The middle ages are excellent for names because of the unique and timeless options. Learn about all the medieval names to give to your baby.
When you think of the medieval period, kings, queens, knights, and peasants may come to mind.
If you dig a bit deeper and get to know them, many of their names are popular today.
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Top names like Charlotte, Isabella, and William have medieval roots (Source: Social Security Administration).
For more ideas, read the following list of medieval names for boys and girls. You’ll also learn the meanings and origins.
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Table of Contents
Female medieval names
In the medieval period, most women worked as artisans, farmers, merchants, or cared for children.
Other medieval women are known for royalty, writing, music, and bravery.
The following are medieval names for girls and the backgrounds of the names.
Adela: A German name meaning “noble” or “serene.”
Æthelflæd: An Anglo-Saxon name meaning “noble beauty.”
Agnes: A Greek name meaning “pure.”
Aisley: An Anglo-Saxon name meaning “dwells at the ash tree meadow.”
Alice: A German name meaning “noble.”
Amalasuintha: A German name meaning “strong.” Amalasuintha was an Ostrogoth queen and regent.
Anabelle or Anabel: A Latin and French name meaning “beautiful,” “grace,” or “favored.”
Anika: A Nordic and Sanskrit name meaning “graceful” or “brilliant.”
Anne: A Hebrew and Latin name meaning “favor” or “grace.”
Argenta: A Latin name meaning “silver.”
Astrid: A Norse name meaning “divinely beautiful.”
Aquila: A Latin name meaning “eagle.”
Beatrice: A French name meaning “she who brings happiness.”
Bertha: A German name meaning “bright one.” Bertha of Kent was the queen of Kent. She’s known for leading Anglo-Saxon England to Christianity.
Bogdana: A Slavic and Polish name meaning “given by God.”
Caitlin: An Irish name meaning “pure.”
Cecilia: A Latin name meaning “blind.”
Celestina: A French name meaning “heavenly.”
Charlotte: A French name meaning “free” or “petite.”
Christine: An English name meaning “Christian.” Christine de Pizan was an Italian pet and court writer during the medieval period. She celebrated the successes of women and focused on equality.
Claire: A French name meaning “bright” or “clear.”
Clarimond: A German name meaning “light of the world.”
Clemence: A French name meaning “merciful.”
Colette: A French name meaning “people of victory.”
Constance: A Latin name meaning “constant.”
Damiana: A Greek name meaning “tame” or “subdue.”
Danae: A Greek name meaning “she who judges.”
Desislava: A Bulgarian name meaning “to seek glory.”
Dominica: A Latin name meaning “belonging to God.”
Eirunn: A Nordic name meaning “happiness.”
Eleanor: A German name meaning “light” and “noble north.” Eleanor of Aquitaine was a powerful and influential person from the medieval period. She became the Queen of France, Queen of England, and led a crusade to the Holy Land.
Elizabeth: A Hebrew name meaning “God is my oath.”
Emily: A Latin name meaning “rival.”
Emma: An English and German name meaning “whole” or “universal.”
Ende: A German name meaning “a flighty woman.” Ende the Illuminator was a famous painter. She was the first documented woman in Europe.
Erika: A Norse name meaning “eternal ruler.”
Euphemia: A Greek name meaning “fair speech.”
Felberta: An English name meaning “brilliant.”
Ferelith: A Irish, Gaelic, and Scottish name meaning “sovereign.”
Florence: An English and Latin name meaning “blossoming.”
Giselle: A German and French name meaning “pledge.”
Godiva: An English name meaning “God’s gift.”
Guinevere: A Welsh name meaning “white fairy.”
Heryeth: An English name meaning “confidence” or “studious.”
Hilda: A Danish name meaning “battle woman” and “glorious.” Hilda of Whitby was a saint and the founding abbess of the monastery at Whitby.
Hildegard: A German name meaning “battle enclosure” or “comrade in arms.” Hildegard of Bingen was a German Benedictine abbess and polymath.
Inga: A Scandinavian name meaning “guarded by Ing.”
