Product Code Database
Germanic are traditionally ; that is, they are formed from two elements (word stem), by joining a prefix and a suffix. For example, King Æþelred's name was derived from , meaning "noble", and , meaning "counsel". The individual elements in dithematic names do not necessarily have any semantic relationship to each other and the combination does not usually carry a compound word meaning. Dithematic names are found in a variety of Indo-European languages and are thought to derive from formulaic of heroic praise.
There are also names dating from an early time which seem to be monothematic, consisting only of a single element. These are sometimes explained as , short forms of originally dithematic names, but in many cases the etymology of the supposed original name cannot be recovered.e.g. the names of kings Penda, Pybba, Offa, Wuffa, and Sebbi, all Anglo-Saxons born in the 6th or 7th centuries
The oldest known Germanic names date to the Roman Empire period, such as those of Arminius and his wife Thusnelda in the 1st century CE, and in greater frequency, especially Gothic names, in the late Roman Empire, in the 4th to 5th centuries (the Germanic Heroic Age).The oldest attested Germanic name may be Harigast, written harikast in the Negau helmet inscription, but there are dissenting minority opinions.
A great variety of names are attested from the Middle Ages, falling into the rough categories of Scandinavian (Old Norse), Anglo-Saxon (Old English), continental (Old Frankish, Old High German and Low German), and East Germanic (see Gothic namesGothic or pseudo-Gothic names also constitute most of the personal names in use in the Christian successor states of the Visigothic kingdom in the Iberian peninsula during High Middle Ages; cf. and ) forms.
By the High Middle Ages, many of these names had undergone numerous sound changes and/or were abbreviated, so that their derivation is not always clear.
Of the large number of medieval Germanic names, a comparatively small set remains in common use today. For almost a thousand years, the most frequent name of Germanic origin in the English-speaking world has traditionally been William (from the Old High German Willahelm), followed by Robert, Richard and Henry.
Many native English (Anglo-Saxon) names fell into disuse in the later Middle Ages, but experienced a revival in the Victorian era; some of these are Edwin, Edmund, Edgar, Alfred, Oswald and Harold for males; the female names Mildred and Gertrude also continue to be used in present day, Audrey continues the Anglo-Norman (French) form of the Anglo-Saxon Æðelþryð, while the name Godiva is a Latin form of Godgifu. Some names, like Howard and Ronald, are thought to originate from multiple Germanic languages, including Anglo-Saxon.
| Pokorny suggests rather the root of OHG āhta `hostile pursuit', Germ.. Acht, OE. ōht 'pursuit, harassment'cf. OE ehtan< *anhtō, in OE conflated with ōht 'terror', from the preterite of ag- "fear". These represent perhaps two or more roots which are indistinguishable without | |
| Some names in ag-, eg- may be unrelated in origin; see Förstemann, 9. | |
| Uncertain etymology; like agin perhaps a hypostatis of the older ag-; Förstemann, 22. See Agilaz. | |
| Some names in ala- have this etymology; others are corruptions of names in aþal-. Förstemann, 39. | |
| Altopold, Altiperht, Aldfrid/Aldfrith, Aldegar, Aldman, Ealdred/Aldred, Aldwig, Aldwin/Audoin/Alduin, Ealdwulf/Aldwulf; Aldedrudis, Aldeberga/Aldburg, Aldigart, Altagund/Ealdgyð, Aldelindis, Aldis | |
| Ælfwine, Ælfric, Alfred, Ælfweard, Ælfsige;attested as latinized Ælsinus Ælfflæd, Ælfwaru, Ælfwynn | |
| Perhaps related to runic alu | |
| cf. Amalia, Amelie. This element's etymology is uncertain, but it is frequently compared to Old Norse aml "work". | |
| Names in angil- may arise with Christianization, by conflation with the prefix ingal-, an extension of the theophoric ing- prefix; see Förstemann, 89. | |
