Anglo-Saxon Naming - for those wanting an authentic name

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Éadric

Knight at Arms
ANGLO-SAXON NAMING

Do you want an authentic Anglo-Saxon name? Look no further! For here you will learn how to fashion a proper Anglo-Saxon name, and, if you wish, any byname/epithet, father's name or clan name.



A selection of Anglo-Saxon names, taken from the Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum and the Index of Persons of the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England (PASE). Be advised, these names are standardised West-Saxon. Other dialects may have different forms.

(Most popular names in bold.)

Aba/Abba
Aca/Acca
Ada/Adda
Æbba/Æbbe
Ædda/Ædde
Æffa/Æffe
Æfic
Ægenbeald
Ægenhere
Ægenmǽr
Ægenwulf/Ægenulf
Ælbeorht
Ælf
Ælfbeorht
Ælffriþ (Ælffrith)
Ælfgár
Ælfgeard
Ælfgéat
Ælfhéah
Ælfheard
Ælfhelm
Ælfhere
Ælfhún
Ælfléof
Ælfmǽr
Ælfnóþ (Ælfnóth)
Ælfréd
Ælfríc
Ælffriþ (Ælffrith)
Ælfsige
Ælfstán
Ælfweald
Ælfweard
Ælfwíg
Ælfwine
Ælla/Ælle
Ælmǽr
Ælréd
Ælríc
Æsc
Æsca
Æscbeorht
Æscfriþ (Æscfrith)
Æschéah
Æscheard
Æsclác
Æscmǽr
Æscmann
Æscmund
Æscréd
Æscweald
Æscwíg
Æscwine
Æscwulf/Æsculf
Æstán
Æþelbeald (Æthelbeald)
Æþelbeorht (Æthelbeorht)
Æþelbrand (Æthelbrand)
Æþelfríþ (Æthelfrith)
Æþelgár (Æthelgár)
Æþelgeard (Æthelgeard)
Æþelhéah (Æthelhéah)
Æþelheard (Æthelheard)
Æþelhelm (Æthelhelm)
Æþelhere (Æthelhere)
Æþelhún (Æthelhún)
Æþelmǽr (Æthelmǽr)
Æþelmann (Æthelmann)
Æþelmód (Æthelmód)
Æþelmund (Æthelmund)
Æþelnóþ (Æthelnóth)
Æþelréd (Æthelréd)
Æþelríc (Æthelríc)
Æþelsige (Æthelsige)
Æþelstán (Æthelstán)
Æþelweald (Æthelweald)
Æþelweard (Æthelweard)
Æþelwíg (Æthelwíg)
Æþelwine (Æthelwine)
Æþelwulf (Æthelwulf)
Afa/Affa
Alla
Babba
Bada
Bældæg
Bassa
Beadufriþ (Beadufrith)
Beaduheard
Beadunóþ (Beadunóth)
Beaduþegn (Beaduthegn)
Beaduweald
Beaduwulf/Beadulf
Beaduwíg
Béagmund/Béahmund
Béagnóþ/Béahnóþ (Béagnóth/Béahnóth)
Béagstán/Béahstán
Bealdhelm
Bealdhún
Bealdréd
Béda
Béoba
Beocca
Beonna
Beorhtfriþ (Beorhtfrith)
Beorhtgils
Beorhtþanc (Beorhtthanc)
Beorhthéah
Beorhthelm
Beorhthere
Beorhthún
Beorhtláf
Beorhtmǽr
Beorhtmund
Beorhtnóþ (Beorhtnóth)
Beorhtréd
Beorhtríc
Beorhtsige
Beorhtstán
Beorhtweald
Beorhtwíg
Beorhtwine
Beorhtwulf/Beorhtulf
Beorn
Beornfriþ (Beornfrith)
Beornhæþ (Beornhæth)
Beornhéah
Beornheard
Beornhelm
Beornic
Beornláf
Beornmód
Beornmund
Beornnóþ (Beornnóth)
Beornréd
Beornríc
Beornsige
Beornstán
Beornweald
Beornwíg
Beornwine
Beornwulf/Beornulf
Beorra
Billfriþ (Billfrith)
Billheard
Billnóþ (Billnóth)
Blæcca
Blíþhere (Blíthhere)
Boba/Bobba
Bófa
Bonda
Bosa
Bótwine
