Etymology of names
On this page I try to trace the etymology of names all the way back to the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European language (PIE). As such, the list doesn’t have names that stem from some other protolanguage, eg. Eve that comes from Hebrew. On the other hand, it does have some names that have substrate language origins or that otherwise are etymological dead ends. I’m not implying that the names existed already at the time PIE was spoken. This list was compiled purely out of interest, and I must say with quite little knowledge about the Proto-Indo-European language, so take everything with a grain of salt.
For female or unisex names that originate from masculine place names (eg. Ashley) or otherwise masculine words (eg. Kelsey), I have kept the reconstruction in the masculine form.
An equals sign (=) precedes forms of the names that have been made by me. I have left out the customary asterisk (*) from unattested forms. A question mark (?) follows uncertain forms or derivations.
| Name | Etymology |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | ‘noble character’ < French Adélaïde < Old High German Adalheidis < Proto-Germanic aþalaz ‘noble’ + haiduz ‘character’ = Proto-Germanic Aþalahaiduz < PIE H₂eth₂elokoytus? |
| Adolf, Ethelwolf | ‘noble wolf’ < Old English Æþelwulf < Proto-Germanic Aþalawulfaz < aþalaz ‘noble’ + wulfaz ‘wolf’ = PIE H₂eth₂elowl̥kʷos? |
| Agnes | ‘chaste’ < Ancient Greek Ἁγνή Hagnḗ < ἁγνός hagnós ‘chaste’, ‘sacred’ = Proto-Hellenic Hagnā < PIE H₁yaǵneh₂ |
| Aidan | ‘fire’ < Irish Aodhán / Scottish Gaelic Aodhan < Old Irish Aédán (diminutive) < áed ‘fire’ = Proto-Celtic Aidagnos < PIE h₂eydʰ- + ? |
| Alaric | ‘all-king’ < Latin Alarīcus < Gothic 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃 Alareiks < Proto-Germanic Alarīks < allaz ‘all’ + rīks ‘king’ = PIE H₂elnoh₃rēǵs |
| Albert | ‘noble and bright’ < Old English Æþelbeorht < Proto-Germanic Aþalaberhtaz < aþalaz ‘noble’ + berhtaz ‘bright’, ‘shining’ = PIE H₂eth₂elobʰerHǵtos? |
| Alexander | ‘defender of men’ / ‘man who defends’ / ‘who wards off men’ < Latin Alexander < Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος Aléxandros < ἀλέξω aléxō ‘to defend’ + ἀνήρ anḗr ‘man’ = Proto-Hellenic Aleksaneros < PIE H₂leksh₂n̥ros? |
| Alexandra | ‘(wo)man who defends’ < Latin Alexandra < Ancient Greek Ἀλεξάνδρα Alexándrā < ἀλέξω aléxō ‘to defend’ + ἀνήρ anḗr ‘man’ = Proto-Hellenic Aleksanerā < PIE H₂leksh₂n̥reh₂? |
| Alfred | ‘elf counsel’ < Middle English Alfred < Old English Ælfrǣd < Proto-Germanic Albirēdaz < albiz ‘elf’ + rēdaz ‘advice’, ‘counsel’ = PIE AlbʰiHreh₁dʰos / HalbʰiHreh₁dʰos |
| Alice | ‘noble character’ < Middle English Alice < Old French Alys / Alice < Old High German Adalheidis (see Adelaide) |
| Amanda | ‘lovable’ < Latin Amanda, feminine form of Amandus < amandus ‘that which ought to be loved’ (gerundive) < amō ‘to love’ |
| Amy | ‘beloved’ < Old French Amee < Latin Amāta < amātus ‘beloved’ (perfect passive participle) < amō ‘to love’ |
| Andrew | ‘manly’ < Ancient Greek Ἀνδρέας Andréās < ἀνήρ ‘man’ |
| Angela | ‘angel’ < Latin Angela, feminine form of Angelus < angelus ‘angel’, ‘messenger’ < Ancient Greek ἄγγελος ángelos ‘messenger’, ‘angel’ |
| Ariana | ‘most holy’ < Ancient Greek Ἀριάδνη Ariádnē <? (dialectal) ἀρι- ari- ‘very’ + ἀδνός adnós ‘holy’, ‘pure’ = Proto-Hellenic Ariagnā? < H₂erih₁yaǵneh₂? |
| Arthur | ‘bear’ < Middle English Arthure < Medieval Latin Arthurus <? Old Welsh arth ‘bear’ < Proto-Brythonic arθ < Proto-Celtic artos < PIE h₂ŕ̥tḱos |
| Ashley | ‘ash clearing’ < Old English Æsċlēah < æsċ ‘ash tree’ + lēah ‘clearing’, ‘meadow’ = Proto-Germanic Askalauhaz < PIE Hh₃eskolowkos |
| Ashton | ‘ash settlement’ < Old English Æsċtūn < æsċ ‘ash tree’ + tūn ‘enclosure’, ‘homestead’, ‘town’ = Proto-Germanic Askatūną < PIE Hh₃eskoduh₂nom? / Hh₃eskodʰuHnom? |
| Aubrey | ‘elf king’ < Middle English Aubrey < Norman Auberi / Alberi < Latin Albericus < Old High German Alberich < Albirīks < albiz ‘elf’, ‘fairy’ + rīks ‘king’ = PIE Albʰih₃rēǵs / Halbʰih₃rēǵs |
| Audrey | ‘noble strength’ < Old English Æðelþrȳþ < Proto-Germanic Aþalaþrūþiz < aþalaz ‘noble’ + þrūþiz ‘strength’ < PIE h₂eth₂elo-? + trew- |
| Aurora | ‘dawn’ < Latin Aurōra < aurōra ‘dawn’ < Proto-Italic auzōs = PIE H₂éwsōs |
| Avery | ‘elf counsel’ < Anglo-Norman Averay / Alverey < Latin Alverēdus < Old English Ælfrǣd (see Alfred) |
| Bailey | ‘bailiff’ < Anglo-Norman bailli ‘bailiff’ < Old French bailif < Vulgar Latin baiulīvus ‘castellan’, ‘bailiff’ < Latin baiulus ‘porter’, ‘steward’ |
| Barbara | ‘foreign’ < Latin Barbara < barbarus ‘foreign’, ‘strange’, ‘savage’, ‘barbaric’ < Ancient Greek βάρβαρος bárbaros <? PIE balbal- ‘tongue-tied’ = PIE Balbaleh₂? |
| Basil | ‘kingly’ < Latin Basilīus < Ancient Greek Βασίλειος Basíleios < βασίλειος basíleios ‘kingly’ < βασιλεύς basileús ‘king’ = Proto-Hellenic Gʷatileyos? |
| Belle | ‘beautiful’ < French belle ‘beautiful’ < Old French bele < Latin bella < Old Latin duenelā (diminutive) < duonus / duenos ‘good’ < Proto-Italic dwenos = Proto-Italic Dwenelā |
| Bernard | ‘bear-brave’ < Middle English Bernard < Old French Bernart < Medieval Latin Bernardus <? Frankish Bernhard < Proto-Germanic Bernuharduz < berô ‘bear’ + harduz ‘hard’, ‘brave’ = PIE Bʰr̥Hnokortus? / Ǵʰwernokortus? |
| Bertha | ‘bright’ < Old English Berþa < Berhte < Proto-Germanic berhtaz ‘bright’, ‘shining’ = PIE BʰerHǵteh₂? |
| Bertram | ‘bright raven’ < Proto-Germanic berhtaz ‘bright’, ‘shining’ + hrabnaz ‘raven’ = Old English Beorhthræfn < Proto-Germanic Berhtahrabnaz < PIE bʰerHǵto- + ḱer-? |