| see ethel, odal, | |
| Hypocorisms Ole, Åke/Åge | |
| Asbjørn/Osborne, Ansgar/Osgar,the name Oscar is an unrelated name of Irish origin meaning "deer-friend" Oswin, Oswald/Ansaldo/Answald, Ansleth, Ásleikr/Anslech/Oslac,this name survives in corrupted form in the given name Axel and in the surnames Aslock, Hasluck Ansfridus, Anshelmus/Anselm, Ansgisus/Ansegisus, Ansbrecht/Osbert, Osburh, Osgyth, Osthryth | |
| Many of these names cannot be distinguished with certainty from the corresponding name in hari-. | |
| Hypocorisms Aribo, Erbo | |
| cf. Oisc, Ask | |
| Extremely frequent. cf. also Ethel, Otto, Odda, Auðr | |
| Possibly "one" due to vowel being pronounced farther back in the mouth. At the time, and given those bearing the name, slowly becoming Old English "an", meaning "one'. But officially the etymology is unknown; see Förstemann, 181. | |
| Possibly theophoric, see Eostre, Aurvandil | |
| Very frequent, and often conflated with the wald element. | |
| Pandulf/Pandolfo | |
| Uncertain etymology; mostly in old names (before the 8th century) Förstemann, 216f. In later use indistinguishable from bald | |
| Baugegundus, Bauglind, Baugulf | |
| hypocorism Bert. One of the most frequent elements, but not attested before the 6th century. | |
| The suffix is feminine only. See also Burke | |
| cf. Beonna, Berig | |
| among the Saxons often monothematic, as Bilo, Pilicho, Pillin, Billung | |
| Blictrud, Blicger, Blicgart, Plechelm, Blicildis | |
| Bliddruda, Bllithar, Blithelm, Blidhild, Blidmar, Blidulf, Blidemund, Plittelmi | |
| Herebord, Hiltiport, Saelbort, Willipord | |
| cf. Brant. Attested from the 7th century, with the exception of Gothic Brandila | |
| The words for "armour" and for "brown" are unrelated, but a distinction of these two elements is impossible. | |
| Possibly a conflation of several roots, perhaps Dagaz, and a loan of Celtic dago "good". | |
| Deorwine / Darwin / Derwin | |
| Names with this prefix are probably theophoric. In Nordic feminine names with the suffix -dis, the meaning is "woman". | |
| The meaning of this element may be either "animal" (deer) or "dear". See also Deor. | |
| Dombert, Domedrudis, Domegerdis, Domalde, Duomolf | |
| Droctbold, Drocberta, Drutberga, Drucfred, Druhtgang, Truhthari, Droctelm, Dructildis, Druhtmar, Dructimund, Dructuin, Dructulf | |
| Eparpert/Everbert, Euerberga, Euurdag/Everdei/Eofordæg, Ebertrudis, Eparfrid, Eberger, Eberhard/Eoforheard/Everard/Evorhart/Euerart/Everett, Ebarhelm/Evorhelm, Eburhilt, Ebirmuot, Ebermunt, Ebarolt/Euerwolt, Eberwin/Ebroin, Eberulf/Everwolf/Everolf, Eboric/Everik, Eoforwulf, Everrod, Everbalt, Everwacchor | |
| Probably a genuine element, but difficult to distinguish from hari, which is also often reduced to eri-, er-, or from ari, arni. The form erin-, on the other hand, is often conflated with the irm- element. | |
| Förstemann, 377 connects OGH ercan "sublime, pure, holy" (the general sense in Gothic as well). In OE and ON used in compounds designating various "precious" stones. Perhaps theophoric, from a name of Teiwaz. Erchtag was a name of Tuesday in Bavarian dialect; see Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie, 113; 182—185. | |
| Pokorny suggests a tentative link with ari-, arni- "eagle", an 'l' suffix form of which is found in the Balto-Slavic languages. | |
| Euin, Eubert, Eomar, Eumund, Ewirat, Eric, Eowig, Eolf | |
| Fastburg, Fastrada, Fastrih, Fastwin, Fastulf | |
| Filibert, Feologild?, Filuliub, Filomar, Filomuot | |
| Fredegar, Ferdinand,apparently a Gothic name; perhaps from fardi "travel" (Förstemann, 401), perhaps also from frithu "protection". Fredegund/Frithugyth, Friedrich/Frederick, Frithuwold, Fridthjof/Fritiof; Billfrith, Dietfried, Ecgfrith/Ecgfrida, Ermenfrid, Godfried, Gottfried, Sigfrid/Siegfried, Walfrid/Walfried | In Old English, used almost exclusively for male names; Ecgfriþ is noted exception |
