Category Archives: Medieval Names

Åsa

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: “goddess.”
Swe (AW-sah)

The name is derived from the Old Norse, áss, meaning “god.”

The name appears in the Ynglinga’s Saga, as the name of the daughter of the Swedish king, Ingjald.

Other forms of the name include:

Aasa/Aase (Danish)
Asa (Danish/Swedish)
Åsa (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
Åse (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
Æsa (Faroese)
Ása (Icelandic)
Assa (Icelandic/Norwegian/Swedish)
Åselene (Norwegian)
Åsine (Norwegian)
Ássa/Ássá (Sami)

A few obscure masculine forms include the

Asi (Danish: archaic)
Ás (Icelandic)
Ási (Icelandic/Faroese/Old Norse)
Esi (Finnish)
Ase (Swedish: archaic)

        The designated name-day in Sweden is September 12.

        Sources

        1. http://www.behindthename.com/name/a17sa
        2. http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/%C3%81sa

        Adelphe, Adelphos

        Posted on by
        2

        Gender: Masculine
        Origin: Greek
        Meaning: “brother.”
        Fre (AH-delf)

        The name is derived from the Greek, αδελφος (adelphos), meaning “brother.”

        The name was mostly notably borne by Adelphe of Metz, a 5th-century Franco-German saint, the 12th bishop of Metz.

        Other forms of the name include:

        Adelfus (Dutch/German)
        Adelphe (French)
        Adelphos αδελφος (Greek)
        Alfio (Italian)
        Adelphus (Late Latin)

        In France, the designated name-day is September 11.

        Sources

        1. http://www.behindthename.com/name/philadelphia
        2. http://www.behindthename.com/namedays/lists/9.php
        3. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelphe

        Alan, Alain

        Posted on by
        Reply

        Gender: Masculine
        Origin: Breton
        Meaning: debated

        The name is of uncertain derivation but is most likely of Breton Celtic origins as the name has been in usage in Brittany as early as the 6th-century.

        Some theories suggest that it is derived from a Celtic root word meaning “little rock” or from a Celtic word meaning, “handsome.”

        Others have even suggested that it is a Celtic corruption of the Latin given name, Aelius.

        Another popular theory is that it comes from the name of a tribe of Indo-European people who settled the Loire Valley.

        The name was borne by several early Christian saints, and has been quite popular in both England and France since the Middle Ages.

        In England, the name was first introduced during the Norman Conquest in the 11th-century.

        In the United States, the name’s popularity peaked in the Mid-20th century. In 1951, it was the 4oth most popular male name in the United States. Today, it stands as the 142nd most popular male name, (2009).

        His rankings in other countries is as follows:

        # 56 (Chile, 2006)
        # 64 (Ireland, 2009)

        Other forms of the name include:

        Alan (Breton/Czech/English/Irish-Gaelic/Polish/Scottish/Slovak)
        Alanig/Lanig (Breton)
        Alen (Croatian/Slovene)
        Allan (Danish/English/Finnish/Norwegian/Swedish)
        Alain (French)
        Alán (Hungarian)
        Alano (Italian)
        Alanus (Late Latin)
        Alun (Welsh)

        A common English short form is Al.

        Notable bearers include: Alan Shepherd (1923-1998), the first American in space and the fifth man to walk on the moon. Alan Alda, American comedian.

        The designated name days are: March 8 (Slovakia), August 15 (Czech Republic), September 9 (France) and October 14 (Poland)

        Feminine forms include:

        Alanez (Breton)
        Naig/Nezig (Breton)
        Alaine (French)
        Alana (Irish/Scottish)

        Sources

        1. http://www.behindthename.com/php/find.php?name=alain
        2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_(name)

        Hulda

        Posted on by
        2

        Gender: Feminine
        Origin: Old Norse
        Meaning: “to cover; secrecy; lovable, sweet.”
        (HOOL-da)

        or

        Origin: Hebrew Biblical
        Meaning: “weasel.”