Bótwulf/Bótulf
Brand
Bregoweald
Bregowine
Bregowulf
Brorda
Bróðor (Bróthor)
Brún
Brúnheard
Brúnstán
Bryne
Brynhere
Bryning
Brynweald
Bubba
Buca/Bucca
Buda/Budda
Buga/Bugga
Burgheard
Burghelm
Burgnóþ (Burgnóth)
Burgréd
Burgríc
Burgsige
Burgstán
Burgweald
Burgwulf/Burgulf
Bynna
Byrne
Byrnferþ (Byrnferth)
Byrnhelm
Cada/Cadda
Ceadda
Cénbeorht
Cénfriþ (Cénfrith)
Cénfús
Céngísl
Cénheard
Cénhere
Cénláf
Cénréd
Cénweald
Cénwealh
Cénwulf/Cénulf
Ceoba/Ceobba
Céol
Céola/Céolla
Céolbeald
Céolbeorht
Céolfriþ (Céolfrith)
Céolhéah
Céolheard
Céolhelm
Céolhere
Céolmund
Céolnóþ (Céolnóth)
Céolréd
Céolríc
Céolsige
Céolstán
Céolweald
Céolweard
Céolwíg
Céolwulf
Ceorl
Cidda
Cild
Cissa
Cudda
Cufa/Cuffa
Cúða (Cútha)
Cúðbeald (Cúthbeald)
Cúðbeorht (Cúthbeorht)
Cúðgils (Cúthgils)
Cúðmund (Cúthmund)
Cúþfriþ (Cúthfrith)
Cúþheard (Cúthheard)
Cúþréd (Cúthréd)
Cúþríc (Cúthríc)
Cúþwine (Cúthwine)
Cúþwulf (Cúthwulf)
Cwichelm
Cwicwine
Cydda
Cyne
Cynebeald
Cynebeorht
Cynebill
Cynefriþ (Cynefrith)
Cynegils
Cynehéah
Cyneheard
Cynehelm
Cynehere
Cyneláf
Cynemund
Cyneréd
Cyneríc
Cynesige
Cynestán
Cyneþegn (Cynethegn)
Cyneweald
Cyneweard
Cynewine
Cynewulf
Dægbeorht
Dæghéah
Dæghelm
Dægmund
Dægríc
Dealwine
Denebeorht
Denefriþ (Denefrith)
Denegils
Deneheard
Denemód
Deneweald
Denewulf
Déora
Déorbeorht
Déorláf
Déormód
Déormund
Déornóþ (Déornóth)
Déorswíþ (Déorswíth)
Déorweald
Déorwulf/Déorulf
Doda/Dodda
Dryhthelm
Dryhtnóþ (Dryhtnóth)
Dryhtweald
Duda/Dudda
Dunhere
Dunn
Dunna
Dunning
Dunstán
Dunweald
Dynne
Eaba/Eabba
Éadbeald
Éadbeorht
Éadfriþ (Éadfrith)
Éadgár
Éadgeard
Éadgils
Éadhéah
Éadhelm
Éadhere
Éadhún
Éadláf
Éadmǽr
Éadmund
Éadnóþ (Éadnóth)
Éadréd
Éadríc
Éadsige
Éadstán
Éadweald
Éadweard
Éadwíg
Éadwine
Éadwulf/Éadulf
Éafa
Ealda
Ealdbeorht
Ealdfriþ (Ealdfrith)
Ealdhelm
Ealdhere
Ealdhún
Ealdréd
Ealdsige
Ealdwine
Ealdwulf/Ealdulf
Ealhbeorht
Ealhfriþ (Ealhfrith)
Ealhheard
Ealhhelm
Ealhhere
Ealhhún
Ealhmund
Ealhréd
Ealhríc
Ealhstán
Ealhweard
Ealhwine
Éanbeald
Éanbeorht
Éanfriþ (Éanfrith)
Éangeard
Éangísl
Éanhere
Éanmund
Éanréd
Éanstán
Éanweald
Éanwine
Éanwulf/Éanulf
Eappa
Earnwíg
Earnwine
Earnwulf/Earnulf
Éasterwine
Éastmund
Éata
Ebba
Ecca
Ecga
Ecgbeald
Ecgbeorht
Ecgnóþ (Ecgnóth)
Ecgfriþ (Ecgfrith)
Ecgheard
Ecghelm
Ecghún
Ecgláf
Ecgmund
Ecgréd
Ecgríc
Ecgstán
Ecgweald
Ecgwine
Ecgwulf/Ecgulf
Eoba
Eoda
Éomǽr/Éomér
Eoppa
Eorconbeorht
Eorconweald
Eorl
Eormenréd
Eormenríc
Eorpweald
Eorpwine
Farmann
Fastulf
Feolugeld
Finn
Folcbeorht
Folcheard
Folchere
Folcwine
Fréaláf
Fréawine
Fréawulf
Freoðubeorht (Freothubeorht)
Freoðugár (Freothugár)
Freoðugeard (Freothugeard)
Freoðugils (Freothugils)