| The suffix is feminine only. | |
| Almost exclusively Frankish names | |
| Francobert, Frangomere, Franchrih | |
| cf. Fróði; theophoric (see Fraujaz, Frijjō). | |
| Frigobert, Frehholt, Friculf | |
| hypocorisms Frodo, Frutilo, Frodin | |
| Frumiger, Frumihilt, Frumirat, Frumirih, Frumold, Frumolf, Frumar | |
| Folcbald, Forlberaht/Volcbert, Fulcdag, Folhker/Folcger, Folchard, Fulchar/Volker, Volkhard, Folcleih, Fulclindis, Folcman, Folcmar/Volkmar, Folcnand, Fulcrad, Fulcrich, Folcswind, Fulcuald, Folcward, Folcwin, Fulculf; Heidifolc, Herifolch, Hrodfolc, Ratfolc, Sigifolc, Saelfolc | |
| Amdefuns, Adalfuns/Alphonse, Bernefons, Hadufuns, Sigifuns, Valafons | |
| Gelbold, Geilindis, Geilamir, Gailswindis, Geilwib, Geilwih, | hypocorism Gailo, Geliko |
| Gamalbold, Gamalbert, Gamalberga, Gamaltrudis, Gamalfred, Gamalher, Camalrat, | |
| Only Old High German, rare | |
| Gannibald, Ganefard, Ganhart; Adalgan, Audiganus, Wolfgan | |
| Hypocorisms Gando, Gantalo, Gandin; cf. Gandalfr (mythological) | |
| Gangperht, Gangolf; Bertegang, Druhtgang, Hildigang, Hrodegang, Thiotcanc, Uligang, Widugang, Wiligang, Wolfgang | |
| hypocorism Gero, Gerry. Very frequent both as prefix and as suffix. Gerðr is the wife of Freyr in Norse mythology. | |
| Rare as a prefix, very frequent as a suffix. The great majority of names with this suffix are feminine. | |
| Mostly as suffix; frequent in early (3rd to 4th centuries) names; frequent conflation with Slavic names (Radegast, Gustaph). | |
| The tribal name of the Geats/Goths. Hypocorisms Gaudo, Gaudila, Gauzilin, Gaudin. These names are popular during the 6th to 11th centuries. The forms in got are difficult to distinguish from the element god "god". | |
| Hypocorisms Gildo, Gilting, Coldin, Gilticho | |
| hypocorisms Gabilo, Gibilin, Gebi, Gabo, Gibicho, etc. | |
| Hypocorism Gisela, cf. Giselle | |
| In most cases, the etymologies guda " deus" and goda " bonus" cannot be distinguished with certainty, while in older continental names this is often an alternative form of Gund | |
| simplex Grauso, Chroso, Cros, Kros, etc.; | |
| Grimwald, Grimoald, Grimhild/Krimhild/Kriemhild; Isegrim/Isengrim | |
| Gomadrudis, Gomoharius, Gomahilt, Gomaleih, Gomlinda, Gumemar, Gumarich, Gumesind, Gumoalt, Gomolf | |
| Günther/Gunther/Gunter/Guntar/Gundar, Gundoald, Gundulf, Gunnhild, Gudrun; Eadgyth/Edith, Ealdgyð, Fredegund/Frithugyth, Sigith/Sigesgundia, Hildegund/Hildegunn, Rigunth | |
| Attested from the 7th century in forms such as Hago, Chaino etc. From an early time conflated with names in Ag-, Agin-. See also Haguna. | |
| Extremely frequent as second element in feminine names (83 listed by Förstemann), apparently due to early confusion with similar words for heath. | |
| Hailo, Halicho (8th century); conflated with the elements agil and hal. | |
| hypocorism Haimo | |
| cf. Old English ; also compared with the tribal name of the Aesti. | |
| Rare; limited to a handful of names of the 8th century. | |
| Rare, 8th and 9th centuries. | |
| rare, 9th and 10th centuries; cf. the entries under ercan. | |
| Very frequent, recorded from as early as the 3rd century. | |
| hypocorism Harry, Heri(?). Very frequent, Förstemann lists 289 names with -hari as second element. As first element recorded as early as the 1st century (in Chariovalda), or possibly in the 1st century BC ( Negau helmet B, Harigasti) | |
| Frequent, from the 6th century, formally indistinguishable from haid. | |
| rare; 7th to 9th centuries. | |
| Hypocorism Helmo. Comparatively frequent from the 6th century. | |
| cf. Huoching/Haki | |
| One of the most frequently used stems both as prefix and as suffix, attested since the 3rd century. Among the Franks its use especially for feminine names is "almost excessive" according to Förstemann, who counts 281 names with this suffix, of which only four are masculine. Hypocorism Hilda. | |
