Air > Names > Names of Germanic, Old English, Saxon origins

 

The names below are Germanic unless specified otherwise

 

 Abelard (M)

hard=staunch / middle english: keeper of the abbey larder

= Abalard, Abilard, Abelard (germ), Abélard (fr)

 

Ada (F)

prosper

= Aida (it), Adda (fris), Adão (port), Àda (A-duh, cz)

-> Adah, Adda, Adi, Adey, Addie, Eada, Eda, Adabelle (Ada+ fr Belle= prosper and beautiful)

 

Addisson (M)

o.e: Son of Adam

 

Adel (F)

noble

= F: Adèle, Adélie, Adeline, Alida, Aline (fr), Adela (it), Ethel (eng), Adela, Adelita (sp), Adeliya (rus), Adél (hung), Ádela (A-del-uh, cz)

= M: Ade, Ate (fries)

-> Addi, Del, Della, Delly, Edeline, Adalia, Adelicia

 

Adelaide (F)

Adalhaid, Adalheidis, adel=noble, haidu=race

= Adelaïde (fr), Adelheid, Alke, Elke (germ), Adelaida (it), Adelaidá (pol), Adla, Adleida, Adelichlka, Adlesha, Adleta (rus)

-> Adelais, Adeliz, Adeliza

 

Adelhard (M)

adel=noble, hard=staunch

= Alard, Allard (eng), Allart, Aldert (ned), Aleardo (it), Adélard (fr)

 

Adhémar (M)

France; adal=noble, mar=illustrious

 

Adler (M)

eagle

 

Adolf (M)

adal=noble, wolf=wolf

= Adolphe (fr), Adolfo (it, sp), Adolf, Adok (pol), Adolphus (latinized)

= F: Adolphine (fr)

 

Ainsley (M, F)

from a scot last name, o.e an=one, only; léah=wood, clearing

-> Ainslee, Ainslie

 

Alaric (M)

ruling all (ala=all, ric=ruler)

= Ulric, Ulrick (germ)

-> M: Alarick, Rick

-> F: Alarice, Alarise

 

Alberic (M)

from the Old English name Aelfric, aelf=elf, ric=ruler: Elven king

= Alberigo (it, sp), Aubrey (eng), Albéric, Auberon, Oberon, Albery (fr)

 

Albert (M)

adal=noble, behrt=famous, shiny

= M: Albert, Adalbert, Aubert, Aubertin (fr), Alberto (it, sp), Elbert, Albrecht, Adalbert, Adalbrecht, Adelbrecht (germ), Ailbert (scot), Albarts, Albardus, Albertus (fris), Alberts (latv)

= F: Alberte, Albertine, Auberta, Aubine (fr), Alberta, Albertina (it), Albertje (fris), Albertyna (pol), Alverta (gr)

-> F: Alli, Alverta, Berta, berte, Berti, Elberta, Elbertina, Elbertine

 

Alda (F)

rich

= Aude (fr), Aud (norw), Aldonza (sp)

-> Alida

 

Alder (M)

m.germ: alder tree

 

Aldhelm (M)

o.e Ealdhelm, eald=old, helm=helm

 

Aldith (F)

o.e Ealdgyth, eald=old, gyth=battle, strife

= M: Aldo (it)

= F: Aldona (lithua)

-> Alditha, Æthelgyth, Ailith, Aldis, Aldas, Aldya, Aldous, Aldus

 

Alfred (M)

o.e ælf=elf, rad=counsel

= M: Alfredo (it, sp), Alf (Norw)

= F: Alfreda (it, sp)

-> M: Fred, Avery, Alvery

-> F: Elfreda, Freda, Freddie, Elfrida, Frieda, Elva, Elvire, Elvira, Albreda, Alura, Alured

 

Algar (M)

o.e Ælfgar, ælf=elf, gar=lance

= Algirdas, Algirmantas (lithua)

-> Alger

 

Algernon (M)

o.french grenon=mustache: a mustached man (Normands customarily shaved contrary to most immigrants; the latter would be noticed and nicknamed "aux gernons"="with the mustache")

 