Freoðuhelm (Freothuhelm)
Freoðuláf (Freothuláf)
Freoðumund (Freothumund)
Freoðuréd (Freothuréd)
Freoðuríc (Freothuríc)
Freoðustán (Freothustán)
Freoðuweald (Freothuweald)
Freoðuwine (Freothuwine)
Freoðuwulf (Freothuwulf)
Fróda
Fugel
Fulréd
Gádfriþ (Gádfrith)
Gádríc
Gamal
Gangulf
Gármund
Gárulf/Gárwulf
Gárwine
Geardulf
Geardwine
Géat
Gildewine
Gíslheard
Gíslhere
Gíslmǽr
Gíslmund
Góda
Gódemann
Godescealc
Gódhere
Gódwíg
Godwine
Gódwulf/Gódulf
Grím
Grimbeald
Gúþfriþ (Gúthfrith)
Gúþheard (Gúthheard)
Gúþlác (Gúthlác)
Gúþláf (Gúthláf)
Gúðmund (Gúthmund)
Gúþweald (Gúthweald)
Gúþwine (Gúthwine)
Hadda
Hagena
Háma
Headda
Heaðubeald (Heathubeald)
Heaðubeorht (Heathubeorht)
Heaðufriþ (Heathufrith)
Heaðulác (Heathulác)
Heaðuréd (Heathuréd)
Heaðuweald (Heathuweald)
Heaðuwulf (Heathuwulf)
Héaha
Héahbeorht
Héahfriþ (Héahfrith)
Héahmund
Héahnóþ (Héahnóth)
Héahréd
Héahstán
Héahweard
Héahwulf
Healden
Heardbeorht
Heardréd
Helmgils
Helmstán
Helmulf
Helmweald
Helstán
Hemma
Hengest
Heorugár
Heorulf
Heorustán
Heoruweald
Heoruweard
Herebeald
Herebeorht
Herefriþ (Herefrith)
Heremann
Heremǽr/Heremér
Heremód
Hereréd
Hereríc
Heresige
Herestán
Hereweald
Hereweard
Herewine
Herewulf
Hildebeorht
Hildebeald
Hildefriþ (Hildefrith)
Hildegeard
Hildewine
Hildemǽr/Hildemér
Hlóþhere (Hlóthhere)
Horsa
Hræfn
Hringwine
Hringwulf
Hróðbeorht (Hróthbeorht)
Hróðgár (Hróthgár)
Hróðmund (Hróthmund)
Hróþweard (Hróthweard)
Hróþwine (Hróthwine)
Húnfriþ (Húnfrith)
Húnláf
Húnréd
Húnsige
Húnstán
Hunta
Húnweald
Húnwine
Husa/Hussa
Hwætbeorht
Hwætréd
Hwíta
Hwíthyse
Hwítréd
Hygebeald
Hygebeorht
Hygelác
Hyse
Hysebeorht
Hysenóþ (Hysenóth)
Imma
Ingeld
Ingram
Ingbrand
Ingweald
Ítermann
Léod
Léodfriþ (Léodfrith)
Léodweald
Léodwulf/Léodulf
Léofa
Léofcild
Léofgár
Léofhéah
Léofing
Léofmǽr
Léofmann
Léofnóþ (Léofnóth)
Léofréd
Léofríc
Léofsige
Léofstán
Léofsunu
Léoftǽt
Léofweard
Léofwine
Lulla
Lulling
Lýfing
Mægenhere
Mǽrheard
Mæþelheard (Mæthelheard)
Mann
Manna
Mantát
Merehwít
Merewala
Merewealh
Mildfriþ (Mildfrith)
Mocca
Módulf
Mórcár
Níþheard (Níthheard)
Níðmund (Níthmund)
Norþmann (Northmann)
Nóðbeald (Nóthbeald)
Nóðbeorht (Nóthbeorht)
Nóþheard (Nóthheard)
Nóþhelm (Nóthhelm)
Nóþhere (Nóthhere)
Nóðmund (Nóthmund)
Nóþwulf (Nóthwulf)
Ocga
Oda/Odda
Ofa/Offa
Ordbeorht
Ordfriþ (Ordfrith)
Ordgár
Ordhéah
Ordhelm
Ordláf
Ordmǽr
Ordnóþ (Ordnóth)
Ordríc
Ordweald
Ordwulf/Ordulf
Ósbeald
Ósbeorn
Ósbeorht
Ósfriþ (Ósfrith)
Ósgár
Ósgód
Óshelm
Óshere
Óslác
Ósláf
Ósmǽr
Ósmód
Ósmund
Ósréd
Ósríc
Ósweald
Ósweard
Óswíg
Óswine
Óswudu
Óswulf/Ósulf
Penda
Pílheard
Plegbeorht
Plegheard
Plegmund
Plegréd
Plegwine
Putta
Pybba
