Old English names carry something that newer coinages simply cannot fake: the weight of a language spoken by warriors, poets, and farmers across early medieval Britain. These are names rooted in Anglo-Saxon, the Germanic tongue that gave the English language its backbone, and many of them have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. If you are looking for English names with genuine depth, this is the list.
The entries below are organized by theme and cover both boys and girls. Each name has a real Old English or Anglo-Saxon origin, and many of them are far more wearable today than their reputation suggests. Some are top-100 staples; others are quietly waiting to be rediscovered.
Old English Boy Names Rooted in Strength and Battle
Anglo-Saxon culture placed enormous value on courage and martial virtue, and that is reflected in dozens of names that combine elements meaning “battle,” “army,” “sword,” and “warrior.” These English names for boys carry that legacy without feeling aggressive in everyday use.
Alfred
From the Old English Aelfredmeaning “elf counsel” or “wise counsel,” this name belongs to one of England’s greatest kings. Alfred the Great ruled Wessex in the ninth century and is the only English monarch ever called “the Great.” It feels both distinguished and genuinely approachable as a revival pick.
Edmund
Old English Eadmundfrom ead (wealth, fortune) and mund (protection). It was the name of at least two Anglo-Saxon kings and a martyred saint. Edmund has a quietly literary quality now, familiar from Austen and Shakespeare without being overused.
Harold
From Old English Herewealdmeaning “army ruler,” this was the name of the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. Harold fell at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The name feels genuinely vintage now and is ripe for a comeback alongside neighbors like Herbert and Howard.
Oswald
Combining Old English os (god) and weald (rule or power). Saint Oswald was a seventh-century king of Northumbria venerated across England. The nickname Oz gives it an unexpected cool factor.
Godwin
From God (god) and wine (friend), meaning “friend of God.” This was a major Anglo-Saxon surname-turned-first name, carried by the powerful Earl Godwin, father of King Harold. It reads as fresh and unusual today while sitting firmly in the historical record.
Aldric
Old English Aeldricfrom eald (old) and ric (power, ruler), meaning “old ruler” or “noble ruler.” It is rarer than its relative Aldrich and carries a lean, usable sound.
Wulfric
Directly Old English: wulf (wolf) and ric (power), meaning “wolf power.” Several Anglo-Saxon saints and nobles bore this name. It is a bold choice that wears surprisingly well once you get past the initial unfamiliarity.
Leofric
From leof (dear, beloved) and ric (power, ruler). The Earl of Mercia, Leofric, is famous largely because of his wife Lady Godiva. It is one of the more elegant Old English compound names.
Aethelstan
Old English Aethelstanfrom aethel (noble) and stan (stone), meaning “noble stone.” Athelstan was the first king to rule all of England, in the tenth century. The shorter form Athelstan is equally valid and perhaps a touch easier in daily use.
Cynric
Old English, combining cyne (royal) and ric (power), meaning “royal power.” Cynric appears in the early West Saxon royal genealogies. An unusual but authentic choice for those who want something truly off the beaten path.
Godric
From god (god) and ric (power), meaning “power of God.” Saint Godric of Finchale was a twelfth-century hermit and the earliest English songwriter whose music survives. The name has a medieval warmth that distinguishes it from harder-edged alternatives.
Aelfred
The original Old English spelling of Alfred, included here as a distinct form because it is occasionally used in its own right as a deliberate historical reference. The pronunciation is effectively the same; the spelling signals a deeper connection to the Anglo-Saxon record.
Dunstan
Old English dun (dark, hill) and stan (stone). Saint Dunstan was the tenth-century Archbishop of Canterbury and one of the most influential figures in early English Christianity. The name has a sturdy, earthy feel.
Eadric
From ead (wealth, fortune) and ric (power, ruler). Eadric Streona was a notorious Anglo-Saxon nobleman, which gives the name some history. It is a close relative of Aldric but with the gentler ead root.
