402 Anglo-Saxon Baby Names For Your Royal Child

If you want a sophisticated, stylish and plain beautiful name, a list of Anglo-Saxon baby names can be of your help. This ancient civilization has long left the English shores after the Norman invasion of 1066, but the spirit of the names still lingers in modern times. Anglo-Saxons were originally a Germanic tribe from the Danish peninsula. When the Romans left Britain, the Germanics invaded in 400 AD. They had five main kingdoms, Wessex, East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Kent (1). Though the tribe had settled there since the early 5th century, there were frequent clashes with neighboring territories. In 790 AD, the Vikings started penetrating the Anglo-Saxon empire, and the empires were almost continuously in war from then on (2). You may, hence, be surprised to find some names derived from the Germanic language of the Vikings among Anglo-Saxon names. In the Anglo-Saxon period, the personal name was made of two elements and linked to the parents’ names. For instance, if the parents were named Aldred and Edith, they might name their daughter Aaldith. Hence, these dithematic names did not really have any meaning. They turned into monothematic names after the Norman conquest (3). Also, bynames, not surnames, were used for identification purposes. While there weren’t any surnames or family names, the aristocratic people were identified by names taken from famous forbearers like Besingas, Athelings, Baducings, and Gumeningas, along with the final element –ing, which means ‘people of.’ The Anglo-Saxons also believed that a name contained a person’s spirit, and by using the name for a newborn child, the spirit could drain from him. Hence, picking an auspicious name was of utmost importance. In recent times, too, picking a personal name for their baby is of prime importance for many parents. So why wait? Pick your favorite Anglo-Saxon name right away. You can narrow down the search by filtering the gender of the baby and saving your favorite names to share with your friends and family.

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Browse Baby Names By Alphabet