| Blake | ‘black’ / ‘pale’ either < English black < Old English blæc < Proto-Germanic blakaz ‘burnt’, ‘black’ = PIE Bʰlogos? / Mlagos? or < Old English blāc ‘pale’ Proto-Germanic blaikaz ‘pale’, ‘white’ = PIE Bʰloyǵos |
| Brandon | ‘broom hill’ < Middle English Brandon / Bromdun < Old English brōm ‘broom’ (the shrub, not the tool) + dūn ‘hill’, ‘dune’ = Proto-Germanic Brāmadūnaz? < PIE bʰrem- + dʰewh₂- |
| Bridget | ‘exalted’ < Irish Brighid < Old Irish Brigit < Proto-Celtic Brigantī < brigantī ‘high’, ‘exalted’ = PIE Bʰr̥ǵʰéntih₂ |
| Brooke | ‘(living by a) brook’ < English brook < Middle English brook < Old English brōc < Proto-West Germanic brōk ‘brook’, ‘stream’, ‘marsh’ <? PIE mreg- < mer- ‘sea’, ‘lake’, ‘wetland’ |
| Calvin | ‘bald’ < Middle French Cauvin < chauve ‘bald’ < Latin calvus = Latin Calvīnus? < Proto-Italic Kalawīnos < PIE Kl̥HwiHnos |
| Cameron | ‘crooked nose’ < Scottish Gaelic Camshròn < cam ‘crooked’, ‘bent’ + sròn ‘nose’ < Old Irish camm + srón = Proto-Celtic Kambosrognā < PIE sḱh₂embo- + sregʰ- |
| Campbell | ‘crooked mouth’ < Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul < cam ‘crooked’, ‘bent’ + beul ‘nose’ < Old Irish camm + bél = Proto-Celtic Kambowewlos < PIE sḱh₂embo- + ? |
| Cara | ‘beloved’ / ‘friend’ either < Italian caro ‘beloved’, ‘expensive’ < Latin cārus = Proto-Italic Kārā < PIE Keh₂reh₂ or < Irishi cara ‘friend’ < Middle Irish cara ‘friend’, ‘relative’ < Old Irish carae = Proto-Celtic Karants < PIE Kh₂rénts |
| Carl | ‘man’ < German Karl < Old High German karal < Proto-Germanic karilaz ‘free man’ <? PIE ǵerh₂ ‘to grow old’ = PIE Ǵerh₂ilas? |
| Caroline, Carol | ‘man’ (but in feminine, so basically ‘woman’) < French Caroline < Latin Carolus < Old High German karal (see Carl) = PIE Ǵerh₂iliHneh₂? |
| Carter | ‘carter’ < English carter < Middle English carter < Old Norse kartr ‘wagon’, ‘cart’ = Proto-Germanic Krattārijaz < PIE gretH- ‘to tie’ |
| Cassandra | ‘excelling over men’? < Ancient Greek Κασσάνδρα Kassándrā <? Κεσσάνδρα Kessándrā <? κέκασμαι kékasmai ‘to excel over’ + ἀνήρ anḗr ‘man’ |
| Cecilia | ‘blind’ < Latin Caecilia, feminine form of Caecilius <? caecus ‘blind’ = Proto-Italic Kaikeliā? < PIE Keh₂ikelyeh₂? |
| Celia | ‘sky’ < Latin Caelia, feminine form of Caelius <? caelum ‘sky’ = Proto-Italic Kailjā? < PIE Keh₂ilyeh₂? |
| Charity | ‘charity’, ‘love’ < English charity < Middle English charite < Old French charité ‘generosity’ < Latin cāritās ‘charity’, ‘love’, ‘costliness’ < cārus ‘beloved’, ‘expensive’ = Proto-Italic Kārotāts < PIE Keh₂roteh₂ts |
| Charles | ‘man’ < French Charles < Old French Charles < Latin Carolus < Old High German karal (see Carl) |
| Chelsea | ‘chalk harbour’ < Old English Ċealchȳþ < ċealc ‘chalk’ + hȳþ ‘landing place’, ‘harbour’ < Latin calx ‘limestone’, ‘chalk’ + Proto-Germanic hunþjō? ‘landing place’ |
| Chloe | ‘young shoot’ < Ancient Greek χλόη khlóē ‘new green shoot in the spring’ < PIE ǵʰelh₃- ‘to flourish’, ‘green’, ‘yellow’ |
| Christian | ‘Christian’ < Middle English Cristien ‘Christian’ < Old French chrestien < Latin Chrīstiānus < Chrīstus ‘Christ’ < Ancient Greek Χριστός Khrīstós < χριστός khrīstós ‘anointed one’ < PIE gʰrey ‘to smear’ = PIE Gʰrey(st?)onos? |
| Christina | ‘Christian’ < Latin Chrīstiāna < Chrīstus ‘Christ’ (see Christian) = PIE Gʰrey(st?)oneh₂? |
| Christopher | ‘carrier of Christ’ < Late Latin Chrīstophorus < Koine Greek Χριστόφορος Khrīstóphoros < Ancient Greek Χριστός Khrīstós ‘Christ’ < χριστός khrīstós ‘anointed one’ + φέρω phérō ‘carry’, ‘bring’ = PIE Gʰrey(st?)obʰoros |
| Claire | ‘bright’ < French Claire < Latin clārus ‘bright’, ‘shining’, ‘clear’ = Proto-Italic Klārā < PIE Kl̥h₁reh₂ |
| Clara | ‘bright’ < Latin clārus ‘bright’, ‘shining’, ‘clear’ = Proto-Italic Klārā < PIE Kl̥h₁reh₂ |
| Clark | ‘clergyman’, ‘learned man’ < Old English clerc ‘clergyman’, ‘learned man’ < Late Latin clēricus < Ancient Greek κληρικός klērikós ‘clergyman’ < κλῆρος klêros ‘lot’, ‘clergy’ < PIE kléh₂ros? = PIE Kleh₂rokos? |
| Claudia | ‘closed’ < Latin Claudia, feminine form of Claudius < Clausus < Sabine (?) ‘shut’, ‘closed’ = Proto-Italic Klaussos < PIE kleh₂w- ‘hook’, ‘peg’ |
| Colleen | ‘girl’ < Irish English colleen ‘girl’, ‘young woman’ < Irish cailín ‘girl’, ‘young woman’ (diminutive) < caile ‘girl’ <? Old Irish caile ‘maid’ |
| Conan | ‘dog’ < Middle Irish Conán < Primitive Irish conann (diminutive?) < Proto-Celtic kū ‘dog’ < PIE ḱwṓ = Proto-Celtic Kunagnos? |
| Connor | ‘lover of dogs’ < Irish Conchúr / Conchobhar < Old Irish Conchobar < cú ‘dog’ + cobar ‘desire’ = Proto-Celtic Kunkubros? < PIE ḱwṓ + kewp- |
| Daisy | ‘daisy’ < English daisy < Middle English dayesye < Old English dæġes ēage ‘daisy’ (literally ‘day’s eye’) = Proto-Germanic Dagasaugô < PIE Dʰǵʰesh₃okʷeh₂? |
| Dale | ‘dale’, ‘valley’ < English dale < Middle English dale < Old English dæl = Proto-Germanic Dalą / Dalaz <? PIE Dʰólh₂os |
| Derek | ‘king of people’ < Middle Low German Dēderic < Old Saxon Thiodarīk < Proto-Germanic Þeudōrīks (see Theoderic) |
| Diana | ‘divine’ < Late Latin Diāna < Latin Dīāna < Old Latin Dīvāna < deivos ‘divine’ = Proto-Italic Deiwānā < PIE Deyweh₂neh₂ |
| Dominic | ‘of the lord’ < Late Latin Dominicus < Latin dominus ‘master’, ‘lord’ either < Proto-Italic domonos / domunos ‘of the house’ = Proto-Italic Domonikos / Domunikos < PIE Domonokos or < Proto-Italic domanos < PIE domh₂nos ‘subduing’ = Proto-Italic Domanikos < Domh₂nokos |
| Donald | ‘prince of the world’ < Scottish Gaelic Dòmhnall < Old Irish Domnall < Proto-Celtic Dubnowalos < dubnos ‘world’ + walos ‘prince’, ‘chief’ = PIE Dʰubʰnoh₂wl̥h₁os |
