Choosing a Name From Old Cultures for Yourself or Your Child

by Aislin Lumina


As pagans and witches, we know the importance of a name. Whether picking a new magickal name for yourself or trying to find a name for your child, the possibilities are endless. We are all familiar with names such as Raven or Brigid or Isis, but what about mundane names from old cultures? There are a plethora of mundane names for the olden days that can become magickal if we decide to make them so. Here are some interesting names from a variety of cultural sources, that you may not have thought of before, as well as their meanings.

GREEK NAMES

Greek Girls:
Aldora: Winged gift
Arethusa: Nymph
Aspasia: Woman famous for charm and intellect
Damara: Gentle
Dorissa: Sea
Nerissa: Of the sea
Terza: The harvester
Theola: Divine
Zandra: Helper of humankind

Greek Boys:
Ajax: Eagle
Anatole: The east
Cyril: Lordly
Erinys: Angry
Otis: Hears well
Yurik: Farmer
Zeno: Shining


LATIN NAMES

Latin Girls:
Almeda: Pressing toward a goal
Amanda: Deserving of great love
Auerelie: Golden
Brina: From the boundary line
Chantel: Song
Ermin: Regal
Imogene: Image
Leandra: Lioness
Ondrea: Womanly
Renata: Reborn
Tessa: Essence
Zia: Type of grain

Latin Boys:
Alban: Pure heart
Cash: Vain
Myer: Great
Myles: Soldier
Rufus: Redhead
Torin: Tender
Vassily: Magnificent

CELTIC/GAELIC NAMES

Celtic/Gaelic Girls:
Aislin: Dream
Asthore: Loved one
Brenna: Raven maid
Brona: Sorrow
Devin: Poet
Ennis: Island
Fenella: Fair
Mabbina: Intoxicating one
Rhona: Rough island
Saraid: Excellent
Wynne: Fair; light-skinned
Zaira: Irish name


Celtic/Gaelic Boys:
Ahern: Lord of horses
Brady: Spirited
Carlin: Little champion
Chay: Fairy place
Dallan: Wise
Ferris: The rock; iron worker
Inness: From the river island
Keegan: Ardent little one
Muir: Of the Moors
Sloan: Warrior
Turlough: Shaped like Thor


TEUTONIC NAMES

Teutonic Girls:
Blenda: Dazzling
Farica: Peaceful ruler
Garda: Protected
Lorelei: Destruction
Velda: Of great wisdom
Wandis: Lithe and slender


Teutonic Boys:
Abelard: Resolute
Arvin: Friend of people
Ballard: Bold
Derwin: Friend of animals
Ingram: Angel raven
Thorp: Hamlet
Waldron: Mighty raven



ENGLISH, WELSH, AND ANGLO-SAXON NAMES

English, Welsh, and Anglo-Saxon Girls:
Alodie: Wealthy
Eadwine: Valuable friend
Elvina: Befriended by elves
Fleta: Swift
Harley: From the long field
Sorcha: Bright
Wilona: Wished for
Yetta: To give

English, Welsh, and Anglo-Saxon Boys:
Ainsley: From the near meadow
Bancroft: Of the bean field
Booth: From the hut
Burleigh: A field with knotted tree trunks
Elton: From the town
Grayson: Judge’s son
Kenway: Bold in battle
Merrick: Ruler of the sea
Stanton: From the stony farm
Tilden: From the liberal one’s estate
Yates: Dweller at the gates



Information derived from: The Complete Book of Magical Names by Phoenix McFarland