200+ Baby Names That Mean Brave or Courageous

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Courage isn’t loud, and a name that means brave doesn’t have to be either. You’re not raising a tiny warrior — you’re handing your kid a word they can reach for the day they have to walk into a new classroom alone, or tell the truth when it would be easier not to. Names like these show up in nearly every culture and era, which says something about how universally people have wanted their children to carry a little steel. Here’s where to find one that fits.

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Popularity below is calculated from Social Security Administration data through 2024, the most recent year on record.

Here’s what’s in store –

Boy Names That Mean Brave

Girl Names That Mean Brave

Gender-Neutral Names That Mean Brave

Old-World Brave Names

Soft Names With Fierce Meanings

Brave Names From Around the World

Short and Strong Brave Names

Rare and Underused Brave Names

Names that mean brave or courageous have been woven into almost every language and culture across human history — which tells you something. Every civilization has valued this quality enough to name their children after it. The Viking Audra, the Latin Valentina, the Japanese Isamu, the Irish Brian — they’re all saying the same thing in different dialects: be bold, be steady, don’t flinch.

What’s striking is how varied the actual sounds are. “Brave” names don’t have a single aesthetic. Some are soft and lilting — Valerie, Emmeline, Cora. Others land heavy and strong — Garrett, Aldric, Duncan. Some feel like they belong on a Pacific shoreline; others feel like they were carved into a Scottish cliff face. That range means there’s almost certainly a name in this list that fits the specific vision you have for your baby — not just the meaning, but the whole feeling of it.

This list pulls from Norse, Celtic, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, Japanese, Swahili, Welsh, and a dozen other traditions. You’ll find classics that have never really gone out of style, sleeper picks that feel genuinely fresh, and a few names so ancient they’ve looped back around to feeling modern. Take your time with them.

Jump to a section:

Boy Names That Mean Brave
Girl Names That Mean Brave
Gender-Neutral Names That Mean Brave
Old-World Brave Names
Soft Names With Fierce Meanings
Brave Names From Around the World
Short and Strong Brave Names
Rare and Underused Brave Names

You didn’t come this far in your pregnancy to settle for a name that’s just fine. Let’s find the one.

Before you keep reading — have you checked if your favorite name is trending or fading? The Baby Name Popularity Checker shows year-by-year SSA data so you know exactly where a name stands right now.

Boy Names That Mean Brave

These are the boy names with courage baked directly into their etymology — names where the meaning isn’t a loose interpretation but a literal translation of brave, bold, or courageous. Many of these have centuries of use behind them; a few are rising fast right now.

Andrew

Origin: Greek (via Latin and Old French)
Pronunciation: AN-droo · ˈændruː
Meaning: manly, brave (from Greek aner, ‘man’)
Popularity: #68 and falling (#65 → #68, 2024)

One of the most globally distributed names in history, used in virtually every Christian country, still feels grounded and unfussy.

Bernard

Origin: Germanic (via Old French)
Pronunciation: bur-NARD · bərˈnɑːrd
Meaning: bear + brave/strong — ‘brave as a bear’
Popularity: #1,318 and rising (#1,472 → #1,318, 2024)

Brian

Origin: Irish (also Breton)
Pronunciation: BRY-un · ˈbraɪən
Meaning: traditionally glossed ‘high, noble, exalted’, though the precise derivation is debated
Popularity: #301 and rising (#317 → #301, 2024)

The name of the legendary Irish high king Brian Boru — it carries a quietly powerful legacy without being showy.

Conall

Origin: Irish (Old Irish/Celtic)
Pronunciation: KUN-ul · ˈkʌnəl
Meaning: strong hound (“hound/dog” + “prince, chief”)
Popularity: #3,610 and rising (#3,804 → #3,610, 2024)

A name from early Irish mythology that feels genuinely fresh to American ears.

Conal

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: KAH-nəl · ˈkɒnəl
Meaning: probably ‘strong hound’, if linked to Conall
Popularity: #12,493 as of 2021 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Dermot

Origin: Irish (anglicized form of Diarmaid)
Pronunciation: DUR-mut · ˈdɜːrmət
Meaning: traditionally glossed as ‘free from envy’ (as the anglicized form of Diarmaid)
Popularity: #9,186 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Often paired with legendary heroism in Celtic tradition; Dermot of the Love Spot is one of Ireland’s great romantic heroes.

Drew

Origin: Anglo-Norman French / Germanic (also an Irish surname, frequently a short form of Andrew)
Pronunciation: DROO · ˈdruː
Meaning: Brave, manly
Popularity: #542 and falling (#539 → #542, 2024)

Snappy and modern-feeling while still carrying the full Andrew meaning.

Duncan

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (Anglicized from Donnchadh)
Pronunciation: DUN-kan · ˈdʌŋkən
Meaning: brown + battle/chief (disputed second element)
Popularity: #1,102 and falling (#930 → #1,102, 2024)

Immortalized by Shakespeare but feels more like a Portland coffee shop owner now — in the best possible way.

Everard

Origin: Old English (Germanic, cognate with German Eberhard)
Pronunciation: EV-er-erd · ˈɛvərərd
Meaning: brave/strong as a boar (from ‘eofor, ‘ boar, and ‘heard, ‘ hard/brave)
Popularity: #10,127 as of 1998 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Under-the-radar ancestor of Everett with a more specific, more interesting etymology.

Farrell

Origin: unclear (possibly Irish, Anglicized from Ó Fearghail)
Pronunciation: FAIR-ul · ˈfærəl
Meaning: Man of valor, courageous
Popularity: #12,856 and falling (#11,260 → #12,856, 2024)

A surname-name with real Celtic depth; Farrell would stand out on a kindergarten roster.

Fearghal

Origin: Old Irish (Gaelic)
Pronunciation: FAR-gəl · ˈfærɡəl
Meaning: man of valor
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Garrett

Origin: Germanic (via medieval English/Irish)
Pronunciation: GAIR-et · ˈɡɛrət
Meaning: form of Gerard (‘spear-brave’) or Gerald (‘spear-rule’)
Popularity: #562 and falling (#483 → #562, 2024)

A 1990s name that has quietly aged into something sturdy and classic again.

Gerald

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: JAIR-əld · ˈdʒɛrəld
Meaning: spear + power/rule
Popularity: #1,167 and falling (#1,031 → #1,167, 2024)

Fell out of fashion but has a distinguished quality that’s ripe for revival.

Gerard

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: jeh-RARD · dʒəˈrɑːrd
Meaning: spear + brave/strong, i.e. ‘brave with the spear’
Popularity: #1,529 and falling (#1,406 → #1,529, 2024)

The French and English form — slightly more continental-feeling than Gerald.

Griffin

Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: GRIF-in · ˈɡrɪfɪn
Popularity: #223 and falling (#214 → #223, 2024)

The mythological creature connection is a bonus; the Welsh meaning is courage and lordship.

Hardy

Origin: English (surname, from Old French ‘hardi’)
Pronunciation: HAR-dee · ˈhɑːrdi
Meaning: bold, brave, daring
Popularity: #2,566 and rising (#3,136 → #2,566, 2024)

Harvey

Origin: Breton (via Old French/English surname)
Pronunciation: HAR-vee · ˈhɑːrvi
Meaning: roughly ‘iron’ and ‘blazing’ or ‘vigorous’, from the name of a Breton saint
Popularity: #244 and rising (#326 → #244, 2024)

Slightly retro but riding the grandpa-name wave with real charm.

Howard

Origin: Old Norse (via English surname)
Pronunciation: HOW-erd · ˈhaʊərd
Meaning: high guardian
Popularity: #1,056 and falling (#1,004 → #1,056, 2024)

Howard doesn’t mean ‘brave heart’ or derive from German — both sources trace it to Old Norse Havardr, ‘high guard/guardian’.

Isamu

Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: ee-SAH-moo · iːˈsɑːmuː
Meaning: courage, bravery
Popularity: #11,363 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sculptor Isamu Noguchi brought this name to Western consciousness; it’s clean, global, and meaningful.

Kane

Origin: Irish (surname origin)
Pronunciation: KAYN · ˈkeɪn
Meaning: warrior (from Gaelic ‘cath’, battle) via the Irish surname Ó Catháin
Popularity: #431 and falling (#402 → #431, 2024)

Kenyon

Origin: English (surname from a place name in Lancashire)
Pronunciation: KEN-yun · ˈkɛnjən
Meaning: Brave kinsman
Popularity: #3,729 and falling (#3,509 → #3,729, 2024)

A surname-name with a slightly preppy edge; sounds like it belongs on a lacrosse team in the best way.

