Names That Mean Spear

While Corrigan is a widely-used Irish surname, a Corrigan or Korrigan is a fairy or sprite-like creature in Breton folklore. The Cornish word korrik means gnome. These creatures can be good or evil, male or female, but the important thing in Nameberry terms is that we love their name!

Corran is an anglicization of Corraidhín, meaning "little spear", or its patronymic Ó Corraidhín. It feels familiar, thanks to the popularity of similar names like Callum, Callan and Corey, but is actually very rare outside Scotland.

This is most familiar here as a musical name, via Indian Parsi conductor Zubin Mehta, but it certainly could be used by others.

After being one of the hot upscale surnames of the nineties, Garrett has left the Top 100 and this streamlined spelling is dawdling near the bottom of the Top 1000.

Berengaria was one of the medieval queens of England - married to Richard I (also known as Richard the Lionheart). She was originally from Navarre (in modern northern Spain) and despite being the Queen of England, she only lived in England after her husband had died. Despite its royal roots, Berengaria is one of the less attractive medieval names, although it gets points for having an unusually strong meaning for a feminine name.

Modern Danish form of Esger or Asger, borne by dancer Eske Holm, evolutionary geneticist Eske Willerslev and actor Eske Forsting Hansen.

Fresher diminutive form of Gertrud

Somewhat reminiscent of the better known Beccan, this is an Irish saints' name – there were no fewer than five St. Bercans, as well as a noted manuscript artist called Bercanus. In Ireland, it is sometime shortened to Barry.

Unusual saint's name rarely heard outside Roman Catholic rectories until it made an appearance on a reality-TV show; has an attractive French feel.

The C spelling of Corrigan relates more directly to the Irish surname, while the K spelling, Korrigan, relates to the sprites and fairies of Breton folklore.

This was a common name in early Ireland, borne by numerous saints, but pronunciation problems would make it prohibitive here.

While Korrigan or more usually Corrigan is a traditional Irish surname, in Breton folklore a Korrigan is a spritelike creature who often creates mischief.

Peaked in the Czech Republic in 1939.

Variation of Gertrude.

This name will forever be associated with the Bard and would likely prove hard to live up to. It might be cool for a pet though.

Last-name-first-name with a romantic but dangerous edge.

Originally a short form of names beginning with either of the elements gêr "spear" or gisil "pledge, hostage". Now usually a short form of Gertrud.

Clunky Gertrude is heading towards obscurity in the US, but here's a variation that might intrigue - Gesine, also spelled Gesina.

The form of Gertrude found in German and much of Scandinavia.

Gearóidín is familiar to our Irish members, but is probably unseen outside the Emerald Isle. It would provide some steep challengers to people unfamiliar with Irish names, but since that hasn't stopped Saoirse, Niamh and Aoife, there's no reason to not pick this if it steals your heart. Some famous bearers of the name include Gearóidín Breathnach (Irish singer).