165 Uncommon Old English Knightly Boy Names & Meanings

I have hand-picked 165 uncommon Old English knightly boy names with meanings included.

List Of 165 Old English Knightly Boy Names And Their Meanings:

Edmund

The uncommon Old English knightly boy name Edmund is composed of the elements ēad (riches) and mund (protector). Edmund I was King of England from 939 until his death in 946.

Aldric

Aldric is a variant of Aldrich, a Germanic name which means “wise ruler.”

Northman

It is of Scandinavian origins more exactly from Old Norse “Norðmaðr” (Norwegian). The Northman is the name of a 2022 film about an exiled Viking prince.

Beornwulf

Beornwulf is from the Old English elements beorn (”warrior”) and wulf (wolf). King Beornwulf of Mercia lost the battle of Ellandun in 825.

Sigbert

Sigbert is meaning ”Victory Protection.” It can also be spelled Siegeberht or Sigeberht.

Caedmon

“Wise warrior.”

Raedwald

Raedwald has a meaning that I love, “ruler of counsel.” Rædwald was a member of the Wuffingas dynasty.

Dunstan

Dunstan is interpreted as ”brown stone.” Dunstan was a Benedictine monk who reformed the English Church.

Thurston

Thurston is common in Scandinavia.

Eadric

Eadric is also spelled as Edrick or Edric.

Cyneheard

Cyneheard is ”royally hard.”

Aldwulf

”Old wolf.”

Badass boy knight names:

Name	Meaning	Pronunciation
Mordred	moderate, by one reading	MOR-dred
Tancred	thoughtful counsel	TANG-kred
Gawain	”hawk of May”	GAH-wayn or guh-WAYN
Bohemond	the giant	BOH-heh-mond
Lancelot	root disputed	LAN-suh-lot
Bertrand	bright raven	BUR-trund
Ywain	”well-born.”	EE-wayn
Roland	famous land	ROH-lund
Bedivere	origin unclear	BED-ih-veer
Tristan	tumult	TRIS-tun
Godfrey	God’s peace	GOD-free
Geraint	old man	GER-aynt
Ulrich	”power of the homeland”	OOL-rikh or UL-rik
Percival	he pierces the valley	PUR-sih-vul
Gareth	gentle	GAIR-eth

The list continues.

Eorpwald

Eorpwald (”dark ruler”) was the first king of East Anglia to become Christian.

Saeberht

Sǣ (sea) with beorht (bright).

Aelfhere

”Elf army.”

Aethelred

Aethelred or Ethelred is meaning “noble advisor.” King Aethelred was nicknamed “the Unready” which meant “badly advised.”

Forthred

“Wise navigation.”

Facts about English knights

The word ”knight” comesfrom Old English ”cniht” (”servant” or ”boy”).

Knights were often trained from age 7. When around the age of 21, the youth was knighted.

Knights were expected to follow a strict code of chivalry.

Godwin

“Helper of mankind.” This is a perfect name for a knight. Godwin of Wessex was one of the most powerful earls in England.

Tostig

Tostig is Norse and means “Thor’s stone.”

Aelfgar

”Elf and spear.”

Gyrth

“Peace of God”.

Wulfgar

Wulfgar is symbolizing “wolf-spear.” This characteristic is commonly attributed to Odin.

Richard

Richard has Proto-Germanic roots and is meaning ”strong ruler.” The Italian variant is Riccardo while the Spanish is Ricardo. Possible nicknames include: Ricky and Richie.

Hereward

”Army guard.” Hereward the Wake was a leader of resistance to the Norman Conquest of England.

Ceolwulf

”Sea-wolf.” Ceolwulf was a king of Wessex for 14 years.

Ingeld

”Payment” or ”reward.” Ingeld was a warrior who appears in Norse and English legends.

Aethelweard

Aethelweard is ”noble guardian.”

Eadnoth

”Wealth and boldness.”

Wynfrith

Wynn (joy) with friþ (peace). As Saint Boniface, Wynfrith cut down Donar’s Oak in Germany.

Kenelm

Cyne and helm, ”royal helmet.”

Willibrord

Willa (will) with brord (spear point).

Hwaetberht

Hwæt (bold) with beorht (bright).

Alcuin

Alcuin is Ealhwine, ”temple friend.” He managed Charlemagne’s palace school.

Eadwulf

”Blessed wolf.” Eadwulf I of Northumbria was king of Northumbria for only 4 months.

Leofric

From the elements “Leof” (”desirable”) and “ric” (kingdom), Leofric is symbolizing “friendly kingdom.” Leofric, Earl of Mercia founded a Benedictine monastery at Coventry. Leofric was the husband of Lady Godiva.

