Alaunus

Celtic mythology

"to wander; the nourishing one"

Alaunus Origin and Meaning

The name Alaunus is a boy's name meaning "to wander; the nourishing one".

Alaunus was the Gaulish God of healing and prophecy, later viewed as an epithet for Mercury. While the exact meaning of the name is unknown, one suggestion is that it comes from the al- root, meaning "nurturing, feeding, and raising", which could lead to the overall meaning "the nourishing one", which would make sense with the powers of the god. Alternatively, it could come from the root alǝ, associated with a nomadic tribe, and meaning "to wander".

Both Alaunus and its feminine form Alauna have been the source of several river and place names in England and across Europer.