Names That Mean Ruler

Federica is the Latin version of Frederica, one of those formerly stuffy <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">female names</a> -- think Josephine and Eleanor -- that feels fresh and elegant again. And Federica has more energy without that first r.

Federica

Indian princely title, more exciting than Prince or Duke, that is also a widely-used name for both genders. In the US, the names Rajah and Raja are uncommon: Ten baby boys were named Rajah last year and 18 were given the Raja spelling.

Rajah

Russian form of Roderick given to a small number of American boys each year.

Rurik

Also related to the word for wolf, this name has a first syllable that's not appealing to the American ear. Better ic-ending choices: Dominic, Frederic, Eric. 

Ulric

In an era with so many created, modern names, Aldrich oozes history and substance. But it is also fit for modern times, given its surname-as-name status and the nickname potential (Al, Richie, etc).

Aldrich

Predominantly used for boys but occasionally given to girls too, Kayra is a Turkish name that relates to either mythology or to a similar Arabic name. A Top 100 name in its native country, it may be considered a variation of Khayr, relating it to kindness and giving.
 
Alternatively, in Turkish mythology, Kayra is the deity of creation. The ancient Turks did not assign a gender to Kayra, who took the form of a goose. According to legend, Kayra planted the tree of life after creating the universe, from which emerged the nine clans. In this case, it could mean "ruler of the land" or "ruler of the land".

Kayra

Saint Roderic was a priest in Spain who was persecuted by the Moors. Another form of this name is Ruderic.

Roderic

Pronounced with either two or three syllables, Aymeric is a rare, French way to honor a Henry. Derived from Aimeric, itself from the Germanic Heimrich and the English Henry, Aymeric makes an unexpected twist on a classic. 
 
The name featured in the French Top 500 right up until 2020, while in the US, it has been sporadically given to a couple of boys in recent years.
 
Footballer Aymeric Laporte is a notable bearer.

Aymeric

Alternate Anglicization of Rurik, a powerful name related to Roderick with a meaning to match. This spelling shortens naturally to cool nickname Rory.

Roric

Known as a British royal family line as well as a style of architecture, this name feels both solemn and formidable, but with an intriguing "dark-academia" feel to it too. Currently in the Top 1000 in England and Wales, it is also used in Romania and Moldova.
 
The name is of Welsh origin, derived from Toutorīx and Tewder, both relating to Theodore or Theodoric.

Tudor

The American child given this name of four kings of Denmark, not to mention one so similar to that of the Harry Potter archvillain Lord Voldemort, might have to pay a large emotional import tax. 

Waldemar

Boyish nicknames for girls -- like Charlie and Frankie -- are in fashion, but Geraldine is out. Jerri just might split the difference. 
 
Jerri Manthey is a polarizing three-time contestant on Survivor.

Jerri

A Californian mountain name revered by healers and spiritualists, Shasta has a New Age, cowboy feel. The mountain takes its name from the Indigenous American tribe, the Shasta people - though this name is believed to have been given to them either by white people, or by the nearby Klamath people. 
 
Shasta is also the name of a soda company, a male character created by C.S Lewis for his Narnia series, a type of daisy, a place in Iran, and a Sanskrit term, meaning "teacher, guide and ruler", which is given to a Hindu Deity. 
 
The name ranked in the US during the 70s and 80s, though in recent years, it has become an obscure choice, given to less than 10 babies each year. A distinctive choice, an alternative perhaps for Sasha or Tasha, but it might be worth considering the cultural and spiritual associations when using it.

Shasta

Richárd

Vladimere

Henrich

Vladmir

With its dramatic nature meaning (blaidd "wolf" + rhi "ruler"), Bledri looks and sounds pretty distinctive. It's rare even in Wales. But the WYSIWYG spelling makes it perfectly viable.

Bledri

Theodoric feels prehistoric, though with short form Theo one of the hottest names around, this old <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/805/german-names-for-boys">German names for boys</a> may soon feel new again.

Theodoric

A form of Heinrich or Henrike (Henry in English), as well as of their feminine counterparts. Now most commonly feminine, but certainly an attractive choice for either sex.