Meaning & History
Egidijus is a Lithuanian masculine given name, a cognate of the English name Giles. It is the Lithuanian form of the Late Latin name Aegidius, which is derived from Greek αἰγίδιον (aigidion), meaning "young goat." The name entered into European usage through the veneration of Saint Giles, an 8th-century miracle worker born in Greece who became the patron saint of the crippled. In Old French, Aegidius evolved into Gidie and then Gilles, whence it spread to England, eventually reaching Lithuania where the form Egidijus was adopted.
Notable Bearers
Several contemporary Lithuanian figures bear the name Egidijus. In sports, Egidijus Balčiūnas (born 1975) is a sprint canoer, and Egidijus Kavaliauskas (born 1988) is a boxer who competed in the 2008 Olympics. Basketball is represented by Egidijus Mockevičius (born 1992) and Egidijus Dimša (born 1985). Footballers include Egidijus Juška (born 1975) and Egidijus Vaitkūnas (born 1988). In law and academia, notable figures include Egidijus Bičkauskas, former Minister of Justice; Egidijus Jarašiūnas, a prominent lawyer; and Egidijus Kūris, a professor of law. Mixed martial artist Egidijus Valavičius (born 1978) also carries the name.
Variants and Cognates
Egidijus corresponds to the Italian Egidio and the Swedish Gillis. Related names include the French Gilles, English Giles and its variant Gyles, and the Italian diminutive Gigi.
- Meaning: “young goat” (from Greek αἰγίδιον)
- Origin: Greek via Latin Aegidius, adopted into Lithuanian
- Type: Given name, masculine
- Usage regions: Lithuania
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Egidijus