The medieval period began around 476 A.D. and ended between 1400 and 1450. As such, I have selected 53 royal medieval boy names with meanings included.
List Of 53 Medieval Boy Names:
Fergus
Fergus is from ancient Scotland and it means “the masculine (one).”
Theobald
It is made of the Germanic elements theod (”people”) and bald (”bold”). Theobald of Dorat was a French saint.
Hildebrand
Hildebrand has roots in the Old Norse Hildibrandr, which means ”battle sword.” There is a Scandinavian song called “Hildebrand’s death.”
Gerard
With Proto-Germanic origins, Gerard is symbolizing “strong spearman.” Giraud, Garrard, and other names are a form of Gerard.
Godfrey
Godfrey means “peace of God.”
Wolfgang
Wolfgang means “way of the wolf.” It is popular in Germany and Austria.
Torsten
It means “Thor’s stone” and coems from the Old Norse name Þórsteinn. It is made of the theonym Þór (meaning ”Thor”) and steinn (which means “stone”). Its English equivalent is Thurstan.
Fulke
”People’s fighter.”
Wymark
Wymark is the Anglicized form of the Old Breton Wiuhomarch which means “noble horse.”
Lancaster
The House of Lancaster was created by King Henry III of England. Lancaster was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Lancaster is meaning “Roman fort on the River Lune” and also comes from the town in Lancashire.
Alwin
With Germanic origins, Alwin means “elf friend.” Alwin has one of the most interesting meanings from this list of medieval names.
Lorencio
Lorencio is of Latin origin more exactly from the name Laurentius (“From Laurentum”).
Facts about royalty in medieval times
Kings were the most influential figures in society during medieval times.
When a king died, as you may expect, his eldest son would become king.
William I ‘The Conqueror’ led a Franco-Norman army to victory over the Anglo-Saxon forces.
Siegfried
Siegfried is composed of the Germanic elements ”sig” (victory) and ”frithu” (which means peace). Together, Siegfried is symbolizing “victorious peace.”
Aimery
Meaning ”brave,” Aimery comes from the Old German name Aimery.
Lancelot
Lancelot du Lac is King Arthur’s close companion in the Arthurian legends. It means “little lance” and is possible to came from Germanic Wlancloth. Some argue that Lancelot is connected with the King Ladislaus I of Hungary.
Philip
From the Greek Philippos, the medieval boy name Philip means ”loving.” Pip, Lip, Phillie, Philly, and Phil are popular diminutives.
Warin
Warin is a boy’s name that comes from the Old French name Guarin (”protect”). Pronounced VAH-reen, Warin is another name that came in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Bastian
Bastian means ”venerable.”
Aengus
In Irish mythology, Aengus is the god of poetic inspiration. Aengus means ”vigor” or “one strength.”
Alaric
Alaric is made of the Germanic parts, ala (meaning everyone’s) and ric (meaning ruler). Alaric I was the first king of the Visigoths and sacked Rome in 410.
Osbert
Osbert is meaning “bright god.”
Walden
From “weald” *forest) and “denu” (valley), Walden has its origins in Old English.
How to choose a royal medieval name for your baby boy
Those excessively long can be challenging.
Be aware of what initials the name will create.
Let the name grow with the child.
Consider the meaning and significance of the medieval name.
Conrad
Conrad is a German masculine given name that was brought to England by the Normans.
Leopold
Leopold is the name of many dukes of Austria. Leopold is not related to Leon.
Cassian
Cassian is connected with the Roman Cassius.
Humphrey
Humphrey means ”peaceful warrior” and is of Anglo-Norman descent. Variants include Humfress, Homfray, Humphry, and Humphreyson.
Reginald
Reginald is roughly translated to ”advice” or ”rule.” This name signifies a ruler or kingly figure and is derived from Reginaldus.
Quentin
Quentin is a diminutive variation of Quintus (that is meaning “the fifth”).
Geoffrey
Geoffrey has German and English roots. Geoffrey is a derivative of Dutch Godfried, and it means “peaceful territory.” The surname Jefferson is a patronymic form.
Ranulf
Ranulf has its origisn in the Old Norse name Reginúlfr, which means ”decision wolf.” It was introduced into England by the Norman Conquest.
Edmund
Edmund means ”prosperous guardian,” and is made of the Old English elements ”ēad” (riches) and ”mund” (protector).
Baldwin
”Bold friend.” Its Spanish variant is Balduino, while its French is Baudouin
Henry
Henry is “ruler of the home,” and is from Common Germanic “Haimarīks.” In the United States, Henry is found in the top 100 most popular boy names. Henrika and Hendrikje are feminine variants.
Roderick
Roderic (means ”famous ruler”) was the last Visigothic king of Hispania. Rod and Rory all trace back to it.
Clovis
Clovis (famous in battle) comes from the Frankish Chlodovech (hlod, fame, plus wig, war). Clovis I founded the Merovingian dynasty around 481. It is pronounced as KLOH-vis.
Cnut
Cnut the Great ruled England and Norway at once in the 11th century.
Egbert
Egbert is made from the Old English ecg (”edge of a blade”) and beorht (”bright”). The German line keeps it as Eckbert.
Athelstan
The first king to rule all of England is Athelstan and was crowned in 925. It combines the Old English æþele (means ”noble”) and stan (stone).
Otto
”Wealth” or ”fortune.” Otto reads the same forward and back, and is common in German and Scandinavian families.
Magnus
Latin for ”great” and ”large.”
Rollo
The Viking who founded Normandy went by Rollo, a Latin made from the Old Norse Hrólfr, famed wolf.
Frederick
”Peaceful ruler.” Frederick I was nicknamed Barbarossa for his red beard. Fritz and Fred are the everyday short forms.
Roland
Roland is symbolizing “glory of the land” and Orlando is its Italian twin. The Song of Roland is the oldest surviving major poem in the French language.
Tancred
”Thoughtful counsel.”
Anselm
Anselm is made of the Germanic ans (”a god”) and helm (”protection”). It survives as the Italian Anselmo and the trimmed Ansel.
Lothair
Lothair is meaning “famous army.” The French write it Lothaire.
Sigismund
Welds sigi (victory) and mund (protection): victory’s shield. Sigismund of Luxembourg summoned the Council of Constance that closed the papal schism.
Hugh
”Mind” or ”spirit.” The medieval Latin Hugo is where the surname Hughes comes from.
Harold
The king who lost at Hastings in 1066 was Harold Godwinson. Hal and Harry are two nicknames.
Sweyn
Old Norse for boy or young warrior. Danish ruler Sweyn Forkbeard invaded England in 1013.
Dagobert
Dagobert I (”shining day”) was among the last Merovingians to hold real power. Dagobert was the first king buried at the Abbey of Saint-Denis.
Wilfred
Wilfred means ”one who wants peace” and comes from the Old English wil (desire) and frið (peace).
Odo
Odo is from the Germanic aud and is meaning ”wealth.” It is a close cousin of Otto.
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