Thibault

 

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German/French
Meaning: “bold people.”
Fre (tee-BO)

This classic French male name is a derivative of the Germanic, Theobald, which is comprised of the elements theud meaning “people” and bald meaning “brave; bold.”

The German form of Theobald was very popular in the Middle Ages but is now considered rather old fashioned in most German-speaking countries. The name was introduced into England by the Normans in the form of Tybalt, (TIGH-bolt), and appears in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.

In England, the name eventually fizzled out and became rather unusual, but may make an appealing choice for a parent or parents looking for an alternative to the currently popular Tyler.

Thibault is currently very common in French-speaking countries, as of 2010, he was the 68th most popular male name in France.

Other forms of the name include:

  • Theobald (Dutch/German/English)
  • Tybalt (English)
  • Thibaud/Thibaut (French)
  • Thibault (French)
  • Teobold (Hungarian/Polish)
  • Baldo (Italian)
  • Tebaldo (Italian)
  • Teobaldo (Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
  • Tébaud (Poitvin)

A common French nickname is Titi.

The name was borne by the husband of Blanche of Navarre, Thibault V Count of Champagne and Brie as well as by his son Thibault Postume (circ. 12 century). The designated name day is July 8.

Amerigo

Origin: Italian
Gender: Male
Meaning “home ruler.”
(ah-MARE-ee-go)

Amerigo is an obscure Italian male name made famous by Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer, navigator and cartographer.

The continents of South and North America get their names from him. America being a feminized latinate version of Amerigo.

Amerigo itself comes from the Germanic elements haim meaning “home” and rich meaning “power, ruler; authority.”

Other forms of the name include:

  • Emerika (Basque)
  • Amèric/Emeric (Catalan)
  • Emmerik (Dutch)
  • Americ/Amery (English)
  • Emery (English: currently the 744th most popular male name in the United States-2008)
  • Aimeric/Aymeric/Émeric (French)
  • Aymeri/Aimery (French)
  • Emmerich (German)
  • Imre/Imrus (Hungarian)
  • Almerigo/Almerico (Italian)
  • Americo (Italian: modern form)
  • Emerico (Italian)
  • Merico/Merigo (Italian)
  • Americus (Latin)
  • Emerikas (Lithuanian)
  • Ajmeryk (P0lish)
  • Amalaryk/Amalryk (Polish)
  • Embryk/Emeryk (Polish)
  • Emmeric (Romanian)
  • Imrich (Slovak/Czech)
  • Américo (Spanish/Portuguese)
  • Emerico (Spanish)
  • Emerik (Swedish/Croatian)

A feminine form is the Spanish, América, currently borne by Ugly Betty star, America Ferrer.

Other feminine forms are:

  • Ameriga/Almeriga (Italian)