Irene: A Greek name meaning “peace.”
Isabella: An Italian and Spanish name meaning “God is my oath.”
Joan: A Hebrew name meaning “God’s gracious gift.” Joan of Arc was a peasant girl who became a military leader in medieval France. She’s a patron saint known for defending France.
Lucy: An English and Latin name meaning “light.”
Margery: A Scottish name meaning “pearl.” Margery Kempe was known for writing The Book of Margery Kempe. Some consider it the first autobiography in English.
Marie: A Latin and French name meaning “star of the sea.”
Mary: A Hebrew name meaning “beloved.” Marie de France was the earliest known woman to be a French poet. She was the creator of verse narratives on romantic and magical themes.
Matilda: A German name meaning “mighty in battle.” Matilda of Tuscany is known for being one of the most powerful nobles in Italy in the second half of the eleventh century.
Maude: A German name meaning “powerful battler.”
Mirabel: A Latin name meaning “wonderful.”
Orla: A Celtic name meaning “golden princess.”
Pacifica: A Latin name meaning “tranquil.”
Petra: A Greek name meaning “rock” or “stone.”
Philippa: A Greek name meaning “lover of horses.”
Philomena: A Greek name meaning “friend of strength.”
Regina: A Latin name meaning “queen.”
Revna: A Norse name meaning “raven.”
Rhonwen: A Welsh name meaning “slender.”
Rosalind: A Spanish and German name meaning “gentle horse.”
Scholastica: A Latin name meaning “scholarly.”
Selena: A Latin and Greek name meaning “the moon.”
Sybil: A Greek name meaning “oracle.”
Theodora: A Greek name meaning “gift of God.” Theodora was a Byzantine empress who used her power to promote religious and social policies. She was one of the first rulers to recognize women’s rights.
Valerie: A Latin and French name meaning “strong” and “brave.”
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Male medieval names
Medieval men had different roles based on social status.
Some worked the fields or as servants. Others were royalty, knights, or worked in the courts.
The following are medieval names for men. You’ll also learn their meanings and origins.
Adalbert: A German name meaning “noble,” “bright,” and “famous.”
Alan: A Gaelic name meaning “handsome” or “cheerful.”
Alaric: A German name meaning “all-powerful ruler.”
Alban: A Latin name meaning “from Alba.”
Aldo: A German name meaning “noble,” “wise,” or “old.”
Aldous: An English name meaning “old” or “wealthy.”
Alexander: A Greek name meaning “defender of people.”
Alfred: An English name meaning “wise counselor.” Alfred the Great was one of the most famous Anglo-Saxon kings. He was known for defending his kingdom against the Vikings.
Ambrose: A Greek name meaning “immortal.”
Archibald: A German name meaning “genuine,” “bold,” or “brave.”
Arne: An old Norse name meaning “eagle.”
Arthur: A Celtic name meaning “bear.” It’s also tied to English and Roman origins meaning “noble” or “courageous.”
August: A Latin and English name meaning “magnificent” or “esteemed.”
Bahram: A Persian name meaning “victorious.”
Baldwin: An Anglo-Saxon name meaning “brave” or “bold friend.”
Bard: An English and Irish name meaning “poet.”
Bartholomew: An English and Jewish name meaning “son of a farmer” or “son that suspends the waters.”
Benedict: A Latin name meaning “blessed.” Benedict of Nursia was an Italian monk known for the Benedictine Rule.
Bertrand: A German and French name meaning “intelligent” or “glorious raven.” Bertrand du Guesclin was a Breton knight who commanded his country’s army during the Hundred Years’ War.
Bjorn: A Scandinavian name meaning “bear.”
Boethius: A Greek name meaning “one who helps.” It’s tied to Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, a famous Roman senator, and philosopher.
Cassian: A Latin name meaning “hollow” or “vain.”
Cathasach: A Gaelic name meaning “brave.”
Charibert: A Frankish name meaning “glorious warrior.”
Charlemagne: A French name meaning “Charles the Great” and “heavenly.” Charlemagne was King of the Franks in 768 and King of the Lombards in 774. He’s known for encouraging the Carolingian Renaissance.