Leopold

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: LEE-uh-pold · ˈliːəpoʊld
Meaning: bold/brave people
Popularity: #2,082 and falling (#1,856 → #2,082, 2024)

Regal and old-fashioned in a way that feels intentional and confident right now.

Luther

Origin: German (surname)
Pronunciation: LOO-ther · ˈluːθər
Meaning: from a German surname built on ‘people’ plus ‘army,’ popularly rendered as ‘army of the people’
Popularity: #1,499 and rising (#1,504 → #1,499, 2024)

Martin Luther King Jr. gives this name enormous moral weight alongside its etymological meaning.

Manfred

Origin: Germanic (Alemannic)
Pronunciation: MAN-fred · ˈmænfrɛd
Meaning: man of peace
Popularity: #11,764 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Used across medieval Europe; Manfred sounds like a name that belongs on a family crest.

Marcus

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: MAR-kus · ˈmɑːrkəs
Meaning: dedicated to Mars; ‘warlike’
Popularity: #256 and falling (#249 → #256, 2024)

Roman and timeless; still feels contemporary without any effort.

Niall

Origin: Irish/Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: NY-ul · ˈnaɪəl
Meaning: of uncertain original meaning; often glossed as ‘champion’ or ‘cloud’
Popularity: #1,582 and rising (#1,813 → #1,582, 2024)

The original form behind Neil; distinctly Irish and currently trending among families who want the authentic spelling.

Oswin

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: OZ-win · ˈɒzwɪn
Meaning: ‘god’ + ‘friend’ — i.e., ‘God’s friend’
Popularity: #3,948 and rising (#5,604 → #3,948, 2024)

Rare and lovely — sounds like a name C.S. Lewis might have invented but actually predates him by a thousand years.

Ptolemy

Origin: Ancient Greek
Pronunciation: TOL-uh-mee · ˈtɒləmi
Meaning: often linked to Greek ‘polemos’ (war), giving a sense of ‘warlike’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Bold choice, genuinely ancient, and Tolly is an endearing nickname.

Rainier

Origin: French, from Germanic (Raginheri)
Pronunciation: ray-NEER · reɪˈnɪər
Meaning: counsel + army (roughly ‘deciding warrior’)
Popularity: #4,033 and falling (#3,045 → #4,033, 2024)

Made famous by Prince Rainier of Monaco; sounds aristocratic without being inaccessible.

Richard

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: RICH-urd · ˈrɪtʃərd
Meaning: a Germanic compound combining elements for ‘ruler/power’ and ‘hardy, brave, strong’ — traditionally rendered ‘brave/strong ruler’
Popularity: #232 and falling (#221 → #232, 2024)

Roger

Origin: Germanic (Frankish, via Old French)
Pronunciation: RAH-jur · ˈrɑːdʒər
Meaning: famous spear
Popularity: #750 and rising (#760 → #750, 2024)

Fell into grandpa territory but is primed for the same revival as Harvey and Walter.

Sigurd

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: SIG-urd · ˈsɪgərd
Meaning: Old Norse compound of ‘victory’ and ‘guard’ – ‘guardian of victory’
Popularity: #8,208 and falling (#6,168 → #8,208, 2024)

Central hero of the Völsunga saga — this is the Norse equivalent of naming your son Arthur.

Valor

Origin: Latin (via Old French/Middle English)
Pronunciation: VAL-er · ˈvælər
Meaning: bravery, courage
Popularity: #1,463 and rising (#1,470 → #1,463, 2024)

Using the virtue word itself as a name; works as a given name with quiet conviction.

Victor

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: VIK-ter · ˈvɪktər
Meaning: conqueror
Popularity: #214 and rising (#217 → #214, 2024)

Sleek, international, and still underused despite being obviously good.

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Girl Names That Mean Brave

Brave girl names deserve their own section — and not the tokenized, afterthought kind of their own section. Girls’ names that mean courageous are some of the most beautiful in any language: Valentina, Audra, Mathilde, Emery. They’re not all hard-edged warrior names. Some of them are some of the softest sounds in the English language, carrying a fierce meaning inside a velvet exterior.

Adira

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: ah-DEER-ah · əˈdɪrə
Meaning: mighty, strong
Popularity: #1,366 and falling (#1,353 → #1,366, 2024)

Feels contemporary and has a melodic quality that lands beautifully in every room.

Alessia

Origin: Italian (feminine of Alessio, from Greek Alexius/Alexios)
Pronunciation: ah-LESS-ee-ah · əˈlɛsiə
Meaning: defender, helper
Popularity: #281 and rising (#302 → #281, 2024)

The Italian form of Alexis — warmer and more romantic-sounding.

Alessa

Origin: unclear (possibly Italian, short form of Alessia)
Pronunciation: uh-LESS-uh · əˈlɛsə
Meaning: Shorter form of Alessia; has a whispery elegance alongside the same brave meaning
Popularity: #1,678 and falling (#1,579 → #1,678, 2024)

Alexandra

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: al-eg-ZAN-drah · ælɪɡˈzændrə
Meaning: defender of mankind
Popularity: #221 and falling (#204 → #221, 2024)

The feminine form of Alexander — endlessly versatile with nicknames from Alex to Zandra to Sasha.

Alexia

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: ah-LEK-see-ah · əˈlɛksiə
Meaning: helper, defender
Popularity: #883 and falling (#816 → #883, 2024)

Lighter on the tongue than Alexandra, still carries the full meaning.

Aloysia

Origin: Latin (feminine form of Aloysius, ultimately from the Germanic name Ludwig)
Pronunciation: al-oh-ISH-ee-uh · ˌæloʊˈɪʃiə
Meaning: famous in battle
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Almost never heard in America; sounds extraordinary and smells faintly of old Europe in the best way.

Amara

Origin: modern coinage (popularized by fantasy fiction)
Pronunciation: ah-MAR-ah · əˈmɑːrə
Meaning: Grace, strength, eternal
Popularity: #121 and rising (#123 → #121, 2024)

Depending on the language, it crosses from grace to strength to immortality — a name that covers remarkable ground.

Andria

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: AN-dree-uh · ˈæn.dri.ə
Meaning: feminine form of Andreas, from a root meaning ‘man’ (rendered as ‘brave/manly’)
Popularity: #7,250 and rising (#9,030 → #7,250, 2024)

The Greek feminine feels fresh compared to the more common Andrea.

Andrienne

Origin: unclear (possibly French, variant of Adrienne)
Pronunciation: an-dree-EN · ˌæn.driˈɛn
Meaning: Brave
Popularity: #14,284 as of 1998 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The slight spelling variant gives it a softer shape on the page.

Audra

Origin: English (modern variant of Audrey, from Anglo-Saxon Æðelþryð)
Pronunciation: AW-druh · ˈɔːdrə
Meaning: noble strength
Popularity: #1,939 and falling (#1,853 → #1,939, 2024)

Audrey

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: AW-dree · ˈɔːdri
Meaning: combines ‘noble’ and ‘strength’
Popularity: #82 and falling (#74 → #82, 2024)

Bernadette

Origin: French (from Germanic)
Pronunciation: ber-nuh-DET · bɜːrnəˈdɛt
Meaning: brave/strong as a bear
Popularity: #1,247 and falling (#1,236 → #1,247, 2024)

Saint Bernadette of Lourdes; this name carries spiritual weight and an old-world grandeur.

Brina

Origin: unclear (Slavic — possibly Slovenian)
Pronunciation: BREE-nə · ˈbɹiːnə
Meaning: Protector, brave
Popularity: #13,726 and falling (#9,086 → #13,726, 2024)

A short, strong Slavic name that sounds surprisingly contemporary to American ears.

Caoilfhinn

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: KEE-lin · ˈkiːlɪn
Meaning: slender and fair
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Anglicized Keelin works too, but Caoilfhinn is for families who want the original Irish.

Cora

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: KOR-ah · ˈkɔːrə
Meaning: maiden
Popularity: #102 and falling (#93 → #102, 2024)

The name’s simplicity is its power — one syllable, unmistakable.

Ebba

Origin: Germanic, diminutive of names built on eber, ‘boar’
Pronunciation: EB-ah · ˈɛbə
Meaning: diminutive of Germanic names built on ‘eber’ (boar); also read as a feminine form of Ebbe
Popularity: #7,312 and falling (#6,016 → #7,312, 2024)

A Scandinavian name gaining quiet traction in the US; short, strong, and easy to say.

