Hogwarts' Headmasters

  1. Albus
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "white, bright."
    • Description:

      The ancient name Albus has modern currency as the first name of the headmaster of Harry Potter's Hogwarts, more formally known as Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Can Albus work if you're missing the long white beard and the magic wand? Maybe, though it might be a heavy mantle for a Muggle child to wear.
  2. Armando
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Herman, German
    • Meaning:

      "soldier"
    • Description:

      Armando takes the flat-footed Herman and makes it romantic. This is another of the Latin names we expect to be seeing more of.
  3. Amberose
    • Basil
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "royal"
      • Description:

        Although Greek in origin--in the fourth century, a bishop by that name established the principles of the Greek Orthodox Church--Basil for years took on the aura of aquiline-nosed upper-class Britishness of Sherlock Holmes portrayer Basil Rathbone, then spiced with the fragrant aroma of the herb that entered with the Pesto generation.
    • Dexter
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "dyer, right-handed"
      • Description:

        The jazzy, ultra-cool Dexter, like most names with an "x," has a lot of energy and dynamism.
    • Dilys
      • Origin:

        Welsh
      • Meaning:

        "genuine, steadfast, true"
      • Description:

        Common in Wales, but would really stand out here. One of the middle names of Stella McCartney's daughter Reiley; Dilys Powell was a well-known British film critic, Professor Dilys Derwent a Harry Potter character., a witch who worked as a Healer at St. Mungo's Hospital, and was a celebrated Headmistress of Hogwarts School..
    • Everard
      • Origin:

        English spelling variation of Eberhard
      • Meaning:

        "hardy"
      • Description:

        An older form of Everett that stays closer to its Germanic roots. Distinguished Everard is the name of several historical figures and literary characters, including a minor hobbit in The Lord of the Rings. Yet, even now that Ever- names are the height of style, Everard hasn't been seen on the charts for decades.
    • Eossa
      • Heliotrope
        • Limebert
          • Minerva
            • Origin:

              Latin
            • Meaning:

              "of the mind, intellect"
            • Description:

              Minerva is the long-neglected name of the Roman goddess of wisdom and invention, the arts and martial strength, one of the mythology names for girls that might appeal to adventurous feminist parents. With Juno and Jupiter, she made the Capitoline triad, whose worship was at the very center of Roman religion.
          • Newton
            • Origin:

              English
            • Meaning:

              "new town"
            • Description:

              Named after Isaac. Or Wayne.
          • Phineas
            • Origin:

              English, Egyptian
            • Meaning:

              "the Nubian"
            • Description:

              Phineas is the English variation of Phinehas, a Hebrew name likely derived from the Egyptian name Pa-nehasi. Pa-nehasi, meaning "the Nubian" can also be translated as "the bronze-colored one." The Egyptians distinguished themselves from their Nubian neighbors through differences in skin tone.
          • Phyllida
            • Origin:

              Greek variation of Phyllis
            • Meaning:

              "green bough"
            • Description:

              Phyllida, a "Masterpiece Theatre"-style appellation, seems far fresher and more unusual than Phyllis. It's green-related meaning makes it one of the prime names that mean new beginnings.
          • Quentin
            • Origin:

              Latin
            • Meaning:

              "fifth"
            • Description:

              Quentin, an offbeat name with lots of character, relates to the Latin for the number five and is by far the subtlest and most usable of the Latin birth-order names, masculine as well as stylish and distinctive. It was borne by a third-century saint and came to England with the Normans.
          • Severus
            • Origin:

              Latin
            • Meaning:

              "stern"
            • Description:

              Though it has literary credentials--making an appearance in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and as the mean-spirited teacher Severus Snape in the Harry Potter books, most modern parents would find it too--well--severe.
          • Vulpus
            • Walter
              • Origin:

                German
              • Meaning:

                "army ruler"
              • Description:

                Walter was seen as a noble name in the Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Walter Scott era, but it then spent decades in baby name limbo. Now quite a few independent-minded parents are looking at it as a renewable, slightly quirky, classic, stronger and more distinctive than James or John, second only to William among the handsome classic boy baby names starting with W.