sponinsanity's Personal Name List

From a now extinct English surname that was derived from a Norman place name. It was occasionally given in honour of the English preacher Henry Sacheverell (1674-1724), especially by the Sitwell noble family.

Modern Irish form of Sadb.

Means "having a wise heart" from Sindarin sael "wise" and ind "inner thought, mind, meaning, heart". This was an epessë or epithet of Andreth in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.

From the English word that refers either to a spice, the crocus flower from which it is harvested, or the yellow-orange colour of the spice. It is derived via Old French from Arabic زعفران (zaʿfarān), itself probably from Persian meaning "gold leaves".

From Old Norse Sága, possibly meaning "seeing one", derived from sjá "to see". This is the name of a Norse goddess, possibly connected to Frigg. As a Swedish and Icelandic name, it is also derived from the unrelated word saga "story, fairy tale, saga".

From the English word sage, which denotes either a type of spice or else a wise person.

Means "archer" in Latin. It is the name of one of the constellations of the zodiac, commonly represented as a centaur drawing a bow, derived from its representation in Greek mythology.

Derived from Latin sal meaning "salt". This was the name of the Roman goddess of salt water.

Alternate transcription of Arabic سالم (see Salim).

From the name of the gemstone, typically blue, which is the traditional birthstone of September. It is derived from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros), ultimately from the Hebrew word סַפִּיר (sappir).

Possibly from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros) meaning "sapphire" or "lapis lazuli". This was the name of a 7th-century BC Greek poetess from Lesbos.

From Old Irish Sárait, derived from sár meaning "excellent". This was the name of a daughter of the legendary high king of Ireland, Conn of the Hundred Battles.

From the Old German element sahso meaning "a Saxon". The Saxons were a Germanic tribe, their name ultimately deriving from the Germanic word *sahsą meaning "knife". Saskia van Uylenburgh (1612-1642) was the wife of the Dutch painter Rembrandt.

From an English surname derived from Old English sacc meaning "sack, bag", referring to a person who was a bag maker. A famous bearer was the American baseball player Satchel Paige (1906-1982). In his case it was a childhood nickname acquired because he sold bags.

From the Latin Saturnus, which is of unknown meaning. In Roman mythology he was the father of Jupiter, Juno and others, and was also the god of agriculture. This is also the name of the ringed sixth planet in the solar system.

Feminine form of Saturninus. This was the name of a legendary saint who was supposedly martyred in northern France.

Roman cognomen derived from the name of the Roman god Saturnus (see Saturn). This was the name of several early saints.

From an English surname meaning "sawer of wood". Mark Twain used it for the hero in his novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876).

Very rare as an American given name before 1980, it increased in popularity in the 1980s and 90s. It got a boost in 2004 after the debut of the television series Lost, which featured a character by this name.

From an English surname that was derived from the name of the Germanic tribe the Saxons, ultimately deriving from the Germanic word *sahsą meaning "knife". This name can also be given in direct reference to the tribe.

Latin form of Scevola.

Either a variant of Scarlett or else from the English word for the red colour (both of the same origin, a type of cloth).

Derives from the Arabic word şadr, meaning "breast" (referring to the star's placement near the "heart" of the constellation). This is the traditional name of the star Alpha Cassiopeiae in the constellation Cassiopeia.

Alternative names for it include Al Dhāt al Kursiyy ("the lady in the chair") and Dath Elkarti.

Anglicized form of Shahrazad.

Transferred use of the surname Schroeder. Used as a first name in 1951 by Charles Schulz for a character in his comic strip "Peanuts". Derived from the German surname Schröder 1 or Schröder 2 with the usual replacement spelling oe for ö.

Despite the use in the popular comic strip it is not admitted as a given name in Germany because of its surname nature.

Possibly an Irish form of Secundinus. This was the name of a 5th-century Irish saint, also known as Secundinus.

From Old Irish Ségdae, probably derived from ségda meaning "fine, good, favourable, learned". According to an Irish legend this was the name of a boy who was set to be sacrificed but was saved by his mother [1].

From the Latin name Sebastianus, which meant "from Sebaste". Sebaste was the name a town in Asia Minor, its name deriving from Greek σεβαστός (sebastos) meaning "venerable" (a translation of Latin Augustus, the title of the Roman emperors). According to Christian tradition, Saint Sebastian was a 3rd-century Roman soldier martyred during the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian. After he was discovered to be a Christian, he was tied to a stake and shot with arrows. This however did not kill him. Saint Irene of Rome healed him and he returned to personally admonish Diocletian, whereupon the emperor had him beaten to death.

Due to the saint's popularity, the name came into general use in medieval Europe, especially in Spain and France. It was also borne by a 16th-century king of Portugal who died in a crusade against Morocco.

Means "voice, echo" in Turkish.

From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "town in the rushes" in Old English.

Old Welsh form of Sextilius. This name was borne by a 7th-century king of Ceredigion.

Means "from the house on the hill" or "from the willow valley".

Means "moon" in Greek. This was the name of a Greek goddess of the moon, a Titan. She was sometimes identified with the goddess Artemis.

Anglicized form of Senán.

Means "merry moon" in Turkish.

From a Roman cognomen derived from Latin senectus meaning "old". This was the name of both a Roman orator (born in Spain) and also of his son, a philosopher and statesman.

This name also coincides with that of the Seneca, a Native American tribe that lived near the Great Lakes, whose name meant "place of stones".

Derived from the plant named Senna. The name is a variant of the Arabic name Sana, which means "brilliance, radiance, splendour."

In literature, this is the name of a female antagonist and witch from K.A. Applegate's series Everworld as well as a character in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga.

From the name of the ninth month (though it means "seventh month" in Latin, since it was originally the seventh month of the Roman year), which is sometimes used as a given name for someone born in September.

Feminine form of Septimus.

Roman praenomen, or given name, which meant "seventh" in Latin.

From the name of huge trees that grow in California. The tree got its name from the 19th-century Cherokee scholar Sequoyah (also known as George Guess), the inventor of the Cherokee writing system.

Feminine form of the Late Latin name Seraphinus, derived from the biblical word seraphim, which was Hebrew in origin and meant "fiery ones". The seraphim were an order of angels, described by Isaiah in the Bible as having six wings each.

This was the name of a 13th-century Italian saint who made clothes for the poor. As an English name, it has never been common.

Means "star" in Welsh. This is a recently created Welsh name.

Means "grow" in Turkish.

Anglicized form of Seán. It came into general use in America after the release of the western movie Shane (1953).

