71 Genuine Medieval Baby Names With Enduring Style

Parents have been trying to guess the sex of their babies since the dawn of time. During medieval times, a pregnant woman was said to be carrying a girl if she began walking with her left foot versus her right.

Because the majority of people are right-handed, those living in the Middle Ages assumed it was because the right arm and leg were heavier. A heavier arm and leg meant a strong baby; in those times, strength was attributed to males. For moms who put their left foot first, one of these medieval names was probably on the list of options for their new baby.

Alba

The name Alba is of Latin origin and means white. In Spanish and Italian, however, Alba means “sunrise.” It is both a girl’s first name and surname, most notably attributed to actress Jessica Alba.

Anabel

The name Anabel, which means “grace” or “favor,” was more common in the United States in 2013 than it is now. Anabel is of Scottish origin and was popular during the 12th century and remained so until recent years.

Argenta

The baby girl’s name Argenta is of Latin origin and means “silver.” Between 1999 and 2018, there were just eight babies named Argenta worldwide.

Beatrice

Beatrice of Silva was a 15th-century saint, and likely the origin of this Italian name means “voyager.” According to the Social Security Administration, the name Beatrice has become increasingly popular in the last decade.

Celestina

Celestina is a baby name of French origin that easily makes the list of baby names inspired by the cosmos and means “heavenly” in Latin. The name Celeste, according to the Social Security Administration database, has been popular in the last decade.

Gisela

Gisela comes from the Old High German word for “pledge.” In the United States, a variation, Giselle, has consistently been one of the top baby names for girls since the year 2000.

Gratiana

Gratiana is an Italian name that means “grace.” It is the female version of the name Gratian, who was the emperor of the Western Roman Empire.

Gregoria

The baby name Gregoria is Latin for “herd” or “flock” and Greek for “alert” or “watchful” and is the feminine version of the name Gregorios.

Guinevere

Guinevere may just be the quintessential medieval baby name, as Guinevere was King Arthur’s wife. The name is of Welsh origin and means “white shadow.” It is the ancient version of the modern name Jennifer.

Gwenllian

Gwenllian is a Welsh name for “fair” and “blessed.” In medieval Wales, it was a common name, though today the shortened version, Gwen, or variation, Gwendolyn, are more commonly used.

Honora

Of Italian and Latin origin, the name Honora means “woman of honor.” Varied spellings include Onnora and Honor.

Idalia

The name Idalia has Greek origins and means “behold the sun.” It was also the name of an ancient city in Cyprus.

Laria

The name Laria — of Latin origin — means “person who is famous,” though in modern times it is not a very popular name.

Meliora

The name Meliora is of Latin origin and means “better.” The name has been in use since the 13th century and has been used by both Romans and Puritans.

Melanie

Common in France during the Middle Ages, the name is Greek and means “dark.” The name Melanie is consistently at the top of the list when it comes to baby girl names in the United States, according to the Social Security Administration.

Carol R. and her husband named their daughters Melanie and Joanna, other popular names in the US. “We wanted our kids to have classic names with a modern twist,” Carol told Mom.com. “My husband and I both have traditional English names that are easy to spell and pronounce, and that was what we wanted for our children, too.”

Joanna

The name Joanna is of Hebrew origin and means “God is gracious.”

“In our modern age, we also wanted names that they could shorten based on their needs or personality,” Carol continued. “Melanie and Joanna can easily go by Mel and Jo as they see fit. So far, both names have aged well and our kids seem to like them, too.”

Mirabel

The name Mirabel comes from the Latin word for “of wondrous beauty.” Parents and children will recognize the name from the Disney film Encanto. Variants of the name Mirabel include Isabel and Annabel.

Pacifica

Pacifica is a baby girl’s name of Spanish origin that means “calm” or “tranquil.” According to the US Census, there were eight girls named Pacifica in the United States in 2018.

Petra

Petra is a girl’s name meaning “rock” or “stone” and is of Greek origin. It is the female variant of Peter, but dates back to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, which was rediscovered in 1812. Petra is thought to be a name that signifies strength.

Regina

Regina, which means “queen” in Latin, has gained popularity in recent years, according to the Social Security Administration database. Nicknames of the name include Gina and Reggie. During medieval times, it was a common name, though now the name is popular among Roman Catholic families.