Clayton: An English name meaning “clay settlement.”
Clovis: A French name meaning “renowned fighter.” Clovis was the name of the first king of the Franks.
Conrad: A German name meaning “bold and wise counselor.”
Drew: A Greek name meaning “strong,” “wise,” and “manly.”
Edmund: An English name meaning “wealthy protector.”
Edward: An English name meaning “guardian” or “protector.” Edward of Woodstock was the eldest son of English king Edward III. He helped his father win a famous victory against the more dominant French army.
Emil: A Latin name meaning “to strive.”
Frederick: An English and German name meaning “peaceful ruler.” Frederick Barbarossa was known as the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in the middle ages.
Galahad: An English name meaning “pure,” “noble,” and “selfless.” Sir Galahad is best-known as a knight of King Arthur’s Round Table and one of three who achieves the Holy Grail.
George: A Greek and English name meaning “farmer” or “Earth-worker.” Saint George is also the name of a legendary figure in the Roman army.
Gregory: A Greek name meaning “watchful” or “alert.” Pope Gregory I was a prolific and influential writer in the medieval period.
Henry: A French and German name meaning “house ruler.” Henry Percy was an English knight who fought against the Scots on the northern border and against the French during the Hundred Years’ War.
Humphrey: An English name meaning “peaceful warrior.”
James: A Hebrew name meaning “supplanter.” In medieval times, Sir James Douglas was a Scottish knight who famously captured Douglas Castle.
Justinian: A Latin name meaning “just,” “upright,” or “righteous.” Justinian I was an Eastern Roman Emperor who reigned for 38 years.
Khosrow: An Iranian name meaning “king” or “ruler.” Khosrow I was known as the king who ruled the Sasanian empire from 531 to 579.
Leif: A Scandinavian name meaning “heir.”
Leofric: An English name meaning “friendly kingdom.”
Leofwine: An English name meaning “dear friend.”
Leopold: A German name meaning “brave people.”
Lucian: A Latin name meaning “light.”
Neville: A French name meaning “new town.”
Orvyn: An Anglo-Saxon name meaning “brave friend.”
Otto: A German name meaning “wealth” and “prosperity.”
Palmer: An English name meaning “pilgrim.”
Pascal: A French and English name meaning “born on Easter.”
Peregrine: A Latin name meaning “traveler.”
Quentin: A Latin name meaning “fifth.”
Richard: A German, French, and English name meaning “powerful” or “brave ruler.” Richard I of England was a medieval king who was known as the Lion Heart. He was a brave soldier and a great crusader.
Robert: A German name meaning “bright fame.” Robert Guiscard was a Norman knight known for the conquest of southern Italy and Sicily.
Rodrigo: A Spanish and Portuguese name meaning “famous ruler.” Rodrigo DÃaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid, was a famous Castilian knight and warlord in medieval Spain.
Roger: A German name meaning “famous warrior.”
Roland: A German name meaning “famous land.”
Rudolf: A German name meaning “famous wolf.”
Runar: A Norse and Swedish name meaning “warrior of lore” or “secret man.”
Sebastian: A Greek name meaning “venerable.”
Siegfried (Sigurd): A German name meaning “victory.” Siegfried was a legendary German knight and prince. In old Germanic and Norse folklore, Siegfried slayed a dragon.
Sven: A Norse name meaning “young.”
Thorsten: A Scandinavian name meaning “Thor’s stone.”
William: An English name meaning “strong-willed warrior.” Sir William Marshal was an Anglo-Norman soldier. He’s one of the most celebrated knights of the middle ages.
Wilmot: A German name meaning “resolute spirit.”
Wymond: An Anglo-Saxon name meaning “man of war.”
Yaropolk: A Slavic name meaning “energetic.”
Yaroslav: A Russian name meaning “fierce and glorious.”
Medieval names are excellent because some are unique and catchy, while others are classic.
The names come from a time when Europe was filled with castles, royalty, knights, and peasants. So, which medieval name did you choose?
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