, number theory, geometry and theoretical physics.
Léopold m French
French form of Leopold.
Leopold m German, Dutch, English, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Polish
Derived from the Old German elements liut "people" and bald "bold, brave". The spelling was altered due to association with Latin leo "lion". This name was common among German royalty, first with the Babenbergs and then the Habsburgs. Saint Leopold was a 12th-century Babenberg margrave of Austria, who is now considered the patron of that country. It was also borne by two Habsburg Holy Roman emperors, as well as three kings of Belgium. Since the 19th century this name has been occasionally used in England, originally in honour of Queen Victoria's uncle, a king of Belgium, after whom she named one of her sons. It was later used by James Joyce for the main character, Leopold Bloom, in his novel Ulysses (1922).
Léopoldine f French
French feminine form of Leopold.
Leopoldo m Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Leopold.
Lepidus m Ancient Roman
Roman cognomen meaning "pleasant, agreeable, charming" in Latin. A notable bearer was the 1st-century BC Roman general and statesman Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.
Letitia f English
From the Late Latin name Laetitia meaning "joy, happiness". This was the name of an obscure saint, who is revered mainly in Spain. It was in use in England during the Middle Ages, usually in the spelling Lettice, and it was revived in the 18th century.
Leudbald m Germanic
Old German form of Leopold.
Liber m Roman Mythology
Derived from Latin liber meaning "free". This was the name of a Roman fertility god, often identified with Dionysus.
Liberty f & m English
Simply from the English word liberty, derived from Latin libertas, a derivative of liber "free". Interestingly, since 1880 this name has charted on the American popularity lists in three different periods: in 1918 (at the end of World War I), in 1976 (the American bicentennial), and after 2001 (during the War on Terrorism).
Liêm m Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese (liêm) meaning "clean, honest, upright".
Lilavati f Sanskrit
Means "amusing, charming, graceful" in Sanskrit. The 12th-century mathematician Bhaskara gave this name to one of his books on mathematics, possibly after his daughter. This was also the name of a 13th-century queen of Sri Lanka.
Lily f English
From the name of the flower, a symbol of purity. The word is ultimately derived from Latin lilium. This is the name of the main character, Lily Bart, in the novel The House of Mirth (1905) by Edith Wharton. A famous bearer is the American actress Lily Tomlin (1939-).
Lioubov f Russian
Alternate transcription of Russian Любовь (see Lyubov).
Liupold m Germanic
Old German form of Leopold.
Ljubomir m Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian, Slovene
Croatian, Serbian and Macedonian form of Lubomír.
Love 2 f English
Simply from the English word love, derived from Old English lufu.