Savia

Savia is a girl baby name of Latin origin, meaning “intelligent” or “rational.” Savia is also an Arabic name that means “she who is beautiful.” Beautiful and smart? You can’t beat that for a potential baby name.

Sigrid

The name Sigrid harkens back to the Viking era during the Middle Ages. This Scandinavian name means “fair, beautiful,” and “victory.” Variations of the name Sigrid include Ingrid, Siiri in Finland, and Zigrida in Latvia.

Kirsten Hammann and her husband named their daughters Teagan and Sigrid because they wanted gender-neutral names for their children.

“Sigrid is technically a girl’s name, but because it’s so uncommon in the US, it reads as gender neutral to most people,” Kirsten told CBS News. “The gender neutrality was not something my husband and I discussed explicitly, and I would say it was more in my mind, knowing firsthand the hurdles women face across so many areas of life. Whether we like it or not, names that skew a little masculine, or less feminine, are perceived as stronger, and I wanted that for my girls.”

Viola

From the Latin word meaning “violet,” the name Viola is associated with music, flowers, and beauty. Though actress Viola Davis most notably comes to mind, the name Viola is not in the top 1,000 names listed in the Social Security database.

Winifred

The name Winifred is derived from Old English and means “joy and peace.” Though those who grew up in the ’90s may remember that Dora Winifred — Arthur’s sister from the Mark Brown books and television cartoon series — was anything but joyful and peaceful.

It was common during the Middle Ages for babies to be given names of saints. During times of plague and war, infants did not have a promising survival rate. Parents commonly named their children after saints to ensure the saint would watch over the baby. Many of these boy baby medieval names were derivatives of patron saints.

Alaric

“All-powerful rule” is the definition of the German name Alaric. Alaric I was the king of the West Ostrogoths who rose to power after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Worldwide, Alaric was the 867th most popular boy name in 2021.

Alban

Named for the ancient Latin city Alba Longa, the name Alban means “white.” Britain found its first martyr in St. Alban, who is considered the country’s first saint. Alban is now primarily a common surname in South America.

Aldo

Of German origin, the name Aldo means “noble” or “wise.” According to the Social Security Administration, Aldo was a fairly common name in 2007 and 2002, though its popularity apart from those two years has been sporadic.

Ambrose

The name Ambrose means “immortal” in Greek and was common during the Middle Ages in Europe, but is slowly making a comeback, according to the Social Security Administration. Ambrose was the 671st most common name in 2021, up from 958th in 2019 and 819th in 2020.

Archibald

Archibald is of Spanish origin and means “truly brave.” The short form of the name, Archie, has been common in Britain, though the popularity of the name Archie in the United States has increased steadily since 2019. We may have Meghan and Prince Harry to thank for this trend.

August

The baby name August is of Latin origin and means “great.” According to the Social Security Administration, the name August was the 121st most common name in the United States in 2021.

Baldwin

Of Old French and Old German origin, the name Baldwin means “bold, brave friend.” According to Social Security Administration statistics, there have been 344 individuals with the name Baldwin in the United States in the past 100 years.

Balthasar

The name Balthasar, which means “protects the King,” was also the name of one of the three wise men. According to statistics, there were only 12 baby boys named Balthazar in 2021.

Barnabas

The name Barnabas is of Hebrew origin and means “son of comfort.” A companion of St. Paul, the apostle Barnabas, would accompany the saint on his missions. Though common during medieval times, there were only 16 baby boys named Barnabas in 2021.

Bartholomew

Derived from the Aramaic name meaning “son of Talmai,” Bartholomew is also a Christian, Jewish, and English name. Shortened versions of the name include Bart or Tolly.

Benedict

The boy’s name, Benedict, is of Latin origin and means “blessed.” Broken down in Latin, it means “good” and “speak” or “well-spoken.” In the Middle Ages, the name would have been taken from Saint Benedict of Nursia. Today, however, actor Benedict Cumberbatch may be the inspiration for this unique baby name.

Cassian

Cassian is a boy’s name meaning “curly hair.” It is of Latin origin and has its roots in Welsh and Irish. If you’re likely to give birth to a little one with a headful of curls, this may be the perfect medieval baby name for your family.