Rǽdfriþ (Rǽdfrith)
Rǽdmund
Rǽdnóþ (Rǽdnóth)
Rǽdweald
Rǽdwine
Rǽdwulf/Rǽdulf
Regengár
Regenhere
Regenhold
Regenweald
Regenweard
Rícbeorht
Ridda
Sǽbeald
Sǽbeorht
Sǽfriþ (Sǽfrith)
Sǽfugel
Seaxa
Scéaf
Sceafthere
Sceaftwine
Scíra
Scírbeald
Scírheard
Scírweald
Searu
Seaxbeald
Seaxhelm
Seaxwulf/Seaxulf
Seleheard
Seleréd
Siba/Sibba
Sidemann
Sigebeald
Sigebeorht
Sigefriþ (Sigefrith)
Sigegár
Sigeheard
Sigehelm
Sigehere
Sigemǽr
Sigemund
Sigenóþ (Sigenóth)
Sigeréd
Sigeríc
Sigestán
Sigeweald
Sigeweard
Sigewine
Sigewulf
Stánhand
Steorra
Sumerlida
Swǽfbeorht
Swǽfgild
Swǽfheard
Swǽfréd
Swegen
Swéta
Swétmann
Swift
Swíðbeald (Swíthbeald)
Swíðbeorht (Swíthbeorht)
Swíþfriþ (Swíthfrith)
Swíþhelm (Swíthhelm)
Swíþhún (Swíthhún)
Swíþnóþ (Swíthnóth)
Swíþréd (Swíthréd)
Swíþwine (Swíthwine)
Swíþwulf (Swíthwulf)
Táta
Tátbeorht
Tátfriþ (Tátfrith)
Tátnóþ (Tátnóth)
Tátwine
Tiba/Tibba
Tída
Tídbeald
Tídbeorht
Tídfriþ (Tídfrith)
Tídhéah
Tídhelm
Tídhún
Tídweald
Tídwulf/Tídulf
Tilbeorht
Tilhere
Tilmann
Tilréd
Tilþegn (Tilthegn)
Tilwine
Tírweald
Tírwulf/Tírulf
Torhtbeorht
Torhtwine
Torhthelm
Torhthere
Torhtmund
Torhtréd
Torhtweald
Tota/Totta
Trumbeorht
Trumhere
Trumwine
Tuda/Tudda
Tuna/Tunna
Túnbeorht
Túnréd
Túnweald
Túnwulf/Túnulf
Tycca
Þéodbeald (Théodbeald)
Þéodbeorht (Théodbeorht)
Þéodréd (Théodréd)
Þéodríc (Théodríc)
Þéodulf (Théodulf)
Þingfriþ (Thingfrith)
Þrymm (Thrymm)
Þrýðgár (Thrýthgár)
Þrýþréd (Thrýthréd)
Þrýþwulf (Thrýthwulf)
Þunor (Thunor)
Þurbrand (Thurbrand)
Þurcytel (Thurcytel)
Þurfriþ (Thurfrith)
Þurgód (Thurgód)
Þurlác (Thurlác)
Þurmód (Thurmód)
Þurstán (Thurstán)
Þurweald (Thurweald)
Ubba
Uda/Udda
Ufa/Uffa
Uhtferþ (Uhtferth)
Uhtréd
Utta
Wada/Wadda
Wærbeald
Wærbeorht
Wærhelm
Wærfriþ (Wærfrith)
Wærheard
Wærmund
Wærnóþ (Wærnóth)
Wærstán
Wealdhelm
Wealdhere
Wealh
Wealhbeorht
Wealhheard
Wealhhere
Wealhhún
Wegbrand
Wegdæg
Wíga
Wígbeald
Wígbeorht
Wígfriþ (Wígfrith)
Wígfús
Wíghéah
Wígheard
Wíghelm
Wíghere
Wígláf
Wígmund
Wígnóþ (Wígnóth)
Wígréd
Wígstán
Wígþegn (Wígthegn)
Wihta
Wihtbeald
Wihtbeorht
Wihtbrord
Wihtfriþ (Wihtfrith)
Wihtgár
Wihtgils
Wihtheard
Wihthelm
Wihthere
Wihthún
Wihtláf
Wihtmund
Wihtnóþ (Wihtnóth)
Wihtréd
Wihtsige
Wilfriþ (Wilfrith)
Wilgár
Wilgils
Wilheard
Wilhelm
Wilhere
Willa
Wilmund
Wilnóþ (Wilnóth)
Wilréd
Wilsige
Wilstán
Winehelm
Winehelm
Winemann
Winemund
Winefriþ (Winefrith)
Wéohstán
Wita/Witta
Wuda/Wudda
Wulfbeald
Wulfbeorht
Wulfgár
Wulfgéat
Wulfhéah
Wulfheard
Wulfhelm
Wulfhere
Wulfhún
Wulfláf
Wulfmǽr
Wulfnóþ (Wulfnóth)
Wulfréd
Wulfríc
Wulfsige
Wulfstán
Wynnbeald
Wynnbeorht
Wynnfriþ (Wynnfrith)
Wynnhelm
Wynnhere
Wynnsige
Wynnstán
Yffi