Edith

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: EE-dith · ˈiːdɪθ
Meaning: rich/blessed in war
Popularity: #528 and falling (#503 → #528, 2024)

The war-connection meaning is brave-adjacent; a vintage name that feels genuinely back.

Emery

Origin: English (surname of Germanic origin)
Pronunciation: EM-ur-ee · ˈɛməri
Meaning: brave ruler (or, per an alternate theory, ‘ruler of the home, ‘ via Henry)
Popularity: #70, holding steady (2024)

Unisex in practice but skewing female now; modern-sounding with a genuinely ancient root.

Emmeline

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: EM-uh-line · ˈɛməlaɪn
Meaning: work
Popularity: #939 and rising (#948 → #939, 2024)

The name of the great British suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst — courage is baked into its modern legacy.

Fianna

Origin: unclear (Irish, from fian, ‘warrior band’)
Pronunciation: FEE-uh-nuh
Meaning: Band of warriors, brave soldiers
Popularity: #9,754 and rising (#12,561 → #9,754, 2024)

Used in Irish mythology for Fionn Mac Cumhaill’s warrior band; as a girl’s name it’s both fierce and lyrical.

Finola

Origin: Irish (said to be an anglicized form of Fionnuala)
Pronunciation: fih-NOH-lah · fɪˈnoʊlə
Meaning: White shoulder, fair and brave
Popularity: #12,676 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Irish mythology’s most heartbreaking heroine — four siblings turned into swans; the name is ancient and beautiful.

Hilda

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: HIL-dah · ˈhɪldə
Meaning: battle
Popularity: #3,053 and falling (#2,989 → #3,053, 2024)

Popularly glossed as ‘battle woman,’ but Hilda is simply the Germanic element hild ‘battle’ used as a short name — there’s no separate word for ‘woman’ in it.

Hildegard

Origin: Germanic (West Germanic *Hildigardu)
Pronunciation: HIL-duh-gard · ˈhɪldəɡɑːrd
Meaning: battle enclosure
Popularity: #6,727 and falling (#6,252 → #6,727, 2024)

The name of medieval mystic Hildegard von Bingen — austere and magnificent.

Isolde

Origin: Germanic or Celtic/Brythonic (disputed)
Pronunciation: ih-ZOHL-dah · ɪˈzoʊldə
Meaning: uncertain — literally ‘ice’ + ‘battle’ in the Germanic reading, or ‘she who is gazed upon’ in the Celtic/Brythonic reading
Popularity: #7,721 and falling (#5,458 → #7,721, 2024)

The Germanic elements are literally ‘ice’ (is) and ‘battle’ (hiltja), not ‘ruler’ — ‘ice ruler’ is a popular mistranslation, and a separate Celtic theory (‘she who is gazed upon’) is equally plausible per current scholarship.

Keren

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: KEH-ren · ˈkɛrən
Meaning: ray of light (from the Hebrew word for ‘horn’)
Popularity: #2,174 and falling (#1,972 → #2,174, 2024)

Keren literally means “horn” in Hebrew, extended to mean “ray” of light — “strength” isn’t part of the literal meaning.

Lenna

Origin: Germanic/English (diminutive, uncertain)
Pronunciation: LEN-uh · ˈlɛnə
Meaning: Lion-brave, lion-strong
Popularity: #1,606 and rising (#1,952 → #1,606, 2024)

A diminutive of Leonore or Leontine; small and fierce in equal measure.

Louella

Origin: English (modern coinage)
Pronunciation: loo-EL-ah · luːˈɛlə
Meaning: Famous warrior
Popularity: #1,489 and rising (#1,529 → #1,489, 2024)

The warrior meaning of Ludwig flows directly into this compound; it’s softer than Louisa with the same etymology.

Louisa

Origin: Germanic (Latinized form of Louise)
Pronunciation: loo-EE-zah · luːˈiːzə
Meaning: famous warrior
Popularity: #733 and rising (#807 → #733, 2024)

Louise

Origin: French (feminine of Louis)
Pronunciation: loo-EEZ · luˈiːz
Meaning: famous warrior
Popularity: #540 and rising (#585 → #540, 2024)

Maia

Origin: Greek/Roman (mythological); also Māori
Pronunciation: MY-ah · ˈmaɪə
Meaning: refers to the mythological Maia — mother of Hermes in Greek myth, and a Roman goddess of springtime growth (source of the month name ‘May’); also used independently as a Māori name meaning ‘brave, confident’
Popularity: #459, holding steady (2024)

In Roman mythology the goddess of spring; the meaning of greatness and courage underpins it.

Mathilde

Origin: French (Germanic, form of Matilda)
Pronunciation: mah-TEELD · mɑˈtiːld
Meaning: mighty in battle
Popularity: #7,806 and falling (#4,826 → #7,806, 2024)

Matilda

Origin: Germanic (Old High German)
Pronunciation: muh-TIL-dah · məˈtɪldə
Meaning: mighty in battle (might/strength + battle)
Popularity: #410 and rising (#438 → #410, 2024)

Maude

Origin: French (variant of Maud, ultimately Germanic)
Pronunciation: MAWD · mɔːd
Meaning: powerful in battle
Popularity: #3,724 and rising (#4,418 → #3,724, 2024)

The compressed, old-school form of Matilda; getting renewed attention as an unexpected vintage pick.

Minka

Origin: Polish (pet form)
Pronunciation: MEEN-kah · ˈmʲiŋka
Meaning: Strong, brave
Popularity: #9,330 and falling (#5,334 → #9,330, 2024)

Eastern European nickname-name that works perfectly as a given name; warm and unusual.

Nora

Origin: diminutive (short form of Eleanor, of disputed origin, rarely of Honora, Latin)
Pronunciation: NOR-ah · ˈnɔːrə
Meaning: Honor, courage
Popularity: #22 and rising (#24 → #22, 2024)

Ireland’s Nóra = honor; the Arabic root also points to light and inner strength. Simply beautiful.

Ottilie

Origin: Germanic (via German, form of Odilia/Odile)
Pronunciation: AH-tuh-lee · ˈɑːtəli
Meaning: uncertain — likely ‘wealth’ or ‘homeland’ (Germanic aud-/odal- roots), not clearly tied to battle
Popularity: #2,315 and rising (#2,636 → #2,315, 2024)

The patron saint of Alsace; sounds like something a French grandmother would say with enormous pride.

Rosamund

Origin: Germanic (Frankish/Lombardic)
Pronunciation: ROZ-ah-mund · ˈrɑːzəmənd
Meaning: horse protection (folk-reinterpreted as ‘rose of the world’)
Popularity: #7,858 and falling (#6,353 → #7,858, 2024)

The “mund” (protection/courage) suffix makes this a brave name inside a floral exterior.

Trudy

Origin: German
Pronunciation: TROO-dee · ˈtruːdi
Meaning: spear strength (via Gertrude)
Popularity: #4,751 and rising (#5,367 → #4,751, 2024)

The standalone form; small and sturdy, currently benefiting from the grandma-name revival.

Valentina

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: val-en-TEE-nah · vælənˈtiːnə
Meaning: strong, healthy
Popularity: #47 and rising (#49 → #47, 2024)

The most lushly romantic brave name on this list; feels simultaneously Italian, Spanish, and timeless.

Valerie

Origin: French (from Latin)
Pronunciation: VAL-ur-ee · ˈvælər̩i
Meaning: strong, healthy
Popularity: #147 and falling (#145 → #147, 2024)

The French/English form of Valentina — slightly more understated, just as lovely.

Wilda

Origin: Germanic (feminine form of ‘wild’)
Pronunciation: WIL-duh · ˈwɪldə
Meaning: wild, untamed
Popularity: #17,604 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare American name with genuine Old English roots and a free-spirited quality that suits the meaning perfectly.

Zara

Origin: English/Hebrew (variant of Sarah) or Arabic
Pronunciation: ZAR-ah · ˈzɑːrə
Meaning: uncertain — either from Sarah (‘princess’) or Arabic zahra (‘flower’)
Popularity: #234 and rising (#236 → #234, 2024)

This combines two separate, competing etymologies (Sarah = ‘princess’; Arabic zahra = ‘flower’) as if both applied at once, when sources treat them as alternative explanations, not a compound meaning.

Gender-Neutral Names That Mean Brave

These names work across the gender spectrum, either because they’ve always been used for both, or because they’ve shifted into genuine unisex territory. All of them carry the brave meaning cleanly.

