70+ Old English Names for Males & What They Mean

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British Culture Expert Amelia Roberts discusses popular English boy names from the early to late Middle Ages

Co-authored by Amelia Roberts and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: March 21, 2026 Fact Checked

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Old English

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Medieval

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Old-Timey/1800s

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Vintage

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More Boy Names

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Old English Name Generator

Some names sound old, but then there are names that are old old. That’s right—we’re talking about names from the Old English language (450-1100 CE). If Beowulf is the only men’s name from that time that’s ringing a bell, then this article is for you. Keep scrolling to explore male names from Old English, Middle English, and the Victorian Era, complete with their meaning and origins.

Medieval English Names for Boys

British Culture Expert Amelia Roberts says English male names from the early Middle Ages include Aethelstan, Aethelred, Cuthbert, Edric, Oswald, and Goodwin. In the later Middle Ages, more familiar names like George, John, Henry, and Richard became popular, plus European-influenced names like Albert and Cornelius.

Section 1 of 5:

Old English Male Names

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These Old English names recall a time of heroism and mythology. You guessed it—Old English is the ancestor of modern English, and was spoken from about 450 to 1100 CE.^{[1]
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Research source} “Old English is much closer to German. The vowel sounds actually sound a lot different than the vowel sounds in English,” explains writer Adrienne Raphel. So, if you want to know how these majestic male names really sound, “You should go to an intro textbook for Old English and read about how the vowel sounds are pronounced. That will really cue you in,” she adds.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Adrienne Raphel
Writer

Expert Interview}
- Aegen: Possibly from the Irish words for “fire” or “fiery one.”
- Aldous: From the Old English words for “old” or “wise.”
- Alwyn: Meaning “elf friend” (from the words for “elf” and “friend”).
- Aylmer: From an Old English surname that was a variant of Elmer.
- Beowulf: After the protagonist of the 8th-century poem Beowulf, possibly meaning “bear” or “battle wolf.”^{[3]
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- Cuthbert: From the Old English words for “familiar” and “bright.”
- Dunstan: From the Old English words for “dark” and “stone.”
- Edgar: From the Old English words for “wealth/fortune” and “spear.”
- Edward: Meaning “rich guard” (from the words for “wealth” and “guard”).
- Ethelbert: From the Old English words for “noble,” “bright,” and “famous.”
- Garrick: From the Germanic words for “spear ruler” or “ruler with a spear.”
- Hereward: From the Old English words for “army” and “guard.”
- Norman: From the Germanic and Old Norse words for “man from the north” or “northerner” (after the Vikings who settled in Normandy, France).
- Oswald: From the Old English words for “god” and “powerful/mighty.”
- Radney: From the Old English words for “red oak” or “from the red island.”
- Seabert: Meaning “bright/shining sea” (from the words for “sea” and “bright”).
- Selwyn: From the Old English words for “manor friend” or “blessed joy.”
- Tate: A variant of the name Tata, meaning “happy/glad.”
- Waldo: From the Germanic words for “ruler/power/strong” and “army/warrior.”
- Wilfred: Meaning “desiring peace” (from the words for “will/desire” and “peace”).

Section 2 of 5:

Medieval Male Names

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These Medieval boy names evoke strength, wisdom, and fantasy. After the Normans invaded England in 1066, Old English blended with Norman French to create Middle English (spoken from about 1100 to 1500).^{[4]
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Research source} Some male names from this time show a heavy French and Old English influence, while some are similar to modern English names we know today. Raphel adds that “Middle English…[happened] after something called the Great Vowel Shift, where vowel sounds shifted to where they're pronounced more like they are now.”^{[5]
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Expert Source

Adrienne Raphel
Writer

Expert Interview}
- Amice: From the Latin word for “friend.”
- Col: A Medieval short form of the name Nicholas (“victory of the people”).
- Dye: A Medieval nickname for Dionysia (after the Greek god Dionysus).
- Elric: A Medieval form of an Old English name meaning “elf ruler.”
- Firmin: From the Latin word for “firm.”
- Hamo: A Norman variation of Haimo, meaning “home.”
- Hawise: From a Medieval French name formed from the words for “battle/combat” and “wide.”^{[6]
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- Jan: The Medieval English form of John.
- Pate: A Medieval nickname for Patrick, meaning “nobleman.”
- Randel: From the Medieval name Randolf, meaning “rim of a shield.”
- Wymund: A Middle English name from the words for “battle” and “protection.”

