A phonetic respelling of Ian.
This title from Old English 'eorl', meaning nobleman, was often used as a nickname for a servant employed in a noble household.
Famous bearers include acclaimed actor James Earl Jones, 39th American President James Earl Carter, former Chief
Earnest as a name was rendered famous by Oscar Wilde's play 'The Importance of Being Earnest', a comedy of manners where he plays with the quality of being earnest, making it resound with the name of same origins Ernest.
This hilarious play is se
Nickname for Ed- names.
Nickname for Ed- names.
From the Anglo-Saxon 'eád' or German 'ôt' - 'good, property, inheritance' and 'gar' or 'ger' meaning 'spear'. This combines in the meaning 'spear of prosperity', 'protector of the good (with the spear)'.
Originally and English name which b
A Spanish form of the name Edgar.
See Edmund for more background information.
In the 20th century, this French form has tended to overtake the English Edmund.
A noted literary character by the name Edmond was the Count of Monte Cristo in the novel of the same name w
From the Old English elements 'ead' (prosperity, fortune) and 'mund' (protection). This concludes in the meaning 'prosperous protection' but another possible meaning is 'protector of prosperity (or inheritance)'.
The most famous Edmund was King St
Cognate of Edward.
From the Old English Eádweard; a compound name composed of the elements "ead" (riches, prosperity, fortune) and "weard" (guardian, protector). Hence: 'protector of the riches, inheritance', or maybe 'rich guardian', 'fortunate protector'.
It is mo
Saint Edwin was the first Christian king of Northumbria and a martyr. The name was also born by astronomer Edwin Hubble, and is the real first name of astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Depending on the Hebrew writing, the name might mean "my God" (short form of Eliyahu), "pistil", "pestle", "ascend".
The name of the priest who raised Samuel (1. Sam. 4).
Famous bearers include spy Eli Cohen, cotton gin inven
Could also be a variant on Elijah or Eliam. The name of an early Welsh saint.
Greek variant of the Hebrew Elijah. "Elias" is the name of an oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn. It is sometimes claimed that Elias is linked to the ancient Greek name Helios, though this theory is not strongly supported by onomastic evidence.
In the Old Testament, Eliezer was Moses and Zipporah's second son.
Elijah was a Hebrew prophet who appeared mysteriously during the 9th century B.C.E. and left this earth in a blazing chariot ascending into the heavens. He appears in the Bible in 1 and 2 Kings, and is seen with Moses during the Transfiguration of Jesus.<
A diminutive of the Old French Elie, possible cognate of Elijah. The popular medieval diminutive gave rise to a surname which is the immediate source for the modern use of Elliot.
Transferred use of the surname originating from the Old English elements for "noble" and "famous".
It may also be from the Medieval French name Aylmer, or a modification of Elmo, popularized in the 19th century by Augusta Jane Evans' novel
Spanish form of late Latin name Eligius.
There are many places of this name in England; it is impossible to decide from which the family appellation is derived.
Multiple origins are considered. It could mean, from the Old English, "Ella's town". Or the derivation might be from the Saxon
Variant of Alvin.
Elvis, borne by legendary rock-n'-roll American singer Elvis Presley, is a name of uncertain derivation. It has been suggested that it was related to such first names as Alvis, or Elwin, or even maybe to the surname Elwes.
Transferred use of the surname meaning "son of Emery".
English variant of the Old French Aimeri, a name derived from the Old High German Amalrich (work ruler), a compound name composed of the elements amal (work) and rich (ruler, king).
Derived from the old Roman family name Aemilius.
Emilio Estevez is an actor who was famous as being part of the 1980s 'Brat Pack', and appeared in films such as 'The Breakfast Club' and 'St Elmo's Fire'. More recently, he has worked as a di
Latinate form of the Hebrew name Immanuel through the Greek cognate Emmmanouel.
The prophet Isaiah envisioned the name of the Messiah as being Immanuel in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, it is another name for Jesus Christ.
