Updated October 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian
"battle"
Bojan — also spelled Boyan in Bulgaria — could be a unique pathway to the hip nickname Bo. Bojan also doubles as a Saint name, and footballer Bojan Krkić Jr is a modern wearer.
English, Irish
"bold, brave; battle"
Actor Mark Ruffalo honed this surname down to its basics when he chose it for his son. A more usable expansion might be the Irish surname Keenan/Keenen.
German from Norse
"armed for battle"
Form of Brunhild
English
"bright battle"
Wybert is a medieval variation of the Old English name Wigberht, from the components wig , meaning "battle," and beorht , "bright."
Welsh
"battle prince"
A rare Welsh name with a wonderful meaning, Cadfael is the name of the detective monk character in Ellis Peters' medieval murder mysteries. It's usually pronounced CAD-vyle in Welsh, although Peters…
"battle leader"
An ancient Welsh name belonging to an early modern king and saint, among others. The Irish cognate, Cathal, is more widely known.
Variation of Cadok, Cornish
This upbeat and unusual Cornish name boasts the funky nickname Caz.
Germanic
"swan battle"
Form of Swanhild
Dutch
"travel to battle"
This Dutch name derives from the old Germanic name, Farahild. It is quite common in the Netherlands.
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…
Diminutive of Istrael and Taisto, Finnish
"he who struggles with God; battle"
A nickname for two Finnish names: Taisto and Istrael, the Finnish form of Israel.
Cornish
"battle hero"
Casworon was derived from the Celtic elements cad , meaning "battle," and kawaro , hero. Caz is an enviably cool nickname.
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.
"battle stone"
Dignified first name of poet W. H. Auden, less exposed than his currently stylish surname.
Cornish variation of Cadoc, Welsh
Whether you choose to end it with a C or a K, Cadok possesses an energy that many parents seek out for their child's name. Welsh Cadoc has a saintly connection, if that sways you either way.
Norse
"battle remedy"
A popular Scandinavian name which ranked consistently in Norway's Top 100 in the middle of the 20th century. The Danish version of the Oscars are named the Bodil Awards, after two famous Danish…
Italian variation of HIlda, German
"battle woman"
The Italian form of Hilda is rarer but sweeter than its mother name, which still isn't ready for revival in the US.
Form of Swanhild, but however you spell it, a difficult name for a 21st century child. Shorten it to Swan.
Form of Swanhild, borne by the heroine of the ballet Coppélia . The -a ending certainly gives this ancient name a lighter, more balletic feel.
Jèrriais
"famous battle"
Jèrriais (Jersey) form of Louise, sometimes shortened to Loulou.