Names That Mean Guardian
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The names
Edward
English
"wealthy guardian"
Unlike perennials William, John and James, Edward is a classic that moves in and out of fashion. This royal Anglo-Saxon standard has benefited in recent years from the popularity of the hot hero of…
Eduardo
Spanish and Italian variation of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
A stalwart of Latin nomenclature that could work just as well for Anglos. Proof lies with the celebrity birth announcement — Hilaria and Alec Baldwin named their fifth child Eduardo Pau Lucas in…
Ewart
English occupational surname or Norman variation of Edward
"shepherd; wealthy guardian"
Ewart has long been extinct as a first name, and the prominent placement of "ew" and "wart" probably has something to do with it. Ewart originated as a Norman form of Edward and an occupational…
Teddy
Diminutive of Theodore or Edward
"gift of God or wealthy guardian"
Teddy is in some ways one of those midcentury boys' nicknames -- like Jimmy or Bobby or Billy -- yet because it was never that popular, it feels timeless too. The preferred short form of Theodore…
Eddy
Diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
Eddy, recently used by Celine Dion for one of her twin boys, was chosen to honor Eddy Marnay, who produced her first five records. Though less common a nickname for Edward than Eddie, Eddy is used…
Hayward
English occupational name
"guardian of the hedged enclosure"
Possible Hayden alternative.
Howard
German, English
"high guardian; brave heart"
Howard, once hugely popular -- in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to…
Ned
English, diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance. Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben…
Sigurdur
Icelandic from Norse
"guardian of victory"
Top 50 Icelandic name with the charming nickname Siggy.
Hayward
English occupational surname
"guardian of the hedged enclosure"
An appealing alternative to Hayden and Hayes, perhaps in homage to Old Hollywood actress Rita Hayward.
Duarte
Portuguese variation of Edward, English
"wealthy guardian"
Incredibly handsome and super smooth, Duarte sounds like it came straight out of a romance novel. You almost wouldn’t believe it’s derived from Edward.
Arcturus
Greek
"bear guardian"
The brightest star in the constellation Boötes, and the third-brightest in the night sky. According to Greek myth, Arcturus was placed in the sky by Zeus to protect the two bears — the adjacent…
Folke
Scandinavian
"people's guardian"
Folke - which has two syllables - is a Top 100 name in its native Sweden, but rarely heard elsewhere. A related alternative is Fulk, popular with the Normans but little-used now.
Iolo
Welsh
"weathy lord"
Rhythmic Welsh nickname name, derived from the Welsh royal name Iorwerth, which has sometimes been anglicized as Edward.
Ranger
French
"forest guardian"
The list of occupational boys' names continues to expand, and this is one of the latest to ride onto the range. With a hint of cowboy and Western, a sprinkle of preppy surname, an outdoorsy,…
Argus
Greek
"watchful guardian"
In mythology, a creature with a hundred eyes, making it a better name for a camera than a baby.
Ranger
French
"forest guardian"
The range of occupational baby names is ever expanding, and Ranger is a recent addition to the list. It feels both natural—reminiscent of park rangers—and western and rugged, as in the Lone Ranger.…
Ichigo
Japanese
"strawberry; one guardian"
Ichigo is a unisex — but primarily male — Japanese name. As a male name, it is typically written in kanji giving it the meaning "one guardian" (which can be interpreted to mean "best guardian"). As a…
Sigurður
Icelandic from Norse
"guardian of victory"
Sigurður is a common name in Iceland, ultimately derived from the Old Norse elements sig , meaning "victory," and vard , "guardian."