Enoch is an Anglicized form of the Hebrew name Chanok. It is a name borne by several biblical characters in the book Genesis: the eldest son of Cain, as well as a son of Jared and father of Metuselah. Jewish legends make Enoch the inventor of script, math
Spanish cognate of Henry, from Germanic roots meaning "home-rule". Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish singer.
The meaning of this name is uncertain. It could be an old Italian form of Henry (home ruler); it could derive from Germanic ent "giant"; or it could be a short form of names ending in enzo, such as Vincenzo and Lorenzo.
Popular anglicized form of the Irish form of John.
It may also be an anglicized form of Irish Eoghan.
Derived from the Old Norse Eirìkr (eternal ruler), a compound name composed of the elements ei (ever, always) and ríkr (ruler). The origin of the name is debated. Most believe in the Norse etymology, but there are some who think it comes to the Old Norse
A German form of Eric.
Erik is a popular name, a cognate of the Old Norse name that gave Eric. However, there are some who believe the name comes to the Old Norse via the Germanic ehre (honor) and the Proto-Germanic rik (king), hence "honorable king". This was the name of twel
Cognate of the Germanic Ernst, the name was introduced to England in the 18th century following the coronation of George I (1660-1727), the "German King". George III's son Ernest Augustus, was the first of five Kings of Hanover to hold the name. Ernest Au
Of debated etymology, some believe it is derived from a Scottish place name of uncertain origin. Others think it is derived from the Latin errare (to wander).
Ervin is a variant of the surname Irvine, which has three separate origins. It can be from one of two places in Scotland, either Irvine or Irving. Both places are named for a Celtic river whose name probably meant 'green water'. It can also be derived fro
There are several different etymologies concerning the name Erwin. It is often seen as an evolution of the Old High German Herwin (friend of the army), which is a compounding of the elements heri (army) and wine (friend).
It could also be a form o
Name associated with Lord Shiva.
Eshan might also be a town of Judah in the uplands of Hebron (Josh 15:52).
Spanish cognate of Stephen (crown, garland).
Alternate spelling of the Spanish cognate of Stephen, which is from the Latin Stephanus, a derivative of the Greek Stephanos, which has its root in stephanos (a crown, a garland).
Ethan means strong and optimistic, solid and enduring, or permanent. The name Ethan appears eight times in the Hebrew Bible. Ethan the Ezrahite, is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. It may be that Ethan was a cymbal-player in King David's court. He authored
Modern respelling of Ethan.
A borrowing from the French Eugène.
From the Latin Eugenius and the Greek Eugenios, which are derived from the Greek "eugenes" (well-born, noble). Eugene was a name borne by four popes and several saints.
Eugène de Beauharna
Evan is considered to be Welsh and is, like Ieunan, a form of John and means "God is gracious". Evan and Even are used also in Britanny where they are linked to John the Baptist. These forms overlap in Ireland and Scotland with forms of Eoghan, which are
Originally a surname derived from the first name Everard
Anglicized Scottish form of Eoghan.
Ezekiel was a major prophet of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, is said to have been a descendant of Joshua by his marriage with the proselyte Rahab. He lived in Jerusalem until the Babylonian conquest and capt
Spanish and Portugese cognate of Ezekiel.
Ezra was a prophet of the Old Testament, a priest who returned to Judah from exile in Babylon.
From the Anglo-Saxon eád-gyth, with 'eád' meaning 'good, prosperity, fortune, inheritance' and 'gyth' meaning 'battle' or 'strife'. Another possible meaning is 'warrior for the good'. Eadgyth was the name of the daughter of King Edgar (see Edgar). She is
Derived from the Hebrew, Edna is found in the apocryphal book Tobit, as the name of the mother of Sarah and stepmother of Tobias.
Edna is also an anglicized form of Irish Eithne.
Anglicized form of Eibhlín.
Originally used in Ireland as a form of Helen or Evelyn. Could also be related to Gaelic in which it means 'pleasant'.
Old French form of Greek Helen. Revived in Britain at the end of the 19th century and very popular in the 1950s, especially in Scotland.
