Old English Names: 120 Anglo-Saxon Names With Meanings

Old English names offer a rich choice of strong, distinctive and meaningful names. Many come from the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest, while others survived through medieval records or were revived in modern naming. This guide includes 120 Anglo-Saxon names for boys, girls and, where appropriate, gender-neutral use. You will find familiar choices such as Alfred and Emma alongside rare old English baby names including Eadgyth, Leofwine and Wulfrun. Meanings are based on name elements and historical usage, so a compound name may have slightly different translations across sources.

Quick Picks: Old English Names to Know

Name	Gender	Meaning	Origin or usage
Alfred	Boy	Elf counsel	Old English; royal historical name
Æthelred	Boy	Noble counsel	Old English royal name
Edmund	Boy	Prosperity protection	Old English; medieval English use
Godwin	Boy	Friend of God	Old English; historical surname source
Leofric	Boy	Beloved ruler	Old English noble name
Oswald	Boy	God’s power	Old English; saint’s name
Wulfric	Boy	Wolf power	Old English
Æthelflæd	Girl	Noble beauty	Old English; Mercian ruler
Eadgyth	Girl	Prosperous war	Old English form of Edith
Ealhswith	Girl	Noble strength	Old English historical name
Emma	Girl	Whole or universal	Germanic name used in England
Godgifu	Girl	Gift of God	Old English; later Godiva
Hild	Girl	Battle	Old English element and name
Leofgifu	Girl	Beloved gift	Old English
Wulfrun	Girl	Wolf secret or mystery	Old English; place-name history
Wynflæd	Girl	Joyful beauty	Old English

Old English Names for Boys

Old English male names often combine elements connected with leadership, protection, friendship, courage and battle. The spelling may look unfamiliar at first because modern English dropped letters such as æ and changed many consonant sounds. The forms below include historical names as well as familiar descendants still used today.

Alfred

Alfred comes from elements interpreted as “elf” and “counsel,” giving it the traditional meaning “elf counsel.” It is one of the most recognizable Anglo-Saxon names and is usually pronounced AL-frid or AL-fred.

Edward

Edward means “wealthy guardian” or “prosperity guard.” Although it has a long royal and medieval history, it remains an approachable choice because its spelling and pronunciation are familiar in modern English.

Edmund

Edmund combines ideas of prosperity and protection, often translated as “prosperity protector.” The name has deep English historical and saintly associations without sounding overly unusual today.

Edwin

Edwin means “wealthy friend” or “prosperous friend.” It is a straightforward old English name with a gentle sound and a strong connection to early English history.

Godwin

Godwin is generally understood as “friend of God,” from god and wine, meaning friend. It was an important Anglo-Saxon personal name and later became a well-known English family name.

Leofric

Leofric means “beloved ruler” or “dear power.” Its first element, leof, appears in many Old English names and gives the name a warmer meaning than its formal sound might suggest.

Oswald

Oswald is formed from elements meaning “god” and “power” or “ruler.” It is an attested early English name that can be shortened to Ozzy or Ozzie in modern family use.

Oswin

Oswin is usually translated as “god’s friend.” It has a compact, modern-friendly shape while retaining an unmistakably early English history.

Æthelred

Æthelred means “noble counsel,” from æthel, noble, and ræd, counsel. The historical spelling may be modernized as Aethelred or Ethelred, though the original form highlights its Old English character.

Æthelstan

Æthelstan means “noble stone” and is associated with one of England’s early kings. It is usually pronounced ATH-el-stan or Athelstan, depending on the speaker.

Beornwulf

Beornwulf combines “warrior” or “man” with “wolf,” creating the traditional interpretation “warrior wolf.” It is a rare historical choice suited to families seeking a bold Anglo-Saxon name.

Cenwulf

Cenwulf is an old royal name often interpreted as “bold wolf” or “royal wolf,” depending on how the first element is read. The simplified form Kenwulf may be easier for everyday use.

Hereward

Hereward is commonly explained through elements meaning “army” and “guardian,” or “army protector.” The name is connected with medieval English tradition and has a sturdy, literary quality.

Leofwine

Leofwine means “beloved friend.” The name combines the affectionate element leof with wine, friend, and can be modernized as Leofwin if desired.

Wulfric

Wulfric means “wolf power” or “wolf ruler.” It belongs to a large family of Old English names using animal imagery as a symbol of strength and determination.

Wulfstan

Wulfstan means “wolf stone.” The name has an imposing sound, but its two-part structure is typical of Old English compound names rather than a literal description.

