| Serving dual interests is my interest this month. | | | | Feminine Names |
| Here's a list I hope will appeal to both prospective | | | | Adelaide (Germanic) "noble sort" |
| parents and writers who are stumped for some | | | | Ailith (uncertain) possibly an Anglicized form of |
| good character names. The focus is on names | | | | AilÃs, the Irish form of Alice, a short form of |
| used between the Norman Conquest and the | | | | Adelaide |
| year 1300 in England, names that have in some | | | | Alice (Old French) a short form of Adelaide, "noble |
| cases been out of circulation for many years, but | | | | sort" |
| might now safely be revived. | | | | Amaria (Latin?) Possibly from the Latin amarus, |
| Finding appropriate period names can be a real | | | | "bitter" |
| challenge for a writer. While medieval England is | | | | Avelina (Old French) pet form of Avila, the |
| not the most common story timeframe, medieval | | | | medieval Latinized form of Avis, a Germanic |
| names certainly hold more surprises than a later | | | | name of unknown meaning. During medieval times, |
| period might offer. In trying to serve the dual | | | | the name became associated with the Latin word |
| interests of writer and parent, I've selected those | | | | avis, meaning "bird". |
| names I think are most appealing to the modern | | | | Beatrix (Late Latin) from the Latin Latin Viatrix, |
| ear. There are some names, like Nest, for a girl, | | | | meaning "traveler". The spelling was altered to |
| or Godelot, for a boy, which probably just don't | | | | include bea, part of the Latin element beatus, |
| stand the test of time. | | | | meaning "blessed" |
| For a wider selection of medieval names, visit The | | | | Betta (uncertain) Possibly a pet form of Elizabeth, |
| Medieval Naming Guide, which has a vast selection | | | | "God is my oath" |
| of names and the dates in which they were used. | | | | Brigit (Irish) "exhalted one" |
| Masculine Names Adémar | | | | Catin (uncertain) probably a contracted form of |
| Aimery (uncertain) Perhaps a form of Emery | | | | Catarina, a variant of Catherine, "pure" |
| Amaury (French form of a Germanic name) | | | | Christiana (Latin) Feminine form of Christian, |
| "powerful labor" | | | | meaning obvious |
| Anselm (Germanic) ans, "god", and selm, | | | | Eleanor (French) from the Provençal name |
| "protection, helmet" | | | | Alienor, possibly a form of Helen, meaning |
| Benedict (Latin) "blessed" | | | | uncertain |
| Berenger | | | | Emeline (French) French form of the Latin |
| Bertran (Germanic) "bright raven" | | | | Aemilius, "rival" |
| Clement (Latin) "gentle, merciful" | | | | Florencia (Roman) from the masculine name |
| Etienne (French) French form of Stephen, "crown" | | | | Florentius, "flourishing, prosperous" |
| Everard (Germanic) "brave boar" | | | | Gemma (Italian) "precious stone" |
| Frederick (Germanic) "peaceful ruler" | | | | Giliana (uncertain) feminine form of the Latin Julian, |
| Geoffrey (Germanic) The first element, geof is of | | | | "youth" |
| uncertain meaning, but the second, frey, comes | | | | Helena (Latin) Latinate form of Helen, meaning |
| from frid, meaning "peace" | | | | uncertain |
| Gervase (English) the English form of a Latinized | | | | Héloïse (Old French) uncertain |
| form of a Germanic name meaning "spear" | | | | meaning; possibly derived from the Greek helios, |
| Gregory (Latin) "watchful, alert" | | | | meaning "sun" |
| Guillaume (French) French form of William, | | | | Ilaria (Italian) Feminine form of Hilarius, "cheerful" |
| "resolute protector" | | | | Isabelle (Spanish) English spelling of the Spanish |
| Guy (Norman) the Norman form of Germanic | | | | variant of Elizabeth, "God is my oath" |
| names beginning with the element witu or wit | | | | Isemay Jolicia Joya (English) "joy" |
| Hélie (French) Maybe a form of Helios, the | | | | Juliana (Latin) feminine form of Julian, "youth" |
| Greek word for "sun"? | | | | Lia (English) short form of names ending in lia |
| Henry (Germanic) "home ruler" | | | | Luciana feminine form of Lucian, "light" |
| Hugh (Germanic) "heart, mind, or spirit" | | | | Margaret (Greek) "pearl" |
| Jordain (English) Anglicized form of the French | | | | Margery (English) medieval English form of |
| form of Jordan, "to flow down" | | | | Margaret, "pearl" |
| Joscelin (Norman) the Norman French variant of a | | | | Matilda (Germanic) "strength in battle" |
| Germanic name, Gautelen, which was derived | | | | Melisende (Norman French) derived from the |
| from the name of a Germanic tribe, the Gauts | | | | Germanic name Amalaswinth. "strength in work or |
| Odo (Germanic) a short form of any name | | | | labor". This was the name of Charlemagne's |
| beginning with od, "wealth, fortune" | | | | daughter. |
| Osgood (Germanic) "god is good" | | | | Mirabell (Latin) "wonderful" |
| Otto (German) late form of Odo, "wealth, | | | | Osanna (French) a form of Hosanna, a Hebrew |
| fortune" | | | | word meaning "deliver us" |
| Peter (Greek) "stone" | | | | Pavia (Scandanavian) "day" |
| Philippe (French) French form of the Greek | | | | Philippa (Greek) feminine form of Philip, "lover of |
| Philippos, which means "lover of horses" | | | | horses" |
| Ranulf (Old Norse) Scottish variant of the Old | | | | Reyna (Spanish) a variant spelling of Reina, |
| Norse Randulfr, "rim of a shield" | | | | "queen" |
| Robert (Germanic) "bright fame" | | | | Roana (Scottish?) possibly a variant on the |
| Rocelin (uncertain) possibly a male variant of | | | | Scottish isle of Rona |
| Rosalyn, "soft horse"? | | | | Rose (English) "rose" |
| Roger (Germanic) "famous spear" | | | | Sabeline (Galican) pet form of Sabella, a Galican |
| Roland (Germanic) "famous land" | | | | form of Isabel, "God is my oath" |
| Stephen (Greek) "crown" | | | | Sibylle (Germanic) Germanic form of the Greek |
| Thibault (French) French form of the Germanic | | | | Sibylla, "prophetess" |
| Theobald, "bold people" | | | | Theda (Greek) pet form of Theodora, "gift of |
| Thomas (Greek) Greek form of the Aramaic | | | | God" |
| name Te'oma, "twin" | | | | Ysolt (French) an English spelling of the French |
| Toly Turstin (Old Norse) "Thor stone" | | | | Yseult, a form of Isolde, possibly a Welsh name |
| Walter (Germanic) "ruler of an army" | | | | meaning "beautiful". In the legend of Tristan, the |
| Warin (Germanic) "enclosure" | | | | hero is in love with a married woman bearing this |
| William (Germanic) "resolute protector" | | | | name, and also married to a woman who bears |
| Wymon | | | | the name. |