In Arthurian legend, Elaine is a name shared by several different female characters, including King Art
Derived from French name Aliénor, which is of obscure meaning.
Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), whilst being a wealthy and powerful woman in her own right, was married to the King of France (Louis VII) and the King of England (Henry II). S
Elena is the Spanish and Italian form of Helen.
Bearers include the Infanta Elena of Spain, eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos and tennis players Elena Dementieva and Elena Baltacha.
The name is particularly popular in Spa
In the Greek alphabet the modern form of Helen is written 'epsilon-lambda-epsilon-nu-eta', with the accent on the second epsilon. In English it is variantly transcribed as 'Elene' or 'Eleni'.
The Latin "Eliana" derives from the Latin family name "Aelianus," which corresponds to the Greek word Helios (sun).
It is also a Hebrew name, meaning "God has answered".
Finnish form of Helen. It might also be a variant of Elena.
An Indian name meaning intelligent.
Short form of Elisabeth.
Usual form of Elizabeth in European languages. It occurs commonly in English-speaking countries.
French diminutive of Elisabeth or feminine form of Elisée. Introduced to English-speaking countries in the later half of the 19th century.
The Lotus Elise is a sports car. Für Elise is a solo piano piece by Ludwig van Beethoven, it is not o
A short form of Elisabeth, Elissa is also bestowed as an independent given name.
Elissa is another name of the mythological, famous and tragic queen Dido of Carthage. Her history and faith formed a part of the plot of Virgil's Aeneas.
From Elisabet, the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning "my God is a vow".
In the Old Testament, Elisheva is the wife of Aaron.
In the New Testament, the name is borne by a kinswoman of the Virgin Mary and mother of John the Bapti
Ella originated as a short form of any of the various names containing the Germanic element ali (foreign, other).
Ella is now taken as a variant of Ellen, and also a possible nickname to other names with a strong el-sound in them.
Elle could as well serve as a nickname to names with a strong el-sound (ex. Elisabeth, Eleanor, Helen, etc.) and is equivalent to the personal pronoun 'she' in the French language.
Inspiration may also come from the French fashion magazine "Elle".
Except for its roots to Helen this name can also be linked to more common El-names such as Eleanor.
There are various actresses named Ellen such as comedian Ellen DeGeneres, 'Grey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo, Ellen Barkin and Academy awar
Variant spelling of Eliana.
Ellie is a nickname for El- names, most commonly Eleanor. As a stand-alone name it has only recently made the top 200 in the US, but it has seen great popularity in the UK, where it fell to 13th place in 2007.
Variant of Ellie and pet form of names beginning with el.
Originally a pet form of Elizabeth, Elsa is now in common use as an independent given name. Elsa may also be taken as coming from the Hebrew meaning "joyful".
Elsa Schiaparelli was a fashion designer of the 1920s and 30s. Elsa was the name
A pet form of Elizabeth.
Modern variation of Elise.
Elysia comes from the Greek Elysion (Latinized as 'Elysium'). Elysium was a part of the Greek underworld roughly equivalent to our idea of 'heaven'. Elysium is an obscure and mysterious name that evolved from a designation of a place or person struck by l
A variant of Elissa, a short form of Elizabeth.
Similar in sound to the name Amber, Ember is a far less common alternative.
Respelling of Emily.
The word "emerald" derives from the Greek word "smaragdos," which means "green gemstone." Emeralds, a form of beryl, has been prized for centuries among cultures throughout the world.
Emerald is one of the birthstones for the month of May.
Emilee is a popular modern respelling of Emily.
From Aemilius, the name of a Roman noble family, which has been associated with as well the Greek aimulos' and the Latin 'aemulus' that mean 'soft; friendly' and 'emulating; rival' respectively.
Many Polish queens and princesses have had t
Emilie is from the Latin family name Aemilius. English-speaking parents also used the spelling Emilie as an alternative to the more popular Emily.
