Historically, it was borne by Theodoric the Great, a 6th-century king of the Ostrogoths who went on to become the ruler of Italy. It makes a robust alternative to Theodore, and shares the popular nickname option Theo. The Germanic name means “ruler of the people,” derived from the elements theud “people” and ric “power, ruler”. Theodoric is strong boys’ name pronounced “THEE-uh- DAW-rik”. Modern parents have historically preferred to use Gavin. He was a popular hero in medieval tales such as the romantic poem ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight‘, written in the 14th century. Pronounced “GOW-win,” this Welsh name was borne by the nephew of King Arthur who was a knight of the round table. With the abundance of classic E names ending in D such as Edward and Edmund, and more recently Eddard, we think Everard could tread its own path. This Germanic name means “brave boar,” and comes from the Germanic elements ebur “wild boar” and hard _, “brave, hardy.” The Normans introduced it to England and it’s been seldom used since the Middle Ages, except for a few literary references, such as in Sir Walter Scott’s Waverly, Aldous Huxley’s Point Counter Point, and Barbara Pym’s Excellent Women. One of its bearers was Saint Bonaventura, a 13th-century monk who is known as a Doctor of the Church. This sunny name means “good fortune” in Latin, and comes with the endearing nickname Bon. In Greek and Roman legend, sibyls were female prophets revered for their divine knowledge and wisdom. It combines elements of Isabella and Sybil, which has seen some resurgence via its appearance on Downton Abbey. Love the nicknames Bella or Sibby? This elegant name is a diminutive of Sibyl, a Latin name meaning, “prophetess, oracle”. These days were held between 13th and 17th centuries. The name was given to boys or girls born on a “ Love Day,” which was a day for meeting between enemies and litigants with the aim of having peaceful settlement. This sweet name derives from the Old English word meaning “beloved day.” A common medieval English Christian name, it’s still sometimes used in Cornwall. In the 12th-century Arthurian tales, another variation, Estrildis, was the name of a German princess who became the wife of King Locrine of Britain. Meaning “dawn battle,” this strong name is unique yet familiar via having the same ending as Matilda. Perfect for a spring baby, this name derives from the Germanic goddess Eostre, known as the goddess of the dawn, and the namesake of the Easter holiday in some languages. It’s one of the female variants of Caelestis a Latin name meaning, “of the sky, heavenly”. This beautiful name fits well in the current naming trend, of astronomy names, with the eighth most popular on our girl names’ list being Aurora. Nickname-ready as well, you can get quickly to the vintage Billie, Lily, or Ana, or the modern Brilla or Liana. She later became a well-known English letter-writer. Lord Conway named his daughter Brilliana while living there in the late 17th century. If Juliana can make it to the Top 100, why not the brilliant Brilliana? It means, “of Brill,” a town and historic seaport in the west Netherlands. It also comes with adorable nicknames Miri, Mira and Amie. Used in the Arab and Hebrew communities, it now ranks at Number 381 nationally after entering the Top 1000 in 1998. It means “imitating, rivalry.” Used in England during the Anglo- Norman period, it’s an elegant alternative to the popular Aria and Amelia. Originally a male Latin name, we think this one is ready for a gender switch. There is a similar in sound Welsh name, Delyth, meaning pretty. It was the name of an Anglo- Saxon saint, Æthelgyth of Coldingham. Of Anglo- Saxon origin, this soft name has several strong meanings, the Anglo- Saxon one being, “seasoned warrior.” It’s the medieval form of Æðelgyð, which means “noble war.” Aelythis also thought to be a variant spelling of the Scottish Gaelic Alyth, meaning “ascending, rising”. Here are some favourite medieval names poised to be awakened from their slumbers. They bring to mind the warmth of a blacksmith’s hearth, the trotting of a horse, the romance of forbidden love, and chivalry. From the Anglo- Norman period in England of the 13th and 14th centuries, there’s a wide variety of hidden gems waiting to be rediscovered. It’s a common misconception that medieval namers drew from a very small stock of choices. Looking for something further back in history and different than the current vintage naming trend? Since The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and Vikings, we think it’s time some really Olde World classics get some attention.
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