Athelstan: Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance: Name: Athelstan – Meaning: noble stone (traditionally rendered as 'gem') – Origin: Old English – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: ATH-ul-stan


Athelstan is an Old English boy's name meaning “noble stone (traditionally rendered as 'gem')”. It appears in our list of Baby Names That Mean Brave or Courageous.

Meaning & Origin of Athelstan

Meaning: Noble stone (traditionally rendered as 'gem').

Origin: Old English.

A common claim: "Noble stone, brave foundation" Actually: The 'brave' element isn't part of the etymology — the name is built from 'noble' and 'stone' only.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Athelstan

Phonetic: ATH-ul-stan   IPA: /ˈæθəlstæn/

Popularity of Athelstan

Athelstan doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.

Lists That Include Athelstan

Similar Names

Anselm · Baldric · Aribert · Brennus · Cadoc · Adelard

More Baby Name Inspiration