Eadwacer

Eadwacer is ”wealth watcher.”

Tatwine

Tāt, cheerful, with wine, friend.

Garmund

Gār and mund, ”spear protection.”

Grimbald

Grimbald, from Old High German, means “helmet-bold.”

Merewald

”Famous foreigner.” Merwal and Merewalh are two variations.

Osbert

Osbert has Germanic origins and means “divinely brilliant.” Osberht of Northumbria was king of Northumbria for 13 years.

How to choose a good Old English knightly name for your baby boy

Consider ones that have significance within your family. It never hurts to name your kids after your parents.

Look at all the possible nicknames people can give your child.

Dont expect the perfect idea to land in your lap.

Penda

Penda is interpreted as ”pledge.”

Ordric

”Point of the spear ruler,” Ordric is fitted as a knightly name.

Galahad

Galahad is linked with the biblical place name Gilead. Galahad is the greatest knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. People still call an honorable man “a Galahad.”

Corbin

”Raven,” Corbin has English origins.

Ulfric

”Wolf of power.”

Peada

Peada means “tranquility” or ”peace.” Peada helped start the monastery that later grew into Peterborough.

Wulfsige

”Wolf victory.”

Swithun

Swithun has origins in swīþ, strong. Folk belief says rain on St Swithin’s Day means 40 more wet days.

Heahmund

”High protection.”

Aethelnoth

”Noble boldness.”

Eardwulf

Eard, homeland, with wulf.

Lyfing

Lyfing comes from lēof, beloved.

Baldric

”Brave leader.” A baldric is a belt worn across the chest to carry a sword.

Deormund

Deormund is made of the Anglo-Saxon elements deor (“dear”) and mund (“protector”).

Deor

Deor is the word for a wild animal.

Widsith

”Far traveler,” the wandering poet who narrates a poem in the Exeter Book.

Waldere

Weald (ruler) and here (army).

Beowulf

”Bee-wolf,” an old riddle word for the bear.

Aldhelm

Aldhelm is ”old helmet.” William of Malmesbury says he sang on a bridge to attract people into church.

Bede

”Prayer.”

Guthlac

Gūþ (battle) with lāc (play). Guthlac lived as a hermit in the fens at Crowland.

Eadberht

Eadberht is ”bright wealth.”

Chad

Chad comes from the British Ceadda, ”battle,” and he was the first bishop of Lichfield.

Eadfrith

Eadfrith combines ēad and friþ.

Torhtmund

Torhtmund is an Old English boy name that is interpeted as ”illustrious guardian.”

Billfrith

Bill, sword, with friþ, peace.

Beorhtwulf

”Bright wolf.”

Lowen

Lowen is a variation of ‘Loewen’ which means ‘lion.’

Frithwald

Frithwald has its roots in Old English, ”peaceful leader.” Frithwald was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Whithorn.

Beorn

Beorn is the word for warrior, first meaning bear.

Wulfred

Wolf and counsel. Wulfred served as archbishop of Canterbury.

Hrothgar

Hrōþ (fame) and gār (spear).

Hygelac

”Thought-play”.

Unferth

Unferth (“lack of peace”) is the thane who mocks Beowulf at the feast.

Scyld

Scyld is the word for shield. His ship funeral opens the poem Beowulf.

Weland

”Brave in war.”

Aethelbald

Aethelbald is rare these days and is composed of *aþal (noble) and *balþ (brave). Æthelbald was the King of Mercia for 41 years. He made Mercia the dominant kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.

Ordgar

Ord (point) with gār (spear).

Eadmer

Eadmer is made of ēad and mǣre, famous.

Osric

Osric is ”god ruler,” from ōs and rīce. Shakespeare used it for a courtier in Hamlet.

Osmund

Osmund has ōs and mund, ”divine protection.”

Oswulf

”God wolf.”

Wulfhere

Wulfhere is ”wolf army,” a king of Mercia.

Hartwin

The masculine English Hartwin has one of the most interesting meanings from this list, “brave friend.”

Sigeric

Sige (victory) and rīce (ruler).

Wuffa

Wuffa is ”little wolf,” and the East Anglian royal house of the Wuffingas is after him.

Siward

Siward is ”victory guard.”

Harold

Here (army) and weald (ruler). Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon king crowned in England.

Leofwine

Leofwine is ”dear friend.” He fell with his brother, King Harold, at Hastings.

Brihtric

Brihtric is ”bright ruler.”

Waltheof

“Slaughter-thief”.

Wulfnoth

Wulf and nōþ, boldness. Wulfnoth spent over four decades as a hostage of the Normans.

