Germanic Names

 There are similarities between German and Old English names, due to the Saxon migrations to Britain.  So there are German names that have made their way into British and English speaking culture.  German names often have 2 elements, and in the past, sons would be given a name with the same first part (such as Ed) and different second parts.     

There is “Rupert” which is the German version of Robert.  The name combines an element which means “Fame” and Bert which means Bright.  Rupert was the name of Charles II’s nephew Prince Rupert who came to live in England in the Restoration era. Its not a common name but has been used in England…  

The various “Ed” names all come from German, the first element Ead meaning wealth or riches…  These include Edward, (Eduard in German) Edwin which means “Riches”  combined with “ Friend”, Edmund, and Edgar.  

Another name which is occasionally used in England is Oswald, the first part “Os” means “god” and the second part is “Weald” or rule.

Harold or Harald is another name, of Germanic origin.. which combines “Weald” for rule and Har which means army.  It can be abbreviated to Hal or Harry….

A very popular girls name is Emma, which comes from the German word “Ermin” for whole or entire.  It was the name of the mother of Edward the Confessor, and of course the name of Jane Austen’s heroine whom she felt “noone but herself would like.”.

Another girls name of Germanic origin is Elsa, the name of Elsa Lanchester, wife of Charles Laughton.  It is a short form of “Elisabeth”, the German spelling of Elizabeth.

Adelaide is a name that came to Britain as the name of William IV’s wife.  It comes from “adel” Which means noble and Heid which means “kind”..

I hope to write a bit more on Germanic and other names soon