        חוּלְדָה

        The name can be traced both Norse Mythology and the Hebrew Bible.

        In Norse, the name is derived from the word, hulda, meaning “hiding; secrecy.” In modern Swedish, the name is often associated with the archaic Swedish term of endearment, huld, meaning “sweet; lovable.”

        In Norse Mythology, the name was borne by a völva, a Norse shamanic seeress. She is mentioned sporadically in the Ynglinga Saga and the Sturlunga Saga.

        This same figure remained quite alive in both modern German and Swedish folklore.

        In Scandinavian folklore, she evolved into the huldra, a type of spirit that appears to young men in the form of a beautiful and seductive woman. In some traditions she is evil and in others she is just looking for companionship with a human. She was also known to be particularly fond of colliers.

        In German folklore, she is known as Holda, and is considered the supernatural guardian of anything related to female domesticity. In other German traditions, she is referred to as Frau Holle. The most famous account of Holda was written by the Brothers Grimm in 1812, entitled Mother Hulda.

        In Biblical tradition, Huldah was the name of a prophetess mentioned briefly in the Old Testament, 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34. In this case, the name is derived from the Old Hebrew word for weasel.

        Huldah prophesized to King Josiah the destruction of Israel.

        Another notable bearer includes Hulda (1881-1946), a renowned Icelandic poet.

        The name was quite common in Germany during the 19th and early 20th century, where it was also particularly common among German Jews.

        The name also appears in the U.S. top 1000 in the late 19th-century, in fact, in 1891, the name was the 194th most popular female name.

        The name has experienced a recent revival in both Sweden and Norway.

        The designated name-day is September 8 (Sweden).

        Other forms of the name include:

        Huldà (Catalan)
        Chulda (Czech/Modern Hebrew)
        Hulda (Danish/Dutch/English/Faroese/Frisian/German/Icelandic/Norwegian/Swedish)
        Hulra (Finnish)
        Hulta/Hulti/Hultu/Hultukka (Finnish)
        Holda (German)
        Holle (German)
        Huld (Icelandic/Swedish)
        Hulð (Old Norse)
        Aldama/Aldana Олдама Олдана (Russian)

        An Icelandic male form is Huldar.

        Sources

        1. http://runeberg.org/nfbk/0659.html
        2. http://www.behindthename.com/php/find.php?name=hulda
        3. http://www.thorshof.org/spinmyth.htm
        4. http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=955&letter=H&search=Huldah
        5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_names_as_first_names_in_Hebrew
        6. http://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Hulda

        Gregory

        Posted on by
        Reply

        Gender: Masculine
        Origin: Greek
        Meaning:”watchful; alert.”
        (GREG-eh-ree)

        The name is derived from the Late Latin male name, Gregorius, which is derived from the Greek, Gregorios Γρηγόριος, meaning, “watchful; vigilant; alert.”

        The name was borne by several saints in the early church, including, St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (3rd-century), St. Gregory of Nyssa (4th-century), St. Gregory of Nazianus (4th-century) and St. Gregory of Tours (6th-century).

        It was also borne by St. Gregory 1 the Great, a 6th-century pope and Doctor of the Church. Due to his notoriety, the name became a popular one chosen among popes thereafter.

        Currently, Gregory ranks in as the 248th most popular male name in the United States. The highest he has ranked in U.S. naming history was in 1963 coming in as the 21st most popular male name. This may have been in part, due to the fame of American actor, Gregory Peck.

        The designated name-days in the West are March 11 and September 3rd.

        In the Eastern calendar, the designated name-days are: January 1, January 14, January 18, January 21, January 23, February 1, February 7, February 12, February 23, March 17, March 25, April 15, April 19, April 23, June 6, June 28, August 1, August 21, August 22, August 25, September 10, September 12, October 11, October 13, October 14, November 18, November 20, November 27, November 30, December 3, December 6, December 7, December 11 and December 20.