From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "valley with steep sides" in Old English. Sheldon is the name of several locations in England.

From a surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "shelf town" in Old English.

From an Irish surname (Anglicized from Irish Gaelic Ó Sirideáin), which was derived from the given name Sirideán possibly meaning "searcher".

From an English place name (or from a surname that was derived from it) meaning "bright forest". This was the name of the forest in which the legendary outlaw Robin Hood made his home.

English: habitational name from any of the various places, for example in Derbyshire, County Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire, Sussex, and West Yorkshire, so called from Old English sceap, scip ‘sheep’ + leah ‘wood’, ‘clearing’.

From Latin Sicilia, itself from Greek Σικελία (Sikelia), named for the the ancient tribe of the Sicels (Σικελοί). They were probably of Italic origin, but the meaning of their tribal name is unknown. This is the name of a large island in the Mediterranean, part of Italy.

Latin name meaning "of Sidon". Sidon was an ancient Phoenician city corresponding to modern-day Saida in Lebanon. This name was borne by the 5th-century saint Sidonius Apollinaris, a 5th-century bishop of Clermont.

Feminine form of Sidonius. This name was in use in the Middle Ages, when it became associated with the word sindon (of Greek origin) meaning "linen", a reference to the Shroud of Turin.

Derived from the Old German elements sigu "victory" and heri "army".

Swedish form of Siegfried. This was the name of an 11th-century saint from England who did missionary work in Scandinavia.

From the Old Norse name Sigríðr, which was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and fríðr "beautiful, beloved".

German form of Silvanus.

Italian feminine form of Silvanus.

Roman cognomen meaning "of the woods", derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest". Silvanus was the Roman god of forests. This name appears in the New Testament belonging to one of Saint Paul's companions, also called Silas.

From a Latin name meaning "wooded, wild", derived from silva "wood, forest". This was the name of three popes, including Saint Silvester I who supposedly baptized the first Christian Roman emperor, Constantine the Great. As an English name, Silvester (or Sylvester) has been in use since the Middle Ages, though it became less common after the Protestant Reformation.

Derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest". This was the family name of several of the legendary kings of Alba Longa. It was also the name of an early saint martyred in Alexandria.

From Σίμων (Simon), the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name שִׁםְעוֹן (Shimʿon) meaning "hearing, listening", derived from שָׁמַע (shamaʿ) meaning "to hear, to listen". This name is spelled Simeon, based on Greek Συμεών, in many translations of the Old Testament, where it is borne by the second son of Jacob. The New Testament spelling may show influence from the otherwise unrelated Greek name Simon 2.

In the New Testament Simon is the name of several characters, including the man who carried the cross for Jesus. Most importantly however it was borne by the leading apostle Simon, also known as Peter (a name given to him by Jesus).

Because of the apostle, this name has been common in the Christian world. In England it was popular during the Middle Ages, though it became more rare after the Protestant Reformation.

Diminutive of Simona.

Diminutive of Simone 1.

Derived from Greek σιμός (simos) meaning "flat-nosed" and the patronymic suffix ἴδης (ides). This name was borne by the 7th-century BC iambic poet Simonides of Amorgos and the 6th-century BC lyric poet Simonides of Ceos.

Indian

Means "elf, sprite" in Irish. This name was created in the 20th century.

Derived from Spanish sirena "mermaid". The Spanish dramatist Jacinto Benavente used this name in his play 'Los intereses creados' (1907), where it belongs to a poor widow and matchmaker called Doña Sirena.

The name of a bright star in the constellation Canis Major, derived via Latin from Greek σείριος (seirios) meaning "burning".

Variant of Zisel.

Latinized form of Greek Σίσυφος (Sisyphos), of which the meaning is uncertain. It may possibly be derived from Greek σίσυς (sisys), which can mean "a goat's skin" or "cheap garment" or "any coarse". Another possibility might be Greek σοφὸς (sophos) meaning "wise". Otherwise, if neither of these possibilities apply, the name might ultimately be of pre-Greek origin. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a king of Ephyra, who was punished for his trickery in Tartarus, by being cursed to roll a huge boulder up a hill.

Anglicized form of Sadhbh.

From the Old Norse name Sigsteinn, which was derived from the elements sigr "victory" and steinn "stone".

Means "debt, obligation" in Old Norse. She was one of the three Norns, or goddesses of destiny, in Norse mythology. She was also one of the valkyries.

From an English surname that was derived from Old English slæd meaning "valley".

From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Sluaghadháin, itself derived from the given name Sluaghadhán.

Derived from Irish sluaghadh meaning "raid, mobilization" and a diminutive suffix.

From the Greek name Σωκράτης (Sokrates), which was derived from σῶς (sos) meaning "whole, unwounded, safe" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This was the name of an important Greek philosopher. He left no writings of his own; virtually everything that we know of his beliefs comes from his pupil Plato. He was sentenced to death for impiety.

From the English word, solace.

French form of the Late Latin name Sollemnia, which was derived from Latin sollemnis "religious". This was the name of a French shepherdess who became a saint after she was killed by her master.

Means "sun" in French. It is not commonly used as a name in France itself.

Variant of Solen.

Derived from Latin solsticium and thus ultimately from sol "sun" and stito "to stand still". The English word solstice refers to two times of the year when the sun's apparent position in the sky reaches its northernmost or southernmost extremes.

Lionel Shriver (born Margaret Shriver), used Solstice for a character in her novel 'Big Brother' (2013).

From an Old Norse name, which was derived from the elements sól "sun" and veig "strength". This is the name of the heroine in Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt (1876).

Anglicized form of the Old Norse name Sumarliði meaning "summer traveller". This was the name of a 12th-century Norse-Gaelic king of Mann and the Scottish Isles.

Diminutive of Italian sonetto - song, sound; little song. Also the term for a short lyric poem, usually with eight line stanzas, followed by six line
stanzas.

The sonnets of William Shakespeare, on the other hand, are typically three Sicilian quatrains, followed by an heroic couplet.

French form of Sophia.

Likely a variant of Sophina.

From the Greek name Σοφοκλῆς (Sophokles), which was derived from Greek σοφός (sophos) meaning "skilled, clever" and κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory". Sophocles was a celebrated 5th-century BC dramatist from Athens.

Feminine form of Sophronius. Torquato Tasso used it in his epic poem Jerusalem Delivered (1580), in which it is borne by the lover of Olindo.

Latinized form of the Greek name Σωφρόνιος (Sophronios), which was derived from Greek σώφρων (sophron) meaning "self-controlled, sensible". Saint Sophronius was a 7th-century patriarch of Jerusalem.

