When it comes to choosing a baby name, there are so many options to help narrow down the thousands of options. And there really isn’t a wrong way to go about that. If names that hold some history with them is important to a new parent to be, there are some absolutely strong and enduring baby names to choose from — even from the medieval period!
The medieval time period represents the middle point between the fall of the Roman empire until the Renaissance — and there was a whole lot happening during that period. Tradition was often very important, and there's a rich history behind many of the popular names of the time.
If you love names that are really strong but don’t get a whole lot of attention, this list is for you. These names strike that perfect balance of unique, memorable, and rooted in history.
Sigrid
Sigrid, meaning "beautiful as victory", sounds like a name of a girl who is not going to put up with anything and that’s what makes it so perfect. It sounds like a name straight from Game of Thrones or Vikings and it’s a perfect fit for parents who want something positively medieval.
Lavinia
Lavinia is like name royalty in Roman mythology. It’s the name of the daughter of King Latinus, where the inspiration comes from. She was also considered to be the mother of all Roman people, and let’s be honest, it’s a really beautiful name.
Armine
The name Armine — which means "woman in war" — is typically for girls, but we can’t see why it’s not perfect for any babe. It’s an Armenian name that was common in the medieval time period, but also has some roots in German and it has everything that makes a typically loved baby girl name – lots of vowels.
Godric
Godric can be spelled with a "k" or "c" at the end and it’s a really Old English name that means "power of god" or "God-ruler." The name is really old and it’s not one we come across too often these days. The popularity of Godric died out a few centuries after the Norman conquest.
Petra
In medieval times, baby names were often inspired by their parents or the job their parents had and Petra, which refers to a rock or a stone, is no different. The name is a derivative of the much more common name Peter, and Petra can be used for any gender, too, and a beautiful yet strong name.
Florian
Florian is an older Roman name, inspired by the more formal name Florianus. The translation of the name means “flower” and while it’s not one we hear too much here, it was — and still is — a pretty common name in Austria and Switzerland.
Mirabel
Mirabel is probably on its way to becoming more popular than it has been since the medieval times thanks to a super popular character in a Disney movie (shout out to Encanto!). The name is a stunning choice for a little girl and its simple meaning (“wonderful”) is a fit for every personality.
Bawden
For parents who are looking for a really strong baby name for their boy but also want them to stand out, Bawden fits the bill for all those wants. It wouldn’t be unusual for people living in the US to never hear the name before, but there’s a lot of history behind it. It started out as a Cornish surname whose name bearers fought in — and won — many battles.
Viola
Viola is a short name for Violet and it’s one of the names that’s tied to medieval times but not unusual to hear these days, too. Viola did have some popularity back in the late 1800s because of its strong beautiful vibe about it.
Palmer
There are some parents who love to find strong names for their baby by looking at last names. They just seem to have a more powerful feel to it, and that can be said for Palmer, too. Palmer has been a surname since way back in the 1200s.
Andry
Andry is a name that we typically hear for a boy but we’re obsessed with it and strongly believe it can work for any gender. It’s a fun mix between Andy and Andrew (or Andrea for a girl), and while we never hear it now, it used to be cooler.
Carabella
Carabella is such a unique name that it’s going to stick out in any school class list. The name is inspired by medieval times and in Italian it means “beautiful beloved.” The cool thing about this name is that it can be split if a nickname is needed but both Cara and Bella work!
Idalia
For a baby name, Idalia has everything going for it. It’s beautiful, memorable, short and sweet, but powerful at the same time. The name isn’t popular today but it was one that was heard a lot way back and we won’t be mad if it makes a comeback.
Mally
The name Molly is really popular in the United States and if parents like the sound of that but wanted something more unique, this old medieval name is the right choice. Mally – yes, just swap out the vowel – is a variation of Melinda.
Rayner
Rayner is typically a name for a boy. The name is Scandinavian and has a Norse origin meaning that translates to" mighty army.” It’s a strong name, one that is also really memorable, plus the chance of another Rayner in a kid’s class is really low.
Sidonie
Sidonie, pronounced as “s ee d oh n ee” or like Syndey with a little pizzaz, also has several different ways it can be spelled. The name is a beautiful, feminine name that’s perfect for a parent who wants something that will stand out.
Thora
Thora is pronounced like Dora but with the “th” sound and it’s a beautiful twist for someone who likes the vibe of Dora. The name used to be pretty common back in the day and we don’t hear it a lot now. But it’s a good time as any to bring it back.
Genevieve
Genevieve is such a beautiful name and we’re honestly surprised that it’s not more popular than it is already. The name was really popular decades ago and has roots in the medieval times. Today, it’s not really popular but it has a lot of options for cute nicknames.
Wilmot
Wilmot sounds formal and that’s what gives it the strong feel to it. The name can be shortened to just Wil if parents are looking for a more casual everyday name but there is a whole lot of charm packed into the name Wilmot that just sounds right.
Geva
Geva has all the makings of a popular baby girl name. It’s short, has several vowels, and really does roll off the tongue well. The name isn’t used a lot these days, but it also works as a nickname if a parent likes Gevalia better than Geva.
