Names That Mean Battle
Across 6 pages
of 6
Averill
English
"boar battle"
Averill is an ancient name, most properly spelled Averil, that has a Boston Brahmin air – probably due to the image of statesman Averill Harriman. It's of the rare English surname names that…
Averil
English
"boar battle"
One of the rare English surname names originally derived from a female given name: Eoforhild, meaning "boar battle". Also spelled Averill, it's an extremely rare choice today, but shares sounds with…
Cadell
Welsh
"battle"
Cadell is a surname that is unlikely to win many supporters, except perhaps from parents looking for an alternative to Caden. But while Cadell is more distinctive, that L ending is weaker and less…
Cadoc
Welsh
"battle"
St Cadoc was an early Welsh churchman, who gave his name to several villages in Wales, and according to his Life knew King Arthur. Less popular than other C__C names like Cormac and Cedric, Cadoc…
Cadogan
Welsh
"honor in battle"
This surname borne by several early Welsh leaders has a lot of energy.
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…
Hervé
French
"battle worthy"
Hervé was a legendary French saint, patron of the blind, who performed many miracles -- it's a lot more sophisticated than the English Harvey.
Chad
English
"battle warrior"
Despite all the "hanging," "dangling," and "pregnant" chad jokes of the 2000 election, this saint's name and remnant of the Brad-Tad era didn't get a boost in popularity. But Chad still holds some…
Gunther
German
"battle warrior"
When it's spelled with two dots over the ' u ' in German, Gunther is pronounced GUWN-ter, but it has a much softer sound when the 'h' is voiced by English-speakers, as it was, for example, for the…
Hartwig
German
"courageous in battle"
Baby-naming rule #984: forget any name that contains the syllable wig.
Ottilie
German, French
"prosperous in battle"
Ottilie is trending in the UK, where the pronounced T helps the name sound pretty and delicate, rather like Amelie and Elodie. Ottilie is less popular in the US, where many Americans pronounce it as…
Clothilde
French from German
"famous in battle"
Pronounced klo-TEELD, this name is well used in France, but rarely heard here; it has a chic and sophisticated air.
Kavan
Breton
"battle"
Rarely heard, and all too likely to be confused with Kevin.
Villard
French from German
"battle fortress"
Creative surname choice, associated with the great French postimpressionist Edouard Villard.
Wystan
English
"battle stone"
Dignified first name of poet W. H. Auden, less exposed than his currently stylish surname.
Ottaline
French diminutive of Ottilie
"prospers in battle"
This name, more often spelled Ottoline, is curiously appealing, in a hoop-skirted, wasp-waisted way; heard more often in novels than real life, though that is showing some signs of change.
Shad
Fish name; variation of Chad
"battle warrior"
Swam into style and quickly out again, on Chad's fish- er, coat-tails.
Andromache
Greek
"battle of man"
Andromache is a name found scattered throughout ancient literature. She was Hector's long-suffering wife in The Iliad and The Odyssey , featured in The Trojan Women and Andromache by Euripides, then…
Veerle
Dutch
"travel to battle"
This Dutch name derives from the old Germanic name, Farahild. It is quite common in the Netherlands.
Brunhild
Norse
"armed for battle"
One of the Valkyries, still clad in heavy armor.