| Donna | ‘lady’ < Italian donna ‘woman’, ‘lady’ < Late Latin domna < Latin domina ‘lady’, ‘mistress’ < dominus ‘master’, ‘lord’ (see Dominic) = Proto-Italic Domonā / Domunā / Domanā < PIE Domoneh₂ / Domh₂neh₂ |
| Dorothy | ‘gift of god’ < Latin Dōrothea < Ancient Greek Δωροθέα Dōrothéā < δῶρον dôron ‘gift’ + θεός theós ‘god’ = Proto-Hellenic Dōrotʰehā < PIE Deh₃rodʰh₁seh₂ |
| Douglas | ‘black stream’ < Scottish Gaelic Dùbhghlas < dubh ‘black’ + glais ‘stream’? < Old Irish dub + glas ‘green’, ‘blue’ = Proto-Celtic Dubuglastos < PIE Dʰewbʰuǵʰl̥h₃stos? |
| Edgar | ‘rich-spear’ < Old English Ēadgār < ēad ‘rich’, ‘prosperous’ + gār ‘spear’ = Proto-Germanic Audagaizaz < PIE ? + ǵʰoysós |
| Edmund | ‘protector of wealth’ < Old English Ēadmund < ēad ‘rich’, ‘prosperous’ + mund ‘protection’, ‘protector’ = Proto-Germanic Audamundō < PIE ? + mh₂ntéh₂ |
| Edward | ‘guardian of wealth’ < Middle English Edward < Old English Ēadweard < Proto-Germanic Audawarduz < audaz ‘wealth’, ‘riches’ + warduz ‘guardian’ < PIE ? + wortús |
| Edwin | ‘wealth-friend’ < Old English Ēadwine < Proto-Germanic Audawiniz < audaz ‘wealth’, ‘riches’ + winiz ‘friend’ < PIE ? + wenh₁is |
| Eleanor | ‘the other Aenor’ / ‘wealth-fame’ < Provençal Aliénor <? Latin alia ‘other’ + Provençal Aénor < Adenordis <? Adamardis, feminine form of Ademar < Proto-Germanic audaz ‘wealth’, ‘riches’ + mēraz ‘excellent’, ‘famous’ = Proto-Germanic Audamērō < PIE ? + meh₁reh₂ |
| Emily | ‘rival’ < Latin Aemilia < Aemilius <? aemulus ‘rival’ = Proto-Italic Aimeliā < PIE H₂eymelieh₂ |
| Enid | ‘spirit’, ‘purity’ < Middle Welsh eneit ‘spirit’, ‘life’, ‘purity’ < Proto-Celtic anatyom < PIE h₂enh₁- ‘to breathe’, ‘to blow’ = Proto-Celtic Anatyā? < PIE H₂enh₁tyeh₂? |
| Eric | ‘ever ruler’ / ‘honour ruler’ / ‘one ruler’ < Middle English Eric < Old English Eoric < Old Norse Eiríkr either < Proto-Norse Aiwarikiaʀ < aiwa- ‘ever’, ‘eternally’ + rikiaʀ ‘ruler’ = Proto-Germanic Aiwarīkijaz < PIE H₂oywoh₃rēǵs or < Proto-Germanic Aizarīkijaz < aizō ‘honour’ + rīkijaz ‘ruler’ = PIE H₂oyseh₂h₃rēǵs? or < Proto-Norse Ainarikiaʀ < aina- ‘one’ + rikiaʀ ‘ruler’ = Proto-Germanic Ainarīkijaz < PIE H₁oynoh₃rēǵs |
| Erin | ‘Ireland’ < Irish Éirinn (dialectal) < Éire ‘Ireland’ < Old Irish Ériu <? Proto-Celtic Φīweriyū < ɸīweriyū ‘earth’, ‘soil’ = PIE Péyh₂werih₂ō? |
| Eugene | ‘well-born’ < French Eugène < Latin Eugenius < Ancient Greek Εὐγένιος Eugénios < εὐγενής eugenḗs ‘well-born’ < εὐ- eu- ‘good’ + -γενής -genḗs ‘-born’ = Proto-Hellenic Ehugenyos < PIE H₁suǵenh₁yos? |
| Eugenia | ‘well-born’ < Ancient Greek Εὐγενία Eugeníā < Εὐγένῐος Eugénios (see Eugene) = Proto-Hellenic Ehugenyā < PIE H₁suǵenh₁yeh₂? |
| Eunice | ‘good victory’ < Ancient Greek Εὐνίκη Eunī́kē < εὐ- eu- ‘good’ + νίκη nī́kē ‘victory’ = PIE H₁suneykeh₂? |
| Ewan | ‘yew-born’ < Scottish Gaelic Eòghan < Old Irish Eógan < Proto-Celtic Iwogenos < iwos ‘yew’ + genos ‘born’, ‘family’ = PIE H₁yeHwoǵenh₁os |
| Faith | ‘faith’ < English faith < Middle English feith / fay < Old French fei / feid < Latin fidēs ‘faith’, ‘belief’, ‘trust’ < PIE bʰeydʰ- ‘to trust’ |
| Felicity | ‘happiness’ < English felicity < Middle English felicite < Old French felicité < Latin Fēlīcitās / fēlīcitās ‘happiness’ < fēlīx ‘happy’, ‘lucky’, ‘prosperous’ = Proto-Italic Fēlwikitāts < Θēlwikitāts < PIE Dʰeh₁lwik(i?)teh₂ts |
| Felix | ‘happy’ < Latin Fēlīx < fēlīx ‘happy’, ‘lucky’, ‘prosperous’ = Proto-Italic Fēlwiks < Θēlwiks < PIE Dʰeh₁lwiks |
| Fiona | ‘fair’ < Irish fionn ‘fair’, ‘white’ < Old Irish finn ‘white’, ‘bright’, ‘blessed’ = Proto-Celtic Windā <? PIE Windeh₂ |
| Flora | ‘flower’ < Latin Flōra < Proto-Italic Flōzā < flōs ‘flower’ = PIE Bʰl̥h₃seh₂? |
| Florence | ‘flourishing’ < French Florence < Latin Flōrentia < flōrēns ‘flowering’, ‘flourishing’ (present active participle) < flōreō ‘to flower’, ‘to flourish’ = Proto-Italic Flōzentiā < PIE Bʰleh₃ontieh₂? |
| Forrest | ‘(living or working in a royal) forest’ < English forest < Middle English forest < Old French forest < Medieval Latin forestis / foresta ‘forest’ = Latin Forestis |
| Frank | ‘Frank’, ‘spear’ < Old French Franc ‘Frank’ < Latin Francus < Frankish Franko ‘Frank’ < Proto-Germanic frankô ‘Frank’, ‘spear’ < PIE preng ‘pole’ = PIE Prengō? |
| Frank, Francis | ‘French’ < Medieval Latin Franciscus ‘French’ < Francia ‘France’, ‘Francia’ (from Francus, see above) = Proto-Germanic Frankiskaz < PIE Prengiskos |
| Franklin | ‘freeholder’ < Middle English frankelein ‘freeholder’ < Anglo-Norman fraunclein < Old French fraunc ‘free’ + -lein ‘-ling’ < Frankish Franko ‘Frank’ < Proto-Germanic frankô ‘Frank’, ‘spear’ < PIE preng ‘pole’ = Proto-Germanic Frankulingaz / Frankulīnaz < PIE Prengolin̥kʷos? / Prengolinkos? / PrengoliHnos? |
| Frederick | ‘peace king’ < German Friedrich < Old High German Fridurih < Frankish Friþurīk < Proto-Germanic Friþurīks < friþuz ‘peace’ + rīks ‘king’ = PIE Prituh₃rēǵs |
| Gareth | ‘old man’ / ‘gentleness’ either Welsh Gareth (hypocoristic) < Geraint < Latin Gerontius < Ancient Greek γέρων gérōn ‘old man’ = Proto-Hellenic Gerontyos < PIE Gerh₂ontyos or < Welsh gwaredd ‘gentleness’ < gwâr ‘gentle’ <? Proto-Celtic gʷoro- / gʷʰoro- < PIE gʷʰer- ‘warm’, ‘hot’ |
| Gavin | ‘hawk-white’ < Gawain < Middle English Gawayne < Old French Gauvain < Old Welsh <? Proto-Brythonic gwalx ‘hawk’ + gwɨnn ‘white’ |
| George | ‘farmer’ < Latin Geōrgius < Ancient Greek Γεώργῐος Geṓrgios < γεωργός geōrgós ‘farmer’ < γῆ gê ‘earth’ + ἔργον érgon ‘work’ < PIE ? + wérǵom |