| rare; Chilperic is from the 5th century, other names with this element occur only in the 8th and 9th centuries. | |
| rare; 8th to 11th centuries | |
| rare, 8th to 10th centuries. | |
| 9th century; Gothic hairus, Anglo-Saxon heoro- "sword", also in the tribal name of the Cherusci. | |
| rare | |
| Hleoperht, Gallehus horns | |
| Clotilde, Clovis/Chlodwig/Ludwig/Louis, Hlothhere, Ludolf, Lothar/Chlothar/Lothaire, Chlodomir; Chlodoswintha | |
| Huogobert, Huoging, Huogulf, Hogo | |
| Holebert, Holomot, Holemund, Holosint | |
| Hortbert, Horthari, Hordold, Hordward, Horduin, Hordolf | |
| Bertram, Wolfram | frequent in the 7th to 9th centuries; surely from the ravens of Wodanaz originally (as was wulf-). Förestemann counts 125 masculine and 15 feminine with this suffix. The simplex Hraban (and variants) is recorded from the 6th century. The Gothic name Valarauans if it contains this root would be the oldest record of the element (4th century). |
| also in the name of the Hreiðgoths. | |
| Förstemann 1900:877 suggests that the "ring" element in origin refers to chainmail | |
| Förstemann 1900:878f. surmises an early conflation of two elements (1) hrauc "roar, bellow, (battle-)cry" and (2) rōc "care, circumspection", and both were further conflated with hrōþ- as first element, and with -rih as second. As a second element since the 5th century. Crocus, the 4th-century king of the Alamanni, presumably had a name formed from this element, as did Rocco bishop of Autun (7th century) and Rocho bishop of Bourges (8th century). | |
| since the 5th century; hypocorisms Ruom, Roma, Rumo. Förstemann 1900:883 | |
| 8th century; hypocorisms Chrodius, Hrodo, Hrodio, Hroda; Förstemann 1900:883 | |
| hypocorisms Hugh, Hugo | |
| cf. Hun of East Anglia | |
| Inga, Ingeborg, Inger, Ingvar/Igor, Ingrid, Ingemar/Ingmar | |
| possibly theophoric, see Irminsul; hypocorisms Irma, Armin, Emma | |
| Isegrim may in origin have been a kenning for "wolf". | |
| probably from the name of the Juthungi or the Jutes | |
| 8th to 10th century, rare (used more rarely than ald- "old") | |
| rare; possibly extensions from the Charles. | |
| Conrad/Konrad, Cynric, Coenwulf | |
| hypocorism Kuno, Chintila | |
| Cuthbert, Cuthred, Cuthwulf | |
| Cwichelm | |
| possibly as first element in Leikert, Leuckart; Laigobert | |
| the probable original meaning "heir of" suggests that this element at first appeared only as second element; it was from an early time it conflated with liub "dear". In Old Norse also used as a simplex, "heir". | |
| rare | |
| Name by place of residence, origin, birth | |
| only as a suffix in feminine names; the suffix is presumably from a root *lug "to celebrate marriage; to be dedicated, promised (in marriage)"Lena Peterson Nordiskt runnamnslexikon (2002) | |
| Leonard, Leonid | |
| very frequent as a second element in feminine names | |
| Leofric, Leofwine, Leofwynn, Leofgyth | |
| Liutger/Leodegar, Luther, Lutold; Liutgard, Leudwinus/Liutwin, Luitpold/Leopold, Liutprand | |
| Maganradus/Meinrad; Mathilde, Meinfrida, Meinhard | |
| Manfred, Herman, German, Norman | |
| Adelmar, Chlodomir, Merovech, Miro, Filimer/Filimir, Hreiðmarr, Odomir/Otmar/Ottomar/Othmar/Ademar, Dietmar, Agilmar/Ilmar/Elmar, Ricimer, Richimir, Theodemir, Theodemar, Thiudimer, Sigmar, Ingemar/Ingmar, Valamir, Waldemar/Vladimir, Wilmer, Vidimir/Widemir, Wulfmar/Wulfomir | |
| Edmund, Erlemund, Kunimund, Sigmund, Rechimund, Reginmund/Raymond, Remismund, Normund | |
| Adalniu, Baudovinia, Dagný, Folcniu, Nibumir, Nivulf, Niwirat, Niwirich, Odalniu, Signy/Sigeneow, Teudonivia | |
| Nanthild, Notburga, Nothhelm; Byrhtnoth, Eadnoth, Ferdinand, Folcnand, Wieland/Wayland | |
| also in use as the first element in Norway | |
| Radegast, Radwig, Radulf; Alfred, Eadred, Conrad, Tancred, Wihtred; Ratberga/Redburga | |