From Japanese 空 (sora) or 昊 (sora) both meaning "sky". Other kanji with the same pronunciations can also form this name.

Persian form of Thurayya. It became popular in some parts of Europe because of the fame of Princess Soraya (1932-2001), wife of the last Shah of Iran, who became a European socialite.

Means "radiant, bright" in Irish. It has been in use since late medieval times [2]. It is sometimes Anglicized as Sarah (in Ireland) and Clara (in Scotland).

English form of Søren.

Possibly derived from Romanian soare meaning "sun".

Feminine form of Sorin.

Anglicized form of Somhairle.

From the name of the sour tasting plant, derived from Old French sur "sour", a word of Frankish origin.

Derived from Greek σως (sos) meaning "safe, whole, unwounded". In Greek mythology this was the name of a prophetic Oreiad or Naiad nymph of Arcadia (a southern region of Greece). According to one account she was the mother of the god Pan by Hermes.

Means "born safely" from Greek σῶς (sos) meaning "safe, whole, unwounded" and γενής (genes) meaning "born". This was the name of an astronomer from Alexandria employed by Julius Caesar to correct the Roman calendar.

Roman family name which was possibly derived from Greek σως (sos) "safe, whole, unwounded".

Means "safe in strength", derived from the Greek adjective σῶς (sos) meaning "safe, whole, unwounded" (see Sosigenes) combined with the Greek noun σθένος (sthenos) meaning "vigour, strength".

A notable bearer of this name was the Macedonian general Sosthenes of Macedon (3rd century BC).

Means "safe army" from Greek σῶς (sos) meaning "safe, whole, unwounded" and στρατός (stratos) meaning "army".

From the name of the bird, ultimately from Old English spearwa.

Derived from σπεῖος (speios), the Epic Greek form of σπέος (speos) meaning "cave, cavern, grotto". This was the name of a Nereid in Greek myth; with the exception of Pausanias, all of the Greek poets (Hesiod, Homer, Apollodorus and Hyginus) and even the Roman poet Virgil list Speio among the ranks of the Haliad Nymphs known as the Nereides.

English: occupational name for a seller of spices, Middle English spic(i)er (a reduced form of Old French espicier, Late Latin speciarius, an agent derivative of species ‘spice’, ‘groceries’, ‘merchandise’).
Jewish (from Poland): variant of Spitzer.

Late Greek name derived from Greek σπυρίδιον (spyridion) meaning "basket" or Latin spiritus meaning "spirit". Saint Spyridon was a 4th-century sheep farmer who became the bishop of Tremithus and suffered during the persecutions of Diocletian.

Anglicized form of Spyros.

Short form of Spyridon.

Meaning: a great storm, usually tropical in nature
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The main protagonist in Final Fantasy VIII.

From Esperanto stelaro meaning "constellation", ultimately from Latin stella "star".

Meaning unknown, perhaps related to Old Norse stilling "calm", or perhaps of German origin.

Derived from the Old Norse name Steinn meaning "stone".

Means "star" in Cornish.

From a Scots surname that was derived from city of Stirling, which is itself of unknown meaning. The name can also be given in reference to the English word sterling meaning "excellent". In this case, the word derives from sterling silver, which was so named because of the emblem that some Norman coins bore, from Old English meaning "little star".

Derived from the Greek noun στεροπή (sterope) meaning "flash of lightning". Also compare the Greek noun στέροψ (sterops) meaning "flashing" and the related name Asterope, which basically has the same meaning.

In Greek mythology, Sterope is the name of one of the seven Pleiads.

From an English surname that was originally derived from the name of the village of Stidston in Devon, meaning "Stithweard's town". This is a type of wide-brimmed hat, originally made by the John B. Stetson Company.

Variant of Stig. A known bearer was the Swedish writer Stieg Larsson (1954-2004), author of the 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' trilogy, born Karl Stig-Erland Larsson.

Modern form of Stigr.

Means "wanderer" in Old Norse.

Means "path" in Old Norse.

From the vocabulary word, ultimately from Old English or Old Dutch storm, or in the case of the Scandinavian name, from Old Norse stormr. It is unisex as an English name, but typically masculine elsewhere.

From Middle English storie, storye, from Anglo-Norman estorie, from Late Latin storia meaning "history."

Derived from Greek στρατός (stratos) meaning "army". This was the name of a 3rd-century BC Greek philosopher.

Transferred use of the surname Struan.

In Greek mythology the Styx is the river that forms the boundary between the underworld and the world of the living, as well as a goddess and a nymph that represents the river.

The word comes from the French Suède, which literally means "Sweden".

Means "before the morning", derived from Latin sub "under, before" and mane "morning". Summanus was the Roman god of the night sky and night lightning, a nocturnal counterpart to Jupiter.

From the name of the day of the week, which ultimately derives from Old English sunnandæg, which was composed of the elements sunne "sun" and dæg "day". This name is most common in Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

From a surname, itself derived from the name of numerous English towns, of Old English origin meaning "south town".

Derived from Greek σύαγρος (syagros), which referred to a kind of palm-tree. This name was borne by a saint as well as a few Roman consuls.

Created by Shakespeare for a witch character in his play The Tempest (1611). The character has died by the time the play begins, so she is only spoken of and not seen. The name's meaning is unknown, though it might have been inspired by Latin corax or Greek κόραξ (korax) meaning "raven", referring to the 5th-century BC Greek rhetorician Corax of Syracuse. One of the moons of Uranus bears this name in the character's honour.

Derived from Greek συλεύς (syleus) meaning "privateer", which is ultimately derived from Greek συλάω (sylao) meaning "to plunder, to rob, to strip (off)". Also compare Greek σύλη (syle), a term used to refer to the right of seizing a ship. In Greek mythology, Syleus was a Lydian who was killed by Heracles for his nefarious deeds.

The name of a naiad of the town of Sikyon and perhaps a daughter of Asopos. Her name may come from the element συλλύω (sylluo) meaning "reconciler".

Meaning uncertain. It may possibly have been derived from Greek σύλησις (sylesis) meaning "spoiling, plundering", which is ultimately derived from Greek συλάω (sylao) meaning "to plunder, to rob, to strip (off)". Also see Syleus. Syloson was the name of a tyrant of Samos, who lived in the 6th century BC.

Either a variant of Silvanus or directly from the Latin word silva meaning "wood, forest".

Variant of Silvana.

In mythology, a River-God of eastern Sikelia. His name is taken from the river Symaethus, of unknown etymology.

