Names That Mean Rule
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The names
Samara
Hebrew, Arabic
"under God's rule, companion in night conversation"
Alluring and lovely — and much more distinctive now than Samantha or Tamara. Samara is a city in western Russia, a winged seed like the whirlygigs that fall from maple trees, as well as a bona fide…
Reign
English word name
"rule"
Reign is one of a new, ahem, kingdom of word names that suggest a high-born child, joining Royal, Lorde, Titan, Saint, King, Princess, and Noble. We predicted this kind of defining name to be the…
Reign
English word name
"rule"
Reign is one of a new, ahem, kingdom of word names that suggest a high-born child, joining Royal, Lorde, Titan, Saint, King, Princess, and Noble. We predicted this kind of defining name to be the…
Waldo
German, pet form of names such as Waldemar
"to rule"
Its jaunty o-ending makes this name more appealing than most of its Germanic brothers, and we hope we're beyond the constant response to his name being "Where's Waldo?" The weighty reputation of…
Vada
English, Sanskrit, German
"knowledge, rule"
Vada is a feisty retro choice that feels like a fresh spin on the likes of Ava and Ada. Its bold V initial is bang on trend, although Vada remains very uncommon in the US. It is perhaps best known as…
Vladislav
Slavic
"glorious rule"
In Eastern Europe, more fashionable these days than Vladimir.
Malthe
Danish
"Rule / Power"
This name has been used in Denmark since the 13th Century, and is once again very popular there, now being in the Top 10. We don't see it crossing the Atlantic anytime soon, despite the strong…
Ladislava
Czech feminine form of Vladislav
"glorious rule"
Władysław
Polish variation of Vladislav, Slavic
"glorious rule"
Witold
Polish variation of Vytautas and Widold, Lithuanian; German
"chase the people; rule of the forest"
A strong, sharp name, popular in Poland.
Widald
German
"rule of the forest"
Derived from the Ancient Germanic components witu , meaning "wood," and wald , "rule."
Malte
German, Scandinavian diminutive of Helmold
"helmet rule"
Malte began as a short form of the now-obsolete Ancient Germanic name Helmold. Helmold has gone extinct, but Malte has survived and is now enjoying a popularity resurgence in Germany and Sweden.
Vladik
Diminutive of Vladislav, Slavic
"glorious rule"
Vlad
Diminutive of Vladimir, Slavic
"great ruler, peaceful ruler, ruler of the world"
The most famous Vlad was nicknamed "the Impaler." Enough said.
Noriko
Japanese
"rule child; benevolent child"
Noriko is most common among Gen X Japanese women, making it a dated choice in Japan.
Cathal
Irish
"battle rule"
The name of an ancient Irish saint is in the contemporary Irish Top 50. While it's one of the rare Irish names for boys that hasn't immigrated to the U.S., it may follow brothers Aidan and Declan to…
Medusa
Greek
"protect, rule"
In Greek myth, Medusa was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, with live venomous snakes in place of hair and the ability to turn people to stone with just a glance. In later myths, Medusa was…
Berold
English
"bear rule"
Berold is one of the more obscure boy names meaning bear, which also include Arthur, Orson, and (in a different vein) Teddy.