| Garfield | ‘spear-field’ < Old English gār ‘spear’ + feld ‘field’ = Proto-Germanic Gaizafelþuz < PIE Ǵʰoysopelth₂os? |
| Gerald | ‘spear-might’ < Old French Geralt < Frankish Gaiʀwald < gaiʀ ‘spear’ + wald ‘might’, ‘power’ < Proto-Germanic Gaizawaldą < PIE ǵʰoyso- + ? |
| Gerard | ‘spear-brave’ < Middle English Gerard < Old French Gerart < Frankish Gaiʀahard < gaiʀ ‘spear’ + hard ‘hard’, ‘brave’ = Proto-Germanic Gaizaharduz < PIE Ǵʰoysokortus |
| Gertrude | ‘spear-strength’ / ‘spear maiden’ < Old French < Proto-Germanic gaizaz ‘spear’ + þrūþiz ‘strength’ or trut- ‘maiden’ = Proto-Germanic Gaizaþrūþiz / ? < PIE ǵʰoyso- + trew+ / ǵʰoyso- + ? |
| Grace | ‘grace’ < English grace < Middle English grace < Old French grace < Latin grātia ‘grace’, ‘thankfulness’ < grātus ‘pleasing’, ‘beloved’, ‘thankful’ = Proto-Italic Gʷrātiā < PIE Gʷr̥Htieh₂ |
| Guinevere | ‘white spirit’ < Middle English Gwenyver < Middle Welsh Gwenhwyfar < Old Welsh Guinhuimar < Proto-Brythonic Gwɨnnohuɨβar <? gwɨnn ‘white’ + huɨβar ‘spirit’, ‘demon’ = Proto-Celtic Windosēbaris < PIE windo- + sh₂ey- + ? |
| Gwendolen | ‘blessed ring’? < Welsh Gwendolen < gwyn ‘white’, ‘fair’, ‘blessed’ + dolen ‘ring’ = Proto-Brythonic Gwɨnnodolenn < Proto-Celtic Windodolinyā < PIE windo- + ? |
| Harold | ‘army ruler’ < Old English Hereweald < Proto-Germanic Harjawaldaz < harjaz ‘army’ + waldaz ‘ruler’ < PIE kóryos + ? (compare Walter) |
| Hayden | ‘hay valley’ < Old English hēġ / hīeġ ‘hay’ + denu / dene ‘valley’ = Proto-Germanic Hawjadanją |
| Hazel | ‘hazel’ < Middle English hasel < Old English hæsl < Proto-Germanic haslaz = PIE Kóslos |
| Hedwig | ‘fight-battle’ < German Hedwig < Old High German Haduwig < Proto-Germanic Haþuwīgą < haþuz ‘fight’ + wīgą ‘battle’ < PIE keh₃tu- + weyk- |
| Helen | ‘shining’ < French Hélène < Latin Helena < Ancient Greek Ἑλένη Helénē < Proto-Hellenic Ηwelénā < Pre-Hellenic Swelénā < PIE swel- ‘to shine’, ‘to warm’ = PIE Sweléneh₂? |
| Helga | ‘holy’ < Old Norse Helga < heilagr ‘holy’ = Proto-Germanic Hailagǭ < PIE Keh₂ilokeh₂ |
| Henry | ‘home-king’ < Old French Henri < Latin Henrīcus < Frankish Haimrik < Proto-Germanic Haimarīks < haimaz ‘home’ + rīks ‘king’ = PIE Ḱoymoh₃rēǵs / Tḱoymoh₃rēǵs |
| Herbert | ‘army-bright’ < Old French Herbert < Frankish Haribercht < Proto-Germanic Harjaberhtaz < harjaz ‘army’ + berhtaz ‘bright’, ‘shining’ = < PIE KoryobʰerHǵtos |
| Herman | ‘soldier’ < Old English heremann ‘soldier’ < here ‘army’ + mann ‘man’ = Proto-Germanic Harjamann(ô?) < PIE Koryomon? / Koryoǵʰmon? |
| Hermione | ‘of Hermes’ < Ancient Greek Ἑρμιόνη Hermiónē < Ἑρμῆς Hermês |
| Hilary, Hillary | ‘cheerful’ < Latin Hilaria, feminine form of Hilarius < hilaris ‘cheerful’, ‘lively’ < Ancient Greek ἱλαρός hilarós ‘cheerful’, ‘merry’ < ἵλαος hī́laos ‘gracious’, ‘kind’ = PIE Sisl̥h₂rieh₂ |
| Honor, Honour | ‘honourable’ < Late Latin Honōra < Honōria, feminine form of Honōrius < Latin honōrus ‘honourable’ < honor ‘honour’ < Old Latin honōs <? PIE gʰon- / ǵʰon- |
| Hope | ‘hope’ < English hope < Middle English hope < Old English hopa < tōhopa ‘hope’, ‘expectation’ |
| Howard | ‘high guard’ < Middle English Howard < Old Norse Hávarðr < hár ‘high’ + varðr ‘guard’ = Proto-Germanic Hauhawardaz < PIE Kewkowortus / Kewkowortos |
| Hubert | ‘mind-bright’ < Old French Hubert < Proto-Germanic hugiz ‘mind’ + berhtaz ‘bright’, ‘shining’ = Proto-Germanic Hugiberhtaz < ḰkibʰerHǵtos? |
| Hunter | ‘hunter’ < English hunter < Middle English hunter = Proto-Germanic Huntārijaz? |
| Ingrid | ‘Yngvi-beautiful’ < Scandinavian languages Ingrid < Old Norse Ingiríðr < Ingifríðr < Ingi / Yngvi ‘Yngvi’ + fríðr ‘beautiful’ = Proto-Germanic Ingufrīdō <? PIE N̥ḱupriHteh₂ |
| Irwin | ‘friend of boars’ < Erwin < Old English eofor ‘boar’ + wine ‘friend’ = Old English Eoforwine < Proto-Germanic Eburawiniz < PIE H₁epr(o?)wenh₁is |
| Ivy | ‘ivy’ / ‘seller of alcohol’ < English ivy < Middle English ivi < Old English īfiġ = Proto-Germanic Ibahs < PIE (h₁)ebʰ- |
| Jasmine | ‘jasmine’ < French jasmin ‘jasmine’ < Arabic يَاسَمِين yāsamīn < Persian یاسمین yāsamīn < یاسمن yāsaman < Middle Persian yʾsmn' (yāsaman) |
| Jason | ‘healing’ < Ancient Greek Ἰάσων Iā́sōn < ἰάομαι īáomai ‘to heal’ |
| Jennifer | ‘white spirit’ < Cornish < Middle Cornish Gwynnever < Proto-Brythonic Gwɨnnohuɨβar (see Guinevere) |
| Julia | either ‘of Jupiter’ < Latin Iūlia < Iūlius <? Old Latin Diovilios ‘of Jupiter’ = Proto-Italic Djoweljos < PIE Dyowelyos? or ‘young’ < Latin Iūlia < Iūlius <? Ancient Greek ἴουλος íoulos ‘downy first growth of beard’ |
| Juliet | < Italian Giulietta (diminutive) < Giulia < Latin Iūlia = Proto-Italic Djowelītā? < PIE Dyowelyoteh₂? (see Julia) |
| June | ‘(born in) June’, ‘of Juno’ < Middle English june < juyn < Old French juing < Latin iūnius ‘(month) of Juno’ < Iūnō ‘Juno’ = PIE Dyuh₃(o?)nh₂yeh₂ / H₂yuh₃(o?)nh₂yeh₂ |
| Kelsey | ‘ship-victory’ < Old English Ċēolsiġe < ċēol ‘ship’ + siġe ‘victory’ = Proto-Germanic Keulasegaz < PIE Gewloseǵʰos |
| Kevin | ‘beloved birth’ < Irish Caoimhín < Caoimhghin < Old Irish Cóemgen < cóem ‘gentle’, ‘beloved’ + gein ‘birth’, ‘person’ = Proto-Celtic Koimogen? < PIE Ḱoymoǵenh₁(os?) |
| Laura | ‘laurel’ < Latin laurus ‘laurel’ < Old Latin dacrus < PIE daḱros? < dh₂eḱros? < dr̥ḱh₂eḱros? = Old Latin Dacrā < PIE Daḱreh₂ < Dh₂eḱreh₂ < Dr̥ḱh₂eḱreh₂ |
| Laurence | ‘from Laurentum’ < Latin Laurentius < Laurentum (name of a town, ‘town of laurels’) < laurus ‘laurel’ < Old Latin dacrus = Old Latin Dacrentios |
| Leonard | ‘lion-brave’ < Old French Leonard < Old High German Leonhard <? leo? ‘lion’ + hart ‘hard’ |