Variant of Simon.

Derived from the Greek adjective σύμφορος (symphoros) meaning "accompanying", which is derived from the Greek verb συμφορέω (symphoreo) meaning "to bring together, to collect, to heap up", a variant of the more common verb συμφέρω (symphero) meaning "to bring together, to gather, to collect" as well as "to be of use, to be useful". Both verbs are ultimately derived from Greek σύν (syn) meaning "beside, with" combined with respectively Greek φορέω (phoreo) and φέρω (phero), which both mean "to bring, to carry, to bear".

From Greek σῦριγξ (syrinx) meaning "tube" or "panpipes", referring to a musical instrument played by mouth and comprising tubes arranged in order of length. In Greek myth this was the name of a nymph and follower of Artemis, the virgin huntress. Syrinx was pursued by the god Pan, and in an attempt to escape, she ran to the river's edge and asked the river nymphs for assistance. The river nymphs transformed her into hollow river reeds. Devastated, Pan cut the reeds from the water and fastened them into the first set of panpipes (or pan flute, or shepherd's pipe), which were thenceforth known as syrinx.

Feminine form of Syver, a Norwegian variant of Sivert which was sometimes associated with Norwegian syv "seven".

From the English word, ultimately from Ancient Greek σύζυγος (súzugos) "yolked together". In astronomy, this term refers to the alignment of three celestial bodies, such as what occurs during an eclipse.

From Japanese 正 (tadashi) meaning "right, correct, true" or 忠 (tadashi) meaning "loyalty, devotion", as well as other kanji or kanji combinations that result in the same pronunciation.

From Old Irish Tadg meaning "poet" [1]. This was the name of an 11th-century king of Connacht, as well as several other kings and chieftains of medieval Ireland. According to Irish mythology it was the name of the grandfather of Fionn mac Cumhaill.

Diminutive of Tadhg.

From an English surname, of Norman origin, possibly derived from an unattested Germanic given name composed of the elements dala "to destroy" and bod "message".

From a Welsh place name meaning "front hill", derived from Welsh tal "front, extremity" and bryn "hill".

Means "shining brow", derived from Welsh tal "brow, head" and iesin "shining, radiant". This was the name of a semi-legendary 6th-century Welsh poet and bard, supposedly the author of the collection of poems the Book of Taliesin. He appears briefly in the Welsh legend Culhwch and Olwen and the Second Branch of the Mabinogi. He is the central character in the Tale of Taliesin, a medieval legend recorded in the 16th century, which tells how Ceridwen's servant Gwion Bach was reborn to her as Taliesin; how he becomes the bard for Elffin; and how Taliesin defends Elffin from the machinations of the king Maelgwn Gwynedd.

Means "little girl" in Aramaic. The name is taken from the phrase talitha cumi meaning "little girl arise" spoken by Jesus in order to restore a young girl to life (see Mark 5:41).

Diminutive of Tallulah, Talia 1 and other names that begin with or contain the element "Tal-".

From the English word meaning "talon, claw", ultimately derived (via Norman French) from Latin talus "anklebone".

Norman form of the Germanic name Thancrat meaning "thought and counsel", derived from the elements thank meaning "thought, consideration, thanks" (Old High German danc, Old Frankish þank) and rat meaning "counsel, advice". This name was common among the medieval Norman nobility of southern Italy, being the name of the founder of the Hauteville family. It was borne by a leader of the First Crusade, described by Torquato Tasso in his epic poem Jerusalem Delivered (1580).

Greek form of Tanith.

Meaning unknown. This was the name of the Phoenician goddess of love, fertility, the moon and the stars. She was particularly associated with the city of Carthage, being the consort of Ba'al Hammon.

In Greek mythology he was a hero, most famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus. He was made to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches, with the fruit ever eluding his grasp, and the water always receding before he could take a drink. He was the father of Pelops, Niobe and Broteas, and was a son of Zeus and the nymph Plouto.

Means "legend, myth" in Finnish. It is also used as a diminutive of Tarja.

From the name of a water spring in paradise, according to Islamic tradition.

The meaning is unfortunately unknown to me. This was the name of a Welsh saint from the 5th century AD; sources conflict over whether the saint was a male or a female. In the case of the latter, the saint was thought to be a daughter of a King of Gwent.

Roman family name of unknown meaning, possibly of Sabine origin. According to Roman legend, Titus Tatius was an 8th-century BC king of the Sabines who came to jointly rule over the Romans and Sabines with the Roman king Romulus.

From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "Tata's homestead" in Old English. It was brought to public attention by the child actress Tatum O'Neal (1963-) in the 1970s, though it did not catch on. It attained a modest level of popularity after 1996, when it was borne by a character in the movie Scream.

Diminutive of Taurus. This was the name of a Roman usurper from the 3rd century AD, and of a Frankish saint from the 5th century AD.

Variant of Tegan. It also coincides with a rare Irish surname Teagan. This name rose on the American popularity charts in the 1990s, probably because of its similarity to names like Megan and Reagan.

Scottish Gaelic form of Toirdhealbhach. It is sometimes Anglicized as Charles.

Means "darling" in Welsh, derived from a diminutive of Welsh teg "beautiful, pretty". It was somewhat common in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada in the 1980s and 90s. It was borne by an Australian character on the television series Doctor Who from 1981 to 1984.

An Oceanid, one of the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. A moon of saturn was named after her.

From the English word meaning "storm". It appears in the title of William Shakespeare's play The Tempest (1611).

From an English surname that originally belonged to a person who was associated with the Knights Templar, a medieval religious military order.

Means "enjoying the dance" from Greek τέρψις (terpsis) meaning "delight" and χορός (choros) meaning "dance". In Greek mythology she was the goddess of dance and dramatic chorus, one of the nine Muses.

Means "warmth" in Welsh.

Contracted form of Theresa.

Derived from Greek τήθη (tethe) meaning "grandmother". In Greek mythology this was the name of a Titan associated with the sea. She was the wife of Oceanus.

From Θαδδαῖος (Thaddaios), the Greek form of the Aramaic name תַדַּי (Ṯaddai). It is possibly derived from Aramaic תַּד (taḏ) meaning "heart, breast", but it may in fact be an Aramaic form of a Greek name such as Θεόδωρος (see Theodore). In the Gospel of Matthew, Thaddaeus is listed as one of the twelve apostles, though elsewhere in the New Testament his name is omitted and Jude's appears instead. It is likely that the two names refer to the same person.

Alternate transcription of Ancient Greek Θαΐς (see Thaïs), as well as the usual Spanish form.