Ælfflǽd
Ælfgifu
Ælfgýþ (Ælfgýth)
Ælfhild
Ælfrún
Ælfswíþ (Ælfswíth)
Ælfþrýþ (Ælfthrýth)
Æscburg
Ælfwaru
Ælfwynn
Æscburg
Æscwynn
Æþelburg (Æthelburg)
Æþelflǽd (Æthelflǽd)
Æþelgifu (Æthelgifu)
Æþelgýþ (Æthelgýth)
Æþelhild (Æthelhild)
Æþelswíþ (Æthelswíth)
Æþelþrýþ (Æthelthrýth)
Æþelwynn (Æthelwynn)
Béage
Bealdhild
Bebbe
Beorhtgifu
Beorhtwaru
Beorhtwynn
Beornflǽd
Beorngýþ (Beorngýth)
Beornþrýþ (Beornthrýth)
Beornwynn
Blíþþrýþ (Blíththrýth)
Bregoswíþ (Bregoswíth)
Burghild
Burgwynn
Byrnflǽd
Cénburg
Cénswíþ (Cénswíth)
Cénþrýþ (Cénthrýth)
Cénwynn
Céolburg
Céolflǽd
Céolswíþ (Céolswíth)
Céolþrýþ (Céolthrýth)
Céolwynn
Cúðburg (Cúthburg)
Cúþswíþ (Cúthswíth)
Cwén
Cwénburg
Cwéngýþ (Cwéngýth)
Cwénþrýþ (Cwénthrýth)
Cyneburg
Cynegýþ (Cynegýth)
Cynehild
Cynelufu
Cyneswíþ (Cyneswíth)
Cyneþrýþ (Cynethrýth)
Cynewíse
Cynewynn
Éadburg
Éadflǽd
Éadgifu
Éadgýþ (Éadgýth)
Éadhild
Éadléofu
Éadswíþ (Éadswíth)
Éadwynn
Ealdgýþ (Ealdgýth)
Ealhburg
Ealhflǽd
Ealhswaru
Ealhswíþ (Ealhswíth)
Ealhþrýþ (Ealhthrýth)
Ealhwaru
Ealhwynn
Éanburg
Éanflǽd
Éangýþ (Éangýth)
Éanswíþ (Éanswíth)
Éawynn
Ecgburg
Eormenburg
Eormenhild
Eormenþrýþ (Eormenthrýth)
Folcburg
Friðugýþ (Frithugýth)
Góde
Godgifu
Gódwíf
Héahburg
Hereburg
Heregýþ (Heregýth)
Hild
Hildeburg
Hildelíþ (Hildelíth)
Hringwaru
Hróðwaru (Hróthwaru)
Húngifu
Húngýþ (Húngýth)
Hygeburg
Ísenburg
Léofcwén
Léofdæge
Léofflǽd
Léofgifu
Léofgýþ (Léofgýth)
Léofrún
Léofsidu
Léofwaru
Léofwynn
Lufu
Mǽrwynn
Mildburg
Mildþrýþ (Mildthrýth)
Nóðgýþ (Nóthgýth)
Ósburg
Ósgifu
Ósþrýþ (Ósthrýth)
Óswaru
Óswynn
Sǽþrýþ (Sǽthrýth)
Seaxburg
Seleburg
Seleþrýþ (Selethrýth)
Sifflǽd
Sigeburg
Sigegýþ (Sigegýth)
Sigeþrýþ (Sigethrýth)
Sigewaru
Swíðe (Swíthe)
Swéte
Tette
Þurwíf (Thurwíf)
Tídburg
Torhtgýþ (Torhtgýth)
Wærburg
Wígburg
Wígswíþ (Wígswíth)
Wihtburg
Wihtflǽd
Wilswíþ (Wilswíth)
Wulfflǽd
Wulfgifu
Wulfgýþ (Wulfgýth)
Wulfhild
Wulfrún
Wulfswíþ (Wulfswíth)
Wulfþrýþ (Wulfthrýth)
Wulfwaru
Wulfwynn
Wynnflǽd
Wynngifu
Wynnþrýþ (Wynnthrýth)
Ymme