| Leroy | ‘the king’ < French Leroy < le roi ‘the king’ < Middle French le roy < Old French le rei < Latin ille rēx ‘that king’ < Old Latin olle/ollus rēx < Proto-Italic olnos rēks < PIE h₂olnos/h₂l̥nos h₃rḗǵs |
| Letitia | ‘gladness’ < Spanish Leticia < Latin laetitia ‘gladness’ < laetus ‘happy’, ‘glad’, ‘fertile’ |
| Linda | ‘tender’ < various Germanic names ending in -linde ‘soft’, ‘tender’ < Proto-Germanic linþaz ‘soft’, ‘flexible’ < PIE léntos = PIE Lenteh₂ |
| Llewellyn | ‘Lugus and Belinos’ < Welsh Llywelyn < Old Welsh < Proto-Brythonic Lluɣβelen < Proto-Celtic Lugus (name of a god) + Belinos (name of a god) = Proto-Celtic Lugubelinos |
| Lloyd | ‘grey(-haired)’ < Welsh llwyd ‘grey’, ‘pale’ = Proto-Brythonic Lluɨd < Proto-Celtic Φlētos < PIE PelHtós |
| Lorraine | ‘Lorraine’, ‘Lotharingia’ (literally ‘place of the famous commander’) < French Lorraine < Old French Loherraine < Latin Lotharingia < Frankish Hlodhari ‘Lothair’ < Proto-Germanic Hlūdaharjaz < hlūdaz ‘loud’, ‘famous’ + harjaz ‘army’, ‘commander’ < PIE Ḱlutokoryos |
| Louis | ‘fame-battle’ < French Louis < Middle French Loïs / Loïc < Old French Looïs / Lodhuvigs < Latin Lūdovīcus < Clōdovīcus < Frankish Hlūdawīg < hlūdaz ‘loud’, ‘famous’ + wīgą ‘battle’ = Proto-Germanic Hlūdawīgą < PIE ḱluto- + weyk- |
| Lucius | ‘light’ < Latin Lūcius < lūx ‘light’ = Proto-Italic Loukjos < PIE Lowkyos |
| Lucy | ‘light’ < Middle English Lucy < Old French Lucie Latin Lūcia, feminine form of Lūcius < lūx ‘light’ = Proto-Italic Loukjā < PIE Lowkyeh₂ |
| Luke | ‘light’ / ‘Lucanian’ < Latin Lūcās < Koine Greek Λουκᾶς Loukâs (hypocoristic) either < Λούκιος Loúkios < Latin Lūcius < lūx ‘light’ = PIE Lowk(eh₂?)s or < Λουκανός Loukānós < Latin Lūcānus ‘resident of Lucania’ < Lūca (city in Etruria) <? Ligurian luk- ‘swamp’ |
| Luna | ‘moon’ < Middle English lune ‘moon’ < Old French lune < Latin lūna < Old Latin losna < Proto-Italic louksnā < PIE lówksneh₂ = PIE Lówksneh₂ (compare Roxana) |
| Mallory | ‘unlucky’ < Anglo-Norman < Old French maleure / malheure ‘unhappy’, ‘unlucky’ < mal ‘bad’, ‘suffering’ + eur ‘fortune’, ‘gift’ = Latin Malaugurium |
| Manfred | ‘man of peace’ < German Manfred < Old High German man ‘man’ + fridu ‘peace’ = Proto-Germanic Manafriþuz < PIE Monpritus? / Ǵʰm̥npritus? |
| Marcia, Marsha | ‘of Mars’ < Latin Mārcia, feminine form of Mārcius < Mārcus (see Mark) = Old Latin Māvorticia < Proto-Italic Māworticiā / Māmarticiā |
| Margaret | ‘pearl’ < Middle English Margaret < Old French Margaret < Latin Margarīta < margarīta ‘pearl’ < Ancient Greek μαργαρίτης margarī́tēs <? Proto-Iranian mŕ̥ga-ahri-ita- ‘oyster’ (literally ‘born from the shell of a bird’) |
| Marina | ‘of the sea’ < Latin Marīna, feminine form of Marīnus < marīnus ‘of the sea’ < mare ‘sea’ = Proto-Italic Marīnā < PIE MoriHneh₂ |
| Mark | ‘of Mars’ < Middle English Mark < Latin Mārcus < Mārs = Old Latin Māvorticus < Proto-Italic Māworticus / Māmarticus |
| Matilda | ‘might-battle’ < Middle English Matilda < Old French Mathilde < Old High German Mahthilt < maht ‘might’ + hild ‘battle’ = Proto-Germanic Mahtihildiz < PIE Mogʰtikelh₂tis? |
| Maurice, Morris | ‘black’, ‘Moor-like’ < Middle English Maurice < Late Latin Mauritius < Latin Maurus ‘Moor’ < Ancient Greek Μαυρός Maurós < μαυρός maurós ‘dark’, ‘dark-coloured’ <? PIE mergʷ- ‘to be dark’ |
| Mavis | ‘song thrush’ < English mavis ‘song thrush’ < Middle English mavys < Old French mauvis / malvis ‘thrush’ <? Old English mǣw ‘gull’ = Proto-Germanic Maiwiz / Maiwaz |
| Melanie | ‘black’ < French Mélanie < Latin Melania < Ancient Greek μέλας mélas ‘black’, ‘dark’ = Proto-Hellenic Melāniā < PIE Melh₂nieh₂? |
| Melissa | ‘bee’ < Ancient Greek μέλισσα mélissa, ‘bee’, ‘honey’ = PIE Melitleyǵʰih₂? / Melitih₂? |
| Mildred | ‘gentle strength’ < Old English Mildþrȳþ < milde ‘mild’, ‘gentle’ + þrȳþ ‘strength’ = Proto-Germanic Mildiþrūþiz? < PIE melh₂- + trew- |
| Minerva | ‘intelligent’ < Etruscan Menrva < PIE menesweh₂ ‘intelligent’? < ménos ‘mind’, ‘thought’ = Proto-Italic Menezwā < PIE Menesweh₂ |
| Miranda | ‘wonderful’ < Latin mīrandus ‘that which ought to be wondered’ (gerundive) < mīror ‘to wonder’ < mīrus ‘wonderful’, ‘marvelous’ = Proto-Italic Smeirāndā? < PIE smey- ‘to laugh’, ‘to be glad’ |
| Morgan | ‘sea chief’? / ‘great chief’? < Old Welsh Morcant <? Proto-Brythonic mor ‘sea’ / mọr ‘great’ + kant ‘circle’ = Proto-Celtic Morikantos / Mārokantos < PIE mori / moh₁ros + ? |
| Muriel | ‘sea-bright’ < Scottish Gaelic Muireall < muir ‘sea’ + geal ‘white’, ‘bright’ < Old Irish muir + gel = Proto-Celtic Morigelā < PIE Moriǵʰelh₃eh₂ |
| Nadia | ‘hope’ < French Nadia < Russian Надя Nádja (hypocoristic) < Надежда Nadéžda < надежда nadéžda ‘hope’, ‘expectation’ < Old Church Slavonic надежда nadežda < Proto-Slavic nadeďa = Proto-Slavic Nadeďa |
| Natalie | ‘(born at) Christmas’ < Late Latin Nātālia < Latin nātālis ’of birth’ = Proto-Italic Gnātāliā? < PIE Ǵn̥h₁t(eh₂?)lieh₂? (compare Noel) |
| Nicholas | ‘victory of the people’ < Middle English Nicholas < Old French Nicholas < Latin Nīcolāus < Ancient Greek Νικόλαος Nīkólāos < νίκη nī́kē ‘victory’ + λαός lāós ‘people’ = PIE Neykoleh₂wos? |
| Nigel | ‘blackish’ < Latin Nigellus < nigellus ‘blackish’ (diminutive) < niger ‘(shining) black’ = PIE Negʷrolos? |
| Noel | ‘(born at) Christmas’ < Middle English Nowel < Old French Noel ‘Christmas’ < Latin nātālis ’of birth’ = Proto-Italic Gnātālis? < PIE Ǵn̥h₁t(eh₂?)lis? (compare Natalie) |
| Noreen | ‘honourable’ < Irish Nóirín (diminutive) < Nóra < Onóra < Late Latin Honōra (see Honor) |