Means "sea" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was the personification of the sea. A small moon of Neptune is named for her.

Ancient Greek form of Thalia.

Latinized form of Thalelaios. This was the name of two saints; one lived in the 3rd century AD, the other lived in the 5th century AD.

The first element of this name is derived from Greek θαλλω (thallo) meaning "to blossom" (also see Thalia). The second element probably derives from Greek λαος (laos) meaning "the people", although Greek λαιός (laios) "left, on the left side" and Greek λεῖος (leios) "smooth" are also possibilities.

Derived from Greek θάλλω (thallo) meaning "to blossom". Thales of Miletus was a 6th-century BC Greek philosopher and mathematician.

Ultimately from the same linguistic roots as Thalia, Thallo means "blooming" and by associations "green shoots (of new plants)". This was the name of one of the Horai, goddesses associated with seasons and times. In this role she was believed to grant prosperity to the young shoots of plants.

From the Scottish and English noble title, which was originally from Old English thegn.

Short form of Theodora. A famous bearer was actress Theda Bara (1885-1955), who was born Theodosia Goodman.

Possibly derived from Greek θεά (thea) meaning "goddess". In Greek myth this was the name of a Titan goddess of light, glittering and glory. She was the wife of Hyperion and the mother of the sun god Helios, the moon goddess Selene, and the dawn goddess Eos.

Latinized form of Tielo (see Till). A famous bearer was jazz musician Thelonious Monk (1917-1982).

Means "law of nature, divine law, custom" in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a Titan who presided over custom and natural law. She was often depicted blindfolded and holding a pair of scales. By Zeus she was the mother of many deities, including the three Μοῖραι (Moirai) and the three Ὥραι (Horai).

Latinized form of Themistokleia. This was the name of a Greek priestess, philosopher and mathematician from the 6th century BC, who was the teacher of Pythagoras. After Pythagoras coined the term "philosophy", Themistoclea became the first woman in history to whom the word "philosopher" was applied.

Short form of Theodelinde and Theodelind.

Variant of Theudelind.

Variant of Theudelinde.

Feminine form of Theodore. This name was common in the Byzantine Empire, being borne by several empresses including the influential wife of Justinian in the 6th century.

From the Gothic name *Þiudareiks meaning "ruler of the people", derived from the elements þiuda "people" and reiks "ruler, king". It was notably borne by Theodoric the Great, a 6th-century king of the Ostrogoths who eventually became the ruler of Italy. By Theodoric's time the Ostrogoths were partially Romanized and his name was regularly recorded as Theodoricus. This was also the name of two earlier (5th century) Visigothic kings.

Feminine form of Theodosius.

Feminine form of Theodotos (see Theodotus). A famous bearer of this name was the second Empress consort of Emperor Constantine VI of the Byzantine Empire.

Latinized form of the Greek name Θεόδοτος (Theodotos) meaning "given to god", derived from θεός (theos) meaning "god" and δοτός (dotos) meaning "given". This name belonged to several early saints and martyrs.

This is a French form of Theuderada via the Latinized form Theodorada or Theoderada.

This name was borne by several royal women of ancient Francia, including the wife of Chrodbert II (c. 678) and the queen consort of Odo of France, King of Western Francia: Théodrate of Troyes (868-903).

Ancient Greek form of Thekla.

Younger form of Theodolinde.

Means "servant" or "worshipper" in Greek.

Possibly derived from Greek τίθημι (tithemi) meaning "to set, to place". Theseus was a heroic king of Athens in Greek mythology. He was the son of Aethra, either by Aegeus or by the god Poseidon. According to legend, every seven years the Cretan king Minos demanded that Athens supply Crete with seven boys and seven girls to be devoured by the Minotaur, a half-bull creature that was the son of Minos's wife Pasiphaë. Theseus volunteered to go in place of one of these youths in order to slay the Minotaur in the Labyrinth where it lived. He succeeded with the help of Minos's daughter Ariadne, who provided him with a sword and a roll of string so he could find his way out of the maze.

William Shakespeare made Theseus a central character in his play A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595), about his upcoming marriage to the Amazon queen Hippolyta. Shakespeare revisited the character in his later play The Two Noble Kinsmen (1613).

Thessaly is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. This name is borne by Thessaly Lerner, American stage, film and voice actress.

Possibly derived from Greek θέτης (thetes) meaning "one who places", a derivative of τίθημι (tithemi) meaning "to set, to place". This was the name of one of the Nereids in Greek mythology. With Peleus she was the mother of Achilles.

From the Germanic element þeud "people" and Old High German lind or lindi "soft, tender" (see also Theudelinda).

French form of Theodoric. It was very popular in France from the 1950s, peaking in the mid-1960s before falling away. A famous bearer is the French former soccer player Thierry Henry (1977-).

Greek form of the Aramaic name תְּאוֹמָא (Teʾoma) meaning "twin". In the New Testament this is the name of an apostle. When he heard that Jesus had risen from the dead he initially doubted the story, until Jesus appeared before him and he examined his wounds himself. According to tradition he was martyred in India. Due to his renown, the name came into general use in the Christian world.

In England the name was used by the Normans and became very popular due to Saint Thomas Becket, a 12th-century archbishop of Canterbury and martyr. It was reliably among the top five most common English names for boys from the 13th to the 19th century, and it has remained consistently popular to this day.

Another notable saint by this name was the 13th-century Italian philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, who is regarded as a Doctor of the Church. Other famous bearers include philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), American president Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), novelist Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), and inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931).

Medieval feminine form of Thomas.

Feminine form of Thomas.

From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "thorn clearing" in Old English.

Transferred use of the surname Thornley.

A known bearer of this name was the Irish surgeon and anatomist Sir Thornley Stoker (1845-1912), who was the eldest brother of the famous Irish novelist Bram Stoker (1847-1912).

From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "thorn town" in Old English.

Greek form of Egyptian ḏḥwtj (reconstructed as Djehuti), which is of uncertain meaning. In Egyptian mythology Thoth was the god of the moon, science, magic, speech and writing. He was often depicted as a man with the head of an ibis.

From a Roman name meaning "of Thracia". Thracia was a region in southeastern Europe, now divided between Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Derived from Latin Thrax meaning "Thracian", which in turn was ultimately derived from Greek Thrakē, which came from the verb thrāssō "to trouble, to stir". This was the name of Maximinus Thrax (i.e. Maximinus the Thracian), the 27th Emperor of the Roman Empire.