Hereward
Old English here (army) and weard (guard, protection), meaning “army guardian.” Hereward the Wake was the legendary Anglo-Saxon resistance leader who defied the Norman conquest. It is a strong, story-laden name that almost no one uses today.
Old English Boy Names Meaning Noble or Prosperous
The Old English element aethel (noble) and ead (wealth, prosperity) appear in an enormous number of Anglo-Saxon names. Many of the most familiar English names for boys trace back to one of these two roots.
Edward
From Old English Eadweardmeaning “wealthy guardian.” One of the most enduring English names in history, carried by kings from the Anglo-Saxon era through to the present British royal family. It never really goes out of style. it simply cycles between fashionable and quietly solid.
Edwin
Old English Eadwinefrom ead (wealth) and wine (friend), meaning “wealthy friend.” Edwin of Northumbria was a seventh-century king and one of the first Northumbrian Christians. The name is warmer and softer than Edward and equally well-grounded.
Edgar
From Old English Eadgarmeaning “wealthy spear.” Edgar the Peaceful was a tenth-century king of England, and the name remained in use after the Norman Conquest largely because of his reputation. It has a gothic edge that feels very current.
Athelbert
A variant of Ethelbert, from Old English Aethelbeorhtmeaning “noble bright.” Ethelbert of Kent was the first English king to convert to Christianity. The name is unusual but sits within a clearly recognizable family of Anglo-Saxon names.
Aldwin
Old English eald (old) and wine (friend), meaning “old friend.” It has a gentle, unhurried sound that feels like a warmer alternative to Alvin, its distant modern relative.
Ethelred
From Aethelraedmeaning “noble counsel.” Ethelred the Unready is the most famous bearer, though “unready” is a mistranslation of the Old English unraedmeaning “poorly counseled.” A name with a complicated reputation but a genuinely beautiful sound.
Osric
Old English os (god) and ric (power), meaning “divine power.” It appears in Beowulf and in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, giving it both ancient and literary credentials.
Aethelwulf
From aethel (noble) and wulf (wolf). Aethelwulf was the father of Alfred the Great and king of Wessex in the ninth century. This one is strictly for the committed Old English enthusiast, but it is historically impeccable.
Aldred
Old English eald (old) and raed (counsel), meaning “wise counsel.” Aldred was the Archbishop of York who crowned both Harold II and William the Conqueror. It is understated and distinguished.
Old English Boy Names From Nature and the Land
Anglo-Saxon speakers were deeply connected to the landscape, and many Old English names draw on elements like wudu (forest), dun (hill), and stan (stone). These feel modern in the best way.
Stanley
From Old English stan (stone) and leah (woodland clearing), meaning “stony clearing.” It began as a place name and surname before becoming a given name. Stanley has an appealing vintage quality right now without feeling ancient.
Clifton
Old English clif (cliff) and tun (settlement, estate), meaning “settlement by the cliff.” Like many Old English place-name surnames, it moved into use as a first name. Cliff is the natural nickname.
Bradford
From Old English brad (broad) and ford (ford, river crossing). It is well established as a given name in American English, with Brad as the obvious nickname. Solid, unpretentious, deeply rooted.
Weston
Old English west and tun (settlement), meaning “western settlement.” It has been climbing steadily as a given name and sits in a sweet spot between classic and fresh.
Ashford
From Old English aesc (ash tree) and ford (river crossing). Less common than Ashton but equally legitimate as a given name. It has a clean, open sound.
Bram
A short form of Old English Bramderived from place names meaning “broom” (the shrub), related to Old English brom. Used as a given name in England for centuries. Bram Stoker made it internationally recognizable.
Heath
Directly from Old English haethmeaning “heathland” or “open moorland.” It has been used as a given name since at least the nineteenth century and carries a spare, landscape-rooted quality.
Forrest
From Old English and Old French roots meaning “forest” or “outside the main settlement.” Established as a given name through long use, with the spelling Forrest particularly common in American English.