Old Germanic customs
The Anglo-Saxon naming customs are a legacy of the ancient Germanic world and thus differ little from those in other Germanic lands of the time.

Combination
Most Anglo-Saxon names are originally a combination of two name elements. These elements are merely words that are traditionally used for name making. That means that not every Old English word can be used as a name element. These traditional elements can be an adjective as well as a noun. Thus æþel ‘noble’ and stán ‘stone’ are fit together as Æþelstán (‘noble stone’ i.e. ‘gem’), and ælf ‘elf’ and réd ‘rede, counsel’ as Ælfréd (‘elf-rede’, i.e. ‘counsels as an elf’ or ‘given counsel by elves’). Only elements starting with a consonant may be used as a second element. The two elements may neither alliterate nor rhyme, and if the second element is a noun, it must match the gender of the name bearer. This means that for example a name ending in -gár ‘spear’, a masculine noun, is automatically masculine. If the second element is an adjective, tradition decides whether it makes for a masculine or a feminine name. So a name ending in -heard ‘hard, strong’ is a masculine name.

Short forms
As a mark of affection a name can also be shortened, wherein any cluster of consonants may be simplified. An -a will then generally be added for male names, an -e for female names. Thus a short form of for instance Torhthelm would be Totta. Some of these short forms have become names in their own right, passed on from generation to generation. And so with historically attested Anglo-Saxon names like Offa it is hard to determine what their original, longer, proper form was. Another manner of making a short form is to simply leave out the second element, e.g. Wulfgár becomes Wulf.

Bynames and epithets
In addition to a proper name an Anglo-Saxon may bear a byname or epithet, to distinguish him from others of the same proper name. If an adjective is used, it must be inflected (-a for men, -e for women) and will usually be preceded by an article (se for men, séo for women). So if one particular Éadmund is éadig ‘blessed’, he is Éadmund se Éadiga. If one particular Ælfgifu is fæger ‘fair’, she is Ælfgifu séo Fægere. If a noun is used an article is not necessary, e.g. one Odda who is a swica ‘traitor’ can simply be Odda Swica.

Father’s names
Another way to further distinguish is to also use a father’s name (a.k.a. patronym). There is more than one manner in which to do this. For instance, Ælfgár son of Ælfríc can be known as Ælfgár Ælfríces sunu, or with sunu ‘son’ left out, simply Ælfgár Ælfríces. Or he can use the suffix -ing, which in the broadest sense means ‘belonging to’, in this case Ælfgár Ælfrícing. For grammatical reasons things are different when the name of the father ends in -a. For instance, Gódwine son of Odda can be known as Gódwine Oddan sunu, or as Gódwine Oddan, or as Gódwine Odding. For a woman it is the same, only she is not sunu but dohtor ‘daughter’ to her father.