In Greek mythology, Thyia derived from the verb θύω "to sacrifice" was a female figure associated with cults of several major gods.

Anglicized form of Tighearnán.

Anglicized form of Tighearnach.

Roman praenomen, or given name, which is of unknown meaning, possibly related to Latin titulus "title of honour". It is more likely of Oscan origin, since it was borne by the legendary Sabine king Titus Tatius.

This name appears in the New Testament belonging to a companion of Saint Paul. He became the first bishop of Crete and was the recipient of one of Paul's epistles. This was also the praenomen of all three Roman emperors of the 1st-century Flavian dynasty, and it is the name by which the second of them is commonly known to history. Shakespeare later used it for the main character in his tragedy Titus Andronicus (1593). As an English name, Titus has been occasionally used since the Protestant Reformation.

From Old Irish Tairdelbach meaning "instigator", derived from tairdelb "prompting". This name was borne by several medieval Irish kings.

Variant of Taliaferro.

From the English word for the yellow precious stone, the traditional birthstone of November, ultimately derived from Greek τόπαζος (topazos).

Modern Scandinavian form of Þórr (see Thor). It was not used as a personal name until the 18th century. It is sometimes used as a short form of names of Old Norse origin that begin with the element Tor, which is also a derivative of Þórr.

Modern form of Þóra.

Formed from a diminutive of tor ‘lord’, ‘hero’, ‘champion’.

Variant of Torcall.

From the Old Norse name Þórgeirr, which meant "Thor's spear" from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with geirr "spear".

Variant of Torhild.

Meaning unknown. It has been suggested that it is of Irish origin, though no suitable derivation can be found.

From the Old Norse name Þórleifr, derived from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with leif "inheritance, legacy".

From the Old Norse name Þórný, which was derived from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with nýr "new".

From the Old Norse name Þórsteinn, which meant "Thor's stone" from the name of the Norse god Þórr (see Thor) combined with steinn "stone".

Swedish variant of Tove.

Modern form of the Old Norse name Tófa, a short form of Þórfríðr.

Indicated a person who lived at the town's edge, from Old English tun "enclosure, yard, town" and ende "end, limit".

From a surname meaning "wagoner" in Old English.

Possibly from Irish treise meaning "strength" or treas meaning "battle". It is also used as an Irish form of Theresa.

From the English word, ultimately from Greek θησαυρός (thesauros) meaning "treasure, collection".

From a surname that was derived from a Cornish place name meaning "homestead on the hill".

Meaning uncertain. It is possibly related to a root meaning "the sea" (cognate with Old Irish trethan). Alternatively it could be connected to Greek τρεῖς (treis) meaning "three" (ordinal form τρίτος). In Greek mythology Triton was the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. He was often depicted as a merman, half-human and half-fish. The largest of Neptune's moons is named after him.

Possibly derived from Greek Τροία (Troia) meaning "Troy". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek princess, the daughter of King Aeacides of Epirus by his wife Phthia, and sister to King Pyrrhus and Princess Deidamia.

Diminutive of Gertrude.

Anglicized form of the medieval Welsh name Tudur, possibly from a hypothetical Celtic name *Toutorīxs meaning "ruler of the people" (cognate with Theodoric). As a surname it was borne by five monarchs of England beginning with Henry VII in the 15th century. These monarchs were descended from Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur, a Welsh nobleman.

Anglicized form of Toirdhealbhach.

Meaning unknown. Perhaps based on the English word twilight, or maybe from a Cajun pronunciation of French étoile "star" [1]. It came into use as an American given name in the late 19th century.

From Týr, the Old Norse form of the name of the Germanic god *Tīwaz, related to Indo-European *Dyēws (see Zeus). In Norse mythology he was a god associated with war and justice, by some accounts a son of Odin. While the gods bound the great wolf Fenrir, Tyr placated the beast by placing his right hand in its mouth. After the binding was successful, Fenrir bit off Tyr's hand. At the time of the end of the world, Ragnarök, it is foretold that Tyr will slay and be slain by the giant hound Garm.

Derived from the Greek τυρός (tyros) meaning "cheese".

Possibly from Old Irish úaine meaning "green". Alternatively, it may come from the name of the Irish tribe the Uaithni [2].

Scandinavian diminutive of Ulrika or Hulda 1, or a German diminutive of Ursula.

Means "star" in Greenlandic [1].

Middle English form of the Old English name Wulfric. When it is used in modern times, it is usually as a variant of Ulrich.

From the Old German name Odalric, derived from the element uodil "heritage" combined with rih "ruler, king". This was the name of two German saints. Another famous bearer was Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531), also known as Huldrych, the leader of the Protestant Reformation in Switzerland.

Feminine form of Ulysses.

French form of Ulysses.

Latin form of Odysseus. It was borne by Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), the commander of the Union forces during the American Civil War, who went on to become an American president. Irish author James Joyce used it as the title of his book Ulysses (1922), which loosely parallels Homer's epic the Odyssey.

Derived from Latin unda meaning "wave". The word undine was created by the 16th-century Swiss author Paracelsus, who used it for female water spirits.

From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "upper town" in Old English. A famous bearer of this name was the American novelist Upton Sinclair (1878-1968).

From Greek Οὐρανός (Ouranos), the name of the husband of Gaia and the father of the Titans in Greek mythology. His name is derived from οὐρανός (ouranos) meaning "the heavens". This is also the name of the seventh planet in the solar system.

From the Latin name Urbanus meaning "city dweller". This name is mentioned briefly in one of Paul's epistles in the New Testament. It was subsequently borne by eight popes.

From the Old Welsh name Urbgen, possibly from the Celtic root *orbo- "heir" and the suffix gen "born of". This was the name of a 6th-century king of Rheged. Passing into Arthurian tales, he became the king of Gore, the husband of Morgan le Fay, and the father of Owain.

Feminine form of Ursus. This is the name of two constellations in the northern sky: Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

Diminutive or extended form of Ursula, as -ina is an Italian feminine diminutive suffix (from Latin -īna meaning "belonging to"). This essentially makes the name a double diminutive of Ursa. The blessed Ursulina of Parma was a nun and visionary who at the age of 15 received visions instructing her to go to Avignon, France, to convince the antipope there, Clement VII (reigned 1378-1394), to step down and so end the Great Western Schism.

French form of Ursulina.

Latin form of Urs.

Galician form of Eugenia.

Galician form of Eugene.

From the Basque name of the Spanish town of Ujué where there is a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its name is derived from Basque usoa "dove".