| Norman | ‘Norman’ < Middle English Norman ‘Norman’ < Old English Norman < Norþmann < norþ ‘north’ + mann ‘man’ = Proto-Germanic Nurþramann(ô?) < PIE H₁nr̥t(e)romon? / H₁nr̥t(e)roǵʰmon? |
| Ophelia | ‘help’ < Italian Ofelia < Ancient Greek ὠφέλεια ōphéleia ‘help’ = PIE H₃bʰeleih₂? |
| Oscar | ‘friend of deer’ / ‘god’s spear’ either < Middle Irish Oscar < os ‘deer’ + cara ‘friend’ = Old Irish Osscarae? < Proto-Celtic Uxsenkarants? < PIE Uksnekh₂rents? or < Old English Ōscār / Ōsgār < ōs ‘god’ + gār ‘spear’ = Proto-Germanic Ansugaizaz < PIE H₂emsuǵʰoysos |
| Oswald | ‘god’s power’ < Old English Ōsweald < ōs ‘god’ + weald ‘power’, ‘authority’ < Proto-Germanic Ansuwaldaz < PIE h₂emsu- + ? |
| Paige | ‘page’ < Old French page < Late Latin pagius ‘servant’ either <? Ancient Greek παιδίον paidíon ‘boy’ < παῖς paîs ‘child’ = Proto-Hellenic Pāwidyon < PIE Peh₂widyon or <? Latin pāgus ‘countryside’ = Proto-Italic Pāgjos < PIE Peh₂ǵyos |
| Patricia | ‘patrician’ < Latin patricia ‘patrician’ = PIE Ph₂trikyeh₂ |
| Patrick | ‘patrician’ < Middle English Patrick < Latin Patricius < patricius ‘patrician’ = PIE Ph₂trikyos |
| Paul | ‘small’ < Latin Paulus < paulus ‘small’ < paullus <? Proto-Italic paukslos = PIE Peh₂wkoslos |
| Peter | ‘rock’ < Middle English Peter < Old English Petrus < Latin Petrus < Ancient Greek Πέτρος Pétros < πέτρος pétros ‘rock’ |
| Philip | ‘fond of horses’ < Middle English Philip < Ancient Greek Φίλιππος Phílippos < φιλέω philéō ‘love’ + ἵππος híppos ‘horse’ = Proto-Hellenic Pʰilikkʷos < PIE Bʰilh₁eḱwos |
| Phoebe | ‘bright’ < Ancient Greek Φοίβη Phoíbē ‘Phoebe’ < φοῖβος phoîbos ‘pure’, ‘bright’ = PIE Bʰoygʷeh₂? |
| Quentin | ‘fifth’ < Old French Quentin < Latin Quīntīnus (diminutive) < Quīntus < quīntus ‘fifth’ = Proto-Italic Kʷenktīnos < PIE PenkʷtiHnos |
| Ralph | ‘counsel wolf’ < Middle English Radulf < Old English Rǣdwulf < Proto-Germanic Rēdawulfaz < rēdaz ‘counsel’ + wulfaz ‘wolf’ = PIE Hreh₁dʰowl̥kʷos |
| Raymond | ‘advice-protection’ < Old French < Frankish < Proto-Germanic raginą ‘decision’, ‘advice’ + mundō ‘protection’ = Proto-Germanic Raginamunduz < PIE Hrokenomh₂ntos |
| Regina | ‘queen’ < Latin rēgīna ‘queen’ < Proto-Italic rēgīnā < rēgnīā = PIE H₃rḗǵnih₂ |
| Reginald | ‘decision-ruler’ < Latin Reginaldus < Proto-Germanic Raginawaldaz < raginą ‘decision’, ‘advice’ + waldaz ‘ruler’ < PIE Hrokeno- + ? |
| Reynard | ‘advice-strong’ < Old French Renart / Middle Dutch Reynaerd < Proto-Germanic Raginaharduz < raginą ‘decision’, ‘advice’ + harduz ‘hard’, ‘brave’ < PIE Hrokenokortus |
| Reynold | ‘decision-ruler’ < Anglo-Norman Reinald < Proto-Germanic Raginawaldaz (see Reginald) |
| Richard | ‘brave king’ < Middle English Rycharde < Old French Richard < Medieval Latin Richardus < Frankish Rīkahard < Proto-Germanic Rīkaharduz < rīks ‘king’ + harduz ‘hard’, ‘brave’ = PIE H₃rēǵokortus |
| Ridge | ‘ridge’ < English ridge < Middle English rigge / rygge < Old English hryċġ ‘back’, ‘spine’, ‘ridge’ = Proto-Germanic Hrugjaz < PIE (s)krewk- ‘to turn’, ‘bend’ |
| Riley | ‘rye meadow’ < Old English ryġe ‘rye’ + lēah ‘clearing’, ‘meadow’ = Proto-Germanic Rugilauhaz < PIE Hrugʰilowkos / Wrugʰyolowkos |
| Robert, Rupert | ‘shining glory’ < Anglo-Norman Robert < Frankish < Old High German Hrodperht < Proto-Germanic Hrōþiberhtaz < hrōþiz ‘fame’, ‘glory’ + berhtaz ‘bright’, ‘shining’ = PIE Kreh₂tibʰerHǵtos / Kreh₃tibʰerHǵtos |
| Roderick | ‘fame-king’ < Old High German Hrōderih < Proto-Germanic Hrōþirīks < hrōþiz ‘fame’, ‘glory’ + rīks ‘king’ = PIE Kreh₂tih₃rēǵs / Kreh₃tih₃rēǵs |
| Roger | ‘fame-spear’ < Old French Rogier < Frankish < Proto-Germanic Hrōþigaizaz < hrōþiz ‘fame’, ‘glory’ + gaizaz ‘spear’ = PIE Kreh₂tiǵʰoysos / Kreh₃tiǵʰoysos |
| Romeo | ‘Roman’ < Italian Romeo < Ancient Greek Ῥωμαῖος Rhōmaîos ‘Roman’ = PIE Srowmh₂yos? |
| Ronald | ‘decision-ruler’ < Old Norse Rǫgnvaldr < Proto-Germanic Raginawaldaz (see Reginald) |
| Rory | ‘red(-haired) king’ < Scottish Gaelic Ruairidh / Irish Ruairí < Old Irish Ruaidrí < rúad ‘red’ + rí ‘king’ = Proto-Celtic Roudorīxs < PIE H₁rowdʰoh₃rēǵs |
| Rose | ‘rose’ < English rose < Middle English rose < Old English rōse < Latin rosa <? Ancient Greek ῥόδον rhódon < Proto-Hellenic wródon <? Proto-Iranian wardah ‘flower’, ‘rose’ |
| Rowan | ‘red’ / ‘rowan’ either < Irish Ruadhán < Old Irish Rúadán (diminutive) < rúad ‘red’ = Proto-Celtic Roudagnos < PIE h₁rewdʰ- ‘red’ + ? or < English rowan <? Old Norse reynir ‘rowan’ < PIE h₁rewdʰ- ‘red’ |
| Roxana, Roxanne | ‘light’ < French Roxane < Ancient Greek Ῥωξάνη Rhōxā́nē < Bactrian < Proto-Iranian ráwxšnaH ‘light’, ‘brightness’ < PIE lówksneh₂ ‘moon’, ‘bright’ = PIE Lówksneh₂ (compare Luna) |
| Rudolph, Rudy | ‘glory wolf’ < German Rudolf < Old High German Hruodwolf < Proto-Germanic Hrōþiwulfaz < hrōþiz ‘fame’, ‘glory’ + wulfaz ‘wolf’ = PIE Kreh₂tiwl̥kʷos / Kreh₃tiwl̥kʷos |
| Sabrina | ‘River Severn’ / ‘summer fallow’ < Proto-Celtic Sabrinā ‘River Severn’ <? samaros ‘summer fallow’ < samos ‘summer’ + aros ‘ploughing’, ‘ploughed land’ = PIE Sm̥h₂(o?)h₂erh₃eh₂ |
| Scarlett | ‘(seller of) scarlet (cloth)’ < English scarlet < Middle English scarlet < Old French escarlate ‘type of expensive cloth’ < Medieval Latin scarlatum ‘scarlet cloth’ <? Arabic سِقِلّاط siqillāṭ / سِقِرْلَاط siqirlāṭ <? Byzantine Greek σιγιλλᾶτον sigillâton < Latin sigillātum ‘type of fabric’ (literally ‘sealed’) < sigillō ‘to seal’ < sigillum ‘seal’ < signum ‘sign’, ‘seal’ = Proto-Italic Seknolātā < PIE Sekneleh₂teh₂ |