Clan names
Many, if not most clan names are made with the same -ing suffix, which as mentioned above means in the broadest sense ‘belonging to’. A clan named after their founding father Eorl will be known plurally as the Eorlingas. Singularly, a member of that clan is an Eorling. But when his clan name is used together with his proper name, the clan name will be in the genitive plural, e.g. one Gléowine of the Eorlingas is properly marked as Gléowine Eorlinga. Another, famous example is the hero Béowulf of the Scyldingas (‘the people of Scyld’), who in the manuscripts is referred to as Béowulf Scyldinga. But a clan or group of people can also be named after their dwelling. Here the same -ing suffix can yet again be used, so for instance the people of the beorh ‘mountain’ can be the Byrgingas (the suffix causing a change of pronunciation and spelling in the root word). Or with another, more obscure suffix, the people of the mearc ‘mark, borderland’ can be the Myrce (a plural form). (That is in fact whence Mercia got its name, for it is a latinised form of Myrce ‘people of the mark’.) Or without any suffix, a clan could for instance be plurally known as the Déoran/Déore ‘brave ones, bold ones’. One Hróðmǽr of the Déoran would be properly addressed as Hróðmǽr Déorena.

(Note: Among the Frisians, a people in the Netherlands closely related to the English, designations of the type Eorlinga ‘of the Eorlingas’ (i.e. ‘of the people of Eorl’) have fossilised into surnames. And so many modern Frisians bear surnames like Eisinga, Mensinga, Wiebinga, etc.)

Titles
A title like cyning ‘king’ or eorl or ealdorman was usually placed áfter a proper name. So king Ælfréd was marked as Ælfréd cyning, and one Heardwine who was eorl would be marked as Heardwine eorl. When the title included the people that were ruled over, a proper designation would be Æþelréd Myrcena cyning, i.e. Æþelréd, king of the Mercians.



Reference works
Many lists of Anglo-Saxon names on the web are wholly untrustworthy, as they include non-Anglo-Saxon names, and/or names from younger periods, and/or give false information about the meaning of the names. A relatively reliable yet modest and flawed list can be found here. For an exhaustive list of standardised Anglo-Saxon names (and some other Germanic yet non-Anglo-Saxon names), the online and freely accessible Onomasticon Anglo-Saxonicum is indispensable, although no meanings are given for the names. Another good source is the Index of Persons of the Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England (PASE).

Last but not least, for anyone wishing to explore or master Old English vocabulary there is Bosworth & Toller’s An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, also online and freely accessible. It is an old work, yet often revised and still one of the best. Definitely outdated is its placement of accents to indicate long vowels. Where a modern scholar would write for instance dēor (or déor) ‘brave, bold’, Bosworth & Toller have deór.
 
http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/M/Anglo-Saxon/meaning.asp?name=Caedmon

It's me, Caedmon. Found it on your list too. :smile:
Actually took it from a book.
 
Glad you like it!

About the name Cædmon: though I put it on my own list, as it is an important name in Anglo-Saxon literature, it is assuredly not an Anglo-Saxon name originally. Either it is of British (Celtic) extraction, or not even a proper name, but a pun on Adam Kadmon.
 
Thank you Ealdgýþ and Hengwulf.  :smile:

Halvar said:
Very nice work indeed!  :wink: Nevertheless I can't change my name...once I tried people were complaining...  :roll:

Thank you. A few weeks ago a player was looking for an Anglo-Saxon name that would mean something like 'old man'. I helped him and now he is known as Gamling Forhta. Gamling meaning 'old one' and forhta meaning 'timid one', for he professed to be a coward. I don't see him much, for he dwells across the gársecg, thus you could be a Gamling too. Or, to use a like form: Gamla.

Dansk viking said:
When the Anglo-Saxon scribes and grovelling monks/priests recount my deeds, they will name me Þurcytel Þéodsceaða.

Wá þéodsceaðan! Hér stynt unforcúþ eorl mid his werode þe wille gealgean éðel þysne!
 
Hengist said:
I love all old West/North-Germanic languages.  :smile:
Oh yes, me too! I find them fascinating, as I imagine a great deal of history and epic tales behind these dead languages everytime I read any text written in those.
 
ATTENTION

A selection of male and female names has been added to the beginning of the opening post.
 
Aba/Abba

Really, Eadric? You're going for this look:lol:

abbapic.jpg
 
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