Means "my power is Yahweh" in Hebrew, from the roots עֹז (ʿoz) meaning "strength, power" and יָהּ (yah) referring to the Hebrew God. This is the name of several Old Testament characters including a king of Judah.

Variant of Valerie.

Scandinavian form of Waldemar, also used as a translation of the Slavic cognate Vladimir. This was the name of four kings of Denmark and a king of Sweden. It was introduced to Scandinavia by the 12th-century Danish king Valdemar I who was named after his mother's grandfather: Vladimir II, a grand prince of Kievan Rus.

From the English word meaning "wide river valley".

Form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1) in several languages.

Feminine form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1). A famous bearer is the Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova (1937-), who in 1963 became the first woman to visit space.

From the Roman cognomen Valentinus, which was itself a derivative of the cognomen Valens meaning "strong, vigorous, healthy" in Latin. Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century martyr. His feast day was the same as the Roman fertility festival of Lupercalia, which resulted in the association between Valentine's Day and love.

As an English name, it has been used occasionally since the 12th century. It is the name of a central character in Shakespeare's play The Two Gentlemen of Verona (1594).

Italian form of Valentinus (see Valentine 1).

Ukrainian form of Valentinianus.

English and German form of Valeria, as well as a Czech variant of Valérie.

Means "chooser of the slain", derived from Old Norse valr "the slain" and kyrja "chooser". In Norse myth the Valkyries were maidens who led heroes killed in battle to Valhalla.

From a Brazilian surname, itself derived from the Dutch surname Van Der Leij. One bearer of this name is Brazilian professional footballer or soccer player Vanderley Dias Marinho (1987-), also known as Derley.

This name and its variants Wanderley, Wanderlei and Vanderlei are not uncommon in Brazil. Other bearers of the name include former mixed martial artist Wanderlei Silva (1976-) and former soccer players Wanderley Paiva (1946-) and Vanderlei Luxemburgo (1952-).

Modern Greek form of Basil 1.

Alternate transcription of Greek Βασίλης (see Vasilis).

Alternate transcription of Russian Василий (see Vasiliy).

The name of a star in the constellation Lyra. Its name is from Arabic الواقع (al-Wāqiʿ) meaning "the swooping (eagle)".

Meaning unknown, possibly a derivative of the Old German element walt meaning "power, authority".

Feminine form of Veliko.

Means "huntress" in Latin. This was an epithet of the goddess Diana.

Means "love, sexual desire" in Latin. This was the name of the Roman goddess of love and sex. Her character was assimilated with that of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. As the mother of Aeneas she was considered an ancestor of the Roman people. The second planet from the sun is named after her.

Means "king over warriors" from Gaulish wer "on, over" combined with kingeto "marching men, warriors" and rix "king". This name was borne by a 1st-century BC chieftain of the Gaulish tribe the Arverni. He led the resistance against Julius Caesar's attempts to conquer Gaul, but he was eventually defeated, brought to Rome, and executed.

Latin form of Veríssimo.

From the Roman cognomen Vespasianus, derived either from Latin vesper meaning "west" or "evening" or vespa meaning "wasp". This was the name of a 1st-century Roman emperor, Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the founder of the Flavian dynasty.

Latin cognate of Hesperos. This name was used by the British author Ian Fleming for a female character, a love interest of James Bond, in his novel Casino Royale (1953). She also appears in the film adaptations of 1967 and 2006.

Means "of the evening", derived from Esperanto vespero "evening", ultimately from Latin vesper.

Late Latin name (see Beatrix). This was the name of a 4th-century Italian saint.

Earlier form of Beatrix.

English and Provençal form of Victorianus. This name was borne by two obscure saints, from the 5th and 6th centuries AD.

Means "a female victor" in Latin (corresponding to masculine victor "conqueror"; see Victor). This was an epithet the Roman goddess Venus ("Venus the Victorious").

Derived from the Old Norse elements víg "war" and dís "goddess".

Modern coinage taken from Vilhelm and the feminine ending -(f)rid.

From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "vine hall" in Middle English.

Means "(female) grape harvester" in Latin. This is the name of the third brightest star in the constellation Virgo, and is so named because it rises in early autumn, the beginning of the wine harvesting season.

Derived from viorea, the Romanian word for the alpine squill flower (species Scilla bifolia) or the sweet violet flower (species Viola odorata). It is derived from Latin viola "violet".

Derived from Romanian viorea (see Viorel).

From the Roman family name Vergilius, which is of unknown meaning. This name was borne by the 1st-century BC Roman poet Publius Vergilius Maro, commonly called Virgil, who was the writer of the Aeneid. Due to him, Virgil has been in use as a given name in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.

Feminine form of Viridius.

Swedish form of Vibeke.

From the Old Slavic name *Voldiměrŭ, derived from the elements volděti meaning "to rule" and měrŭ meaning "great, famous". The second element has also been associated with mirŭ meaning "peace, world".

This was the name of a 9th-century ruler of Bulgaria. It was also borne by an 11th-century grand prince of Kyiv, Vladimir the Great, who is venerated as a saint because of his efforts to Christianize his realm. Other notable bearers include the revolutionary and first leader of the Soviet state Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924), the Russian author Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977), and the Russian president and prime minister Vladimir Putin (1952-).

Vocative form of Moirrey.

Derived from the Old German element folk "people" combined with heri "army".

English form of Gwrtheyrn.

From an English surname, either Wade 1 or Wade 2.

From the Germanic name Waltheri meaning "power of the army", from the elements walt "power, authority" and heri "army". In medieval German tales (notably Waltharius by Ekkehard of Saint Gall) Walter of Aquitaine is a heroic king of the Visigoths. The name was also borne by an 11th-century French saint, Walter of Pontoise. The Normans brought it to England, where it replaced the Old English cognate Wealdhere.

A famous bearer of the name was the English courtier, poet and explorer Walter Raleigh (1552-1618). It was also borne by Walter Scott (1771-1832), a Scottish novelist who wrote Ivanhoe and other notable works.

Variant of Vanderley.

From an occupational surname for a watchman, derived from Old English weard "guard".

From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "watch hill" in Old English.

Occupational name for a watchman or guard, from Old French wardein meaning "protector, guard". It was also used as a habbitational name for someone from any of the various locations in England named Warden. Alternately, it may be from Old English weard meaning "guard, watch" and dun meaning "hill, mountain".

From a Norman surname that was derived from the given name Werner.

From an English surname that was derived either from Norman French warrene meaning "animal enclosure", or else from the town of La Varenne in Normandy. This name was borne by the American president Warren G. Harding (1865-1923).

Variant of Waverly.