Arden

Origin: Celtic (Brythonic place name)
Pronunciation: AR-dun · ˈɑːrdən
Meaning: high
Popularity: #943 and rising (#1,019 → #943, 2024)

Feels firmly unisex; literary (Shakespeare’s Forest of Arden) and grounded.

Ari

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: AH-ree · ˈɑːri
Meaning: lion
Popularity: #399 and falling (#342 → #399, 2024)

Avery

Origin: Old English (via Anglo-Norman surname)
Pronunciation: AY-vur-ee · ˈeɪvəri
Meaning: elf counsel, from Old English ælf (‘elf’) + ræd (‘counsel’)
Popularity: #31 and falling (#29 → #31, 2024)

Now solidly unisex — one of the cleanest-feeling gender-neutral names.

Blake

Origin: Old English (surname)
Pronunciation: BLAYK · ˈbleɪk
Meaning: dark/black or pale/fair — a surname with two opposite Old English roots (blæc ‘black’ vs blāc ‘pale, shining’) merged into one name
Popularity: #210 and rising (#221 → #210, 2024)

Casey

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: KAY-see · ˈkeɪsi
Meaning: vigilant, watchful
Popularity: #310 and rising (#316 → #310, 2024)

The “watchful in battle” meaning is essentially the definition of courage.

Devon

Origin: English (place name — county of Devon)
Pronunciation: DEV-un · ˈdɛvən
Meaning: named for the English county of Devon, itself from Old English ‘Defenas’ (‘the Devonians’)
Popularity: #955 and falling (#907 → #955, 2024)

Ellis

Origin: Welsh and English (dual-origin surname)
Pronunciation: EL-is · ˈɛlɪs
Meaning: benevolent, kind (Welsh); alt. English form of Elias/Elijah
Popularity: #273 and rising (#274 → #273, 2024)

Feels quietly distinguished; works perfectly for any child.

Finley

Origin: Scottish Gaelic (surname)
Pronunciation: FIN-lee · ˈfɪnli
Meaning: fair warrior
Popularity: #290 and falling (#285 → #290, 2024)

That’s a simplification — the fuller traditional meaning (from Gaelic Fionnlagh) is ‘fair warrior’ or ‘fair hero.’

Flynn

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: FLIN · ˈflɪn
Meaning: Descendant of Flann; Flann is an old Irish byname meaning “red” or “ruddy,” likely describing hair color or complexion.
Popularity: #737 and rising (#782 → #737, 2024)

Has a swashbuckling, adventure-story quality (Errol Flynn, Flynn Rider) that suits a brave meaning.

Harper

Origin: English (occupational surname, Middle English ‘harpere’)
Pronunciation: HAR-per · ˈhɑːrpər
Meaning: harp player
Popularity: #12 and falling (#11 → #12, 2024)

The creative-courage combination is appealing; solidly unisex.

Jordan

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: JOR-dan · ˈdʒɔːrdən
Meaning: one who descends, or flows down (from the Jordan River’s name)
Popularity: #104 and falling (#96 → #104, 2024)

Biblical and enduringly unisex — Jordan has been comfortably gender-neutral for decades.

Kit

Origin: English (nickname, multiple source names); also a Ukrainian-derived name meaning ‘tomcat’
Pronunciation: KIT · ˈkɪt
Meaning: depends on the full name: ‘bearer of Christ’ (short for Christopher); popularly ‘pure’ when short for Katherine/Kathleen (though Katherine’s own etymology is actually uncertain)
Popularity: #1,150 and rising (#1,152 → #1,150, 2024)

Nickname-as-name; Kit Harington, Kit Carson — figures of adventure and courage.

Lennon

Origin: Irish (surname)
Pronunciation: LEN-un · ˈlɛnən
Meaning: descendant of a ‘sweetheart’ — or, in an alternate surname line, descendant of a ‘little blackbird’
Popularity: #237 and rising (#243 → #237, 2024)

John Lennon’s legacy makes this feel like a name about conviction.

Morgan

Origin: Welsh (Old Welsh)
Pronunciation: MOR-gan · ˈmɔːrɡən
Meaning: chief (a compound of uncertain ‘sea’ or ‘great’ plus a root meaning ‘circle, ‘ together read as ‘chief’)
Popularity: #276 and falling (#247 → #276, 2024)

Solidly unisex for generations; the “defender” meaning is the brave one.

Quinn

Origin: Irish (surname)
Pronunciation: KWIN · ˈkwɪn
Meaning: descendant of Conn, an early Irish personal name of disputed meaning
Popularity: #96 and falling (#86 → #96, 2024)

One of the cleanest unisex names — sharp, short, and quietly strong.

Reagan

Origin: Irish (Anglicized surname, Ó Riagáin)
Pronunciation: RAY-gun · ˈreɪɡən
Meaning: Little ruler, brave counsel
Popularity: #244 and falling (#168 → #244, 2024)

Presidential association in America; the “brave counsel” etymology is directly relevant.

Remy

Origin: French
Pronunciation: REM-ee · ˈrɛmi
Meaning: oarsman, from Latin Remigius
Popularity: #400 and falling (#390 → #400, 2024)

The boatman meaning evokes someone who steers through difficulty — a courageous image.

Riley

Origin: English (also anglicized Irish surname ‘Reilly’)
Pronunciation: RY-lee · ˈraɪli
Meaning: a rye clearing or meadow (English); separately, an anglicized form of the Irish surname Reilly
Popularity: #42 and rising (#43 → #42, 2024)

That gloss comes from disputed readings of the Irish surname Reilly’s root, not the more solidly documented English strand (‘rye clearing’) — the two origins are often wrongly conflated.

Rowan

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: ROH-en · ˈroʊən
Meaning: little red one
Popularity: #71 and rising (#76 → #71, 2024)

That tree association is a separate, later link — the name’s actual root is the Irish ‘little red one’ (from Ruadhán), unrelated to the tree word.

Sawyer

Origin: English (occupational surname)
Pronunciation: SAW-yer · ˈsɔːjər
Meaning: one who saws wood; a woodcutter
Popularity: #132 and falling (#127 → #132, 2024)

Tom Sawyer made this name synonymous with a particular kind of scrappy courage.

Shea

Origin: Irish (Anglicized from the surname Ó Séaghdha)
Pronunciation: SHAY · ˈʃeɪ
Meaning: Admirable, brave
Popularity: #1,187 and falling (#1,027 → #1,187, 2024)

A Gaelic surname-name with a direct brave meaning; clean and contemporary.

Spencer

Origin: Middle English (occupational surname)
Pronunciation: SPEN-sir · ˈspɛnsər
Meaning: steward, one who manages provisions/supplies
Popularity: #388 and falling (#362 → #388, 2024)

Has a preppy-classic quality; Spencer Hastings from *Pretty Little Liars* made it more unisex.

Sterling

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: STUR-ling · ˈstɜːrlɪŋ
Meaning: originally a surname referring to the starling bird, or a variant of the Scottish surname/place name Stirling
Popularity: #372 and rising (#403 → #372, 2024)

The currency connection is secondary; the “genuine excellence” meaning is the brave interpretation.

Still narrowing it down? Check how popular each name is by year with the Baby Name Popularity Checker — it pulls directly from SSA data.

Old-World Brave Names

These are the names that were etched into shields, carved into runestones, and carried by the kind of people whose stories got written down. They feel substantial because they are substantial — each one has centuries behind it.

Aldric

Origin: Germanic (ald ‘old’ + ric ‘ruler, power’)
Pronunciation: AL-drik · ˈældrɪk
Meaning: old ruler
Popularity: #3,781 and rising (#5,252 → #3,781, 2024)

Almost never used in modern America — which makes it genuinely striking.

Alfric

Origin: unclear (possibly Old English, variant of Ælfric)
Pronunciation: AL-frik · ˈælfrɪk
Meaning: Elf-ruler, supernaturally brave
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A medieval English name that predates the Norman Conquest; Aelfric of Eynsham was one of the great scholars of the era.

Arminius

Origin: Latin (Roman rendering of a Germanic name)
Pronunciation: ar-MIN-ee-uhs · ɑːrˈmɪniəs
Meaning: likely from a Proto-Germanic root meaning ‘great, whole, universal’; only later (16th century) popularly linked to ‘Herman’ (‘army man’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Germanic chieftain who defeated the Roman legions in the Teutoburg Forest — this name belongs to history.

