The Nibelungenlied
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Names from the Nibelung cycle (Penguin edition, translated by Arthur Thomas Hatto, 1965). The Nibelungenlied was written by an anonymous poet in about 1200 CE for performance at court in Austria.
- Alberich
Origin:
GermanicMeaning:
"elf power"Description:
In Germanic mythology, Alberich is the name of a legendary dwarf king — which is fitting, considering its meaning. Alberich is thought to be the origin of the English names Auberon and Aubrey.
- Aldrian
- Astolt
- Brunhild
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"armed for battle"Description:
One of the Valkyries, still clad in heavy armor.
- Bloedelin
- Botelung
- Dietrich
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"ruler of the people"Description:
This form of Theodoric, familiar via Marlene, is a possible German import. It is an Anglicized ancestor of Derek and all its variations. A noted bearer was acclaimed classical German baritone and conductor Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and there have been Dietrichs in Henry James's The Princess Casamassima,/em and more recently on the TV show Psych.
- Dancrat
- Dancwart
- Eckewart
- Else
- Etzel
- Gere
- Gunther
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"battle warrior"Description:
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 name of a character in Friends.
- Gelpfrat
- Gerbart
- Gernot
- Gibech
- Giselher
- Gotelind