Alia (F)

alja=all

 

Alinda (F)

from Adelinde, adal=noble, lind=sweet / Aline+Linda in English-speaking countries

 

Aline (F)

from Adeline

= Alena, Alenka (rus)

-> Alina, Alyna

 

Almeric (M)

from Amalricus, amal=work, ric=ruler

= Americ, Emeric, Amaury (fr), Amory, Emory (eng)

 

Aloysius (M)

illustrious warrior / latinization of the provençal Louis / from Alwisi: all-wise

= M: Alabhaois (irel), Aloys (ned), Alois (germ), Aluisio (port), Aloiza (bielorus), Alojzy (aLOyzeu, pol)

= F: Aloisa (germ), Aloisia (sp), Aloysia, Aloisia, Aloyse, Lois (eng)

 

Alphonse (M)

from Adalfuns, adal=noble, funca=swift, ready, able

=M: Alfonso, Alonzo, Alonso (sp), Alphonsus (irel), Afonso, Affonso, Alfonso (port), Alphonse (fr), Alonso (it)

= F: Alphonsine (fr), Alfonsa, Alonza (sp)

 

Alvar (M)

eng Ælfhere, ælf=elf, here=army, warrior

= Allvar (swed), Àlvaro (sp), Alvaro (port), Alvar (fin)

 

Alvin (M)

o.e Ælfwine, ælf=elf, wine=friend

= Alvino (it), Alvan, Alvah (isr)

 

Amaline

Amal=labor, ine=diminutive

-> Ameline, Emeline (old fr), Emmeline, Emmelie, Emelie, Hemeline (fr), Emblem, Emlyn, Emelina (eng)

 

Amelia (F)

amal=work, labour

= Amélie, Ameline, Amalie, Amelina (fr),  Amelia (it), Amalia, Amelia, Amalea, Amelita (sp, port), Amalie (germ), Ameliya (rus), Amaliá (pol), Amalia (hung), Amalyah (isr)

-> Amy, Mell, Mellie, Mill, Millie

 

Amfrid (M)

from Anafrid, ano=ancestor, frithu=peace

 

Ancel (M)

Ansila, from ansi=deity

= Ancelin, Ancelot (fr)

 

Anselem (M)

Ansehelm, from ansi=deity, helm=heaume

= M: Anselmo (it), Anselme (fr)

= F: Anselma, Selma, Zelma (eng)

 

Ansger (M)

Ans=gods, ger=spear: Fighting with his spear for the gods, spear of the gods.

-> Asger

 

Archibald (M)

Ercanbald, from arcan=natural, bald=staunch: of a staunch nature

= Archambaud (fr), Baldie (scot), Arkan (serb)

 

Arden

arn=eagle, den=valley: valley of the eagle

-> F: Ardenia

 

Arlette (F)

fra, from a Normand diminutive of arn=eagle (mother of William the Conquerer)

 

Arlo

USA; o.e fortified hill (from a last name)

 

Armand (M)

hart=staunch, mann=man: staunch man

= M: Armand, Armandin (fr), Hermann (germ), Erminio, Armando (it), Manes (hung), Harmen (fris), Armando (sp), Armands (latv)

= F: Armine (eng)

-> F: Arminda

 

Armin (M)

Germany, Switz; Arminius, latinized name of a Germanic leader who beat the Romans in the year 9 AD

-> Armine (M, F), Arminel (F)

 

Arnold (M)

arn=eagle, wald=power: all-powerful eagle

= M: Arnaud, Arnauld, Arnault, Arnould, Ernaud (fr), Areud, Arnd (scand), Arnoldo, Arnaldo (it), Arndt, Arnd, Arend (fris), Arnout, Arent (ned), Arno, Arndt (germ), Arne (norw), Arnaldo (sp), Arno, Arnold (est), Arne, Arnost (cz), Arnon (isr), Aarne (fin, est)

= F: Arna, Arnice, Arnina, Arnit (isr)

 

Arnulf (M)

Germany; arn=eagle, wulf=wolf: eaglewolf

= Arnulf (norw)

 

Arnvid (M)

Arn=eagle, Scan vidr=forest: Like an eagle flying over the forest.