Balthazar

Origin: Akkadian (via Hebrew, Greek, and Latin biblical tradition)
Pronunciation: BAL-thuh-zar · ˈbælθəzɑːr
Meaning: Bel protects the king (Bel being a title of the Babylonian god Marduk)
Popularity: #7,796 and falling (#7,338 → #7,796, 2024)

One of the traditional names of the three Magi; Balt or Bal as a nickname has real potential.

Baudouin

Origin: Old French (from Frankish/Germanic)
Pronunciation: boh-DWAN · boˈdwɛ̃
Meaning: bold friend
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The French form of Baldwin — used by medieval kings of Jerusalem; sounds regal and unusual.

Brendan

Origin: Irish (via Old Welsh)
Pronunciation: BREN-dan · ˈbrɛndən
Meaning: prince, king; a diminutive of the same root meaning ‘high, exalted’ behind Brigid
Popularity: #1,009 and falling (#886 → #1,009, 2024)

Conrad

Origin: German
Pronunciation: KAHN-rad · ˈkɑːnræd
Meaning: bold counsel
Popularity: #469 and rising (#538 → #469, 2024)

Solid, international, not overused — Conrad has a quiet authority to it.

Cyprian

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: SIP-ree-un · ˈsɪpriən
Meaning: of/from Cyprus
Popularity: #5,083 and rising (#5,285 → #5,083, 2024)

Saint Cyprian of Carthage; an early Christian bishop who died rather than renounce his faith.

Drennan

Origin: Irish (surname, from Ó Draighneáin)
Pronunciation: DREN-un · ˈdrɛnən
Meaning: descendant of a man nicknamed for the blackthorn tree
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare even in Ireland; one for families who want something with deep Celtic roots and near-zero usage.

Edmund

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: ED-mund · ˈɛdmənd
Meaning: wealthy protector
Popularity: #1,182 and falling (#1,098 → #1,182, 2024)

Egil

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: AY-geel · ˈeːɡɪl
Meaning: from a root meaning either ‘awe’ or ‘edge of a blade’
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Icelandic saga hero Egil Skallagrímsson was one of the most complex figures in Norse literature; the name is powerful and rare.

Everett

Origin: Old English/Germanic (Eoforheard/Eberhard)
Pronunciation: EV-er-et · ˈɛvərɪt
Meaning: wild boar + hardy, brave (a Germanic compound name)
Popularity: #85 and rising (#88 → #85, 2024)

The modern-feeling surface hides the same etymology as Everard; extremely popular right now but earns it.

Gareth

Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: GAIR-uth · ˈɡɛrəθ
Meaning: possibly ‘gentle’ (from Welsh gwaredd)
Popularity: #2,637 and rising (#2,744 → #2,637, 2024)

This is the popular reading, but scholars are genuinely divided — an alternate theory ties Gareth to Geraint/Gerontius, meaning ‘old man,’ instead.

Gunnar

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: GUN-er · ˈɡʌnər
Meaning: battle warrior
Popularity: #600 and falling (#593 → #600, 2024)

The Norse form behind Gunner; Gunnar sounds more Scandinavian and less American-military.

Harold

Origin: Old English / Old Norse (Germanic)
Pronunciation: HAIR-uld · ˈhɛrəld
Meaning: army ruler, military power
Popularity: #988 and falling (#921 → #988, 2024)

Leif

Origin: Old Norse/Scandinavian
Pronunciation: LAYF · ˈleɪf
Meaning: heir or descendant (literally ‘relic, that which remains’)
Popularity: #925 and falling (#859 → #925, 2024)

Leif Erikson’s legacy of exploration makes this a name about courage through action.

Lothar

Origin: Old Germanic (Old High German)
Pronunciation: LOH-tahr · ˈloʊtɑːr
Meaning: widely renowned warrior
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rare in English-speaking countries; used across medieval Europe for kings and emperors.

Marmaduke

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: MAR-muh-dyook · ˈmɑːrmədjuːk
Meaning: devotee of (Saint) Maedoc
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Impractical or magnificent depending on your perspective — Duke is a perfectly usable nickname.

Oswald

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: AHZ-wald · ˈɑːzwəld
Meaning: god + rule/power (“god’s rule”)
Popularity: #2,121 and rising (#2,211 → #2,121, 2024)

Percival

Origin: Old French (Arthurian, probably from Welsh/Celtic)
Pronunciation: PUR-si-vul · ˈpɜːrsɪvəl
Meaning: probably from the Welsh Arthurian name Peredur, reshaped in Old French to resemble ‘pierce’ + ‘valley’
Popularity: #1,768 and rising (#2,265 → #1,768, 2024)

The Arthurian knight who sought the Holy Grail; the search itself is the metaphor for brave persistence.

Reinhold

Origin: Old High German (Germanic)
Pronunciation: RINE-hohld · ˈraɪnhoʊld
Meaning: ruling through wise counsel
Popularity: #6,284 as of 1988 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The full Germanic form; very rare in English but used across northern Europe.

Roland

Origin: Germanic (Frankish, via Old French)
Pronunciation: ROH-lund · ˈroʊlənd
Meaning: famous land
Popularity: #663 and falling (#661 → #663, 2024)

The hero of *La Chanson de Roland*, the great medieval French epic of battlefield courage.

Sigrid

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: SIG-rid · ˈsɪgrɪd
Meaning: Old Norse compound of ‘victory’ and ‘fair/beautiful’ – ‘beautiful victory’
Popularity: #3,866 and falling (#3,575 → #3,866, 2024)

Sigebert

Origin: Germanic (Frankish/Old English)
Pronunciation: SIG-uh-bert · ˈsɪɡəbərt
Meaning: bright victory (from ‘sige, ‘ victory, + ‘berht, ‘ bright/famous)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Medieval Frankish kings bore this name; rare and magnificent.

Theron

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: THAIR-on · ˈθɛrɑːn
Meaning: hunter
Popularity: #2,857 and rising (#2,996 → #2,857, 2024)

Ancient Greek name; the hunt as a metaphor for courageous persistence.

Thorvald

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: TOR-vahld · tʊr.vɑːld
Meaning: Thor’s ruler
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A name from the Viking age that remains in use in Scandinavia and feels genuinely unusual in the US.

Ulric

Origin: Old High German / Germanic
Pronunciation: UL-rik · ˈʌlrɪk
Meaning: ruler of the homeland/heritage (from uodil ‘heritage, homestead’ + rihhi ‘ruler’)
Popularity: #14,056 and falling (#9,755 → #14,056, 2024)

‘Wolf ruler’ is the popular English gloss, but Wiktionary’s primary etymology traces Ulric to Old High German uodil (‘heritage/homestead’) + rihhi (‘ruler’), with the wolf-based reading noted only as a secondary suggestion from English sources.

Waldemar

Origin: Old High German
Pronunciation: VAHL-də-mar · ˈvɑːldəmɑːr
Meaning: famed power/rule, i.e. ‘famous ruler’
Popularity: #14,101 and rising (#14,203 → #14,101, 2024)

Used across Scandinavia and central Europe; Waldemar IV of Denmark was one of the medieval era’s great kings.

Willard

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: WIL-erd · ˈwɪlərd
Meaning: will/desire + brave, strong — roughly ‘bold in will’
Popularity: #3,034 and falling (#2,942 → #3,034, 2024)

The *hard* brave-suffix again; Willard is a slightly unlikely pick that has an old-school dignity.

Soft Names With Fierce Meanings

One of the most compelling things about brave names is how many of them sound utterly gentle. These are names that arrive in soft syllables — the kind you whisper — but carry a backbone of courage in their meaning. Nobody would guess just from the sound.

Alina

Origin: Germanic (via French Aline)
Pronunciation: ah-LEE-nah · əˈliːnə
Meaning: noble (as a diminutive tracing to Adela/Adele)
Popularity: #135 and rising (#150 → #135, 2024)

Sounds like a name for a ballet dancer; means something much steelier.

Aoife

Origin: Old Irish
Pronunciation: EE-fuh · ˈiːfə
Meaning: beauty, radiance
Popularity: #2,230 and falling (#2,124 → #2,230, 2024)

One of the great Irish mythological warrior queens — beauty and ferocity in two syllables.

Beatrice

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: BEE-uh-tris · ˈbiːətrɪs
Meaning: one who brings happiness (also glossed “blessed one”)
Popularity: #579 and rising (#588 → #579, 2024)

Dante’s guide through Paradise; the bravery is in the leading.

Calla

Origin: Latin (botanical name, root disputed)
Pronunciation: KAL-ah · ˈkælə
Meaning: uncertain (disputed ancient reading, possibly ‘cup’ or ‘husk’)
Popularity: #1,514 and rising (#1,604 → #1,514, 2024)

The calla lily is elegant and strong on its stem — the name matches.

