417 Anglo Saxon Baby Names With Meanings

anglo-saxon-baby-names-with-meanings

If you want a sophisticated, stylish and plain beautiful name, a list of Anglo-Saxon baby names can be of your help. This ancient civilization has long left the English shores after the Norman invasion of 1066, but the spirit of the names still lingers in modern times. Anglo-Saxons were originally a Germanic tribe from the Danish peninsula. When the Romans left Britain, the Germanics invaded in 400 AD. They had five main kingdoms, Wessex, East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Kent (1). Though the tribe had settled there since the early 5th century, there were frequent clashes with neighboring territories. In 790 AD, the Vikings started penetrating the Anglo-Saxon empire, and the empires were almost continuously in war from then on (2). You may, hence, be surprised to find some names derived from the Germanic language of the Vikings among Anglo-Saxon names. In the Anglo-Saxon period, the personal name was made of two elements and linked to the parents’ names. For instance, if the parents were named Aldred and Edith, they might name their daughter Aaldith. Hence, these dithematic names did not really have any meaning. They turned into monothematic names after the Norman conquest (3). Also, bynames, not surnames, were used for identification purposes. While there weren’t any surnames or family names, the aristocratic people were identified by names taken from famous forbearers like Besingas, Athelings, Baducings, and Gumeningas, along with the final element –ing, which means ‘people of.’ The Anglo-Saxons also believed that a name contained a person’s spirit, and by using the name for a newborn child, the spirit could drain from him. Hence, picking an auspicious name was of utmost importance. In recent times, too, picking a personal name for their baby is of prime importance for many parents. So why wait? Pick your favorite Anglo-Saxon name right away. You can narrow down the search by filtering the gender of the baby and saving your favorite names to share with your friends and family.