Old English Girl Names Meaning Noble or Bright
Anglo-Saxon women’s names are among the most underused category in modern baby naming. These English names for girls deserve far more attention.
Ethel
A short form of longer Old English compound names beginning with aethel (noble). It peaked in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is now at that precise point in the revival cycle where it reads as brave and interesting rather than dowdy.
Audrey
From Old English Aethelthrythvia the shortened medieval form Audreymeaning “noble strength.” Saint Etheldreda of Ely was one of the most venerated Anglo-Saxon saints, and Audrey is her name worn lightly. It has been a reliable mid-tier favorite for decades.
Mildred
Old English Mildthrythfrom milde (mild, gentle) and thryth (strength), meaning “gentle strength.” Saint Mildred was a seventh-century Abbess of Thanet. This is one of the most compelling revival candidates on this entire list.
Edith
From Old English Eadgythcombining ead (wealth, fortune) and gyth (war, strife). Edith was the wife of Edward the Confessor. It has been enjoying a genuine, quiet revival and feels modern without trying too hard.
Hilda
Old English, from hild (battle). Saint Hilda of Whitby was one of the most powerful women in early English Christianity, and the name carries her authority. It is climbing back into fashion alongside Matilda and Winifred.
Winifred
Though the name has Welsh roots (Gwenfrewi), it was thoroughly anglicized into Old English-style form and has been used as an English name for centuries. The nickname Winnie makes it immediately accessible and warm.
Rowena
Possibly from Old English or Old Welsh elements meaning “fame” and “joy” or “white.” Used in England since medieval times and popularized by Walter Scott. It has a romantic, slightly medieval quality that is very appealing.
Elfreda
From Old English Aelfthrythmeaning “elf strength.” Aelfthryth was the first English queen consort to be formally crowned. The name is unusual and lovely, and the nickname Freda is quietly fashionable again.
Milburga
Old English milde (gentle) and burg (fortress, protection), meaning “gentle protection.” Saint Milburga was a seventh-century Abbess of Much Wenlock. This is a deeply obscure choice but entirely genuine and wearable with the nickname Millie.
Aelswith
Old English, from aelf (elf) and swith (strong), meaning “elf strong.” Aelswith was the wife of Alfred the Great. It is rarely used today but is historically authentic and phonetically interesting.
Aelfgifu
Old English aelf (elf) and gifu (gift), meaning “elf gift.” Several Anglo-Saxon queens and noblewomen bore this name. It is genuinely difficult in modern use but included here because it is a foundational Anglo-Saxon woman’s name.
Osberga
Old English, from os (god) and berg (protection), meaning “divine protection.” Osberga was the mother of Alfred the Great. A rare and historically significant name.
Old English Girl Names With Gentle or Peaceful Meanings
Not every Anglo-Saxon name reaches for battle and power. A significant group of women’s names draw on elements meaning “mild,” “peace,” “beloved,” and “joy,” and these tend to wear particularly well in modern life.
Wilda
From Old English wilde (wild, untamed). Used as a given name in English-speaking countries since at least the nineteenth century. It has a spare, evocative quality.
Leofgifu
Old English leof (beloved, dear) and gifu (gift), meaning “beloved gift.” A genuinely rare Anglo-Saxon woman’s name that is phonetically prettier than it might look on the page.
Godgifu
Old English god (god) and gifu
(gift), meaning “gift of God.” Lady Godiva’s actual name was Godgifu. The modern form Godiva is recognizable but unusual. Godgifu is a purely historical choice. Old English frid (peace) and swith (strong), meaning “strong peace.” Saint Frideswide is the patron saint of Oxford, and her shrine was a major pilgrimage site. The nickname Frida brings it into the modern world. Old English milde (mild, gentle) and swith (strong). A compound found in Anglo-Saxon records, though less prominent than Mildred or Milburga. It is phonetically clean and carries the characteristic gentle-strength pairing of Old English women’s names. Many names that feel simply “classic” or “traditional” English are in fact Old English survivals that have been in use so long they no longer read as ancient. These are the English names most people know, but their Anglo-Saxon origins are worth understanding. Technically Old High German in origin (Willahelmfrom wil meaning will or desire and helm meaning helmet or protection), but it arrived in England with the Normans and has been one of the defining English names ever since. It has never left the top ranks in England and the United States. Old High German Ricohardfrom ric (power) and hard (brave, strong). Like William, it came with the Normans but quickly became thoroughly English. Richard has been out of fashion long enough to start feeling fresh again. From Old High German Hrodeigermeaning “famous spear.” Introduced to England by the Normans and immediately absorbed into English naming culture. It is one of those names that feels like it belongs to everyone’s grandfather and is now quietly appealing for a baby. Old High German Waldharfrom wald (rule) and hari (army), meaning “ruler of the army.” Walter has a lovely, unhurried quality and has been used in England continuously since the Norman period. Old English os (god) and beorht (bright), meaning “divinely bright.” Used in England since the Anglo-Saxon period. Uncommon today but entirely wearable. Old High German Adalbertfrom adal (noble) and beraht (bright), meaning “noble bright.” Thoroughly naturalized as an English name through centuries of use and the influence of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s consort. Al and Albie are appealing nicknames. Old High German Haribertfrom hari (army) and beraht (bright), meaning “bright army.” Herbert is at exactly the point in the revival cycle where it looks interesting rather than dated. Herb is unexpectedly cool. Old English Wilfridfrom wil (will, desire) and frid (peace), meaning “desiring peace.” Saint Wilfrid of York was one of the most influential figures in early English Christianity. The name is warm, unusual, and historically impeccable. Old English os (god) and wine (friend), meaning “friend of God.” Saint Oswin was a seventh-century king of Deira. A gentle, genuinely rare alternative to Owen or Edwin. Old English cyne (royal) and helm (helmet, protection), meaning “royal helmet” or “royal protector.” Saint Kenelm was a legendary Mercian prince. Rare and distinctive without being unpronounceable. Old Norse in ultimate origin but thoroughly integrated into Anglo-Saxon England, where it was the name of Sweyn Forkbeard, the Danish king who conquered England. It sits at the intersection of Old English and Old Norse naming cultures. Old Norse-rooted but deeply embedded in Anglo-Saxon England as the name of King Cnut (Canute), who ruled England, Denmark, and Norway. The spelling Canute is the anglicized form. Historically significant and genuinely unusual as a given name today. One of the most distinctly English naming traditions is the use of place-name surnames as given names. Almost all of these trace back to Old English topographical words, and many have been given names for well over a century. Old English aesc (ash tree) and tun (settlement), meaning “ash tree settlement.” Solidly established as a given name for both boys and girls, though it leans male in current usage. Old English clif (cliff) and ford (river crossing). A Victorian-era revival of an Anglo-Saxon place name that became a popular first name in the early twentieth century. Cliff remains a usable short form. Old English leac (herb garden, leek) and tun (settlement), meaning “herb garden settlement.” Used as a given name for both boys and girls in Britain and the United States. Old English suth (south) and tun (settlement), meaning “southern settlement.” Increasingly popular as a given name, especially in the American South. It has a clean, preppy energy. Old English east and tun (settlement), meaning “eastern settlement.” One of the fastest-rising Old English-rooted names of recent years, landing firmly in the top 100 for boys in the United States. Old English lin (flax) and tun (settlement), meaning “flax settlement.” Less common than Clifton or Easton, which makes it stand out pleasantly. Old English scylf (ledge, shelf) and tun (settlement), meaning “settlement on the ledge.” Established as a given name in American English. Shel is the natural nickname. Old English weald (forest) and tun (settlement), meaning “forest settlement.” Has a mid-century American feel thanks to The Waltons, but the name itself is genuinely Old English. Old English north and tun (settlement), meaning “northern settlement.” Occasionally used as a given name. it has an appealing, no-nonsense quality. Old English bere (barley) and tun (settlement), meaning “barley settlement.” A surname with real Old English roots, used as a given name in American English, particularly in the South. Old English aethel (noble) and tun (settlement), or possibly from a place name meaning “Ella’s settlement.” Thoroughly established as a given name, with Sir Elton John as its most famous modern bearer. Old English preost (priest) and tun (settlement), meaning “priest’s settlement.” Consistently popular as a given name, especially in the United States, with a friendly, solid sound. Old English, from a place name meaning “settlement in the bent grass” or “bean settlement.” Used as a given name primarily in American English. Ben is the easy nickname. Old English dael (valley) and tun (settlement), meaning “valley settlement.” Has been a popular given name in the United States, with an easy, open sound. Old English place-name origin, a variant of Laxton, from leac (leek, herb) and tun (settlement). Rarely used as a given name but genuinely attested. Old English horh (muddy place) and tun (settlement), meaning “muddy settlement.” Used as a given name. primarily recognizable through Dr. Seuss’s Horton, but it has real Old English roots. The same Old English topographical vocabulary that fuels so many boys’ names also gives us a set of softer, more openly beautiful girl names, many of them either established choices or excellent candidates for revival. Old English aesc (ash tree) and leah (woodland clearing), meaning “ash tree clearing.” One of the defining English names of the 1980s and 1990s for girls in the United States, now stepping back but not gone. While the most common derivation cited is Hebrew (meaning “weary”), the Old English leah (woodland clearing) is a separate and valid etymological thread for English bearers. It is a top-100 staple across the English-speaking world. Old English leah (woodland clearing or meadow). Used as a given name for both boys and girls, it is particularly associated with mid-century American English. Vivien Leigh gave it lasting glamour. Old English hwit (white) and eg (island), meaning “white island.” A place-name surname that became a given name, predominantly for girls in American English from the 1980s onward. Old English haeth (heathland) and leah (clearing), meaning “heathland clearing.” Firmly established as a girl’s name now, with a crisp, modern feel that sits right on the current trend line. Old English heorot (hart, stag) and leah (clearing), meaning “stag clearing.” Used for both boys and girls. it has a nature-rooted freshness without being invented. Old English cyne (royal) and burg (fortress), with leah (clearing) added in the place-name form, ultimately meaning “royal fortress clearing.” A major name for girls in the mid-twentieth century that is now easing back toward usability without the weight of overuse. Old English scylf (ledge) and leah (clearing), meaning “ledge clearing.” Used as a given name for girls since the mid-twentieth century. The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley gave the surname literary prestige. Old English beofor (beaver) and leah (clearing), meaning “beaver stream clearing.” A major mid-century English and Australian name for girls. the spelling Beverly is the American form. It is at the right stage for a tentative revival. Old English ansetl (hermitage) and leah (clearing), or possibly from a place name meaning “one clearing.” Used for both boys and girls, with a slightly fresher feeling than many of its -ley counterparts. Directly from Old English blithemeaning “cheerful, joyful.” Used as a given name since at least the nineteenth century. It is spare and lovely and criminally underused. From Old English wrennathe wren bird. It has moved from an unusual choice to a quietly fashionable one over the past decade, with a spare, one-syllable energy that feels very current. Old English fearnthe fern plant. Used as a given name since the Victorian era. It has a gentle, botanical simplicity that is very much in step with current naming trends. From Old English haeselthe hazel tree. Hazel has had a major revival over the past decade and is now a top-50 name in several English-speaking countries. It has warmth, nature-rooted charm, and a long history of genuine use. Old English holegnthe holly plant. A mid-century revival that became a classic in its own right. Holly is bright, simple, and genuinely English in its roots. Old English ifigthe ivy plant. Ivy has surged in popularity over the past decade and is now a top-20 name in England and Wales. It has the rare quality of feeling both fresh and deeply rooted. Old English naming culture was not rigidly gendered by modern standards, and several names were used across genders or have migrated across them over time. These are among the most versatile English names in the Anglo-Saxon tradition. Old English place-name origin, from a Scottish form of a name meaning “garden of hollies” or “grey fortress.” Lesley tends female and Leslie tends male in British English, though the distinction is soft. Both are firmly established. Old English Avelinefrom a Norman-French diminutive of a Germanic root meaning “wished-for child” or possibly related to aval (island). Originally used for both boys and girls, now predominantly female but with a genuine history of male use. Evelyn Waugh is the most famous male bearer. Old English place-name, from sid (wide) and eg (island), meaning “wide island.” Used for both boys and girls since the nineteenth century. Sydney (the spelling) leans female in Australian usage. Old High German Alberichfrom alb (elf) and ric (power), meaning “elf ruler.” Introduced to England by the Normans and used for boys historically. now predominantly female in American English. It has a genuine medieval English history. Old English Lindes egmeaning “island of linden trees.” Originally a male name and a Scottish clan name, now predominantly female in American and British English. The spelling Lindsay is equally common. Old English haeth (heathland) and leah (clearing), a spelling variant of Hadley used for both boys and girls. Slightly less common than Hadley, which gives it a more distinctive feel. The single most useful question to ask is whether the name you love can survive daily life. Old English names range from the effortlessly wearable (Edith, Edgar, Hazel) to the genuinely challenging (Aethelwulf, Aelfgifu). Neither end of that spectrum is wrong, but you should go in with your eyes open about which you are choosing. Think about the nickname layer. One of the great gifts of Anglo-Saxon compound names is that almost all of them have natural short forms: Athelstan becomes Stan, Elfreda becomes Freda, Winifred becomes Winnie, Frideswide becomes Frida. If the full name feels like a lot for everyday use, a strong nickname makes it completely livable. Consider the sound in the context of your surname. Old English names tend to favor consonant clusters and strong stresses, which means they pair differently with surnames than Romance-language names do. A two-syllable surname with a hard ending (Barrett, Fletcher, Abbott) often pairs beautifully with a three-syllable Old English given name. A long, flowing surname can be anchored well by a crisp single-syllable choice like Blythe, Wren, or Heath. Finally, lean into the history. The single best argument for choosing an Old English name is that almost every one of them has a genuine story behind it: a saint, a king, a battle, a landscape. Knowing that story enriches the name and gives your child something to grow into. That kind of depth is exactly what many parents are looking for when they go looking for English names with real roots. Old English names are not a niche interest or an academic exercise. They are the founding layer of the English naming tradition, and the best of them are as beautiful and wearable as anything coined yesterday. From the soaring Audrey to the spare Wren to the magnificent Athelstan, the Anglo-Saxon name pool is one of the most rewarding places to look.Frideswide
Milswith
Familiar English Names With Surprisingly Deep Old English Roots
William
Richard
Roger
Walter
Osbert
Albert
Herbert
Wilfred
Oswin
Kenelm
Sweyn
Cnut
Old English Place-Name Surnames Used as First Names
Ashton
Clifford
Leighton
Sutton
Easton
Linton
Shelton
Walton
Norton
Barton
Elton
Preston
Benton
Dalton
Lexton
Horton
Old English Girl Names From Place-Name and Nature Roots
Ashley
Leah
Leigh
Whitney
Hadley
Hartley
Kimberley
Shelley
Beverley
Ainsley
Blythe
Wren
Fern
Hazel
Holly
Ivy
Old English Names Shared by Boys and Girls
Lesley
Evelyn
Sidney
Aubrey
Lindsey
Hadleigh
How to Choose an Old English Name That Works Today