Aelfwine

Aelfwine means ”elf friend,” and Tolkien used it for an English sailor who finds the road to the Elves.

Aelfheah

Aelfheah is ”elf high.”

Uhtred

Uhtred is made from the Old English elements ūht (dawn) and rǣd (”wisdom”). Uhtred of Hwicce was the King of Hwicce, a kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England. Variations that I like are: Uchdrud, Uchtred, Uchdryd, Uchtredus, Ucterd, and Ughtred.

Aelfweard

”Elf guardian.”

Isenhere

”Iron warrior.”

Griffin

Griffith is an Anglicized form of Gruffydd, and it means “descendant of the fierce warrior.”

Arthur

Arthur is probably derived from Roman Artorius, “bear king.” King Arthur was a legendary leader of Britain.

Aelfric

Aelfric is made of the Old English ælf (elf) and ric (”ruler”).

Wulfstan

“Wolf-stone.”

Oswald

Oswald was a king of Northumbria. Its parts are os (”god”) and weald (”ruler”).

Cuthbert

Cuthbert is meaning “famous and bright.”

Egbert

“Bright sword.”

Wilfred

Wilfred is composed of wil (will, desire) and friþ (peace). Will and Fred are short forms.

Ecgfrith

Ecgfrith is ”edge peace,” the edge of a sword. He died at the Battle of Nechtansmere.

Oswiu

”Divine war.”

Aldfrith

Eald (old) with friþ (peace). Aldfrith was a scholar king who studied in Ireland.

Horsa

Horsa is ”horse,” the brother of Hengist.

Ceolfrith

Cēol, ship, with friþ.

Hengist

Hengist is the word for stallion. Bede makes him one of the brothers who led the first settlers to Kent.

Cynewulf

Cynewulf (“royal wolf”) was an Old English poet who hid his name in his poems via runic letters.

Aelle

Aelle is symbolizing “of noble lineage”.

Athelstan

King Athelstan won the battle of Brunanburh in 937. It is pronounced as AH-thel-stan.

Aescwine

Aescwine is symbolizing “spear-friend.”

Baldwin

Baldwin of Boulogne was the first crowned king of Jerusalem in 1100. Five different kings of Jerusalem were named Baldwin.

Godric

“God’s power.”

Wulfric

“Wolf-power.”

Aethelwulf

Aethelwulf has the elements æþel (noble) and wulf (wolf).

Oswin

“God’s friend” is the meaning of Oswin.

Ealdred

“Seasoned counsel.”

Wystan

Wig (”battle”) and stan (stone) made Wystan.

Wiglaf

Wiglaf (“battle survivor”) and is composed of wig (war) and laf (”what is left behind”). In the poem Beowulf, Wiglaf fought with the king against the dragon.
<h3″>Eadwig

Eadwig has ēad and wīg, war. At his coronation feast in 955 he slipped away from the table.

Cerdic

”Beloved” or ”loved one.”

Edwin

It combines ēad and wine, ”wealthy friend.” King Edwin of Northumbria was baptized in a wooden church at York.

Cynric

Cynric links cyne (royal) and rīce (power).

Ethelwold

”Noble ruler.”

Ethelbert

Ethelbert is ”noble and bright.” His law code from about 600 is the oldest surviving text written in English.

Byrhtferth

Bright and ferhþ, spirit.

Byrhtnoth

Beorht (bright) with nōþ (boldness). In 991 Byrhtnoth fell fighting the Vikings at Maldon.

Coenwulf

Coenwulf is ”bold wolf,” from cēne and wulf. He ruled Mercia for 25 years.

Offa

”Heir.”

Cuthred

Cuthred is from cūþ (famous) and rǣd (counsel).

Ceawlin

“Friend of the jaw”.

Cynegils

It combines cyne with gisl, a hostage or pledge. Cynegils is the first king of Wessex to be baptized.

Caedwalla

Caedwalla is the English form of the British Cadwallon, ”battle leader.”

Ine

”King.”

Alfred

Alfred is made of ælf (elf) and ræd (counsel). He is the only English king remembered as ”the Great.”

Heardred

Hard with counsel.

Aethelheard

Aethelheard is ”noble and hard.”

Wulfheard

”Wolf-hard.”

Edgar

Edgar combines ēad (wealth) and gār (spear). In 973, a group of kings from all over Britain rowed him on the River Dee at Chester.

Ealhmund

Ealh, temple, with mund.

Plegmund

Plega (play) with mund (protection).

Wigheard

Wigheard is ”hard in battle.”

Edward

”Wealth guard.” Edward the Confessor rebuilt Westminster Abbey.