Celia

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: SEE-lee-ah · ˈsiːliə
Meaning: probably ‘heavenly’, from the Roman family name Caelius (linked to Latin caelum)
Popularity: #734 and rising (#827 → #734, 2024)

Soft on the tongue with a celestial quality.

Clara

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: KLAIR-uh · ˈklɛərə
Meaning: bright, clear, famous
Popularity: #78 and rising (#98 → #78, 2024)

Saint Clare of Assisi walked away from wealth to build something new — the name carries quiet courage.

Clementine

Origin: French (from Latin Clemens)
Pronunciation: KLEM-en-teen · ˈklɛmənˌtiːn
Meaning: merciful, mild
Popularity: #477 and rising (#542 → #477, 2024)

The mercy of Clementine is itself a form of courage — it takes bravery to remain gentle.

Elowen

Origin: Cornish
Pronunciation: EL-oh-wen · ˈɛloʊwɛn
Meaning: elm tree
Popularity: #898 and rising (#1,060 → #898, 2024)

Esme

Origin: French (Esmé)
Pronunciation: EZ-may · ˈɛzmeɪ
Meaning: beloved, esteemed
Popularity: #344 and falling (#325 → #344, 2024)

Soft, literary (Salinger’s *For Esme with Love and Squalor*), and quietly brave.

Eulalia

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: yoo-LAY-lee-ah · juːˈleɪliə
Meaning: sweetly speaking
Popularity: #2,693 and rising (#3,109 → #2,693, 2024)

Saint Eulalia was a twelve-year-old who refused to deny her faith — the name belongs to small, fierce courage.

Evren

Origin: Turkish
Pronunciation: EV-ren · ˈɛvrɛn
Meaning: universe, cosmos
Popularity: #971 and rising (#1,193 → #971, 2024)

Faye

Origin: Middle English (variant of Fay)
Pronunciation: FAY · ˈfeɪ
Meaning: fairy (variant of Fay, possibly also linked to an Old French word for loyalty/faith)
Popularity: #538 and falling (#500 → #538, 2024)

Flora

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: FLOR-ah · ˈflɔːrə
Meaning: Flower; from Latin flos/floris, and the name of the Roman goddess of flowers, blooming, and springtime.
Popularity: #648 and rising (#682 → #648, 2024)

Every spring is a brave act.

Freya

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: FRAY-ah · ˈfreɪə
Meaning: noble lady, mistress
Popularity: #159 and falling (#136 → #159, 2024)

“Goddess of love and fertility” describes the mythological figure, not the word’s etymology — literally, Freya just means “noble lady/mistress,” an epithet that came to replace the goddess’s own lost name.

Ginevra

Origin: Italian, from Welsh via Norman French (Guinevere)
Pronunciation: jih-NEV-rah · dʒɪˈnɛvrə
Meaning: white phantom, or ‘fair one’ (from Welsh Gwenhwyfar)
Popularity: #5,183 and rising (#7,376 → #5,183, 2024)

The Italian form of Guinevere; sounds like a Florentine painting and means something beautiful.

Iris

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: EYE-ris · ˈaɪrɪs
Meaning: rainbow; also the name of the Greek goddess/messenger of the rainbow, and the flower named after her
Popularity: #71 and rising (#78 → #71, 2024)

Courage in the crossing.

Isadora

Origin: Greek (variant of Isidora)
Pronunciation: iz-uh-DOR-uh · ɪzəˈdɔːrə
Meaning: gift of the goddess Isis
Popularity: #1,223 and rising (#1,438 → #1,223, 2024)

Isadora Duncan danced barefoot and changed an art form — the name carries that spirit.

Lark

Origin: English
Pronunciation: LARK · ˈlɑːrk
Meaning: the songbird
Popularity: #3,534 and falling (#3,501 → #3,534, 2024)

A bird that sings rising — a name about joyful courage.

Léa

Origin: Hebrew (via French form of Leah)
Pronunciation: LEE-ah · ˈliːə
Meaning: weary, tired
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Rachel’s sister in Genesis was far braver than her reputation suggests.

Liora

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: lee-OR-ah · liˈɔːrə
Meaning: my light
Popularity: #1,638 and rising (#1,829 → #1,638, 2024)

Luna

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: LOO-na · ˈluːnə
Meaning: moon
Popularity: #13 and falling (#10 → #13, 2024)

Maren

Origin: Danish (from Latin Marina)
Pronunciation: MAIR-en · ˈmɛrən
Meaning: form of Marina; ‘of the sea’
Popularity: #570 and falling (#545 → #570, 2024)

The ocean as a metaphor for courage; simple and lovely.

Orla

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: OR-lah · ˈɔːrlə
Meaning: golden princess (literally ‘gold’ + ‘sovereignty/princess’)
Popularity: #2,517 and rising (#2,607 → #2,517, 2024)

Several early Irish queens bore this name; it’s been used continuously in Ireland for over a thousand years.

Petra

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: PEH-trah · ˈpɛtrə
Meaning: rock, stone (feminine form of Peter)
Popularity: #1,486 and falling (#1,473 → #1,486, 2024)

The feminine form of Peter — few things are braver than being the foundation others build on.

Rosaline

Origin: Germanic (via Rosalind), later reinterpreted as Latin-Romance
Pronunciation: ROZ-uh-leen · ˈrɒzəliːn
Meaning: gentle horse (via Rosalind); rose link is later folk etymology
Popularity: #3,000 and falling (#2,608 → #3,000, 2024)

The *lind* suffix in Germanic names means “gentle” — brave gentleness is its own kind of courage.

Selene

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: suh-LEE-nee · səˈliːni
Meaning: moon (as the Greek moon goddess)
Popularity: #675 and rising (#708 → #675, 2024)

Selene drove the moon chariot across the sky every night — bravery in the routine.

Sylvie

Origin: French (from Latin)
Pronunciation: SIL-vee · ˈsɪlvi
Meaning: of the forest
Popularity: #360 and rising (#425 → #360, 2024)

Wildness and freedom require their own kind of courage; a name that breathes fresh air.

Wren

Origin: English (Middle English)
Pronunciation: REN · ˈrɛn
Meaning: the small songbird
Popularity: #213 and falling (#195 → #213, 2024)

Found a name you love? Create a custom Baby Name Art print with it — perfect for the nursery or a baby shower gift.

Brave Names From Around the World

Courage is a universal value, which means every language has encoded it into names. These come from traditions beyond the Celtic-Germanic-Latin triad — Japanese, Arabic, Swahili, Sanskrit, Yoruba, and more.

Amani

Origin: Swahili (possibly also Arabic)
Pronunciation: ah-MAH-nee · ɑːˈmɑːni
Meaning: peace
Popularity: #634 and falling (#621 → #634, 2024)

Amir

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: ah-MEER · ɑːˈmɪr
Meaning: commander, prince
Popularity: #95 and rising (#100 → #95, 2024)

Ubiquitous across the Middle East and South Asia; the leadership meaning is implicitly brave.

Arjuna

Origin: Sanskrit
Pronunciation: AR-juh-nuh
Meaning: bright, white or silver-hued, shining
Popularity: #7,785 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

One of the great heroes of the *Mahabharata* — Arjuna’s moment of hesitation and recovery in the *Bhagavad Gita* is one of literature’s great portraits of courage.

Asante

Origin: Swahili
Pronunciation: uh-SAHN-tay · əˈsɑːnteɪ
Meaning: thank you, gratitude
Popularity: #2,784 and rising (#2,806 → #2,784, 2024)

The ‘brave and honored’ meaning isn’t part of the word itself — it comes from mixing up ‘asante’ (Swahili for ‘thank you’) with the unrelated Asante/Ashanti people and kingdom of Ghana.

Bajram

Origin: Balkan (Bosnian/Albanian, from Turkish bayram)
Pronunciation: BYE-rahm · ˈbaɪ.ram
Meaning: named for Eid, the Islamic festival — typically given to boys born on or near that holiday
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The name refers specifically to Eid — the ‘brave’ part isn’t part of its meaning.

Cezar

Origin: Romanian/Slavic (form of Caesar, from Latin)
Pronunciation: cheh-ZAR · tʃɛˈzɑːr
Meaning: hairy
Popularity: #8,408 and falling (#6,967 → #8,408, 2024)

This is one of several competing ancient folk etymologies for Caesar; modern scholarship doesn’t consider the true root definitively established.