Castellan

Many names during the Middle Ages were given to align with a family occupation. The name Castellan is of Roman origin and was an occupational name for a prison ward or governor of a castle. During medieval times, a castellan would be charged with protecting the castle garrison, maintaining defenses around the castle, and overseeing the castle’s staff.

Chapman

Most commonly a last name, Chapman is of Old English origin and is an occupational name for a merchant or monger. It comes from the verb “cypan,” which means “to buy or sell.” In 2021, there were only 21 baby boys named Chapman, according to US Census Data.

Crispin

Much like Cassian, the boy’s name, Crispin, is of Latin origin, meaning “curly-haired.” The name was popular in France during the Early Middle Ages to pay homage to the martyred St. Crispin.

Cyprian

Cyprian is of Greek origin and means “man of Cyprus.” Cyprian was a Roman African Christian Latin writer of Western Christianity. In 2021, according to US Census Data, there were only 11 baby boys named Cyprian.

Declan

The name Declan means “man of prayer” and is of Irish origin. It is the anglicized version of the Gaelic Deaglan, which etymologically means “full of goodness.”

Dunstan

In Middle English, the name Dunstan means “hill” or “stone.” It is derived from the archbishop of Canterbury and would have been a common medieval name. According to US Census Data, this name was last seen in 1976.

Edmund

In the last recorded year of 2021, according to US Census Data, there were 172 baby boys named Edmund. This name is derived from Old English and means “prosperity” or “riches.”

Everard

The medieval baby name Everard is derived from the German word meaning “wild boar.” According to US Census Data, the last time the name was seen was 24 years ago. Perhaps it’s time to bring back the name Everard?

Ferdinand

The medieval baby name Ferdinand was sparingly used in the United States in the ’60s and ’70s, according to the Social Security Administration. It means “bold voyager” in Old German.

Frost

The name Frost is of English origin and means “born in winter.” It is a fairly common last name in the United States.

Gavin

A derivative of the medieval name Gawain, Gavin means “white hawk.” Sir Gawain was one of the knights of King Arthur’s Round Table. In 2021, the name Gavin was the 123rd most popular boy name in the United States, according to the Social Security Administration database.

Giles

Of French origin, the name Giles dates back to medieval times and the French hermit St. Giles. The given name Giles is common in Britain.

Godfrey

The name Godfrey ranks as the 1,230th most popular last name in America; however, it is a popular Germanic name meaning “peaceful.” While the name Godfrey doesn’t make the Social Security database list, comedian Godfrey Cambridge and actor Godfrey Tearle are notable celebrities with this first name.

Godric

Godric is of British origin and means “God-ruler.” The name originated in England, but as with many names of the Middle Ages, many people are familiar with them as characters from the Harry Potter franchise. In this case, that of Godric Gryffindor, the founder of Hogwarts.

Hugh

Hugh is the English variant of the Germanic name Hugo, which means “intellect” or “mind.” Common in the 1960s, the name decreased in popularity over the decades but has slowly been gaining in popularity since 2011, according to the Social Security Administration database. Interestingly, this increase coincides perfectly with the release of the X-Men movie Wolverine, Hugh Jackman’s breakthrough film.

Ivo

Ivo is derived from the Dutch, German, and Irish and means “archer.” Common during the High Middle Ages, Ivo was a name used by the Normans of France. Ivo and the name Ivar are of similar origin in that they are derived from the name of the yew tree in Old Norse, of which strong bows were made.

Ivar

Ivar is a Scandinavian name that means “bow warrior” or “archer” and is from the Old Norse word for yew tree, of which bows were made. Ivar and Ivo are variations of one another.

Leopold

Leopold — a German word for “brave” — was a common name during medieval times. Leopold ruled the Holy Roman Empire and was king of Croatia, Bohemia, and Hungary during the second millennium. Worldwide, Leopold was the 1,644th most common name in 2021.

Lucian

Parents whose baby is the light of their lives may consider Lucian the perfect baby name. Lucian means “light” in Latin and could be shortened to Luke as a nickname.