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Name Gender Meaning
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Eden
Baby Girl Sign Girl A place of delight; Pleasure; Plain; Wealthy bear
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Braxton
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bracca's settlement
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Brandon
Baby Boy Sign Boy Prince; Chieftain; Gorse hill; Hill covered with broom
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Edgar
Baby Boy Sign Boy Prosperous spear
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Langston
Baby Boy Sign Boy Long stone
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Colten
Baby Boy Sign Boy From a coal town
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Darwin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Dear friend
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Irvin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Green water; Boar friend
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Arlen
Baby Boy Sign Boy Pledge; Oath; Hare land
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Eowyn
Baby Girl Sign Girl Horse lover; Horse joy
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Edson
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fortunate warrior; Isthmus
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Drayden
Baby Boy Sign Boy Farmstead near a portage or slope used for dragging downloads
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Knight
Baby Boy Sign Boy A knight; Serving lad
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Oswald
Baby Boy Sign Boy God's power; Mighty god
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Eduin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Rich friend
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Edgardo
Baby Boy Sign Boy Prosperous spear
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Darvin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Dear friend
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Imelda
Baby Girl Sign Girl Great battle
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Tennyson
Baby Boy Sign Boy A form of Dennison; Son of Dennis
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Kaedon
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Mac Cadáin; Warrior; Strength; Gentle; Loyalty; Spirit of war; Son of Cadán
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Kaidon
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Mac Cadáin; Warrior; Spirit of war; Son of Cadán
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Aldin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Old friend; Excellence of religion
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Uhtred
Baby Boy Sign Boy Pre-dawn; Advice; Earl
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Arlington
Baby Boy Sign Boy A place name; Arl's settlement
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Rawlins
Baby Boy Sign Boy Son of the wise wolf-man
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Manford
Baby Boy Sign Boy Protected fjord
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Terrick
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Teofer's farm
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Misk
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Boundary; Sweet; Honey
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Edgard
Baby Boy Sign Boy Prosperous spear
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Inman
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Tended a lodge or an inn
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Rennick
Baby Boy Sign Boy A dwelling place; A village; A farm
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Durwin
Baby Boy Sign Boy A good and dear friend
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Autry
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble strength
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Snyder
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex To cut; Tailor
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Chadwyck
Baby Boy Sign Boy The dairy farm of Ceadda
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Osric
Baby Boy Sign Boy God's rule; God's power
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Kendre
Baby Girl Sign Girl She is a prophet
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Gayle
Baby Girl Sign Girl My father is joy; Jovial; Storm
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Sedric
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Loved
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Eadric
Baby Boy Sign Boy Wealthy ruler; Fortunate King
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Deker
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Dike; Ditch maker; Roofer
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Dalston
Baby Boy Sign Boy the one from Dougal's place
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Rawson
Baby Boy Sign Boy The son of a famous wolf
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Kinzey
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Handsome; Beautiful; Good; Royal; Victory
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Taiten
Baby Boy Sign Boy Plays a small drum
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Edwen
Baby Boy Sign Boy Rich in friendship; a blessed friend
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Jessen
Baby Boy Sign Boy The son of Judd
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Page
Baby Boy Sign Boy An attendant; A little boy
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Sheffield
Baby Boy Sign Boy Crooked field
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Sherlock
Baby Boy Sign Boy Someone with closely cut hair
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York
Unisex Baby Sign Unisex Yew tree settlement; Boar village
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Averill
Baby Boy Sign Boy Boar-like in battle
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Aulden
Baby Boy Sign Boy Dweller at the old enclosure; Old friend
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Melton
Baby Boy Sign Boy Between two places; The middle settlement
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Rawling
Baby Boy Sign Boy Advice of the wolf
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Peirce
Baby Boy Sign Boy Name given to the son of Peter
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Aunica
Baby Girl Sign Girl Favor; Grace; Noble strength
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Gayla
Baby Girl Sign Girl My father is joy; My father rejoices
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Cidney
Baby Girl Sign Girl Water meadow; Vast island
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Easter
Baby Girl Sign Girl Day of Resurrection of Christ; Pagan goddess of fertility
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Stetson
Baby Boy Sign Boy Stithweard's town; Fighter; Boxer
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Aeldra
Baby Boy Sign Boy Lives at the elder tree; Noble
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Aelfric
Baby Boy Sign Boy Elf ruler; King of elves
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Aelle
Baby Boy Sign Boy All; Complete
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Aescwine
Baby Boy Sign Boy Spear Friend
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Aethelbald
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble and Bold; A King of Mercia
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Aethelbert
Baby Boy Sign Boy Bright Nobility
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Aethelfrith
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Peace
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Aethelhard
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Strength
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Aethelhere
Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a King
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Aethelstan
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble; Stone
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Aethelwulf
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble wolf
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Agilberht
Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a Bishop
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Aiekin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Oaken
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Alcuin
Baby Boy Sign Boy Temple friend
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Aldfrith
Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a King
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Aldhelm
Baby Boy Sign Boy Name of a Bishop
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Alfric
Baby Boy Sign Boy Variant of Aelfric; Elf king
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Almund
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble Protection; Defender of the Temple
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Atwater
Baby Boy Sign Boy From the Water Edge; Someone who lived by the River or Lake
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Averel
Baby Boy Sign Boy Boar like in battle; A variant of Averill
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Averell
Baby Boy Sign Boy Boar like in battle; A variant of Averill
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Hrothgar
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fame; Glory; Spear
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Marmaduke
Baby Boy Sign Boy Disciple of Saint Máedóc; A mighty noble
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Merewina
Baby Girl Sign Girl A variant of Merewen, which means renowned joy, great pleasure, or splendid delight
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Millman
Baby Boy Sign Boy Mill worker; One who grinds grain; A variant form of Miller
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Milman
Baby Boy Sign Boy Mill worker; One who grinds grain
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Ailred
Baby Boy Sign Boy Noble counsel
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Atol
Baby Boy Sign Boy Someone who is hateful
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Ayer
Baby Boy Sign Boy Water; From the town of Ayr; Heir; Temple army
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Ayers
Baby Boy Sign Boy Water; From the town of Ayr; Heir; Temple army
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Aylett
Baby Boy Sign Boy One who has noble and great personality
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Baldwinn
Baby Boy Sign Boy A bold and beautiful person
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Bana
Baby Boy Sign Boy Slayer; Arrow; To build
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Barnet
Baby Boy Sign Boy Place cleared by burning
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Bat
Baby Boy Sign Boy Boat; Daughter
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Bax
Baby Boy Sign Boy Baker; Box tree
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Beale
Baby Boy Sign Boy Handsome man; Fair; Beautiful; Son of Bel; Bee-hill
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Beocca
Baby Girl Sign Girl Little bee; Becca's homestead; Pickaxe
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Beorma
Baby Boy Sign Boy Fermented or frothy
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Anglo-Saxons were an ancient race with their own culture and heritage. Following several invasions, this culture saw a healthy mixture of other languages too. Anglo-Saxon names were dithematic and could be formed by attaching two parts from the names of the parents. This practice could make some names meaningless. However, many names conveyed strong meanings. Anglo-Saxon names often took inspiration from mythology, nature, and personality or physical characteristics. These unique names will now make your little one stand out in a crowd.

