Names That Mean Strength
Across 6 pages
of 6
Sosthenes
Greek
"safe strength"
The name of two Biblical figures, one a supporter of St. Paul and the other a Corinthian ruler. Virtually unknown in the U.S. but used in the form Sosthene in modern France.
Aimilios
Greek
"strength"
This male relative of the Emily family was borne by two Greek saints, one a fourth century martyr who destroyed pagan images and the other a ninth century bishop. Variations include Emilios and…
Gesine
German
"strength of a spear"
Clunky Gertrude is heading towards obscurity in the US, but here's a variation that might intrigue - Gesine, also spelled Gesina. Gesine comes from the same roots - Geretrudis - and shares the name's…
Ermentrude
French version of Germanic Ermendrud
"universal strength"
Ermentrude was the name of two medieval queens of France. Despite these distinguished beginnings, this antique name is unlikely to catch on with contemporary parents, perhaps because the first…
Imiza
Diminutive of Irmentrude
"universal strength"
This name was used by the royal House of Luxembourg in the Middle Ages, as a diminutive of Irmentrude. We definitely think this spunky shortening improves upon the heavy German original.
Hereswith
Old English
"Strength of the army"
Hereswith is a rare name that comes to us from the dark ages. She was a Northumbrian saint, whose more famous sister, Hilda, was the Abbess at Whitby and patron of the first English poet, Caedmon.…
Philomine
Variation of Philomena, Greek
"lover of strength"
This variation of Philomena has never been high on the popularity charts, but it did appear in the US infrequently as a French immigrant name. As a result, it has some ties to Louisiana and the Cajun…
Celimene
Literary name
"heavenly strength"
Célimène is a literary name invented by the 17th century French playwright Molière for a character in his 1666 play Le Misanthrope . It may be derived from Latin and Greek elements meaning "heavenly"…
Kerttu
Finnish variation of Gertrude
"strength of a spear"
Variation of Gertrude.
Keke
English variation of Kiki, Finnish diminutive of Gertrud, or Hawaiian variation of Kate
"double happiness; strength of a spear; pure"
Keke is a multicultural double-punch nickname, notably borne by actress Keke Palmer. Palmer was born Lauren Keyana, yet her nickname does not derive from her middle name — her older sister had an…
Thoreau
French
"strength of a bull"
A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin…
Thoreau
French
"strength of a bull"
A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin…
Etheldreda
English, Anglo-Saxon
"noble strength"
This weighty Anglo-Saxon name belonged to a 7th century English saint, also known as Etheldred. The chic classic Audrey is a modern French and English descendent.
Menno
Diminutive of Meine, Dutch
"strength"
The Mennonites took their name from Menno Simons, a Dutch leader of the Anabaptists. His name, which is a nickname of Meine, is still used today in the American Mennonite community.
Etheldred
English, Anglo-Saxon
"noble strength"
Etheldred or Etheldreda was an early English saint. The name is an ancestor to chic modern classic Audrey.
Dreda
English, Anglo-Saxon
"noble strength"
Diminutive of Etheldreda
Courage
English word name
"strength to withstand fear"
A bold, unisex virtue name that first made the charts for boys in 1990 and girls in 2008. Millennials may associate it with the Cartoon Network show Courage the Cowardly Dog , about a timid,…
Sisu
Finnish
"strength"
Sisu is a Finnish word meaning courage, guts, grit, and determination. Sisu may be familiar to the younger crowd as the loveable, hilarious water dragon in the Disney film Raya and the Last Dragon.
Sylvi
Latin, Norse
"of the forest; sun strength"
A sweet and lively name with two distinct derivations. It can be a short form of Sylvia or a variant spelling of its French form Sylvie, meaning "of the forest". Or, it can be a Norwegian and Swedish…
Chibuike
Igbo
"God is strength"
In Nigeria, Chibuike is seen as a surname as well as a given name for both girls and boys. John Chibuike is a notable Nigerian footballer.