By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 50 pages
of 50
Short form of Edward, English
"weathy guardian"
Edd is a shortened form of Edward, a classic English name derived from Old English elements meaning 'wealthy guardian' or 'prosperous protector.' While Edward has been borne by kings and remains…
Alford is an English surname-turned-first-name with Old English origins, derived from 'ald' meaning old and 'ford' meaning river crossing, literally signifying "old river ford." As a given name, it…
Cloyd is a masculine name with Germanic origins, likely derived as a variant of 'Claude,' which comes from the Latin 'Claudius' meaning 'lame' or 'limping.' The name has a distinctive sound that…
English
"proud and hard"
Best known these days as the name of an American department store chain, Dillard was once a baby name that ranked on the US Top 1000, at least until the middle of the last century. Today, Dillard…
Hilliard is a masculine name with Germanic origins, derived from the elements 'hild' meaning 'battle' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong.' It emerged primarily as a surname before transitioning to…
Manford is a masculine name with English origins, derived from an Old English place name meaning 'common ford' or 'shared river crossing.' The name combines 'man' (common or shared) with 'ford'…
Bedford is a masculine name derived from an English place name and surname meaning 'Beda's ford' - referencing a river crossing associated with a person named Beda. The name carries strong…
Nature name
A name that's unusual in that changing the i to a y -- as in Byrd -- makes it more masculine.
Hillard is a masculine name of Germanic origin, derived from the Old German elements 'hild' meaning 'battle' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong.' This creates a meaning along the lines of 'brave…
Milford is a masculine name of English origin, derived from a place name meaning 'mill by the ford' - referring to a river crossing near a mill. This toponymic name follows the tradition of English…
Linwood is a masculine name of English origin, derived from a surname and place name meaning 'lake forest' or 'pool in the woods,' combining Old English elements 'lin' (pool, lake) and 'wudu' (wood,…
Diminutive of Adam or Adolph
Abstract painter Ad Reinhardt, né Adolph, gave his short name a lot of artistic cred, but it remained securely a nickname. The extra "d" in this version helps it stand on its own, for better or worse.
Armstead is a masculine surname name with strong Anglo-Saxon roots, historically indicating someone who lived near or worked at an armory (a place where weapons and armor were stored or made). As a…
Hansford is a masculine English surname-turned-first name with Germanic origins. It combines elements from 'Hans' (a German variant of John, meaning 'God is gracious') and 'ford' (meaning a river…
Steward is a masculine name derived from an occupational surname referring to an important household official or manager of an estate. It comes from the Old English 'stiweard,' combining 'stig'…
Variation of Buford, English from French
"beautiful fort"
An offbeat form of Buford that you're unlikely to find on birth certificates today. Maybe for a pet.
Ellwood is a masculine name of Old English origin, composed of the elements 'ell' (old, elder, or foreign) and 'wood' (forest). This surname-turned-first-name literally means 'elder forest' or 'old…
French surname
"white deer"
This name is usually seen as a surname, but could be used as a first in the tradition of Cooper, Sawyer etc.
German, Dutch
"ruler of the law; power of the law"
Strong without sounding harsh, Ewald is an Old Germanic name made up of ewa meaning "law" and walt meaning "power, authority". It therefore translates to "ruler of the law", "power of the law" or…
Lillard is a masculine surname-turned-first-name with Germanic origins. Historically used as a family name derived from elements meaning 'brave people' or 'strong-willed,' it exemplifies the trend of…