| Sebastian | ‘from Sebaste’ / ‘venerable’ < Latin Sebastiānus < Sebastē ‘Sivas’ (city in Turkey) < Ancient Greek Σεβαστή Sebastḗ < Σεβαστός Sebastós (title of the emperor, translation of Latin Augustus) < σεβαστός sebastós ‘venerable’, ‘august’ < σεβάζομαι sebázomai ‘to feel awe’, ‘to revere’ |
| Sherlock | ‘bright-hair’ <? Old English scīrlocc < scīr ‘bright’ + locc ‘lock (of hair)’ = Proto-Germanic Skīrilukkaz < PIE Sḱēy(ri?)lugnos |
| Shirley | ‘shire meadow’ < Old English scīr ‘shire’ + lēah ‘clearing’, ‘meadow’ = Proto-Germanic Skīrōlauhaz? < PIE Skeyrolowkos? |
| Sophia, Sophie | ‘wisdom’ < Latin Sophia < Ancient Greek Σοφία Sophíā < σοφία sophíā ‘skill’, ‘wisdom’ < σοφός sophós ‘skillful’, ‘wise’ |
| Stanley | ‘stone meadow’ < Old English Stānlēah < stān ‘stone’ + lēah ‘clearing’, ‘meadow’ = Proto-Germanic Stainalauhaz < PIE Stoyh₂nolowkos |
| Stella | ‘star’ < Latin stēlla ‘star’ < Proto-Italic stērlā (diminutive) < PIE h₂stḗr = PIE H₂streleh₂? |
| Stephen | ‘wreath’, ‘crown’ < Latin Stephanus < Ancient Greek Στέφανος Stéphanos < στέφανος stéphanos ‘wreath’, ‘crown’, ‘prize’ = Proto-Hellenic Stekʷʰanos < PIE Stegʷʰ(a?)nos |
| Sylvester | ‘wooded’ < Latin sylvester < silvester ‘wooded’, ‘rural’ < silva ‘forest’ <? PIE sel- / swel- ‘firewood’, ‘wood’ |
| Sylvia | ‘of a forest’ < Late Latin Sylvia < Latin Silvia, feminine form of Silvius < silva ‘forest’ <? PIE sel- / swel- ‘firewood’, ‘wood’ |
| Tatiana | ‘of Tatius’ < Russian Татьяна Tatʹjána < Latin Tatiāna, feminine form of Tatiānus < Tatius < Sabine (?) |
| Taylor | ‘tailor’ < English tailor < Middle English taillour < Anglo-Norman taillour < Old French tailleor ‘tailor’ < taillier ‘to cut’ < Latin tāliō < tālea ‘cutting from a plant’ = Latin Tāliātor |
| Theoderic, Theodoric | ‘king of people’ < Latin Theodericus / Theodoricus < Gothic 𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃 Þiudareiks < Proto-Germanic Þeudōrīks < þeudō ‘people’ + rīks ‘king’ = PIE Tewteh₂h₃rēǵs / Tewteh₃rēǵs |
| Theodore | ‘gift of god’ < Latin Theodōrus < Ancient Greek Θεόδωρος Theódōros < θεός theós ‘god’ + δῶρον dôron ‘gift’ = Proto-Hellenic Tʰehodōros < PIE Dʰh₁sodeh₃ros |
| Timothy | ‘honouring god’ < Middle French Timothée < Latin Tīmotheus < Ancient Greek Τιμόθεος Tīmótheos < τιμάω tīmáō ‘to honour’ + θεός theós ‘god’ = PIE Kʷim(o?)dʰh₁sos |
| Trevor | ‘big village’ < Welsh Trefor < tref ‘village’ + mawr ‘big’, ‘great’ = Proto-Brythonic Treβmọr < Proto-Celtic Trebāmārā < PIE Trebeh₂moh₁reh₂ |
| Una, Oona | ‘lamb’ < Irish Úna <? uan ‘lamb’ < Old Irish úan = Proto-Celtic Ognā <? PIE H₂egʷneh₂ |
| Ursula | ‘little bear’ < Latin Ursula < ursa ‘female bear’ + -ula (diminutive suffix) = Proto-Italic Orsselā < PIE H₂r̥tḱeleh₂ |
| Valentine | ‘healthy’ < Latin Valentinus < Latin valēns ‘strong’, ‘healthy’ = Proto-Italic Walēntīnos < PIE H₂wl̥h₁eh₁ntiHnos? |
| Valerie | ‘healthy’ < French Valérie < Latin Valeria < Valesia < Latin valeō ‘to be strong’, ‘to be healthy’ = Proto-Italic Walēsiā? < PIE H₂wl̥h₁eh₁sieh₂? |
| Vera | ‘faith’ < Russian Вера Véra < Old Church Slavonic Вѣра Věra < вѣра věra ‘faith’, ‘belief’ < Proto-Slavic věra < Proto-Balto-Slavic wēˀrāˀ = PIE Weh₁reh₂ |
| Verity | ‘truth’ < Latin vēritās ‘truth’ < vērus ‘true’, ‘real’ = Proto-Italic Wērotāts < PIE Weh₁roteh₂ts |
| Vernon | ‘place of alders’ < Anglo-Norman < Gaulish uerna ‘alder’ + -o (locative suffix) < Proto-Celtic wernā ‘alder’ < PIE wern- perhaps ‘alder’ |
| Veronica | ‘bringer of victory’ < Ancient Greek Φερενίκη Pherenī́kē / Βερενίκη Berenī́kē < φέρω phérō ‘to bear’, ‘to bring’ + νίκη nī́kē ‘victory’ = PIE Bʰereneykeh₂? |
| Victor | ‘victor’ < Late Latin Victor < Latin victor ‘conqueror’, ‘winner’ = Proto-Italic Wiktōr < PIE Wéyktōr |
| Victoria | ‘victory’ < Latin Victōria < victōria ‘victory’ = Proto-Italic Wiktōriā < PIE Weyktōrieh₂ |
| Vincent | ‘conquering’ < French Vincent < Latin Vincentius < Latin vincēns ‘conquering’ (present active participle) < vincō ‘conquer’, ‘win’ = Proto-Italic Winkentjos < PIE Winkontyos |
| Violet | ‘violet’ < English violet < Middle English violet / vyolet(te) < Old French violette < Latin viola ‘violet’ |
| Virginia | ? < Latin Virginia < Verginia, feminine form of Verginius, possibly identical with Vergilius |
| Wallace | ‘Welshman’, ‘Breton’ < Anglo-Norman waleis ‘foreign’ < Proto-Germanic walhiskaz ‘foreign’, ‘Celtic’ < walhaz ‘foreigner’ < from the name of the Celtic tribe, in Latin Volcae |
| Walter | ‘army ruler’ < Middle English Walter < Old Norman Waltier < Frankish Waltheri < Proto-Germanic Waldaharjaz < waldaz ‘ruler’ + harjaz ‘army’ < PIE ? + kóryos (compare Harold) |
| Warrick | ‘from Warwick’ / ‘dwelling by the weir’ < Warwick < Middle English Warwyk < Old English Wǣringwīċ < wer ‘weir’ + wīċ ‘dwelling place’, ‘village’ = Proto-Germanic Waringawīhsą? < PIE Wern̥kʷoweyḱsom? |
| Wesley | ‘west meadow’ < Old English west ‘west’ + lēah ‘clearing’, ‘meadow’ = Proto-Germanic Westralauhaz < PIE Wekʷsperolowkos |
| William | ‘will-helmet’ < Middle English William < Anglo-Norman Willame < Old High German Willahelm < Proto-Germanic Wiljahelmaz < wiljô ‘will’ + helmaz ‘helmet’ = PIE Welyoḱelmos |
| Willow | ‘willow’ < English willow < Middle English wylow / wilwe / wilghe < Old English welig = Proto-Germanic Wiligaz < PIE welik- / weliḱ- |
| Wyatt | ‘war-brave’ < Old English Wīġheard < wīġ ‘war’ + heard ‘hard’, ‘brave’ = Proto-Germanic Wīgaharduz < PIE Weyk(o?)kortus |
| Xena | ‘hospitable’ <? Xenia < Latin Xenia < Ancient Greek ξενία xeníā ‘hospitable’ = Proto-Hellenic Ksenwiā |
| Zoe | ‘life’ < Ancient Greek Ζωή Zōḗ ‘life’ = Proto-Hellenic Ďōā < PIE Gʷyeh₃eh₂ |
Footnotes
The origin of aþalaz is uncertain.
Further origin unknown. The verb may either come from PIE am(a) ‘mother, aunt’, or from PIE h₃emh₃ ‘to take hold’.
Further origin unknown but may be a loan from Semitic or some other Asian language.
May also come from Etruscan or from the Messapic word for bear.
Perhaps from a substrate language.
The word is onomatopoeic and describes the bar-bar sounds that foreigners sounded like to Greek ears. It may be related to the PIE root mentioned.
May come from a Pre-Greek substrate language.
The word for limestone is from a substrate language. The origin of the word for landing place is unknown.
This is very much just my speculation. I have no idea about the origin of the -st-. The Latin -ianus suffix is irregularly formed and cannot be reconstructed properly.
The etymology of κλῆρος is uncertain and it may also come from a pre-Greek substrate language.
Traditionally the name has been said to come from Latin claudus ‘lame’, ‘crippled’, but the Sabine origin is thought to be more probable.
The word may also be a substrate loan.
The origin of the name is uncertain. One of the first known bearers of the name was Eleanor of Aquitaine whose mother was called Aénor. It is possible that the original name of Eleanor was Aenor and she started to be called “the other Aénor” to distinguish from her mother.
The PIE form is not taking into account the -ijaz suffix.
Further origin unknown. Suggested etymologies include Latin forīs ‘outside’, forēnsis ‘public’ and Frankish furhiþi ‘forest’.
The name was first given to Saint Francis of Assisi whose birth name was Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, apparently because his mother was French.
The word for earth came from a Pre-Greek substrate language and as such cannot be reconstructed to PIE.
May originally be from a substrate language.
Originally the name of a solar deity.
The name Hermes may have come from a Pre-Greek substrate language or be related to ἕρμα hérma ‘heap of stones’ which is of uncertain origin.
Further origin unknown.
An ivy branch used to be hung outside an establishment that sold alcohol, so it may originally have been an occupationational surname.
If the latter etymology is correct, it comes either from PIE welH- ‘to turn’ or Phoenician 𐤉𐤋 yūl ‘monitor lizard’ (see here for more).
The name of the goddess may mean either ‘heavenly authority’ or ‘young’.
The suffix -entum of the place name was formed in Latin and I can’t trace it into PIE.
If the etymology is correct, the first part comes from Ancient Greek (and then from some unknown source) and the second part comes from Proto-Germanic.
I don’t know the origin of the suffix -ingia.
The Proto-Italic form of the name Mars is uncertain and in any case cannot be traced into PIE.
Alternatively, the word may come from the native name of the Moors.
If the Old French word came from Old English, the word is likely either from a substrate language or of imitative origin.
The name was invented by William Shakespeare for a character in The Tempest.
I don’t know where the meaning ‘chief’ comes from, but that’s how Wiktionary translates it.
Both νίκη and λαός are of uncertain origin.
This is assuming the Latin word niger was originally nigros and that it came from PIE negʷ-.
I have no idea what the combining form of the words meaning ‘deer’ should be.
The word for rock came from a Pre-Greek substrate language and as such cannot be reconstructed to PIE.
Not sure how the PIE word for king would have formed compound words, so I just added a vowel.
The word for rye may be a wanderwort that didn’t even exist yet in PIE times.
The origin of the name Rome is unknown. If it came from the PIE root srew- ‘to flow’ (and referred originally to the river Tiber), this is what Romeo could have looked like, although I don’t really know how the middle part of the word should actually be.
The origin of the word rose is uncertain. The Latin word may have come through Oscan or from Aeolic Greek. The Greek word could have come from Thracian instead of Proto-Iranian.
Like the question marks indicate, the etymology is uncertain.
May come from a Pre-Greek substrate language.
Further origin unknown.
Without knowing the origin of the locative suffix, I can’t reconstruct the end of the name.
Probably from a substrate language.
The tribe name may come from a word meaning ‘hawk’ or ‘wolf’.
Especially the PIE form is very much my speculation.
Names not on the list
Variations of other names: Alison, Belinda, Bert, Caitlin, Carrie, Charlene, Charlotte, Cherry, Colin, Dick, Dora, Doreen, Drew, Eamon, Elaine, Ella, Ellen, Emma, Felicia, Fred, Gary, Greta, Gwen, Hank, Harriet, Harry, Heidi, Hilda, Hugh, Irma, Jay, Kathleen, Kayla, Leonora, Liam, Libby, Marissa, Maud, May, Melinda, Meryl, Nadine, Nancy, Nicole, Nora, Olga, Phil, Pierce, Rick, Robin, Rosemary, Sandra, Sheila, Sonya, Tanya, Ted, Tim, Tony, Wilhelmina, Wilma, Xander, Zelda
Etymology unknown, ambiguous, or difficult to reconstruct: Adrian, Alan, Amelia, Angus, Annabel, April, Ava, Brian, Carey, Catherine, Cole, Cooper, Dahlia, Dermot, Dillon, Drew, Dylan, Eileen, Enola, Eustace, Evelyn, Fraser, Gemma, Guy, Gwyneth, Hudson, Jade, Kay, Kendall, Kyra, Lara, Larissa, Lavender, Leslie, Lindsay, Linus, Logan, Lorna, Lyman, Mabel, Mason, Mena, Meredith, Miles, Mina, Montgomery, Murdoch, Neil, Neve, Neville, Niles, Nina, Norma, Oliver, Owen, Paris, Penelope, Samara, Shannon, Sidney, Tara, Terence, Teresa, Terry, Tess, Tessa, Titus, Vanessa, Vivian, Wanda, Wendy, Whitney, Winifred, Yolanda, Yvette, Yvonne
Names from Celtic surnames (also difficult to reconstruct): Casey, Desmond, Donovan, Egan, Kelly, Kerry, Leland, Maverick, Nolan, Quinn, Ryan
Names from other language families: Abigail, Abraham, Adam, Amina, Anna, Anthony, Benjamin, Bram, Caleb, Cyrus, Dakota, Daniel, David, Edna, Elias, Elijah, Elizabeth, Elliott, Emmanuel, Ethan, Evan, Eve, Farrah, Gabriel, Hannah, Ian, Isaac, Isabel, Isaiah, Jacob, Jake, James, Jeremy, Jessica, Jethro, Jodie, John, Jonah, Jonathan, Jordan, Joseph, Joshua, Jude, Judith, Leah, Levi, Lilith, Lily, Lisa, Madeleine, Mae, Magdalene, Mara, Mary, Maureen, Matthew, May, Maya, Mia, Michael, Michelle, Miriam, Moira, Monica, Nathan, Petunia, Rachel, Raphael, Rebecca, Samantha, Samuel, Saul, Sean, Seth, Shane, Sharon, Silas, Simon, Simeon, Solomon, Susan, Tamara, Thaddeus, Thomas, Tobias, Toby, Winona, Xavier, Zachary