Daisuke

Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: dy-SOO-kay · daɪˈsuːkeɪ
Meaning: great help (kanji-dependent)
Popularity: #12,659 as of 2012 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ekundayo

Origin: Yoruba
Pronunciation: eh-koon-DAH-yoh · eɪkʊnˈdaɪoʊ
Meaning: sorrow has turned to joy
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Yoruba name from Nigeria; the idea that someone brave enough to outlast sorrow transforms it into joy.

Emeka

Origin: Igbo (short form of Chukwuemeka)
Pronunciation: eh-MEH-kah · ɛˈmɛkɑː
Meaning: God has done well (short form of Chukwuemeka: Chukwu ‘God’ + emeka ‘has done well’)
Popularity: #8,494 and falling (#6,633 → #8,494, 2024)

A common Igbo name in Nigeria; the “great actions” meaning carries the weight of courage.

Fatou

Origin: Arabic (via West African usage)
Pronunciation: fah-TOO · fɑːˈtuː
Meaning: rooted in a word for weaning, traditionally read as ‘one who abstains’
Popularity: #2,975 and rising (#3,483 → #2,975, 2024)

From the Senegambia region; the endurance-as-courage meaning is embedded in its usage.

Hamid

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: hah-MEED · hæˈmiːd
Meaning: praiseworthy, or one who praises (God) — two related Arabic roots (ḥamīd / ḥāmid) converge on this spelling
Popularity: #7,388 and falling (#4,509 → #7,388, 2024)

The *h-m-d* root in Arabic carries the meaning of praising what is right, which requires courage.

Ikaika

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: ee-KY-kah · iˈkaɪkə
Meaning: strong, powerful
Popularity: #4,461 and rising (#4,512 → #4,461, 2024)

The Hawaiian *kai* root (strength/sea) makes this a name of oceanic power.

Jabari

Origin: Swahili
Pronunciation: juh-BAR-ee · dʒəˈbɑːri
Meaning: brave, fearless
Popularity: #1,022 and falling (#925 → #1,022, 2024)

Kaito

Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent)
Pronunciation: KY-toh · ˈkaɪtoʊ
Meaning: Ocean flying, brave of the sea
Popularity: #2,030 and rising (#2,205 → #2,030, 2024)

Kalani

Origin: Hawaiian
Pronunciation: kah-LAH-nee · kəˈlɑːni
Meaning: the heavens, the sky
Popularity: #339 and rising (#380 → #339, 2024)

Kaya

Origin: Turkish
Pronunciation: KY-ah · ˈkaɪə
Meaning: rock
Popularity: #966 and rising (#1,024 → #966, 2024)

Kenji

Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: KEN-jee · ˈkɛndʒi
Meaning: commonly ‘healthy/wise second son’ (varies by kanji chosen)
Popularity: #855 and falling (#827 → #855, 2024)

One of the most common Japanese boys’ names; the *ken* root carries both health and strength.

Kofi

Origin: Akan (Ghana)
Pronunciation: KOH-fee · ˈkoʊfi
Meaning: day-name for a boy born on Friday
Popularity: #3,641 and falling (#3,147 → #3,641, 2024)

Kofi Annan made this name internationally recognized.

Laila

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: LAY-luh · ˈleɪlə
Meaning: night
Popularity: #371 and falling (#312 → #371, 2024)

The great Layla of Qays and Layla — the one worth being brave for.

Makena

Origin: Uncertain (Kikuyu ‘happy one’ vs. Hawaiian place name)
Pronunciation: muh-KEN-uh · məˈkɛnə
Meaning: Happy one, brave and joyful
Popularity: #2,046 and falling (#1,778 → #2,046, 2024)

From the Kikuyu people of Kenya; the joyfulness of courage rather than its grimness.

Nasrin

Origin: Persian
Pronunciation: nahs-REEN · nɑːsˈriːn
Meaning: wild rose
Popularity: #13,056 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Nizhoni

Origin: Navajo (Diné)
Pronunciation: nih-ZHOH-nee · nɪˈʒoʊni
Meaning: beautiful
Popularity: #5,900 and falling (#5,338 → #5,900, 2024)

A Diné (Navajo) name; beauty as an act of cultural courage.

Obinna

Origin: Igbo
Pronunciation: oh-BIN-ah · oʊˈbɪnə
Meaning: father’s heart (from obi ‘heart’ + nna ‘father’)
Popularity: #8,757 and falling (#5,004 → #8,757, 2024)

A name that carries the courage of lineage.

Rania

Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: RAH-nee-ah · ˈrɑːniə
Meaning: one who gazes or admires with tenderness
Popularity: #2,001 and rising (#2,348 → #2,001, 2024)

Rania doesn’t mean ‘queen’ — the Arabic root is about gazing or admiring, not royalty; ‘queen’ is a popular but inaccurate gloss repeated on baby-name sites.

Sakura

Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: sah-KUR-ah · sɑːˈkʊrə
Meaning: cherry blossom
Popularity: #3,001 and rising (#3,418 → #3,001, 2024)

The philosophy of *mono no aware* — the beauty of things precisely because they pass — is one of the bravest worldviews imaginable.

Saoirse

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: SEER-shah · ˈsɪərʃə
Meaning: freedom
Popularity: #1,036 and falling (#959 → #1,036, 2024)

Shujaa

Origin: Swahili
Pronunciation: shoo-JAH-ah · ʃuːˈdʒɑː.ɑː
Meaning: a hero or courageous person
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The direct Swahili word for hero; clean and powerful.

Yara

Origin: two unrelated origins: Tupi (Brazilian indigenous) and Arabic
Pronunciation: YAR-ah · ˈjɑːrə
Meaning: In Tupi, ‘lady of the water’ — a water-spirit figure in Brazilian folklore.
Popularity: #578 and rising (#613 → #578, 2024)

We couldn’t find a reliable source confirming this meaning, so treat it as unconfirmed.

Zola

Origin: African (Zulu/Xhosa); unrelated Italian surname also exists
Pronunciation: ZOH-lah · ˈzoʊlə
Meaning: calm, tranquil
Popularity: #1,106 and rising (#1,120 → #1,106, 2024)

Short and Strong Brave Names

One to two syllables. They land fast and hard. These are the names that cut through noise — short enough to shout across a playground but weighted enough to hold a CV someday.

Ace

Origin: English (from the word “ace”, ultimately Old French/Latin as, “a single unit”)
Pronunciation: AYSS · ˈeɪs
Meaning: one who excels; top-ranked
Popularity: #165 and falling (#157 → #165, 2024)

A name that carries winning without arrogance; currently trending.

Ajax

Origin: Ancient Greek (mythological name)
Pronunciation: AY-jaks · ˈeɪdʒæks
Meaning: Eagle, courageous warrior
Popularity: #3,681 and falling (#2,804 → #3,681, 2024)

One of the great Greek heroes at Troy — a name of almost shocking force that somehow works in modern life.

Origin: English (short form of various Al- names)
Pronunciation: AL · æl
Meaning: Noble, bright, brave
Popularity: #8,978 and falling (#5,669 → #8,978, 2024)

The standalone form of Alfred or Albert; short and confident.

Aldo

Origin: Italian (from Germanic ald ‘old’)
Pronunciation: AL-doh · ˈældoʊ
Meaning: old (the Germanic root shared with names like Rinaldo and Ubaldo)
Popularity: #992 and falling (#948 → #992, 2024)

Italian grandpa-name on the verge of something — confident and warm.

Ares

Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: AIR-eez · ˈɛriːz
Meaning: Greek god of war
Popularity: #295 and rising (#414 → #295, 2024)

Art

Origin: Celtic (Irish)
Pronunciation: ART · ɑːrt
Meaning: bear, figuratively “champion”
Popularity: #3,885, holding steady (2024)

“Noble strength” isn’t Art’s own meaning — it’s a gloss sometimes attached to Arthur, whose etymology is separately disputed. Art itself is documented simply as “bear,” thus “champion.”

Bran

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: BRAN · bræn
Meaning: raven
Popularity: #11,099 and falling (#9,880 → #11,099, 2024)

From Bran the Blessed in Welsh mythology; short and striking.

Brig

Origin: unclear (possibly Irish, short form of Brigid)
Pronunciation: BRIG · bɹɪɡ
Meaning: Strength, vigor
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A compressed form; strong and unusual.

Cai

Origin: Welsh (traditionally linked to Latin Gaius)
Pronunciation: KY · ˈkaɪ
Meaning: traditionally said to mean ‘rejoice’ (as a Welsh form of Gaius), though the ultimate origin of Gaius itself is uncertain
Popularity: #1,902 and falling (#1,849 → #1,902, 2024)

The Welsh form of Kay; Sir Cai was one of the earliest Arthurian knights.