Infographic: Charismatic Anglo-Saxon Baby Names

The Anglo-Saxons have had an interesting and colorful history. Fittingly, their names, too, reflect this richness of culture and tradition. From mythology to nature, Anglo-Saxon baby names cover many grounds in terms of meanings and associations. These names are relevant in modern times, too. If you are looking for some excellent Anglo-Saxon names with varied meanings, look at this infographic.

charming anglo saxon baby names for your little warrior (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What do the popular Anglo-Saxon names Beowulf and Edgar mean?

Beowulf possibly means ‘bee wolf’ (bear) and is derived from the Old English ‘beo’ meaning ‘bee’ and ‘wulf’ meaning ‘wolf.’ Alternatively, the first element could come from ‘beadu,’ meaning ‘battle.’ Beowulf is the name of the main character of the 8th-century epic poem of the same name and is considered an Anglo-Saxon hero. Conversely, Edgar is derived from the Old English elements ‘ead’ meaning ‘wealth’ or ‘fortune’ and ‘gar’ meaning ‘spear.’ It was also the name of a 10th-century English king, Edgar the Peaceful.

2. What unique or rare Anglo-Saxon baby names are still in use today?

Certain Anglo-Saxon names like Ethel (noble), Wulfric (wolf ruler), Godric (god’s ruler), Godiva (gift of god), Becca (pick-axe), and Osmund (protection of god) are still in use today, though rarely.

3. What was the significance of names in Anglo-Saxon culture?

In Anglo-Saxon culture, names could be chosen to reflect a desirable trait or characteristic the parents wanted the child to possess. For instance, Æthelred means ‘noble’ or ‘daring,’ and Cyneheard means ‘royal’ or ‘firm.’ Parents aspired to give their children these positive attributes. Moreover, names like Beowulf (bear) and Wulfric (wolf ruler) could be connected to the Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. Some parents could choose names that invoke blessings from the gods to protect and prosper their children.

4. How did Anglo-Saxon names change over time?

The introduction of Christianity in the late 6th and 7th centuries significantly changed Anglo-Saxon names (1). The names of Christian saints began to be introduced. Moreover, the Viking invasions in the 8th and 9th centuries also caused several changes in Anglo-Saxon names (2). Later, French names were introduced with the Norman conquest in 1066 (3). Additionally, Germanic and Norse names underwent anglicization over time. Hence, names like Ælfweard became Alfred.

5. What are some resources for parents looking for an Anglo-Saxon name for their child?

Historical texts and literature can help parents look for authentic Anglo-Saxon names. You can also check the etymologies of names to get an insight into the historical and cultural context of such names. Several online websites also list Anglo-Saxon names with meanings and origins. Additionally, you can get information about these names by talking with Anglo-Saxon experts or on online forums dedicated to them.

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