Old English Names for Girls

Historical female names can be less familiar because fewer were preserved in modern everyday use. Many contain elements for nobility, joy, love, beauty or strength. Some are best viewed as historical forms, while names such as Edith and Emma have continued through later English naming traditions.

Æthelflæd

Æthelflæd is generally interpreted as “noble beauty,” combining æthel, noble, with flæd, beauty. It is associated with the powerful Mercian ruler known in English history and may be written Aethelflaed without the special character.

Eadgyth

Eadgyth means “prosperous war” or “wealth in battle.” It is the original Old English form behind Edith, making Eadgyth a distinctive choice with a more visibly historical spelling.

Ealhswith

Ealhswith is usually explained as “noble strength.” Its pronunciation is not completely intuitive, so it may be helpful to introduce the name as roughly AYL-swith or AAL-swith, acknowledging that reconstructed pronunciations vary.

Emma

Emma is not exclusively Old English; it comes from a broader Germanic naming tradition and was used in medieval England. Its meaning is often given as “whole” or “universal,” and its concise form makes it one of the easiest historical choices to use today.

Godgifu

Godgifu means “gift of God.” The later form Godiva is more familiar in English, but Godgifu shows the original Old English structure and pronunciation more clearly.

Hild

Hild means “battle” and also appears as an element in longer names. It is short, strong and historically grounded, though modern families may prefer Hilda or Hilde as smoother alternatives.

Leofgifu

Leofgifu means “beloved gift,” combining leof, beloved, with gifu, gift. The later form Love may reflect the affectionate sense, but Leofgifu preserves the original language.

Wulfrun

Wulfrun combines “wolf” with an element associated with mystery, secrecy or protection. It is an attested Old English feminine name and is also connected with the history of Wolverhampton’s name.

Wynflæd

Wynflæd is commonly interpreted as “joyful beauty” or “joyful woman.” The first element, wyn, suggests joy or delight, while the second has associations with beauty and femininity.

Ælfgifu

Ælfgifu means “elf gift,” from ælf, elf, and gifu, gift. It was a genuine Anglo-Saxon name, though the spelling may be adapted as Aelfgifu or Elfgifu for modern keyboards.

Eadburh

Eadburh means “prosperity fortress” or “wealth protection.” The modernized form Eadburgh is possible, but the shorter historical spelling has a distinctive, formal character.

Eadgifu

Eadgifu means “prosperity gift.” It belongs to the same naming pattern as Ælfgifu and Leofgifu, where a first element describes status or identity and gifu adds the idea of a gift.

Eormenhild

Eormenhild is a rare historical name whose first element can suggest greatness or universality, combined with hild, battle. It is best suited to families comfortable explaining an uncommon pronunciation and spelling.

Frideswide

Frideswide is traditionally interpreted as “peaceful strength,” from elements associated with peace and power. It is a medieval English form with a gentle contrast between its meaning and its unusual appearance.

Mildrith

Mildrith combines “gentle” or “merciful” with an element connected to strength. It is a historical English name that may appeal to parents who like Mildred but want a rarer form.

Additional Anglo-Saxon Names With Meanings

The following compact collections bring the guide to 120 names. Spellings are presented in forms that are reasonably usable today, but historical documents often show variations. Several names are strongly masculine or feminine in their original records; a modern family may use some differently, but that would be a contemporary choice rather than a claim about historical usage.

More names for boys

Ælfric — elf ruler.
Ælfgār — elf spear.
Ælfheah — elf high or exalted.
Ælfnoth — elf daring.
Ælfrēd — elf counsel; an early form of Alfred.
Æthelberht — noble bright.
Æthelhere — noble army.
Æthelmær — noble famous.
Æthelwold — noble ruler.
Beorhtwulf — bright wolf.
Cyneric — royal power.
Cyneweard — royal guardian.
Deorwine — dear friend.
Eadgar — prosperous spear; the source of Edgar.
Eadmund — prosperity protection; an early form of Edmund.
Eadweard — prosperous guardian; an early form of Edward.
Eadwine — prosperous friend; an early form of Edwin.
Godric — God’s power.
Leofstan — beloved stone.
Ordwulf — spear wolf.
Osric — divine power or God’s ruler.
Osmund — divine protection.
Sigebryht — victory bright.
Wærferth — peace journey or peace progress.
Wigberht — battle bright.
Wigheard — battle hardy.
Wulfræd — wolf counsel.
Wynstan — joy stone.

More names for girls

Ælfflæd — elf beauty.
Ælfgyth — elf battle.
Ælfgifu — elf gift.
Æthelgyth — noble battle.
Æthelind — noble and gentle, or noble serpent, depending on analysis.
Æthelthryth — noble strength.
Beornwyn — warrior joy.
Cwen — woman or queen.
Eadflæd — prosperous beauty.
Eadgifu — prosperity gift.
Eadgyth — prosperous war.
Eadwynn — prosperous joy.
Elfwynn — elf joy.
Godwyn — divine joy or God’s joy.
Leofrun — beloved secret or beloved mystery.
Mildgyth — gentle battle.
Osburh — divine fortress or God’s protection.
Osith — divine peace.
Wulfgyth — wolf battle.
Wulfhild — wolf battle.
Wynflaed — joyful beauty.
Wynne — joy or delight.

Short and adaptable historical choices

Ash — ash tree; a modern nature name inspired by Old English vocabulary.
Beorn — man or warrior.
Brand — fire or sword, depending on interpretation.
Cyn — kin or family; a short modern adaptation.
Earl — nobleman or warrior, from an Old English title.
Frea — lord or ruler; also a reconstructed mythic name form.
Guth — battle or war.
Leof — beloved or dear.
Merle — a modern English nature choice, not a standard Anglo-Saxon personal name.
Ræd — counsel or advice.
Wyn — joy or delight.
Wulf — wolf.

Historical context and spelling notes

Old English was the language of Anglo-Saxon England, but “Old English,” “Anglo-Saxon,” “medieval English” and “English” are not interchangeable labels. A name may have Old English etymology, be recorded in medieval England, and later develop into a modern English form. Emma, for example, has wider Germanic roots but was used in England; Edith is the modern descendant of Old English Eadgyth. This is why a careful name guide distinguishes language origin from nationality and later usage.

Historical spellings also vary. The letter æ represents a sound and spelling convention that is often replaced with ae, e or another modern form. In names such as Æthelflæd, Ælfgifu and Wulfmær, keeping the original characters creates a stronger historical feel, while Aethelflaed or Aelfgifu may be more practical for forms, keyboards and pronunciation guides. Reconstructed pronunciations should be treated as informed approximations rather than guaranteed recordings of exactly how every person spoke.

Some modern names are inspired by Old English vocabulary, mythology or medieval fiction without being well-attested personal names. Ash, Wyn and Wulf can work beautifully as contemporary choices, but they should not automatically be presented as documented Anglo-Saxon given names. For a wider historical comparison, you can also explore these old Norse and Viking names, which belong to a related but different language and cultural tradition.

How to choose an old English baby name

Decide how historical you want to be. Alfred, Edward and Edith are established modern choices, while Ealhswith and Wulfrun make the historical origin much more visible.
Say the name aloud. Try it with the family surname and consider whether relatives will need a simple pronunciation explanation.
Choose the meaning element you value. Old English name meanings often come from compounds such as noble plus counsel, beloved plus friend, or wolf plus power.
Plan the spelling. Original letters are attractive, but a simplified version may be easier in everyday digital and school settings.
Check the full history. A name may have changed meaning or associations as it moved from Old English into Middle English and then modern English.

Whether you prefer a familiar name like Edward, a rare historical choice like Æthelthryth, or a short modern adaptation such as Wulf, the best choice is one whose sound, meaning and cultural context feel right for your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Old English names?

Old English names come from the language used in Anglo-Saxon England before and around the Norman Conquest. Many are compound names built from elements meaning noble, friend, gift, battle, strength or protection.

What is a good Old English name for a boy?

Alfred, Edmund, Edward, Edwin, Oswald, Leofric and Wulfric are strong choices. Alfred and Edward are especially approachable because their historical forms remain familiar today.

What is a rare Old English girl name?

Ealhswith, Æthelflæd, Wulfrun, Eormenhild, Leofgifu and Wynflæd are distinctive historical choices. Their spellings and pronunciations may need a short explanation.

Are Old English names the same as medieval English names?

Not exactly. Old English describes a language and period, while medieval English covers several centuries and includes names from Old English, Norman French, Latin and other sources.

How should names with the letter æ be pronounced?

Pronunciation varies because historical sounds are reconstructed and modern English has changed. Names can be written with æ, ae or a simplified spelling, and a family can choose the pronunciation that feels most natural.