From Old English Weland, probably derived from the Germanic root *wīlą meaning "craft, cunning". In Germanic legend Weland (called Vǫlundr in Old Norse) was a master smith and craftsman. He was captured and hamstrung by King Niðhad, but took revenge by killing the king's sons.

Variant of Wayland. This name was popularized by country music singer Waylon Jennings (1937-2002), who was originally named Wayland [1].

From an English surname that was derived from a place name meaning "hill near a spring" in Old English.

From a German and Dutch surname that was derived from the given name Wendel. In America this name has been given in honour of the poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) and his son the Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841-1935). The elder's middle name came from his mother's maiden name (which had been brought to America by a Dutch ancestor in the form Wendel, with the extra l added later).

Early Cornish form of Gwen. It was borne by two 5th-century Cornish saints.

Variant of Winona.

From a surname that was a variant of Wesley.

From an English surname that was derived from a place name, itself from Old English west "west" and tun "enclosure, yard, town".

From a surname that was derived from a place name meaning "white field" in Old English.

Meaning uncertain, perhaps from a German surname, or perhaps from the English word wild. It has been in use since the 19th century.

From an English surname meaning "wild, untamed, uncontrolled", from Old English wilde.

From a surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "willow ford" in Old English.

Means "desiring peace" from Old English willa "will, desire" and friþ "peace". Saint Wilfrid was a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop. The name was rarely used after the Norman Conquest, but it was revived in the 19th century.

Feminine form of Wilfred.

Dutch and German feminine form of Wilhelm. This name was borne by a queen of the Netherlands (1880-1962).

German feminine form of Wilhelm.

Feminine form of William.

Dutch form of William. Willem the Silent, Prince of Orange, was the leader of the Dutch revolt against Spain that brought about the independence of the Netherlands. He is considered the founder of the Dutch royal family. In English he is commonly called William of Orange.

From the name of the tree, which is ultimately derived from Old English welig.

Transferred use of the surname Willox.

From an English surname meaning "son of William". The surname was borne by Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), the American president during World War I.

Means "friend of peace" from the Old English elements wine "friend" and friþ "peace". This was the birth name of the 8th-century missionary Saint Boniface. It became rare after the Norman Conquest, though it was revived in the 19th century.

Means "firstborn daughter" in Dakota or Lakota. According to folklore, this was the name of a daughter of a Dakota chief (possibly Wapasha III) who leapt from a cliff to her death rather than marry a man she hated. Numerous places in the United States have been named after her. The actress Winona Ryder (1971-) was named after the city in Minnesota where she was born.

From a surname that was derived from an Old English place name meaning "hill belonging to Wine". A famous bearer of this name was American painter Winslow Homer (1836-1910).

From the English word meaning "charming, engaging", derived from the Old English roots wynn "joy" and sum.

From an English surname that was derived from the Old English given name Wynnstan. A famous bearer was Winston Churchill (1874-1965), the British prime minister during World War II. This name was also borne by the fictional Winston Smith, the protagonist in George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984.

Simply from the English word, a derivative of Old English wis "wise".

Short form of Wolfgang, Wolfram and other names containing the Old German element wolf meaning "wolf" (Proto-Germanic *wulfaz). It can also be simply from the German or English word. As a Jewish name it can be considered a vernacular form of Zeev.

Variant of Wolf, influenced by the spelling of the surname (which is also derived from the animal).

Derived from the Old German element wolf meaning "wolf" combined with hram meaning "raven". Saint Wolfram (or Wulfram) was a 7th-century archbishop of Sens. This name was also borne by the 13th-century German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach, the author of Parzival.

Transferred use of the surname Woodley.

From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning "row of houses by a wood" in Old English. It was borne by the American president Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), who was given his mother's maiden name as his middle name (his first name was Thomas). During his candidacy and presidency (1912-1921) the name became popular, reaching the 44th rank in 1913, though it quickly declined after that.

From the English word for the small songbird. It is ultimately derived from Old English wrenna.

From an English surname that was derived from the medieval given name Wyard or Wyot, from the Old English name Wigheard. Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) was an American lawman and gunfighter involved in the famous shootout at the OK Corral.

Transferred use of the surname Wyeth.

Derived from Welsh gwyn meaning "white, blessed".

Variant of Wyn.

Derived from the Old English elements wynn "joy" and stan "stone".

Middle English form of Wigheard.

From the Old English name Wigstan, composed of the elements wig "battle" and stan "stone". This was the name of a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon saint. It became rare after the Norman Conquest, and in modern times it is chiefly known as the first name of the British poet W. H. Auden (1907-1973).

Variant of Thanatos.

Derived from Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow, blond, fair-haired". This was the name of a few minor figures in Greek mythology.

Modern elaborated form of Xanthe.

Feminine form of Xanthippos. This was the name of the wife of Socrates. Because of her supposedly argumentative nature, the name has been adopted (in the modern era) as a word for a scolding, ill-tempered woman.

From the Greek elements ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Athenian general.

Variant of Xenia. This was occasionally adopted as a monastic name during the Byzantine era.

Feminine form of Xenon.

Variant latinization of Xenokleia, because its proper (and most common) latinized form is Xenoclea.

From the Greek name Ξενοκράτης (Xenokrates), which was derived from ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreigner, guest" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek philosopher.

Feminine form of Xenokles. In Greek mythology, this name belonged to a Delphic priestess who was consulted by Herakles.

Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreign, strange" as well as "foreigner, guest" combined with the Greek noun κλέος (kleos) meaning "glory".

Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreigner, guest".

Derived from Greek ξένος (xenos) meaning "foreign, strange" and φωνή (phone) meaning "voice". This was the name of a 4th-century BC Greek military commander and historian. This name was also borne by a 5th-century saint from Constantinople.

Used as an unusual name in Roman times. Possibly used in relation to the name or derived from the name ZEUS.

Greek form of the Old Persian name 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 (Xšayarša), which meant "ruler over heroes". This was the name of a 5th-century BC king of Persia, the son of Darius the Great. He attempted an invasion of Greece, which ended unsuccessfully at the battle of Salamis.

Greek form of Sixtus.

Latinized form of the Greek name Ξυστος (Xystos), which meant "scraped (smooth), polished" (from xyein "to scrape"). This was the birth name of the pope Saint Sixtus I. It was also borne by a Kemetian martyr saint.

From a Welsh surname, which was itself derived from a place name meaning "fertile upland" (from Welsh ial).

From a surname, which was an Americanized form of the Dutch surname Jansen meaning "Jan 1's son".