From the Latin Aemilia, a derivative of Aemilius, an old Roman family name believed to be derived from aemulus (trying to equal or excel, emulating, rival).
Another explanation concerning the meaning of the name could point in the direction
Emma might be a form of Erma, a short form of various names which begin with the Germanic element Erm(en), Irm(en) which can mean 'strong' but is more literally translated as "whole" or "universal".
For some, it is a diminutive of Emmanuell
This compound name combines the names "Emma" and "Lee" to become a form of "Emily."
Pet form of Emily or Emma.
Feminine of Eric, Erica is also the Latin name of the plant known in English as heather, but that word has a different origin.
A modern respelling of Erin.
Means "emerald" in Spanish. In Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' Esmeralda is the Gypsy girl whom Quasimodo is in love with. Another literary connection for Esmeralda would be in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" in which Esmeralda
The Spanish for "hope".
From the Late Latin name Sperantia which was derived from "sperans," "hope."
Ultimately derives from a Latin word meaning "to be."
Diminutive feminine form of the Spanish cognate of Stephen, which is from the Latin Stephanus, a derivative of the Greek Stephanos, which has its root in stephanos (a crown, a garland).
Feminine form of the Spanish cognate of Stephen, which is from the Latin Stephanus, a derivative of the Greek Stephanos, which has its root in stephanos (a crown, a garland).
An alternate spelling of the diminutive feminine form of the Spanish cognate of Stephen, which is from the Latin Stephanus, a derivative of the Greek Stephanos, which has its root in stephanos (a crown, a garland).
Common to England, Estelle is the French cognate of the Spanish Estella, which is derived from the Latin stella (star).
Esther is a name of debated origin. It might be from the Persian, meaning "star", or a Hebrew form of the Persian goddess Ishtar.
In the Old Testament, Esther is the name of the Jewish queen of King Ahasuerus of Persia who save her people from the
Spanish noun meaning star, Spanish form of Stella.
Eunice is the Latinized form of the Greek name Eunike, composed of the elements 'eu' ('well, good, fair') and 'nike' ('victory'). Eunike appears in Greek mythology as a Neriad and a nymph. There is also a Eunike in the Bible. She is the mother of Timothy
Latinate form of Eve, Eva was also used to Anglicize Aoife in Ireland, an old name believed to be derived from aoibh (beauty). Eabha is the Gaelic form of Eva.
Eva Braun was the companion and later the wife of Adolf Hitler. Eva Perón (also
The name Evangeline was invented by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for his Acadian epic poem, "Evangeline." Though it is derived from Greek elements [euangelion], its use is primarily in the English and French speaking worlds, particularly among the Acadian
From the Hebrew name Chava, which was derived from the Hebrew word Chai "life". In the Genesis, Eve was the first woman, wife of Adam and "the mother of all that lives". It is her role as a mother that is put forward in this name.
Eve is al
Pet form of Eve or Evelyn. It is particularly popular in the UK, where it was the 15th most popular name in 2007. Over the course of five years it has shot up 46 places.
English noun used by some as a name.
Name of a man of the Levi tribe in later Biblical texts.
The Garden of Eden is described in the Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, lived after they were created by God.
A male name in Hebrew, pronounced "eh LY shah." In the Old Testament, Elisha was a prophet - the disciple and successor of Elijah.
In modern times Elisha ("eh LEE shah") has gained popularity as an alternate spelling of the feminine name A
Transferred use of the surname originating from the personal name Elis.
Since recent times considered as an Anglicized form of the Welsh name Elisud though still more widely seen as a Middle English variant of Elias, or a derivation of Elisha.
Erin is taken from the Gaelic Eirinn, meaning "of Eire" - Eire being the Irish name for Ireland. Erin was used as a poetic name for Ireland for several centuries but it is not normally bestowed as a given name in that country.
It became po
Of German roots, Evelyn is an English variant of Aveline. Aveline is itself related to Ava, Medieval short form of Germanic names beginning with the element "avi", of unknown meaning, possibly "desired".
It can also be considered a cognate