30 Old English Names Inspired by Queens, Royals, and Kings of Mercia
Mercia (or Kingdom of Mercia), one of the seven kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England. In this article, we have compiled a list of 30 Old English names inspired by Queens, Royals, and Kings of Mercia.
All sources can be found at the end of the article.
Aelfled
Name meaning: blanch, elf, fairy.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Historical reference: Aelfflaed, daughter of King Offa.
Different variations: Elfled, Aelfeld, Aelflaed, Elfa, Elfia.
Aelfwynn
Name meaning: fairy friend, elf friend.
Years of activity: 10th century.
Historical reference: Aelfwynn, Queen of Mercia (for a short period of time), daughter of Queen Aethelflaed.
Different variations: Elfwynn, Elfwin, Elfwinna, Elfwynna, Elwynn, Aelfwynna, Aelfwinna.
Aethelflaed
Name meaning: illustrious, honorable, noble.
Years of activity: 10th century.
Etymology: name derived from Old English athel or aetel (translated as noble).
Historical reference: Aethelflaed, Queen of Mercia.
Different variations: Ethelfled, Aethelfled, Ethel, Ethelfled, Etelfled, Aethel, Ethelfledda, Ethelfleada.
Aethelred
Name meaning: noble.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Aethelred, ruler of Mercia, son of Penda.
Different variations: Ethelred, Etelret, Aethel, Etelred, Ethelret.
Beorhtwulf
Name meaning: bright wolf, prominent wolf.
Years of activity: 9th century.
Historical reference: Beorhtwulf, ruler of Mercia.
Different variations: Berhtwulf, Bertwolf, Bertwulf, Beowulf, Berthwyll, Beornwulf.
Beornred
Name meaning: young advisor, yound counsel.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Etymology: derived from Old English bearn (meaning young or child) and raed (meaning advice).
Historical reference: Beornred, ruler of Mercia (for a short period of time).
Different variations: Beornraed, Berned, Bernred, Bjornred, Bearnred.
Ceolred
Name meaning: chief on the ship, captain.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Etymology: name derived from Old English ceol (translated as ship) and raed (translated as advice).
Historical reference: Ceolred, ruler of Mercia, son of Aethelred.
Different variations: Elred, Elret, Kelred, Celred.
Coenred
Name meaning: general counsel, general advisor.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Etymology: originated from Old English raed (meaning council or advice) and coen (meaning common or general).
Historical reference: Coenred, ruler of Mercia, son of Wulfar.
Different variations: Kenred, Cenret, Kaenred, Kenreth, Cenred.
Creoda
Name meaning: uncertain, may derived from Latin roda (meaning wheel or to run).
Years of activity: 6th century.
Historical reference: Creoda, ruler of Mercia.
Different variations: Krida, Kreoda, Crida, Krioda.
Cyneborna
Name meaning: of royal birth, royal lineage.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Etymology: name derived from Old English cyne (translated as royal) and boren (translated as born).
Historical reference: Cyneburh, daughter of King Pybba.
Different variations: Quenburga, Kyneburga, Seinborn, Seiborna, Cyneborga, Cyneburh.
Eadburh
Name meaning: flourishing, prosperous, fortified.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Etymology: originated from Old English ead (meaning prosperity) and burh (meaning fortified).
Historical reference: Eadburh, daughter of Offa and Quindrida.
Different variations: Edaburh, Eidaburg, Eidaburga, Eadberra.
Ecgfrith
Name meaning: fight for peace.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Etymology: name derived from Old English frith (translated as safeness or peace) and ecg (translated as edge of the sword).
Historical reference: Ecgfrith, ruler of Mercia, son of King Offa.
Different variations: Egfrith, Ecfrith, Eckfrith.
Elfrit
Name meaning: strong as an elf, fabulously strong.
Years of activity: late 8th century.
Etymology: originated from Old English aelf (meaning fairy or elf) and thrith (meaning force).