-> Arvid

 

Asce (M)

asa=deity

= M: Acelin (eng), Ezzelin (it), Asen, Assen (bulg)

= F: Åsa, Aasa (swed), Åse, Aase (norw), Asela (sp), Asenka (latv)

 

Ashbel (M)

?

 

Ashley (M, F)

o.e æsc=ash, leah=wood, clearing: wood of ash trees

-> Ashlea, Ashleigh, Ashlee, Ashlie, Ashly

 

Ashton (M, F)

o.e æsc=ash, tún=enclosure (from a last name)

 

Astrid (F)

France; Ansitruda from asa=deity, trud=faithfulness: she who is faithful to the Gods

= Astrup (norw), Astrée (Fr)

-> Astra

 

Athelstan (M)

o.e Æthelstan, æthel=noble, stan=stone

 

Audemar (M)

France; ald=ancient, ward=guardian

= Omer, Audey (eng)

 

Audrey (F)

o.e Æthelthryth, æthel=noble, thryth=strength

= Adeltraud, Edeltraud (germ)

-> Atheldreda (latinized), Audra, Audrina

 

Audric (M)

France; o.e eald=old, ric=ruler

 

Averil (F)

o.e Everild, from eofor=boar, hild=battle

-> Averell, Avril

 

Avice (F)

from Aveza, from Ava

= Avis (gispy)

 

Aylmer (M)

o.e Æthelmœr, æathel=noble, mœre=famous

-> Elmer, Aymar

 

Aylwin (M)

o.e Æthelwine, æthel=noble, wine=ami

= F: Aylwen (welsh)

-> Alwin

 

Bailey (M, F)

from a surname; occupation name for an administrative officer / local name for someone who lived near fortifications / local name for an inhabitant of Bailey, o.e. bêg=berry, lêah=wood

-> Baileigh, Baylee, Bayleigh, Bailie, Bailee

 

Baldric (M)

bald=bold, rik=ruler: bold king

= Baudry, Balderic (fr)

 

Baldwin (M)

Germanic Baldavin, Bealdwine, bald=bold, win=friend: bold friend

= Baudouin (fr), Balduino (it), Bôdewîn, Boldewîn (fries), Balduin, Baldwin (germ)

 

Barclay (M)

from a surname, Scottish for Berkeley, o.e. beorc=birch, leah=wood

 

Bardolf (M)

from Berhtolf, berhta=shiny, wulfa=wolf

= Bardo (dan)

-> Bard, Bardolph

 

Baron (M)

o.e. beorn=young warrior (a title of nobility)

 

Barrett (M)

from Beroald, bera=bear, wald=reign

-> Berold, Berolt

 

Barton

from a last name, o.e. bere=oat (orge), tûn=enclosure

 

Baxter (M)

from a surname, o.e. bæcestre=baker

 

Beldeor (M)

o.e. beautiful deer

 

Belinda (F)

from Betlindis, lindi=serpent

 

Bentley (M)

from a surname, o.e. beonet=bent grass, leah=wood

 

Beringer (M)

ber=bear, gari=spear: spearman of the Bear Clan

= M: Béranger, Berenger (fr)

= F: Bérangère, Bérengère (fr)

 

Bernard (M)

from Beringhard, Beornheard; ber=bear, hard=staunch

= M: Bernard, Bernardin (fr), Bernie, Barnard, Barney, Barnet (eng), Bernado (it), Bernhard (flinders, sw), Bearnard (scot), Bernaert, Bernhard, Barend (ned), Bernhard, Bernd, Berend (germ), Bärend, Bêrend, Bernd (fris), Bernardo, Bernardino, Bernal (sp), Bernardim (port), Berngards (rus), Bernardas (lith), Berngards, Bernhards (latv), Bernat (hung), Berno, Bernek (cz)

= F: Bernadette (fr), Bernadine, Bernadene, Berna, Bermette, Berny (eng), Bernarda, Bernardina, Bernadita (sp), Bernardá (pol)

 

Berthe (F)

behrt=shiny

= Berthe, Bertille, Bertil (fr), Berta, Bertina (it), Bertha, Berthe, Bertila, Bertel (germ), Bertel (dan), Bertalan (hung)

 

Berthold (M)

Germany: shiny and splendid

-> F: Berthilde

 

Bertram (M)

from Berahthraben behrt=shiny, famous, hraben=crow

-> Bert

= M: Bertrand (fr), Bertramo (it), Beltrán (sp), Bertramus (latin)

= F: Bertrande, Bertrade (fr)

 

Beverley (M, F)

from a surname, o.e. beofor=beaver, lêac=stream

-> F: Beverly

 

Bevis (M)

french Beuves, from germanic Bovo: handsome

 

Bishop (M)

From the surname

 

Blake (M)

From two originally distinct surnames, o.e blœc=black and blâc=pale (originally given to someone whose skin and/or hair was remarkable dark or fair)

 

Blakeley (F)

From a surname, english blœc=black / blâc=pale / Blake and leah=wood, clearing

 

Bluma (F)

Jewish name derived from german blume=bloom

 

Bodo (M)

Germany; messenger

= F: Bodil (scand)

 

Bond (F)

from a surname, reference to the bond owed to one’s lord.

 

Booker (M)

from a surname: scribe or bookbinder

 

Booth (M)

from a surname, denoting the inhabitant of a small shepherd hut (both)

 

Bradford (M)

USA, from a surname, o.e brâd=large, ford=ford

 

Brandon (M)

From a surname, o.e brôm=broom, gorse, dûn=hill

 

Branton (M)

USA, from a surname, o.e brôm=broom, gorse, tûn=enclosure

 

Braxton (M)

From a surname, Bracc= an english first name, o.e tûn= enclosure: Bracc's Enclosure

 

Brenton (M)

USA, from a surname, from Brˆyningtûn in the Devon: hamlet associated to Brˆyni (bryne=fire)

 

Brewster (M)

USA, from a surname, o.e brêowestre=brewer

 

Brigham (M)

US, from a surname, o.e brycg=bridge, hâm=household (Brigham was a Mormon leader)

 

Brock (M)

From a surname, o.e brocc=badger

 

Broderick (M)

Scotland, sax: Lareg Terrain

-> Brody, Derick

 

Bronislaw (M)

Germ. Brunja=(suit of) armour, slav slav=glory, honour: Glorious with his suit of armour

-> F: Branislava

= Branislaú (Belarus)

 

Brook (F)

USA, from a surname, o.e brook: Brook

 

Brunhild (F)

Germ brunnia=corslet, hild=battle, name of a Walkyrie

= Brunhilda, Brunhild, Hilda (eng), Brünhild (germ), Brunhilde (fr)

-> Brynhild, Brunahild, Hilde, Hilda

 

Bruno (M)

Germ brun=brown (referring to the bear)

= Bruno, Brunetto (it), Broen (scand), Brûno (fris), Bruns (germ), Brno, Berno, Burno (slav)

 

Burton (M)

From a surname, o.e burh=fortress, tûn=enclosure

 

Butler (M)

From a surname, anglo-normand butuiller=he who manages the bottles (first intendant of a household)

 

Buxton (M)

From a surname, a place in Derbyshire, Buchestanes during the Middle Ages: Leaning Rocks (hardly balanced and therefore that would topple easily)

 

Byron (M)

From a surname, from Lord Byron, deriving from the sentence æt ∂ˆæm bˆyrum: "at the stables", denoting someone who lived there because his job was to care for the cattle.

 

Cade (M)

From a surname denoting something round and chubby

 

Cale (M)

USA, maybe from Caleb

-> Caile, Cayle, Kale, Kail, Kaile, Kayle

 

Carlton (M)

From a surname, o.e carl=peasant, tûn=hamlet: Hamlet of the free peasants

= Charlton (eng)

 

Carter (M)

Surname: cart maker

 

Caxton (M)

From a surname, norse Kakkr (kokkr=heap), o.e tûn=enclosure: Kakkr's enclosure

 

Cedric (M)

Sax caddaric: War Chief / alteration of Cerdic, name of the founder of the kingdom of Wessex, maybe from caradoc

= Cédric (fr)

 

Cena (M)

o.e: keen, sharp

 

Chad (M)

Modern spelling of o.e Ceadda, saint of the 7th century, archbishop of York

 

Chadwick (M)

USA, from a surnam, o.e wîc=breeding farm, Ceadda=Chad: Chad's farm

 

Chandler (M)

From a surname: candle maker

 

Chapman (M)

From a surname, o.e cêapmann: pedlar (cêapan=buy, sell, exchange, mann=man)

 

Chase (M)

From a surname, English-normand chase=hunt, nickname for a hunter

 

Chelsea (F)

o.e cealc hy∂: place of chalk (name of a fashionable London neighborhood)

-> Chelsey, Chelsie

 

Claiborne (M)

From a surname, german Kleiber: builder

 

Clay (M)

USA, from a surname denoting someone living in an area with clay soil / teuton: Mortal

 

Clayton (M)

USA, from a surname, o.e clæg=clay, tûn=enclosure, hamlet

 

Clerebold (M)

Germ bald=bold, Klâr from latin clarus=shiny

-> Clarenbald

 

Clifford (M)

From a surname, eng clif=cliff, slope, bank; ford=ford

-> Cliff

 

Clifton (M)

From a surname, clif=cliff, slope, bank, tûn=enclosure, hamlet

 

Clinton (M)

USA, from a surname, from Glympton in Oxfordshire or Glinton in the Northants.

 

Clive (M)

UK, from a surname, eng clif=cliff, slope

 

Clothilde (F)

Germ Chlotichilda, hold=glory, hilde=battle: Glorious in Combat (ancestor of the name Louisa)

= Clothilde, Clotilde (fr), Klothilde (germ)

-> Louise, Louisa, Louisette, Lidwine, Ludivine, Lydwine, Héloïse, Éloïse (fr), Lodovica (it), Luisa (sp), Luise, Lois (eng), Luise (germ), Liusaidh (scot)

 

Clovis (M)

germ Chlodwig, hold=glory, wild=fighter: Glorious Fighter (ancestor of the name Louis)

-> Louis, Louison, Ludovic, Ludo, Lud, Lou (fr), Loïc (britton), Luigi, Lodovico (it), Luis (sp), Lewis, Louie, Lew, Louey, Lodowick (eng), Ludwig (germ, austr), Ludovic (latin), Luthais (scot)

 

Colbert (M)

From a surname, old French of germ origins col=neck, berth=shiny, famous

 

Cole (M)

From a surname, o.e cola=swarthy, from col=coal

 

Colton (M)

USA, from a surname, o.e Cola=nickname for a swarthy person (col=coal), tûn=hamlet, enclosure

 

Corliss (F)

o.e: joyful, good-hearted

 

Crystal (F)

-> Chrystal (influenced by chrysos=gold), Chrystalla (latin), Krystle

 

Curtis (M)

From a surname, nickname for someone courteous

 

Cuthbert (M)

o.e cû∂=reknown, beorht=shiny

-> Cudbert

 

Dale (M, F)

o.e: Valley (small and peaceful, between two chains of hills as opposed to mountains), from a family name

 

Dallas (M)

USA, from a surname from the village of Dallas in Morayshire (Scotland), named in gaelic Dalfhas (a field where the herds spent the night)

 

Dalton (M)

USA, from a surname, o.e. dæl, tûn: Hamlet in the Valley

 

Darby (M)

From a surname form the city of Derby, old norse diur=deer, byr=hamlet

 

Darwin (M)

o.e Deorwine, deor=dear, wine=friend

 

Dean (M)

From a surname, o.e dene=valley (for a valley-dweller) / latin decanus=dean (ecclesiastic watcher).