Section 3 of 5:

Old-Fashioned Male Names from the 1800s

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Victorian-era English names sound delightfully old-timey today. In the Victorian era (1837–1901), Biblical names became very popular, as well as stylish (for the time) names like Theodore, Henry, and Oliver.^{[7]
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Research source} If you’re looking for a posh boy name that exudes sophistication and class, look no further:
- Alexander: From ancient Greek, meaning “defending men.”
- Asher: From Hebrew, meaning “happy/blessed.”
- Benjamin: From Hebrew, meaning “son of the south” or “son of the right hand.”
- Elijah: From the Hebrew/Biblical phrase for “My God is Yahweh.”
- Ethan: From Hebrew, meaning “solid/firm/enduring.”
- Gabriel: From Hebrew, meaning “God is my strong man.”
- Henry: From the Germanic name Heimrich, meaning “home ruler.”
- Jack: A short form for John, meaning “gracious.”
- Jackson: From the English surname meaning “son of Jack.”
- Julian: Derived from the Roman name Julius; alternatively, from ancient Greek, meaning “downy bearded.”
- Leo: From the Latin word for “lion.”
- Levi: From Hebrew, meaning “joined/attached.”
- Lucas: From Italian, meaning “from Lucania” (a region in southern Italy).
- Noah: From ancient Hebrew, meaning “rest” and “repose.”
- Oliver: From the Germanic and Old Norse words for “olive tree.”
- Owen: From Welsh, meaning “youth.”
- Samuel: From Hebrew, meaning “God has heard” or “name of God.”
- Sebastian: From the Latin Sebastianus, meaning “from Sebaste” (a town in modern-day Turkey).
- Theodore: From ancient Greek, meaning “gift of God.”
- Wyatt: From Old English, meaning “brave/hardy” and “battle.”

Section 4 of 5:

Unique Vintage Male Names

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These rare vintage names sound sleek, smart, and sophisticated. You don’t hear these names very often these days, making them an attention-getting first name for any baby boy. If you’re looking for a unique name to make your boy, pet, or character stand out, this list is for you:
- Alden: From Old English and Germanic, meaning “old friend.”
- Ballard: From Old English and French, meaning “bald-headed.”
- Bertram: From Germanic, meaning “bright raven.”
- Casper: From Persian, meaning “treasure bearer.”
- Cullen: From Irish, meaning “holly tree.”
- Emmett: From German, meaning “whole/universal.”
- Felix: From Latin, meaning “happy/fortunate.”
- Forsyth: From Scottish, meaning “man of peace.”
- Godfrey: From German and French, meaning “God’s peace.”
- Herbert: From Germanic, meaning “bright army.”
- Isaac: From Hebrew, meaning “laughter.”
- Leopold: From Germanic, meaning “brave people.”
- Lloyd: From Welsh, meaning “gray-haired.”
- Nathaniel: From Hebrew, meaning “gift of God.”
- Orville: From Old English and French, meaning “golden city.”
- Quentin: From Latin, meaning “fifth.”
- Reginald: From Latin and Germanic, meaning “ruling with power.”
- Rufus: From Latin, meaning “red-haired.”
- Silas: From Aramaic and Latin, meaning “of the forest” or “prayed for.”
- Vincent: From Latin, meaning “to conquer.”

Section 5 of 5:

More Boy Names

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Read about even more boy names to get inspired. Looking for a male name with a specific flavor? Check out these wikiHow articles with hundreds more names from all over the globe to find the perfect fit:

Old English Name Generator

Generate unique and authentic names from the Dark Ages
Step back into the Dark Ages and explore the rich, sonorous history of the Anglo-Saxons. Our Old English Name Generator offers authentic names meticulously compiled from historical texts and linguistic traditions. Whether you're a writer crafting a saga, a gamer creating a character, or simply a history enthusiast, use this tool to discover names that evoke strength, wisdom, and nobility.
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