These
names were used in ancient Sumer.
Submitted names are contributed by users of this website. The accuracy of these name definitions cannot be guaranteed.
Aga 𒀝𒂵, 𒀝 m SumerianDerived from Sumerian
akka "made by (a god)", derived from Sumerian
𒀝 (
ak) "to make". This is the name of the twenty-third and last king in the first dynasty of Kish during the Early Dynastic I period.
Akurgal 𒀀𒆳𒃲 m SumerianMeans "descendant of the great mountain", deriving from the Sumerian elements 𒀀
a ("offspring, father"), 𒆳
kur ("mountain, highland"), and 𒃲
gal ("large, mighty, great")... [
more]
Ama-e f SumerianPossibly deriving in part from the Sumerian element
ama ("mother"). Name borne by a Sumerian businesswoman who lived during the reign of Sargon of Akkad.
Bara-irnun f SumerianEtymology uncertain, possibly deriving in part from the Sumerian element
bára, meaning "throne dais, ruler". Name borne by a queen of the city of Umma (fl. 2400 BCE).
Baranamtarra f SumerianEtymology unknown, possibly deriving from Sumerian elements
nam meaning "(area of) responsibility; destiny, fate, lot" and
tar meaning "deliberate, judicious". Name borne by a queen of Lagash (circa 2384 BCE), known for her involvement in the trade of wool, silver, and bronze between Lagash, Dilmun, and Umma.
Enmebaragesi 𒂗𒈨𒁈𒄄𒋛 m SumerianFrom Sumerian
𒂗𒈨𒁈𒄄𒋛 (
Enmebárgisi) meaning "crown fit for a ruler", from Sumerian
𒂗 (
en) "lord",
𒈨 (
me) "crown",
𒁈 (
bara₂) "ruler, king", and
𒋛 (
si) "to fill"... [
more]
Enpap-X m SumerianPossibly one of the earliest names recorded. He was mentioned on a tablet dated 3200-3100 BC. He was one of two Sumerian slaves owned by
Gal-Sal.
Enshakushanna 𒂗𒊮𒊨𒀭𒈾 m SumerianPossibly deriving from Sumerian elements
en meaning "dignitary; lord; high priest",
ur-saĝ meaning "hero, warrior" and
an meaning "sky, heaven; the god An"... [
more]
Entemena 𒂗𒋼𒈨𒈾 m SumerianOf uncertain etymology, possibly deriving in part from the Sumerian element
en, meaning "lord, high priest, dignitary". Name borne by a king of Lagash, notable for being named in the earliest known peace treaty between two kings.
Etana 𒂊𒋫𒈾 m SumerianThe thirteenth god-king of the Sumerian dynasty ruling the city of Kish. He was appointed by
Anu himself. Etana had no son and prayed daily to
Shamash, the sun-god, to grant him a child... [
more]
Gal-Sal m SumerianPossibly one of the earliest names recorded. It occurs on a tablet dated ca 3200-3100 BC. Gal-Sal was a slave owner.
Kushim m SumerianKushim is possibly the earliest given name recorded. He is mentioned on the Kushim Tablet (ca 3200 BC). He was probably a scribe or a kind of "accountant" among Sumerians.
Lugal-kinishe-dudu 𒈗𒆠𒉌𒂠𒌌𒌌 m SumerianEtymology uncertain, likely deriving in part from the Sumerian element
lugal ("master, king"). Name borne by a king of Uruk and Ur who ruled at the end of the 25th century BCE.
Lugal-kisalsi 𒈗𒆦𒋛 m SumerianPossibly deriving from Sumerian element
lugal, meaning "king, owner, master", and
tar " to cut; to decide". Name of a King of Uruk and Ur (some contemporary sources also place him as King of Kish), circa 2400 BCE.
Lugalsilâsi 𒈗𒋻𒋛 m SumerianMeans "The lord fills the streets", deriving from the Sumerian elements 𒈗
lugal ("king, master, lord"), 𒋻𒋛
silâ ("street, path"), and 𒋛
si ("to fill up")... [
more]
Mashda m Sumerian, AkkadianLikely meaning "gazelle", from the Akkadian word
ṣabîtum ("gazelle"). According to the Sumerian king list, this is the name of the eleventh Sumerian king in the First Dynasty of Kish.
Nin-kalla f SumerianMeans "precious sister", deriving from the Sumerian elements
nin ("sister") and
níĝ-kal-la ("precious"). Name borne by many prominent high-status women during the Neo-Sumerian Empire.
Shulgi 𒀭𒂄𒄀 m SumerianOf uncertain etymology, name borne by a king of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, who ruled for 48 years circa 2094 BC to 2046 BC.
Sukkalgir m SumerianPossibly one of the earliest names recorded. His name occurs on a tablet dated 3200-3100 BC. He was one of two Sumerian slaves of
Gal-Sal.
Turgunu-Sanga m SumerianTurgunu-Sanga (3100 BC) seems to have been a Sumerian accountant for the Turgunu family. His names is one of the earliest names recorded.
Ubartum f Ancient Near Eastern, SumerianOf uncertain etymology, possibly derived from the Sumerian element
tum, meaning "wind; cardinal point" or "to bring; to carry away; to obtain". Ubartum was a female physician of the Neo-Sumerian Empire, who lived in Garšana.
Ur-nanshe 𒌨𒀭𒀏 m SumerianPossibly meaning "Servant of
Nanshe", deriving from Sumerian element
ur, meaning " servant; young man, warrior". Name borne by the first king of the dynasty of Lagash, who ruled in the Early Dynastic Period III of Sumer.
Ur-zababa m Sumerian, AkkadianLikely means "dog of Zababa" or "the one of Zababa" in Sumerian, derived from Sumerian
𒌨 (
ur) "dog of, he of, the one of" combined with the Sumerian god
Zababa... [
more]
Urzage 𒌨𒍠𒌓𒁺 m SumerianEtymology uncertain, possibly deriving from the Sumerian elements 𒌨
ur ("servant, warrior"), and
zàg ("to choose, chosen").
Ziusudra m Near Eastern Mythology, SumerianMeaning, "life of long days." The name of a king listed in the Sumerian king list; listed as the last king of Sumer prior to the deluge and subsequently recorded as the hero of the Sumerian flood epic... [
more]