Maxim

The name Maxim is of Roman origin; however, it is common in Slavic-speaking nations like Ukraine and Belarus. In the United States, the name Maxim saw some popularity in 2011 and 2012, though derivatives remain common now. Maxim means “the greatest” in Latin.

Milo

This Slavic name means “beloved,” though it also relates to the Latin word for “soldier.” Milo or its derivative Miles are not that unheard of as baby names. In 2021, Milo ranked 127th most popular baby name, according to the Social Security Administration.

Neville

Of French origin, Neville, which means “new town,” is a popular name in Britain and is only a slightly common surname in the United States. Most would likely associate musicians the Neville Brothers with the name Neville in the US.

Otto

Originating from the German word for “wealth,” the name Otto can be traced back to the early stages of the Roman Empire when Otto the Great became emperor of Rome in 962. As a first name, Otto is of course popular in Germany, whereas in the United States, it is a relatively common surname.

Rudolf

Of German origin, the name Rudolf means “famous wolf,” and apart from being the name of the most famous reindeer of all, Rudolf was a common name at the turn of the 20th century and remains popular in Europe.

Sebastian

The name Sebastian has been hovering around the 18th and 19th most popular boy name in the last four years, according to the Social Security Administration name database. It has been in the top 50 baby names since 2013 and will likely continue to remain a popular choice for years to come.

Severin

The name Severin does give off some Harry Potter vibes, and rightfully so — it’s derived from the Latin “severus,” which means “strict, severe, or serious.” This name is perfect for any baby boy, whether they’re a Muggle or not.

Tobias

Meaning “God is Good,” the name Tobias is derived from Greek and Hebrew roots. Tobias is the main character in the children’s book Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, in which an 11-year-old page chronicles his daily life living and working in a castle. The popularity of the baby name Tobias has doubled since the year 2000, according to the Social Security Administration’s baby names ranking database.

Nameberry is a website dedicated to baby names, founded by Cool Names for Babies author Pamela Redmond. The site helps parents choose the perfect name for their baby and indicates that interest in gender-neutral names has increased in recent years.

“Parents may choose nonbinary names to offer their child freedom from gender stereotypes or conventional gender identity. These truly gender-neutral names give children space to explore gender and mold their name to fit their identity,” Sophie Kihm wrote on the site. “Other parents are choosing these nonbinary baby names for their modern style rather than strict gender parity.”

If you’re looking for gender-neutral medieval names, consider one of these noble options.

Aquila

Meaning “eagle,” the name Aquila can be used for both boys and girls. This biblical name could also be a baby name inspired by the cosmos, as the Aquila constellation represents the bird that carried the thunderbolts of Zeus in Greek-Roman mythology.

Florian

If your little one is born with a shock of blond hair, the name Florian might be the perfect baby name choice, as it means “yellow, blond.” It is also the name of a patron saint in both Poland and Austria, which were common baby name inspirations in the Middle Ages.

Peregrine

Peregrine is a name that can be used for both boys and girls, meaning, in Latin, “traveler” or “pilgrim.” It is also an anglicized version of the Italian patron saint San Pellegrino.

Clement

The name Clement has French and Latin roots and means “merciful” and “compassionate.” While the name Clement can be gender neutral, it is more common in the girl version, Clementine.

Guardia

From the medieval phrase “dioguardi,” the name Guardia means “may God watch over you” and was a fitting name for a beloved baby boy or girl. Man Americans may be familiar with the surname LaGuardia, as it is the name of the New York City airport named after Fiorello LaGuardia, who served as mayor of the city in the 1930s and ’40s.

Gervaise

The name Gervaise, of French origin, is a gender-neutral name meaning “skilled with a spear” — another baby name that sees its origin in the patron saint of Gervais and is more commonly used as a surname. While Survivor contestant Gervase Peterson and comedian Ricky Gervais are both male, the name also works well as a first name for a baby girl.

Quentin

Latin for the number 5, the gender-neutral name Quentin was often given to the fifth child in a family. Quentin Tarantino commonly comes to mind as the most popular male celebrity with this name, while Australian politician Quentin Bryce represents the female version of the name.

Palmer

Meaning “pilgrim,” the name Palmer is of English origin and has its roots in Christianity when Christians would carry palms with them on their journey to the Holy Land.