-> Dane, Deane, Dene

 

Delbert (M)

Germ behrt=famous, shiny

 

Dexter (M)

USA, from a surname, o.e dêag=dye, -estre=female suffix: (female) Dyer

 

Dietleib (M)

Germany, mod. german: Inheritance of the Peoples

= Detlev (eng)

 

Dietlind (F)

Germany, germ: Tender to the People

-> Dietlinde

 

Dietrich

Germany, germ: Sovereign of the People

-> Diederich, Derek, Dereck, Derrick, Darrick

-> M, F: Del

-> F: Della (eng)

= Diederick (ned)

 

Dietwald (M)

Germany, germ: Power of the People

 

Digby (M)

From a surname, nor díki=ditch, byr=hamlet

 

Dilli (F)

Germ Dilli, Dillo

= Dilliana (ned)

 

Diotheri (M)

Germany, germ: The People's Army

-> Dieter

 

Drake (F)

From a surname, o.e draka=snake, dragon and also drake=female duck (after the explorer Sir Francis Drake)

 

Drogo (M)

Germ from goth name Draga, dragen=to bear

= Dru (fr), Drew (eng)

 

Eartha (F)

o.e eorthe=earth

-> Ertha

 

Eastorhild (F)

o.e. Eastre=goddess of the rising sun, hild=battle

= Estrild (eng, fr), Austrechildis (germ), Estrella (sp)


Eberhard (M)

=Everard (fr)

 

Eirik (M)

Norse; germ rick=king, ei=always

= Eric, Rick, Ricky (eng), Éric, Ric, Riquier (fr), Erik (scand), Erick (germ, aust), Eighrig (gael scot)

-> Genseric, Aric

-> F: Erica

 

Emma (F)

Germ diminutive of names in ermen, irmen=whole

-> M: Emmet (dimin become family name), Emmett, Emmit

 

Engelbert (M)

Germany; engel=angel, berth=shiny

-> Engelbrecht

 

Erdmann (M)

Erd=earth, mann=man

 

Erdmuthe (M)

Erd=earth, muth=courage

 

Erhard (M)

Germany: Devoted in Honour

 

Ermengard (F)

Germany: Protector of All

-> Ermegarde, Ermgard, Irmgard


Ermenhild (F)

Germany: Total Combat

-> Irmhild


Ermentrudis

Ermin=all, universal, druid=strength: Total Strength

= Ermintrude (eng), Ermentraud, Ermentrud (germ)

-> Ermandrud, Ermyntrude, Emmuska, Armigil

 

Ernst (M)

Earnest, important, serious, fight to the death

=M: Ernest (fr), Ernesto (it, sp), Earnest, Ernie, Ern (eng), Erne, Ernst (germ)

=F: Ernestine (fr), Earnestine (eng), Ernesta (germ)

-> F: Erna

 

Estmund

o.e east=grace, beauty, mund=protection

= Esmond (fr)

 

Ethelbert (M)

o.e aethel=noble, beorht=brilliant

-> Albert

 

Ethelburg

o.e Aethelburh or Aethelburg, aethel=noble, burh=fortress

 

Etheldreda (F)

Adel=noble, thriedh=strength

-> Audrey, Dreda

 

Ethelfleda (F)

o.e Aethelflœd, aethel=noble, floed=proper, beautiful

 

Ethelinda (F)

o.e Aethelind, germ Adallindis, athal=noble, lindi=serpent

-> Ethelenda

 

Ethelred (M)

o.e. aethel=noble, rœd=advice, counsel

 

Eutha (M)

Norse jôdh=child

= Eudo (lat), Eudes (fr)

 

Ewawald (M)

Power of Law

-> Ewald (germ)

 

Ewawart (M)

Guardian of the Law

-> Ewart, Eward

 

Fairfax (M)

From a surname denoting someone with beautiful long hair, o.e faeger=beautiful, ravishing, feax=hair, tresses

 

Faramund (M)

Fara=trip, mund=protection, name of the legendary first king of France

= Faramond (fr)

 

Ferdinand (M)

Fardh=trip, nand=ready

= M: Ferdinand, Fernand, Ferand, Ferrand (fr), Ferdinando, Ferrante, Hernán, Hernando (sp), Ferdinando, Fernando (it, port), Ferd, Ferdie (eng), Ferdi (germ)

= F: Fernande (fr)

 

Filibert (M)

