Germanic Male Names

These names arrived in Britain from several sources - the Anglo-Saxon invasions after the Roman withdrawal, the Norse raids of the C8th - 10^th and the Norman Conquest of 1066. Most died out in the early Middle Ages although there were some survivals especially names borne by saints or kings. Some were revived during the C18th interest in the 'Gothic' and many more came into fashion again as a result of various religious and literary movements in the C19th.

Old English

Aldrich 'old ruler'

Alfred 'elf counsel'

Alvin/Alwin Aelfwine 'elf-friend' and Aethelwine 'noble friend'

Bayard

Chad 'Ceadda'

Cole 'col' - 'coal'?

Ed- 'ead' - 'prosperity/fortune'

Edgar 'fortune spear'

Edmund 'fortune protection'

Edric 'fortune ruler'

Edward 'fortune guardian'

Diminutives

Edwin 'fortune friend'

Godwin 'God friend'

Goldwin 'gold-friend'

Harold 'army power'

Herbert 'army bright'

Melvin 'Maethelwine' - 'council-friend'?

Oscar 'god spear' or Irish

Osmund 'god protection'

Osric 'god ruler'

Oswald 'god power'

Ozzie

Oswin 'god friend'

Ralph 'Raedwulf' - 'counsel wolf'

Terry (also short form of Latin 'Terence')

Wilfred 'Wilfrith' - 'will peace'

Norse

Baldur 'prince/lord/ruler' (a son of Odin and Frigg)

Dag 'dagr' - 'day'

Elvis 'Alvis' - 'wise'?

Eric 'eternal? ruler'

Gunther/Gunnar 'war bold''

Hakon from 'hag' - 'useful'?

Ingmar 'Ing' (fertility god) + fame

Ivor 'archer'?

Olaf 'Anleifr' - 'ancestor relic'

Ronald Rognvaldr 'judgement-ruler'

Ronnie

Roald 'famous ruler'

Thor Norse god of thunder

Old German/Norman French

Adelard 'noble-hard'

Algernon 'with moustaches'

Amaury 'Amalricus' - 'work-ruler'

Archibald 'genuine-bold'

Diminutives

Arnold 'eagle-strength'

Arnie

Aubrey 'Alberic' - 'elf-king'

Baldric 'bold ruler'

Baldwin 'bold friend'

Bardolf 'bright wolf'

Bernard 'bear strong'

Diminutives

Bertram 'bright-raven'

Charles 'karl' - 'man/fullgrown' and Old English 'ceorl' - 'man/freeman/peasant'

Diminutives

Derek from Dietrich/Theodoric

Ernest 'earnest/resolute'

Evelyn surname from female name

Geoffrey/Jeffrey from 'Gaufrid', 'Walahfrid' and 'Gisfrid' district/traveller/pledge + peace

Diminutives

Gerald 'spear ruler'

Gerard

Gerry/Jerry dims. of Gerald/Gerard

Garry may be from 'Gerry'

From 'Garry'

Gervase 'spear servant'

Gilbert 'pledge bright'

Diminutives

Godfrey 'god peace'

Henry 'Haimirich/Haganrih' - house/'enclosure-ruler'

Hugh 'hugu' - heart/mind/spirit'

Hulbert 'grace?-bright'

Humbert 'strength/warrior bright'

Humphrey 'Hunfrid' - 'strength/warrior peace'

Ingram 'angel-raven'?

Jocelyn

Joselyn

Lambert 'land-bright'

Lancelot diminutive of 'Lance' from 'Lanzo' - 'land'

Leonard 'lion bold'

Dims

Leo

Leocadie

Leondris

Leonetti

Leonirez

Leonizio

Leonon

Leorad

Leos

Leosko

Leosoko

Leonce

Leoncio

Leons

Leontae

Leontes

Leontios

Leontrae

Leone

Leon

Leoni

Lion

Lyon

Miles from Slavonic 'milu' 'merciful'?

Norbert 'north bright'

Oliver Germanic 'Alfihar' - 'elf-army' or Lat/Fr 'olivier' - 'olive-tree'

Diminutives

Otto 'auda' - 'rich'

Percival 'pierce valley'?

Philbert/Fulbert 'much bright'

Randolph 'shield wolf'

Diminutives

Raymond 'Raginmund' - 'counsel protection'

Reginald 'Raganald' - 'counsel -ruler'

Diminutives

Reynard 'Raginhart' - 'counsel brave''

Reynold Raganald 'counsel ruler''

Richard 'brave ruler'

Diminutives

Surname Adaptations

Robert 'Hruodpehrt' - 'fame bright'

Diminutives

Surname Adaptations

Roderick 'Hrodrich' - 'fame ruler'

Roger 'Hrodger' - 'fame spear'

Roland 'Hruodland' - 'fame land'

Theobald 'Theudobald' - 'people brave'

Udolf 'prosperous?-wolf'

Walter 'Waldhere' - 'ruler folk'

William 'Willehelm' - 'resolute/will helmet/protector'

Diminutives

Yves from - 'iv' - 'yew'

This collection of names was compiled by Kate Monk and is ©1997, Kate Monk.

Copies may be made for personal use only.