0 | MomJunction

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

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
Hroppa	Girl	A female Anglo-Saxon name
Hrothgar	Boy	A legend’s name; A variant of Hrodgar
Hubbard	Boy	Graceful; Bright or Shining Intellect
Hucca	Girl	A low-born woman's name
Hucel	Girl	A girl of low heritage
Hucela	Girl	A baby girl of low ranks
Huctia	Girl	An Old English name
Hudeca	Girl	An Anglo-Saxon girl's name
Huder	Girl	A female name of Anglo-Saxon origin
Irwin	Boy	Sea lover; Boar friend

Jeevika	Girl	Water
Jefferson	Boy	Son of jeff
Jerold	Boy	Similar to Gerald
Jessen	Boy	The son of Judd
Kendra	Girl	Knowing; Wise ruler; High hill
Kendre	Girl	She is a prophet
Kinborough	Girl	Royal fortress
Kinburga	Girl	The fortress of the lords
King	Boy	Monarch
Lyveva	Girl	A beloved gift

Manford	Boy	Protected fjord
Megan	Girl	Pearl
Merewina	Girl	A variant of Merewen, which means renowned joy, great pleasure, or splendid delight
Millar	Boy	Mill worker; One who grinds grain; A variant form of Miller
Millman	Boy	Mill worker; One who grinds grain; A variant form of Miller
Milman	Boy	Mill worker; One who grinds grain
Oaks	Boy	The charming Lord; The God is fascinating
Odelinda	Girl	Little wealthy one
Ordgar	Boy	Resembling the sharp point of the javelin
Ordway	Boy	The one who is having the spear on his hands as mighty arm.

Orvyn	Boy	A close friend who is bold and courageous
Osbeorn	Boy	The bear-like person
Osburga	Girl	An ancient lady monarch
Oslac	Boy	A determined and curious individual
Osment	Boy	A famous and god-loving person
Osmer	Boy	One who is as famous as the God
Osmonde	Boy	One who is protected by God
Osmont	Boy	One who remains under protection
Osmund	Boy	A person under protection
Osmundue	Boy	A great and divine protector

Osric	Boy	God-protected; Rich and powerful
Osrik	Boy	Rich and powerful
Osvald	Boy	The rule of God; Very powerful and passionate
Oswald	Boy	One who lives in God's rule
Oswall	Boy	The one who is under God's rule
Osweald	Boy	God's rule; With divine power
Oswiu	Boy	One with a willpower like that of a king
Oswold	Boy	A saint; God's rule
Otuel	Boy	A person who is lucky in war
Page	Boy	An attendant; A willful and wishful person

Pandragon	Boy	As powerful as the dragon's head
Parkes	Girl	One who is employed in the park
Parle	Boy	Determined like a little rock
Parris	Girl	A clear sighted and clever individual
Peada	Boy	One who is like a Prince
Peirce	Boy	Name given to the son of Peter
Penton	Boy	A farm stead or settlement
Peterkin	Boy	Form of Peter; a rock
Picford	Boy	One who is from woodcutter's ford
Pickford	Boy	One who is from the woodcutter's ford

Pier	Boy	Son of Pierce; A stone or a rock
Pileca	Boy	A locational name; independent
Rawling	Boy	Advice of the wolf
Rawlins	Boy	Son of the wise wolf-man
Rawls	Boy	The famous wolf
Rawly	Boy	A well-known wolf
Rawson	Boy	The son of a famous wolf
Rawsone	Boy	A male child of the famous wolf
Rayder	Boy	One who gives great advice
Raydon	Boy	One who was born to counsel

Raylen	Boy	He who was born to counsel people
Reed	Boy	Red
Ricmaer	Boy	A powerful ruler who reached fame
Ricman	Boy	A man with great power and rule
Ricmann	Boy	A person who has the power to rule
Sanders	Boy	Son of Sander
Sharette	Unisex	A bright and fair individual
Sheffield	Boy	Crooked field
Sherlock	Boy	Light-haired
Sibbe	Unisex	A famous victory

Sicga	Boy	A nobleman in Northumbria
Sigebehrt	Boy	A bright and famous; Renown victory
Sigebert	Boy	A victory that is famous and bright
Sigebryht	Boy	A victory achieved brightly
Sigeferth	Boy	A victory that is peace-bringing
Sigegar	Boy	One with a personality of a victor
Sigegeat	Boy	A fortune and prosperity that the victory brings
Sigegifu	Boy	One who wins; One who is a born victor
Sigehaeth	Boy	A high victory
Sigeheah	Boy	He who is high on victory

Sigehelm	Boy	A helmet of victory
Sigehere	Boy	He who is victorious
Sigeric	Boy	One who is a victorious ruler; One whose power is in his victories
Sigeweard	Boy	He who guards his victories
Sigewine	Boy	He who is a friend of the victory
Sighere	Boy	One who is a victor
Slean	Boy	He who strikes
Spence	Boy	A short form of spencer
Spring	Girl	To leap; To jump; To burst forth
Stowe	Boy	Hidden; Packed away

« 1 2 3 4 5 »

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)

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

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.