Name Gender Meaning
heart image Aeldra Baby Boy Sign Boy Lives at the elder tree; Noble
heart image Aelfric Baby Boy Sign Boy Elf ruler; King of elves
heart image Aelle Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of Several Kings; one of many names after Elf
heart image Aescwine Baby Boy Sign Boy Spear Friend
heart image Aethelbald Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble and Bold; A King of Mercia
heart image Aethelbert Baby Boy Sign Boy Bright Nobility
heart image Aethelfrith Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Peace
heart image Aethelhard Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Strength
heart image Aethelhere Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a King
heart image Aethelstan Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Stone
heart image Aethelwulf Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Wolf
heart image Agilberht Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a Bishop
heart image Aiekin Baby Boy Sign Boy Oaken
heart image Aldfrith Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a King
heart image Aldhelm Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a Bishop
heart image Alfric Baby Boy Sign Boy Variant of Aelfric; Elf king
heart image Almund Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Protection; Defender of the Temple
heart image Andrea Baby Girl Sign Girl Defender of mankind
heart image Ardith Baby Girl Sign Girl Blooming meadow
heart image Arlo Baby Boy Sign Boy Fortified hill
heart image Atol Baby Boy Sign Boy Someone who is hateful
heart image Attwell Baby Boy Sign Boy Lives by the Spring; Someone who lived by the stream
heart image Atwater Baby Boy Sign Boy From the Water Edge; Someone who lived by the River or Lake
heart image Atwell Baby Boy Sign Boy Lives by the Spring; Someone who lived by the stream
heart image Averel Baby Boy Sign Boy Boar like in battle; A variant of Averill
heart image Averell Baby Boy Sign Boy Boar like in battle; A variant of Averill
heart image Averil Baby Boy Sign Boy Boar like in battle; A variant of Averill
heart image Averill Baby Boy Sign Boy Boar like in Battle; Derived from the elements 'eofor' meaning boar
heart image Avery Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Ruler of elves
heart image Aylett Baby Boy Sign Boy One who has noble and great personality
heart image Baldwinn Baby Boy Sign Boy A bold and beautiful person
heart image Beorma Baby Boy Sign Boy Fermented or frothy
heart image Bordan Baby Boy Sign Boy One who comes from the valley of bears
heart image Borden Baby Boy Sign Boy From the cottage
heart image Bradwin Baby Boy Sign Boy A bearded friend
heart image Brandon Baby Boy Sign Boy Prince; Chieftain; Gorse hill
heart image Bras Baby Boy Sign Boy A surname
heart image Braxton Baby Boy Sign Boy Bracca's settlement
heart image Bron Baby Boy Sign Boy A dark or brown man
heart image Brona Baby Girl Sign Girl A brown-haired or dark-haired woman
heart image Bryce Baby Boy Sign Boy Freckled; Strength; Swift
heart image Cadman Baby Boy Sign Boy Soldier; Warrior
heart image Cafnoth Baby Boy Sign Boy Anglo-Saxon male name
heart image Carolyn Baby Girl Sign Girl Free woman
heart image Cartimandua Baby Girl Sign Girl A name of the Brigantes Queen
heart image Ceatta Baby Boy Sign Boy An Anglo-Saxon saint
heart image Ceawlin Baby Boy Sign Boy King
heart image Cenhelm Baby Boy Sign Boy A brave man who protects
heart image Cenwalh Baby Boy Sign Boy King
heart image Ceolmund Baby Boy Sign Boy The one who protects and pampers
heart image Ceolweard Baby Boy Sign Boy King; they are beloved
heart image Ceolwulf Baby Boy Sign Boy A beloved King
heart image Cerdic Baby Boy Sign Boy King; The beloved one
heart image Chadwik Baby Boy Sign Boy Warrior
heart image Chadwyck Baby Boy Sign Boy The dairy farm of Ceadda
heart image Chelsea Baby Girl Sign Girl A chalk wharf
heart image Clover Baby Girl Sign Girl Meadow flower; Wild flower
heart image Coelfrid Baby Boy Sign Boy One who comes from the coal fields
heart image Coenbehrt Baby Boy Sign Boy A brave and bold advisor
heart image Coenberg Baby Boy Sign Boy A bold and brave one
heart image Coenburg Baby Boy Sign Boy He is bold like a fortress
heart image Coenburga Baby Girl Sign Girl Woman bold like a fortress
heart image Colley Baby Girl Sign Girl A black colored bird
heart image Collibe Baby Girl Sign Girl Hailing from a dark, dull village with no source of light
heart image Courtnay Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Lives in the court; Courtdweller
heart image Covington Baby Boy Sign Boy Habitational name from Covinton in Lanarkshire; Old English form Cofington
heart image Crews Unisex Baby Sign Unisex A family which once had lived as dwellers at a cattlepen or a cattlefold
heart image Crompton Baby Boy Sign Boy Originated from the word Crumpton which implies bowed or malformed; A person from the winding farm
heart image Croston Baby Boy Sign Boy A farm or a settlement
heart image Croydon Baby Boy Sign Boy A Valley
heart image Cuddie Baby Boy Sign Boy The bright one
heart image Cuin Baby Boy Sign Boy A reasonable, free man
heart image Cullum Baby Boy Sign Boy Dove
heart image Cusick Baby Boy Sign Boy A harsh term
heart image Cuthburga Baby Girl Sign Girl A massive fortress
heart image Cuthburh Baby Girl Sign Girl One who keeps records
heart image Cuthred Baby Boy Sign Boy A counsel
heart image Cuthwulf Baby Boy Sign Boy Wolf; one filled with power
heart image Cwen Baby Girl Sign Girl A born Queen
heart image Cyne Baby Girl Sign Girl A Royal person
heart image Cyneagils Baby Boy Sign Boy The Royal Ruler
heart image Cyneburg Baby Girl Sign Girl Daughter of a King
heart image Cyneburga Baby Girl Sign Girl The one from Royal fortress
heart image Cyneburh Baby Girl Sign Girl A famous personality
heart image Cynefrid Baby Boy Sign Boy The one who is kinglike and a noble being
heart image Cynegils Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a born King
heart image Cyneric Baby Boy Sign Boy The one who has power
heart image Cynerik Baby Boy Sign Boy A royal and powerful person
heart image Cynesige Baby Boy Sign Boy The one who always wins
heart image Cynewulf Baby Boy Sign Boy An elegant royal King
heart image Daegal Baby Boy Sign Boy Night dweller
heart image Dalston Baby Boy Sign Boy the one from Dougal's place
heart image Darelene Baby Girl Sign Girl Sweet and lovable
heart image Darelle Baby Girl Sign Girl Gently loved
heart image Darla Baby Girl Sign Girl Darling; Dearly beloved
heart image Darlene Baby Girl Sign Girl Loved one; Dear
heart image Dawn Baby Girl Sign Girl Daybreak time
heart image Denegyth Baby Girl Sign Girl A healthy, cute, and a master of great personality
heart image Dixie Baby Girl Sign Girl Tenth
heart image Dodson Baby Boy Sign Boy A determined and practical person by nature
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Anglo-Saxons were an ancient race with their own culture and heritage. Following several invasions, this culture saw a healthy mixture of other languages too. Anglo-Saxon names were dithematic and could be formed by attaching two parts from the names of the parents. This practice could make some names meaningless. However, many names conveyed strong meanings. Anglo-Saxon names often took inspiration from mythology, nature, and personality or physical characteristics. These unique names will now make your little one stand out in a crowd.

