Dobi Apps

33 English names

English names of Germanic origin

English names from the old Germanic languages, many brought to England by the Normans in 1066.

Names

  1. AdaGirlAY-duh · GermanicMeans “noble”Ada began as a short form of old Germanic names that start with adal, the word for “noble”. It was used in England from the 18th century and is best known through Ada Lovelace, who wrote about computer programs long before computers existed. Short and old-fashioned, it has become fashionable again in the 2020s.
  2. AlbertBoyAL-bert · GermanicMeans “noble and bright”Albert is a Germanic name that came to England with the Normans, but it was rare for centuries. It became very popular in Britain after Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert in 1840. King George VI was also called Albert by his family.
  3. AliceGirlAL-is · GermanicMeans “noble type”Alice comes from Adalheidis, the same old Germanic name as Adelaide, and the Normans brought it to England in the 11th century. It was very common in the Middle Ages and became famous again through Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Queen Victoria also gave the name to one of her daughters.
  4. AmeliaGirluh-MEE-lee-uh · GermanicMeans “work”Amelia probably comes from the old Germanic word amal, meaning “work”, through the name Amalia, but it has also been mixed up with the Latin name Emilia. It arrived in Britain with the German royal family in the 18th century, and King George III named his youngest daughter Amelia. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England since the 2010s.
  5. ArchieBoyAR-chee · GermanicMeans “genuine and bold”Archie began as a short form of Archibald, a Germanic name that became especially common in Scotland. Today Archie is usually given as a name on its own. It has been one of the most popular boys’ names in England and Wales in recent years.
  6. CarolineGirlKAR-uh-lyn · GermanicMeans “free man”Caroline is a French feminine form of Carolus, the Latin form of Charles, which comes from a Germanic word for a free man. It came to Britain with Caroline of Ansbach, the German wife of King George II, in the 18th century. It has stayed in steady use ever since.
  7. CharlesBoyCHARLZ · GermanicMeans “free man”Charles comes from the Germanic word karl, meaning a free man. Charlemagne (Charles the Great) made it famous in Europe, and the Normans brought it to Britain. Britain has had three kings called Charles, including King Charles III.
  8. CharlieUnisexCHAR-lee · GermanicMeans “free man”Charlie is a short form of Charles for boys and Charlotte for girls, both from a Germanic word for a man who was not a slave. It is now very often given as a full name. In the UK it is a favourite for boys, while in the US it is used for both genders.
  9. CharlotteGirlSHAR-lut · GermanicMeans “free man”Charlotte is a French feminine form of Charles, from a Germanic word for a free man. It became common in Britain after Charlotte of Mecklenburg married King George III in the 18th century. The novelist Charlotte Brontë and today’s Princess Charlotte have kept it popular in England and the US in the 2020s.
  10. EllaGirlEL-uh · GermanicMeans “all, other”Ella was a Norman name, probably from a Germanic word meaning “all” or “other”, though this is not certain. It is also used as a short form of names like Eleanor and Isabella. The jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald made it famous, and it has been a popular name in the UK and US for many years.
  11. EloiseGirlEL-oh-eez · GermanicMeans “healthy, wide”Eloise comes from the French Héloïse, which probably goes back to a Germanic name made from words for healthy and wide. Héloïse was a clever 12th-century French woman whose love letters to the scholar Abelard are still famous. In the US, the Eloise children’s books about a girl living in a New York hotel made the name well known.
  12. EmersonUnisexEM-er-suhn · GermanicMeans “son of Emery”Emerson is an English surname meaning “son of Emery”, and Emery comes from an old Germanic name. It became better known through the American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. Today it is used for both genders, and in the US slightly more often for girls.
  13. EmmaGirlEM-uh · GermanicMeans “whole, universal”Emma began as a short form of Germanic names starting with ermen, meaning whole or universal. Emma of Normandy became queen of England in the 11th century, and the name spread further after the Norman Conquest. Jane Austen’s novel Emma helped keep it popular, and it has been one of the top names in the US and Europe in recent years.
  14. EricBoyERR-ik · NorseMeans “ever ruler”Eric comes from the Old Norse name Eiríkr. The second part means “ruler”, and the first part probably means “ever” or “alone”. Erik the Red was a famous Viking explorer, and the name became common in English in the 19th century.
  15. EvelynGirlEV-uh-lin · GermanicMeans “uncertain, perhaps desired”Evelyn comes from an English surname, which came from the Norman girls’ name Aveline; that probably goes back to a Germanic word, but its meaning is not certain. At first it was used for both boys and girls, as with the writer Evelyn Waugh. Today it is almost always a girls’ name and one of the most popular in the US.