Filu=a lot of, berhta=clear, brilliant

= Fulbert, Philibert, Philbert (fr)

 

François (M)

France; from germ Frank=free man via Latin francus

= M: Francis, Francisque, Francelin (fr) Frank, Frances, Frankie (eng), Franz (germ), Francesco (it), Francisco (sp), Fereng (hung), Proinsias (gael irel), Frangang (scot)

= F: Françoise, France, Francine, Francette (fr), Francesca, Franca (it), Francisca (sp), Frances, Francine, Fran (eng), Franziska (germ)

-> F: Soizic (britton)

 

Franklin (M)

From a surname, o.e frankeleyn: Free Man

 

Freya (F)

Scotland; scandinavian goddess of love, frouwa=lady, mistress

= Fröja (scand)

 

Fridegundis (F)

Frithu=peace, gundi=guerre

= Fredegonde, Frédégonde (fr)

 

Frithuric (M)

Fried=peace, rik=king

= M: Frédéric, Fredo (fr), Federico (it), Federigo (sp, port), Friedrich (germ), Fred, Freddie (eng), Frederik (scand)

= F: Frédérique (fr), Federica (it), Frederika (eng), Frederika, Frieda (scand), Friederike (germ)

 

Frideswide (F)

o.e Frithuswide, frithu=peace, swith=fort

 

Friedemann (M)

Germany: Man of Peace

 

Friedhelm (M)

Germany: Helmet of Peace

 

Friedwulf (M)

Germany; Frithuwulf: Wolf of Peace

 

Fulco (M)

Folc=people

-> Fulk, Fawke, Fulke, Fulcher, Folco

 

Gilbert (M)

Teutonic ghîsel=pledge (important families exchanged their children as pledges to maintain peace) or gisil=arrow, behrt=shiny

= M: Gijsbert, Gisbertus, Gijsbrecht (ned), Gijsbert, Giesbert, Gisbert, Giselbert, Gijp, Gyspert (fris), Gilberto (sp, it, port), Gysbert (germ)

= F: Gijske (Ned, Fris), Gilberte (fr)

-> M: Gelbrech

 

Heimerich (M)

= M: Henri (Fr), Henry (Eng) Arrigo (archaic it), Enrico (it)

-> M: Anriet

 

Ingram (M)

From a family name, germ Angilramnus, angil=angel, hraban=raven

= Engelram (eng), Enguerran, Enguerrand (fr)

 

Karl (M)

Germ karl and eng Ceorl: (Free) Man

= M: Carlo, Carlino, Carolo (it), Carlos, Carlito (sp), Carl, Karl (germ), Carol (rum), Caerbhaill, Caerbhail, Caerbhall (irel), Charles, Charlie (eng), Karel (cz, sl), Carel, Karel (ned), Chae (scot), Charles, Carl, carolin, Charlot (fr), Carls (fin)

= F: Carla, Carlita, Carolina (sp), Carole, Caroline (fr), Cheryl (eng), Caroliina (fin)

-> M: Caroll, Chas, Carle, Karley

-> M, F: Caryl

-> F: Charlotte, Charlène, Charline, Charline, Lola, Charlette, Arlette, Arlène, Arline (fr), Carlotta, Lotta (it, sp), Karlota, Lotte (germ)

 

Kiefer (M)

barrel-maker

 

Ogden (M)

o.e: lives beside the oaks  

 

Richard (M)

-> Dick (maybe from the difficulty experienced by the medieval English in pronouncing the Norman rolled r)

 

Thane (M)

US, o.e: Nobleman, Lord

 

Wade (F, M)

From a surname, o.e wade=fort

 

Walburg (F)

Germany, wald=reign, burg=fort

-> Walburga

 

Waldemar (M)

Germany, wald=reign, mar=famous

 

Walker (M)

From a surname, o.e wealcan=walk, tread (fabric in dyeing vats)

 

Waltheof

o.e Wealdtheof, weald=power, reign, theof=valor

-> Waldo, Waldeve

 

Walther (M)

Walden=sovereign, her=army

= Walter, Walt, Wally, Wat (eng), Qualterio (it), Gautier, Gauthier (fr), Bhaltair (scot)