Infographic: Charismatic Anglo-Saxon Baby Names

The Anglo-Saxons have had an interesting and colorful history. Fittingly, their names, too, reflect this richness of culture and tradition. From mythology to nature, Anglo-Saxon baby names cover many grounds in terms of meanings and associations. These names are relevant in modern times, too. If you are looking for some excellent Anglo-Saxon names with varied meanings, look at this infographic.

charming anglo saxon baby names for your little warrior (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do the popular Anglo-Saxon names Beowulf and Edgar mean?

Beowulf possibly means ‘bee wolf’ (bear) and is derived from the Old English ‘beo’ meaning ‘bee’ and ‘wulf’ meaning ‘wolf.’ Alternatively, the first element could come from ‘beadu,’ meaning ‘battle.’ Beowulf is the name of the main character of the 8th-century epic poem of the same name and is considered an Anglo-Saxon hero. Conversely, Edgar is derived from the Old English elements ‘ead’ meaning ‘wealth’ or ‘fortune’ and ‘gar’ meaning ‘spear.’ It was also the name of a 10th-century English king, Edgar the Peaceful.

2. What unique or rare Anglo-Saxon baby names are still in use today?

Certain Anglo-Saxon names like Ethel (noble), Wulfric (wolf ruler), Godric (god’s ruler), Godiva (gift of god), Becca (pick-axe), and Osmund (protection of god) are still in use today, though rarely.

3. What was the significance of names in Anglo-Saxon culture?

In Anglo-Saxon culture, names could be chosen to reflect a desirable trait or characteristic the parents wanted the child to possess. For instance, Æthelred means ‘noble’ or ‘daring,’ and Cyneheard means ‘royal’ or ‘firm.’ Parents aspired to give their children these positive attributes. Moreover, names like Beowulf (bear) and Wulfric (wolf ruler) could be connected to the Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. Some parents could choose names that invoke blessings from the gods to protect and prosper their children.

4. How did Anglo-Saxon names change over time?

The introduction of Christianity in the late 6th and 7th centuries significantly changed Anglo-Saxon names (1). The names of Christian saints began to be introduced. Moreover, the Viking invasions in the 8th and 9th centuries also caused several changes in Anglo-Saxon names (2). Later, French names were introduced with the Norman conquest in 1066 (3). Additionally, Germanic and Norse names underwent anglicization over time. Hence, names like Ælfweard became Alfred.

5. What are some resources for parents looking for an Anglo-Saxon name for their child?

Historical texts and literature can help parents look for authentic Anglo-Saxon names. You can also check the etymologies of names to get an insight into the historical and cultural context of such names. Several online websites also list Anglo-Saxon names with meanings and origins. Additionally, you can get information about these names by talking with Anglo-Saxon experts or on online forums dedicated to them.

References:

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