  16. FrederickBoyFRED-rik · GermanicMeans “peaceful ruler”Frederick is a Germanic name made of words for “peace” and “ruler”. It was common among German kings, such as Frederick the Great of Prussia. It became more used in Britain after the German Hanoverian kings arrived, and several British princes were called Frederick.
  17. FreyaGirlFRAY-uh · NorseMeans “lady”In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty and war, and her name simply meant “lady”. The name has been very popular in Britain, especially Scotland, since the 2000s.
  18. HarryBoyHARR-ee · GermanicMeans “home ruler”Harry was the usual medieval English form of Henry, and it is also used as a short form of Harold. King Henry V was known as “Prince Hal” or “Harry”, and today Prince Harry carries the name. Harry Potter helped make it one of the best-known names in the world.
  19. HenryBoyHEN-ree · GermanicMeans “home ruler”Henry comes from a Germanic name made of words for “home” and “ruler”. The Normans brought it to England, and eight English kings were called Henry, including Henry VIII. It has become one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US again.
  20. HugoBoyHYOO-goh · GermanicMeans “mind, heart”Hugo is the Latin form of Hugh, from a Germanic word for “mind” or “spirit”. It is used in many European languages, including Spanish, French and German. It has become popular in the UK in recent years.
  21. LeonardBoyLEN-erd · GermanicMeans “brave lion”Leonard comes from a Germanic name made of words for “lion” and “brave” or “hardy”. Saint Leonard was a popular saint in the Middle Ages, and the Normans brought the name to England. It was very common in the early 20th century.
  22. LiamBoyLEE-um · GermanicMeans “will helmet”Liam is the Irish short form of Uilliam, the Irish version of William. It spread from Ireland to other English-speaking countries in the late 20th century. It has been the most popular boys’ name in the US for several years in a row.
  23. LindaGirlLIN-duh · GermanicMeans “soft, gentle”Linda began as a short form of old Germanic names containing lind, which probably meant “soft” or “flexible”, though it may also refer to the linden tree. Many people also connect it with the Spanish and Portuguese word linda, “pretty”. It was one of the most common girls’ names in the US in the 1940s and 1950s.
  24. LouisBoyLOO-ee · GermanicMeans “famous in battle”Louis is the French form of a Frankish name made of words for “famous” and “battle”. Eighteen kings of France were called Louis, and the Normans brought the name to England. Today Prince Louis, the son of Prince William, carries it.
  25. MatildaGirlmuh-TIL-duh · GermanicMeans “mighty in battle”Matilda comes from old Germanic words for strength and battle. The Normans brought it to England: Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror, and Empress Matilda fought for the English throne in the 12th century. Roald Dahl’s children’s book Matilda helped make it popular again.
  26. MilesBoyMYLZ · GermanicMeans “uncertain, possibly gracious”Miles comes from the old name Milo, which the Normans brought to England. Its meaning is not known for sure: it may come from a Slavic word for “gracious”, and people have also linked it to the Latin word miles, “soldier”. It is popular in the US today.
  27. RaymondBoyRAY-mund · GermanicMeans “wise protector”Raymond comes from a Germanic name made of words for “advice” and “protector”. The Normans brought it to England. It was very common in the first half of the 20th century.
  28. RichardBoyRICH-erd · GermanicMeans “brave ruler”Richard comes from Germanic words for “power” and “brave, hardy”. The Normans brought it to England, and three English kings had the name, including Richard the Lionheart. It has been a common English name ever since.
  29. RobertBoyROB-ert · GermanicMeans “bright fame”Robert comes from Germanic words for “fame” and “bright”. The Normans brought it to England, and in Scotland it is linked to the hero king Robert the Bruce. It was one of the most common boys’ names in Britain and the US for centuries.
  30. RobinUnisexROB-in · GermanicMeans “bright fame”Robin began in the Middle Ages as a pet form of Robert, a Germanic name made from words for “fame” and “bright”, and it is also the name of a small red-breasted bird. It is the name of the outlaw hero Robin Hood. In the UK it is more often a man’s name, while in the US it is more common for women.
  31. RoseGirlROHZ · GermanicMeans “rose flower”Rose was first a Norman name, probably from Germanic words for fame or horse. Over time people connected it with the flower, from Latin rosa, which is a symbol of love. It is now often used as a middle name as well as a first name.
  32. SkylerUnisexSKY-ler · GermanicMeans “scholar”Skyler comes from the Dutch surname Schuyler, which means “scholar”, with a spelling changed to look like the English word “sky”. It was used for boys first. Today it is given to both genders, and the spelling Skylar is more common for girls.
  33. WilliamBoyWIL-yum · GermanicMeans “will helmet”William comes from Germanic words for “will, desire” and “helmet, protection”. It arrived with William the Conqueror and the Normans in 1066 and soon became one of the most common names in England. Four kings have had the name, and today Prince William carries it.