-> Watkin (dim. Of Walter)

 

Waltraud (F)

Germany: Reign of Strength

 

Wanda (F)

Uncertain origins, either from Wendell or vand=wand

 

Wandrégisille (M)

Dignitary from the courts of kings Clovis II and Dagobert

-> Wandrille

 

Ward (M)

o.e weard: Guardian, Watcher

 

Warinhari (M)

From a surname, warin=to guard, heri=army

= Garnier (fr)

-> Wernher, Werner, Warner

 

Warwick (M)

From a surname, a city in the west Midlands, o.e wer=dam, wîc=milk farm

 

Washington (M)

From a surname, o. e Wassingtûn: Wassa's Hamlet

 

Wayne (M)

From a surname, o.e waegen=wagon, chariot

 

Webster (M)

From a surname, o.e webbestre=weaver

 

Wendell (M)

From a surname Wendel designating a Wend (or Vandal), Slavic people between the Elbe and the Oder (after Oliver Wendell Holmes)

-> F: Wendeline

 

Wentworth (M)

From a surname, o.e winter=winter, wordh=enclosure

 

Werther (M)

Valorous Army

-> Werter

Wesley (M)

After John Wesley, foudner of the Methodist Church, from Westley: Wood, Clearing / West Prairy

-> Wes

Westel (M)

From the surname Weston, o. e west, tûn=enclosure

 

Wheeler (M)

From a surname: someone who repairs cart wheels

 

Whitley (F)

From a surname, o.e hwît=white, lêah=wood

 

Whitney (F, M)

US, from a surname, o.e atten whiten ey= near the white island

 

Wilberforce (M)

From a surname, from Wilberfoss in the Yorkshire: Wilburg's chasm

 

Wilbur (M)

From a surname, will=will, burh=fortress

 

Wilfrith (M)

o.e wil=will, frîd=peace

= Wilford, Wilfred, Wilf, Wilfrid (eng), Wilfried (germ), Wilfrid (fr)

 

Willahelm (M)

Wil=will, desire, helm=helm

= M: William, Will, Bill, Willy, Billy, Guilielm, Willis (eng), Guillaume, Guillemin (fr), Uilleam (scot gael) , Wilhelm (germ), Guglielmo (it), Guillermo (sp), Gwilyn (wel), uilliam, Liam (ir gael)

= F: Wilhelmina (germ), Guglielma (it), Guillemette (fr)

-> F: Willa, Wilma, Wilmette, Bilikens, Wilsie, Willimina

-> F, M: Wilmot (through the surname derived from Guillemot)

 

Willard (M)

US, from a surname Wilheard, o.e wîl=will, heard=staunch

 

Willoughby (M)

From a surname, o.e welig=willow, norse byr=hamlet

 

Wilmaer (M)

o.e wil=desire, maer=famous

= Wilmer (eng)

 

Wilson (M)

from a surname: Will's Son

 

Windsor (M)

From a surname, o.e Windels-ôra=place of disembarkment

 

Winston (M)

From a surname, from Winston in the Gloucestershire, wynn=joy, stân=stone

 

Winthrop (M)

US, from a surname, Winthorpe in England, o.e: Village of Wynna

 

Winton (M)

From a surname, o.e winn=pasture, tûn=enclosure / widhig=willow / from Wina

 

Wolf (M)

Wulf=wolf

-> Wolff, Wolfe

 

Wulfgang (M)

Germany, wulf=wolf, angil=spear: Spearman from the wolf Clan

-> Wolfgang

 

Woodrow (M)

From a surname, denoting someone living in a row of houses near a wood (after president Woodrow Wilson)

-> Woody

 

Wyndham (M)

From a surname, Wymondham in the Norfolk, o.e: Wigmund's Household

 

Wynne (M, F)

o.e wine=friend

-> Wynn

 

Wystan (M)

o.e wîg=batte, stan=stone

 

York (M)

From a surname, from the area of York, originally Eoforwîc=boar farm

= Iorvik, Iork (scand)



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Compiled by Joumana Medlej.