| Raginald/Reginald/Reynold/Reinhold/Reynhold/Ronald, Reginbert, Reginmund/Raymond; Regintrud, Rægenhere, Ragnar | |
| Remisto, Remismund | |
| Gudrun, Walaruna | |
| Rigobert, Alaric, Ælfric, Beorthric, Brunric, Theodoric/Dietrich, Friedrich/Frederick, Richard, Richardis, Rictrude, Richilda, Rechila, Rechiar, Rechimund, Richimir, Rickstan, Eboric, Ulrich, Haidrich/Heidrich, Leofric, Wulfric, Roderick, Sigeric, Sedrick, Cedric, Chilperic, Theodoric, Henry/Heinrich, Eric, Godric | |
| Sexred; Seaxburh | |
| Sinthgunt as "Sun's sister" in the Merseburg Incantations | |
| possibly theophoric in origin, in reference to Teiwaz, and later Odin, the god of victory.Yonge, p. 306. Hypocorisms Sigo, Sike, Sikke. | |
| also in simplex Sten, from Scandinavian Steinn | |
| Swithwulf, Swinthibald; Amalaswintha, Ealhswith; Swinthila | |
| Tancred/Dancrad, Dancmar, Tammaro | |
| Sigtrygg | |
| in the names of the Vandals, Wends and Aurvandil | |
| Waldemar/Vladimir, Walther; Edwald, Ewald, Frithuwold, Harold, Sigwald/Siwald, Gerald, Gundoald, Waldwolf/Waldolf, Oswald/Ansaldo, Raginald/Reginald/Reynold/Reynhold/Reinhold/Ronald, Roald, Sigvald, Walfrid/Walfried | |
| Warinhari/Wernher/Werner; Brunward, Edward, Sigward; Freawaru, Ælfwaru | |
| Wihtred | |
| Wilhelm/William, Wilmer, Wilfred, Wilbert, Willihad, Willigip | |
| Winibald, Winimund, Winibert; Ælfwine/Alboin, Alcuin, Aldoin, Baldwin, Darwin, Ecgwine, Edwin/Audoin, Erlwin, Erwin, Gerwin, Goswin, Leofwine, Oswin | |
| Wiglaf, Wigbert, Wigheard/Wighard; Clovis/Chlodwig/Ludwig/Louis, Hedwig, Merovech | |
| hypochoristic Wallia, Walica. cf. Valhalla, Valkyrie, Valföðr etc. | |
| because of the close association with Wodanaz, these names are rare already in the OHG period, and fall out of use entirely during the High Middle Ages. Some hypocorisms such as Wote (a. 784), Woda (f., 8th century), Wodal (a. 889), Wode, Wodtke, may derive from this element. Wotan is recorded as a given name in the early 9th century.Förstemann, 1332f. Association of most of these names with wod "fury" is uncertain, as there are the homophonic but unrelated roots of OHG watan "to wade" and wat "garment".Förstemann, 1224. | |
| hypocorism Guido, Guy | |
| Especially as second element, -ulf, -olf is extremely common. Förstemann explains this as originally motivated by the wolf as an animal sacred to Wodanaz, but notes that the large number of names indicates that the element had become a meaningless suffix of male names at an early time. Förstemann counts 381 names in -ulf, -olf, among which only four are feminine. See also Offa (name) | |
| Wynflæd; Ælfwynn, Ecgwynn, Brihtwyn | |
| Theodoric/Dietrich/Derick/Dirk, Detlef, Diether, Diethelm, Theobald, Dietfried, Theudebert, Theodemar; Dietlinde | |
| Degenhard, Degericus; Deitdegen, Edildegan, Drûtdegan, Heridegan, Swertdegan, Volcdegen | |
| Þingfriþ | |
| Thrassald, Þrassar | |
| þryþ, OH þrúðr, OE þrȳð, drut, trud, thrud, thryth | Names with this suffix are feminine only; Þrúðr is a daughter of Thor in Norse mythology. Short form Trudy, Trudi |
| These names appear from the 8th or 9th century; popular in Scandinavia during the 10th to 11th centuries. Förstemann 1199. | |
| an archaic element in names of the migration period, extinct during the medieval period. Förstemann 1200. |
Some hypocorisms retain a remnant of their second element, but reduced so that it cannot be identified unambiguously any longer; Curt/Kurt may abbreviate either Conrad or Cunibert. Harry may abbreviate either Harold or Henry.
Other monothematic names may have originated as bynames rather than hypocorisms of old dithematic names; examples may include Old English Æsc "ash tree", Carl "free man" (Charles), Hengest "stallion", Raban "raven" (Rabanus Maurus), Hagano/Hagen "enclosure", Ernest "vigorous, resolute".
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