Historical reference: Aelfthryth, Queen consort of Mercia, wife of Coenwulf.
Different variations: Aelfthryth, Aelfrid, Aelfrida, Elfrida.
Ermenhilda
Name meaning: famous in battle, great in battle.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Eormenhild, wife of Wulfar of Mercia.
Different variations: Elmenhilde, Eormenn, Eormenna, Elmenhilda.
Eowa
Name meaning: uncertain, may mean tall ol large.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Eowa, son of King Pybba.
Different variations: Aowa, Eova, Eywa, Eawa.
Ethelbald
Name meaning: nobleman.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Historical reference: Aethelbald, ruler of Mercia.
Different variations: Aethel, Etelbald, Ethelbalt.
Ethelburga
Name meaning: knightly, noble, fortified.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Etymology: name derived from Old English aethel (translated as noble) and burh (translated as fortified).
Historical reference: Aethelburh, daughter of King Offa.
Different variations: Ethelburgha, Etelburga, Etelberge, Ethelburhe, Aethelburga.
Kearl
Name meaning: rural, peasant (from Old English ceorl).
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Cearl, ruler of Mercia, son of Pybba.
Different variations: Cerl, Kerl, Kerlon, Cerlon.
Kenwulph
Name meaning: wolf.
Years of activity: late 8th century.
Historical reference: Coenwulf, ruler of Mercia.
Different variations: Kenwulf, Caenwulf, Caenwulph, Cenwulf.
Offa
Name meaning: morsel.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Historical reference: Offa, ruler of Mercia.
Different variations: Oppa, Offella, , Offfo, Offula.
Osthryth
Name meaning: strength, might, power.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Osthryth, Queen consort of Mercia, wife of Aethelred.
Different variations: Ostrit, Oistrit, Ostright.
Peada
Name meaning: thriving, prosperous.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Peada, ruler of Mercia (for a short period of time), son of Penda.
Different variations: Pada, Padda, Eadda.
Penda
Name meaning: ending, border.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Penda, ruler of Mercia, son of Pybba.
Different variations: Penta.
Pybba
Name meaning: undefined, may mean the blade of a sword.
Years of activity: late 6th century.
Historical reference: Pybba, ruler of Mercia, son of King Creoda.
Different variations: Wubba, Pibba, Pubba.
Quindrida
Name meaning: royal strength, royal power.
Years of activity: 8th century.
Etymology: originated from Old English cyne (meaning royal) and thrith (meaning power).
Historical reference: Cynethryth (or Quindreda), Queen consort of Mercia, wife of Offa.
Different variations: Synetrite, Quindreda, Synetritta, Cwenthryth, Cynethryth.
Saethryth
Name meaning: the power of the sea.
Years of activity: 9th century.
Etymology: name derived from Old English sae (translated as sea) and thrith (translated as strength).
Historical reference: Saethryth, wife of Beorhtwulf.
Different variations: Saetrit, Saethryd, Sethrida, Seithryth.
Waerburga
Name meaning: cautious, wary, fortified, on guard.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Waerburgh, daughter of Wulfar of Mercia.
Different variations: Vereburga, Waerby, Waerburra, Warburga.
Wiglaf
Name meaning: legacy of war.
Years of activity: 9th century.
Historical reference: Wiglaf, ruler of Mercia.
Different variations: Viglaf, Wiglat, Weiglaf, Wiglaph.
Wigmund
Name meaning: hand of war.
Years of activity: 9th century.
Historical reference: Wigmund, ruler of Mercia, son of Wiglaf.
Different variations: Vigmund, Wigmunn, Wigmunt.
Wulfar
Name meaning: glorious wolf, great wolf.
Years of activity: 7th century.
Historical reference: Wulfhere (or Wulfar), ruler of Mercia.
Different variations: Wulfhart, Wulfherr.
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Sources:
- Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Venerable Bede
- The History of the Britons, Nennius
- A First Book of Old English, Albert Stanburrough Cook
Authors: Abel Schmidt and D. Zali.
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