        Other forms of the name include:

        Jerjer جريجوري (Arabic)
        Krikor/Grigor Գրիգոր (Armenian)
        Ryhor Рыгор (Belarusian)
        Grigor Григор (Bulgarian/Macedonian/Welsh)
        Gregori (Catalan/Romansch)
        Grgur (Croatian)
        Řehoř (Czech)
        Gregers (Danish/Norwegian)
        Gregorius (Dutch/Latin)
        Gregory (Dutch/English)
        Graekaris (Faroese)
        Reijo (Finnish)
        Reko (Finnish)
        Grégory/Grégoire (French)
        Joris (Frisian)
        Grigol/Grigoli გრიგოლი (Georgian)
        Gregor (German/Hungarian/Icelandic/Romansch/Scottish/Slovak/Slovene)
        Gergely (Hungarian)
        Gréagóir (Irish-Gaelic)
        Gregorio (Italian/Spanish)
        Goretto (Italian: obscure)
        Goriano (Italian: obscure)
        Gorino (Italian: obscure)
        Grigorijs (Latvian)
        Gregoras/Gregorijus/Grigalius (Lithuanian)
        Grigorii Григории, Григоріи (Old Church Slavonic)
        Grzegosz (Polish)
        Gregório (Portuguese)
        Gligor/Grigore (Romanian)
        Grigoriy Григорий (Russian)
        Griogair (Scottish-Gaelic)
        Grigoriye Григорије; Gligoriye Глигорије; Grgur Гргур (Serbian)
        Grega/Gregori (Slovene)
        Greger (Swedish)
        Hryhoriy Григорій (Ukrainian)

        Diminutives

        Greg/Gregg (Dutch/English)
        Gregie (Dutch)
        Gergõ (Hungarian)
        Gorio/Goro (Italian)
        Grzeszek (Polish)
        Grisha (Russian)
        Greig (Scottish)
        Goyo (Spanish)

        Feminine forms include:

        Jorina/Jorinna (Frisian)
        Gregoria (Italian/Spanish)
        Gregorina (Italian)
        Goretta (Italian)
        Gorina (Italian)

        Source

        1. http://www.behindthename.com/name/gregory

        Czesław

        Posted on by
        Reply

        Gender: Masculine
        Origin: Polish
        Meaning: debated
        (CHES-wahf)

        The name is composed of the Old Slavic elements, cza- (referring to expectation) or chest (honour; worship).

        The name was relatively common Poland at the start of the 20th-century all the way to the 1950s. The name is still prevalent, but is considered somewhat dated.

        The name was often unofficially anglicized to Chester among Polish immigrants to the United States.

        The name was borne by a 13th-century Polish saint; by Polish-Lithuanian poet Czesław Miłosz (1911-2004); and by famous Polish rock musician, Czesław Nieman (1939-2004).

        Another Polish form, albeit rare, is Czasław.

        Diminutives include: Czach, Czasz, Czaszek, Czaszko, Czesz, Czeszek, Czeszko, Czeszk, Czak and Czakan.

        Polish feminine forms are Czesława and Czasława.

        Female diminutives include: Czeszka & Czesia.

        Other forms include:

        • Časlav Часлав (Croatian/Serbian)
        • Česlav (Czech/Slovak)
        • Ceslas (Dutch)
        • Ceslaus (Late Latin)
        • Česlovas (Lithuanian)
        • Chestislav Честислав (Old Church Slavonic)

        A Lithuanian feminine form is Česlova.

        Designated name-days are: January 12, April 19, April 20, July 20 and September 2 (Poland).

        Sources

        1. http://www.behindthename.com/name/czesl16aw
        2. http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czesława

        Witomysł

        Posted on by
        Reply

        Gender: Masculine
        Origin: Polish
        Meaning: “Lord thoughts; lordly thoughts.”

        The name is a very old Polish male name composed of the elements, wito, meaning (lord) and mysł (thoughts).

        The name is out of usage in Poland and is mostly associated with the name of a village.

        The designated name-days are June 11 and September 2nd.

        Sources

        1. http://www.behindthename.com/namedays/lists/9.php
        2. http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witomysł