Baby Name Meanings
Names That Mean Protector, Defender, or Guardian
Across 6 pages
of 6
Hjalmar
Scandinavian
"helmet protector"
Old Norse name that lives on more appealingly in modern times as Jalmari, short form Jari. This form remains popular in Sweden, however.
Jalmari
Finnish form of Old Norse Hjalmar
"helmet protector"
Distinctive-sounding Scandinavian name . with deep roots. Short form is the attractive Jari.
Havard
Norwegian
"protector"
An unusual yet accessible Scandinavian choice, though it might be confused with Harvard.
Narain
Hindi
"protector"
Another name for the Hindu god-Vishnu.
Eastman
English
"grace protector"
Eastman is a solid, old-style Atlantic seaboard surname. But as a first name, we think Easton works better.
Tenzan
Variation of Tenzin, Tibetan
"protector of Dharma"
Tenzan is a variation of Tenzin, a name with special significance for Buddhists, being the first name of the Dalai Lama.
Faramond
Germanic
"protector of journeys"
Variation of Pharamond.
Pharamond
Germanic
"protector of journeys"
The name of a semi-legendary 5th century Frankish king. Handel's opera Faramondo is based on his life. Spelling variations include Faramond and Faramund.
Faramund
Germanic
"protector of journeys"
Variation of Pharamond.
Ned
English, diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance. Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben…
Howard
German, English
"high guardian; brave heart"
Howard, once hugely popular in the Top 50 from the 1870s to early 1950s, hitting Number 24 in 1920 -- has been stuck in Dad-Grandad limbo for decades, but is showing some signs of stirring back to…
Ranger
French
"forest guardian"
The list of occupational boys' names continues to expand, and this is one of the latest to ride onto the range. With a hint of cowboy and Western, a sprinkle of preppy surname, an outdoorsy,…
Argus
Greek
"bright, shining, glistening"
Also spelled as Argos, this name appears in Greek mythology, borne by Odysseus's loyal dog, by a giant creature with a hundred eye, a son of Zeus and King of Argos, and an Argonaut ship builder. The…
Arcturus
Greek
"bear guardian"
The brightest star in the constellation Boötes, and the third-brightest in the night sky. According to Greek myth, Arcturus was placed in the sky by Zeus to protect the two bears — the adjacent…
Eddy
Diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
Eddy, recently used by Celine Dion for one of her twin boys, was chosen to honor Eddy Marnay, who produced her first five records. Though less common a nickname for Edward than Eddie, Eddy is used…
Iolo
Welsh
"weathy lord"
Rhythmic Welsh nickname name, derived from the Welsh royal name Iorwerth, which has sometimes been anglicized as Edward.
Folke
Scandinavian
"people's guardian"
Folke - which has two syllables - is a Top 100 name in its native Sweden, but rarely heard elsewhere. A related alternative is Fulk, popular with the Normans but little-used now.
Hayward
English occupational name
"guardian of the hedged enclosure"
Possible Hayden alternative.
Harvard
English
"army guard"
With Yale and Brown in the mainstream, why not this upscale college name and surname as well.
Sasha
Russian diminutive of Alexander
"defending men"
The energetic Russian nickname name Sasha is being used increasingly on its own, though since the prominence of the First Daughter, more than 90% of the American babies named Sasha are girls. Sacha…