Cal

Origin: English (short form)
Pronunciation: KAL · ˈkæl
Meaning: Brave, devoted
Popularity: #670 and rising (#712 → #670, 2024)

Short for Callum or Calvin; warm and usable.

Cruz

Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: KROOZ · ˈkruːz
Meaning: cross
Popularity: #303 and rising (#329 → #303, 2024)

The cross as a symbol of endurance and courage; widely used in Spanish-speaking cultures.

Dag

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: DAHG · ˈdɑːg
Meaning: day
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Scandinavian name meaning daylight; simple and strong.

Dex

Origin: Uncertain (possibly a short form of Dexter)
Pronunciation: DEKS · dɛks
Meaning: Right-handed, dexterous, brave and skilled
Popularity: #3,809 and falling (#3,186 → #3,809, 2024)

The short form of Dexter — quick and modern.

Origin: English (short form of various Ed- names)
Meaning: Wealthy guardian, brave protector
Popularity: #8,475 and rising (#12,733 → #8,475, 2024)

The compressed form of Edmund or Edward; plain and solid.

Finn

Origin: Irish or Old Norse
Pronunciation: FIN · ˈfɪn
Meaning: fair (Irish) or Sami/Finn (Norse)
Popularity: #198 and falling (#186 → #198, 2024)

Guy

Origin: Old French (Germanic); rare Hebrew variant
Pronunciation: GY · ˈɡaɪ
Meaning: wood (Germanic short-name element); rarely ‘valley’ (Hebrew)
Popularity: #1,561 and rising (#1,567 → #1,561, 2024)

Old-school but sharp; Sir Guy of Gisborne notwithstanding, it’s an underrated name.

Kai

Origin: Germanic/Scandinavian (also popularly linked to Hawaiian)
Pronunciation: KY · ˈkaɪ
Meaning: possibly from Latin Caius, or a Frisian pet form of Gerard/Cornelius/Nicholas (‘warrior’); popularly reinterpreted in the US as Hawaiian for ‘sea’
Popularity: #76 and falling (#61 → #76, 2024)

Across multiple languages and cultures, Kai carries the ocean’s strength.

Lars

Origin: Scandinavian (via Latin)
Pronunciation: LARZ · ˈlɑːrz
Meaning: from Laurentum
Popularity: #2,244 and falling (#2,163 → #2,244, 2024)

The Swedish and Norwegian form of Lawrence; clean and unfussy.

Leo

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: LEE-oh · ˈliːoʊ
Meaning: lion
Popularity: #24 and falling (#18 → #24, 2024)

Lev

Origin: Slavic/Russian; separately Hebrew
Pronunciation: LEV · ˈlɛv
Meaning: lion (Slavic, cognate with Latin leo); separately, ‘heart’ in Hebrew and Yiddish
Popularity: #1,040 and rising (#1,092 → #1,040, 2024)

This blends two unrelated etymologies as if they combine: the Slavic name means ‘lion’ while the Hebrew word lev separately means ‘heart’ — they aren’t literally one compound meaning.

Rex

Origin: Latin
Pronunciation: REKS · ˈrɛks
Meaning: king
Popularity: #794 and falling (#723 → #794, 2024)

Regal without being stuffy; a one-syllable name that fills a room.

Rin

Origin: Japanese
Pronunciation: RIN · ˈrɪn
Meaning: meaning depends on which kanji is used to write it (e.g. ‘bell’, ‘dignified/cold’, ‘reason’); no single fixed meaning
Popularity: #4,621 and falling (#4,258 → #4,621, 2024)

The kanji choice determines the meaning — parents can select *凛* (dignified/brave) specifically.

Roy

Origin: Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation: ROY · ˈrɔɪ
Meaning: red, red-haired
Popularity: #541 and rising (#556 → #541, 2024)

Simple and strong; quietly powerful.

Saul

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: SAWL · ˈsɔːl
Meaning: asked for (the same root also carries a sense of ‘borrowed’)
Popularity: #559 and rising (#568 → #559, 2024)

King Saul, Saint Paul’s original name — a name of great Old Testament weight.

Tor

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: TOR · tɔːr
Meaning: thunder (a short form of the god-name Thor)
Popularity: #10,695 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Troy

Origin: Irish (also English/Norman surname from Troyes, France)
Pronunciation: TROY · ˈtrɔɪ
Meaning: foot soldier
Popularity: #531 and falling (#461 → #531, 2024)

The city whose name became synonymous with a ten-year siege — the bravery is in the endurance.

Ulf

Origin: Scandinavian (Old Norse)
Pronunciation: ULF · ˈʊlf
Meaning: wolf
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Val

Origin: Latin (via English short forms of Valentine, Valerius, Valerie, etc.)
Pronunciation: VAL · væl
Meaning: no independent meaning of its own — a short form of names such as Valentine, Valerius, Valerie, and Valentina, all ultimately from Latin ‘valere’, ‘to be strong or healthy’
Popularity: #5,622 and falling (#5,235 → #5,622, 2024)

The short form of Valentine or Valentina — works for any gender and carries the full Latin *valens* meaning.

Vance

Origin: English (surname)
Pronunciation: VANS · ˈvæns
Meaning: from the marshland
Popularity: #996 and falling (#955 → #996, 2024)

Zev

Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: ZEV · ˈzɛv
Meaning: wolf
Popularity: #908 and falling (#877 → #908, 2024)

The Hebrew wolf — directional, fierce, and short.

Rare and Underused Brave Names

These are the names for parents who’ve looked at the SSA top 500 and felt nothing. Each one has real history and a legitimate brave meaning — and none of them are clogging up any preschool roster in 2026.

Abelard

Origin: French (from Germanic roots)
Pronunciation: AB-uh-lard · ˈæbəlɑːrd
Meaning: uncertain — either the name Abel with a Germanic ‘-hard’ (strong) suffix attached, or a variant of Eberhard (‘strong/brave as a boar’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The medieval philosopher Peter Abelard; a name of intellectual courage and tragic love.

Adelard

Origin: Old High German (via Medieval Latin Adelardus)
Pronunciation: AD-ul-ard · ˈædəlˌɑːrd
Meaning: noble and brave/strong
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Even rarer than Abelard; a Carolingian name almost nobody uses.

Anselm

Origin: Germanic (Proto-Germanic ansuz + Old High German helm)
Pronunciation: AN-selm · ˈænsɛlm
Meaning: divine protection, literally ‘god-helmet’
Popularity: #9,939 and falling (#8,972 → #9,939, 2024)

Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury was exiled twice for standing up to the English crown — a name with genuine moral courage behind it.

Aribert

Origin: unclear (possibly Germanic/Lombardic, related to Heribert)
Pronunciation: AR-ih-bert · ˈɑːrɪbərt
Meaning: Eagle-bright, brave as an eagle
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Athelstan

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: ATH-ul-stan · ˈæθəlstæn
Meaning: noble stone (traditionally rendered as ‘gem’)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The first King of all England; now getting attention through the TV show *Vikings* — still rare in practice.

Baldric

Origin: Germanic (Old High German/Old English)
Pronunciation: BAL-drik · ˈbæl.drɪk
Meaning: bold power/rule
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The brave *bald* root plus the ruling *ric* suffix; a medieval name with a sharp sound.

Brennus

Origin: Celtic (Gaulish)
Pronunciation: BREN-əs · ˈbɹɛnəs
Meaning: possibly ‘crow’ (uncertain)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The Celtic chieftain who sacked Rome in 390 BC — an almost entirely unused name with enormous historical weight.

Cadoc

Origin: Welsh
Pronunciation: KAD-ok · ˈkædɒk
Meaning: battle
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Saint Cadoc of Wales; a Welsh name with a warrior’s edge.

Dagobert

Origin: unclear (possibly Frankish/Germanic)
Pronunciation: DAG-oh-bert · ˈdæɡoʊbɜːrt
Meaning: Shining day, brave as daylight
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Merovingian king’s name; more unusual than almost anything else on this list.

Eadric

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: EED-rik · ˈiːdrɪk
Meaning: wealthy/prosperous ruler (from ‘ead, ‘ wealth/prosperity, + ‘ric, ‘ power/ruler)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pre-Conquest English; Eadric Streona was one of the most controversial figures in early English history.

Eberhard

Origin: Old High German
Pronunciation: EH-ber-hart · ˈeːbