Medieval English Names

Addy is a medieval English diminutive of Adam. The name Adam itself derives from the Hebrew word adam meaning "man," and is associated with the biblical first man created by God in the Book of Genesis. As a diminutive, A...

Aldith is a Medieval English form of the Anglo-Saxon name Ealdgyð. The Old English elements eald ("old") and guð ("battle") combine to give the meaning "old battle," reflecting a common Germanic tradition of compound nam...

Aldreda is a variant form of Etheldred, which itself is the Middle English development of the Old English name Æðelþryð. This name is composed of the elements æðele meaning "noble" and þryþ meaning "strength," giving it...

Aldus is a medieval variant of Aldous. Both names trace their roots to diminutives of Old English names beginning with the element eald, meaning "old." This element was commonly used in Anglo-Saxon naming, appearing in s...

Amice is a Medieval English feminine name derived from the Latin amicus, meaning "friend". It was a popular given name during the Middle Ages, particularly in England, though it has since fallen out of common use and is...

Amis is a medieval masculine given name, derived as a variant of Amice, which comes from Latin amicus meaning "friend." This name was used in Medieval England and France, reflecting the period's fondness for names emphas...

EtymologyAmphelise is a Medieval English female name of uncertain meaning. It is first recorded in the 12th century in the Latinized form Amphelisia as well as in the vernacular variant Anflis. The name's origins remain...

Bate is a medieval English diminutive of Bartholomew, an ancient name of Aramaic origin meaning "son of Talmai." During the Middle Ages, Bartholomew was a popular name in England due to veneration of Saint Bartholomew, o...

Col is a Medieval English short form of Nicholas. The name Nicholas itself has deep historical and linguistic roots, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people," from the elements nike ("victory...

Daw is a medieval diminutive of David, derived from the common practice of shortening longer names in medieval England. While perfectly recorded today as a given name, it originated as an everyday nickname and later evol...

Dicun is a Medieval English diminutive of Dick 1, which itself is a diminutive of Richard. The name Richard comes from the Old German elements rih meaning 'ruler, king' and hart meaning 'hard, firm, brave, hardy', giving...

Diot is a Medieval English diminutive of Dionysia. As a hypocoristic form, it likely emerged as an affectionate or informal shortening, a common practice in naming conventions of the period.Etymology and AncestryThe name...

Dye is a Medieval English short form of the name Dionysia. The name Dionysia itself is the feminine form of Dionysius, which derives from the Greek Dionysios, meaning "of Dionysos." Dionysos is the Greek god of wine, fer...

Eda, a name sometimes found in medieval English records, is a diminutive of Edith, a name of Old English origin. While Edith itself had a long history as a distinct name, shorter forms like Eda arose informally as affect...

Elis is a Swedish variant of Elias, as well as a medieval English form. The name ultimately traces back to the Hebrew root Elijah, meaning "my God is Yahweh." In medieval England, the name Elijah was commonly spelled Eli...

Elric is a Middle English form derived from either of the Old English names Ælfric (meaning "elf ruler," from elements ælf "elf" and ric "ruler") or Æðelric (meaning "noble ruler," from æðel "noble" and ric). Both names...

Etheldred is a feminine given name of Medieval English origin. It is a Middle English form of the Anglo-Saxon name Æðelþryð, which derives from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and þryþ "strength", meaning "noble s...

Etheldreda is the Middle English form of the Anglo-Saxon name Æðelþryð (also rendered as Æthelthryth). It is ultimately derived from the Old English elements æðele "noble" and þryþ "strength", so the name means "noble st...

EtymologyEthelfleda is the Middle English form of Æðelflæd, an Old English name composed of the elements æðele meaning "noble" and flæd, possibly meaning "beauty". The name thus signifies "noble beauty." This form emerge...

Firmin is a given name of French and Medieval English origin, ultimately derived from the Late Latin name Firminus. The Latin root firmus means "firm" or "steadfast," a virtue highly emphasized among early Christians, fo...

Hamo is a medieval English masculine name of Norman origin. It was brought to Britain by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066 and represents the Norman form of the Germanic name Haimo. The root of the name, Haimo, is a...

Hamon is a medieval English variant of Hamo, which itself derives from the Norman form of Haimo, a short form of Germanic names beginning with the element haim or heim meaning "home" (from Proto-Germanic *haimaz). The No...

Hankin is a medieval English masculine name originating as a diminutive of Hann, itself a medieval English form of John. The name thus ultimately derives from the Hebrew name יוֹחָנָן (Yoḥanan), meaning "Yahweh is gracio...

Hann is a Medieval English given name, representing a short form of Iohannes (see John). The name John itself has profound historical and religious roots, deriving from the Hebrew Yoḥanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." D...

Hawise is a medieval English female given name that emerged as an English adaptation of a medieval French name, found in spellings such as Haueis or Haouys. These French forms, in turn, derived from the Germanic name Had...

Herry is a Medieval English form of Henry. Unlike the more familiar Harry, which also derived from Henry in the same period, this form is no longer used and has largely faded from modern naming conventions.The name ultim...

Hob is an obsolete medieval English short form of the male name Robert, and also of Robin. According to Wiktionary, it originated as a diminutive of Robin and separately as a French diminutive of Robert. The name was onc...

Hopkin is a Medieval English diminutive of Hob, itself a medieval short form of Robert. Ultimately derived from the Germanic name Hrodebert, meaning "bright fame" from the elements hruod "fame" and beraht "bright", Rober...

Hudde is a Medieval English diminutive of Hugh or possibly Richard. As a pet form, it belongs to the class of affectionate or familiar nicknames that were common in Middle English, often formed by adding a diminutive suf...

Ibb is a Medieval English diminutive of Isabel. As a pet form similar to other short variants like Ib or Bibb, it was likely used as an affectionate nickname within families or communities. The name Isabel itself, from w...

Ilbert is a medieval English given name of Norman French origin. It is the Norman form of Hildebert, which is derived from the Old Germanic elements hilt "battle" and beraht "bright", giving the meaning "bright battle"....

Origin and MeaningJackin is a diminutive of Jankin, a medieval diminutive of Jan, an Old French-influenced form of John. Thus, Jackin ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Yoḥanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious."Historic...

Jan (also spelled Jan 3) is a Medieval English form of John, derived from the Old French form Jehan. This name was common in medieval England, often appearing in records from the 13th to 15th centuries. It reflects the N...

Jankin is a medieval English diminutive of Jan 3, which was itself a medieval English form of John. The name thus ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Yoḥanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious."Etymology and OriginThe root...

Jocosa is a female given name of Medieval English origin, considered a variant of Joyce, with significant influence from the Latin word iocosus (or jocosus), meaning 'merry' or 'playful'. This name emerged in the Middle...

Judd is a medieval diminutive of Jordan, used in England and later revived as a given name inspired by the surname derived from it. The name Jordan itself comes from the River Jordan, whose Hebrew name Yarḏen means “desc...

Kinborough is a Medieval English form of Cyneburg, an Old English feminine name meaning "royal fortress". The name is composed of the elements cyne "royal" and burg "fortress". Etymology and Historical ContextThe origina...

Larkin is a medieval English diminutive of Laurence. The name originated as a pet form, created by adding the suffix -kin to the shortening Lar, reflecting a common practice in medieval English of forming affectionate or...

Law is a medieval diminutive of the name Laurence, which is derived from the Roman cognomen Laurentius, meaning "from Laurentum." Laurentum was an ancient Italian city, and its name likely comes from Latin laurus (laurel...

Mack is a medieval short form of Magnus, brought to Britain by Scandinavian settlers. The name Magnus itself derives from the Late Latin word meaning “great,” and gained prominence in Scandinavia after the 11th-century N...

Malle 2 is a medieval English diminutive of the name Mary. This form, along with the variant Molle, represents a common practice in Middle English of shortening and softening popular feminine names, especially those endi...

Matty 2 is a medieval English diminutive of Martha. The name Martha itself derives from the Aramaic marta meaning "the lady, the mistress," the feminine form of mar meaning "master." In the New Testament, Martha of Betha...

Meggy is a medieval English diminutive of Margaret. As a pet form, it emerged in the Middle Ages when nicknames and affectionate shortenings of popular saints' names were common. The name Margaret itself derives from Lat...

Molle is a medieval English diminutive of Mary, reflecting a common practice in Middle English of creating affectionate or familiar forms of names by adding suffixes like -le or -ot. The name thus carries the rich histor...

Morris is the usual medieval English form of the name Maurice. It originated in England after the Norman Conquest (1066), where the French name Maurice was brought by the Normans and gradually anglicized in spelling and...

Nichol is a medieval English variant of Nicol, which itself is a medieval English and Scottish form of Nicholas. While often considered a diminished or altered spelling, Nichol emerges from the broader nickname and short...

Nicol is a Medieval English and Scottish form of Nicholas. The name derives from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people," composed of nike ("victory") and laos ("people"). In medieval England and Scotland, Ni...

Noll is a Medieval English diminutive of Oliver. As a given name, Noll was used in the Middle Ages as a familiar form of Oliver, much like Ollie or Olly in later periods. The name Oliver itself has a complex etymology, p...

Ode is a Medieval English form of the name Odo, which itself is a variant of Otto. The root name Otto derives from Old Frankish aud or Old High German ot, meaning "wealth" or "fortune." The name Ode thus shares a common...

Pate is a medieval English diminutive of Patrick. As a pet form, it was likely used in informal or familial contexts during the Middle Ages, paralleling other clipped nicknames such as Pat.The root name Patrick originate...

Randel is a masculine given name of Medieval English origin, functioning as a diminutive of Randolf and other names beginning with the Germanic element rant meaning "rim (of a shield)". This element often appears in Germ...

Ranulf is a Medieval English masculine given name, introduced to England and Scotland by Norman settlers and invaders following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is the English form of the Old German name Raginolf, which i...

Rohese is a Norman French form of Hrodohaidis, introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name ultimately derives from the Germanic elements hruod meaning "fame" and heit meaning "kind, sort, type", giv...

Rohesia is a Latinized form of the medieval name Rohese, which itself is a variant of the name Rose. The name Rose originated as a Norman French form of the Germanic name Hrodohaidis, meaning "famous type," from the elem...

Roul is a Norman French form of Rolf, used in medieval France and, through the influence of the Norman Conquest, in medieval England. The name Rolf itself originates from the Old German name Hrolf, which is a contracted...

Royse is a medieval variant of the name Rose. While Rose has a long history as a feminine given name, Royse emerged as an alternative spelling during the medieval period in England. The name is closely tied to the popula...

Stace is a medieval short form of Eustace. In modern usage, it is typically considered a short form of Stacy or Stacey, often used as a unisex name predominantly in English-speaking countries.EtymologyStace originated as...

Tenney is a Medieval English diminutive of Denis. This naming pattern, common in medieval England, took the first syllable or a consonant cluster of a given name and added a diminutive suffix like -ey or -y to form a nic...

Wilkin is a medieval English diminutive of William. As a Middle English personal name, it was a nickname or pet form derived from William, formed by adding the suffix -kin (meaning "little" or "kin") to the first syllabl...

Wilky is a medieval English diminutive of William, a name of Germanic origin meaning “will helmet.” The diminutive suffix -y (or -ie) was commonly added to names in Middle English to create affectionate or familiar forms...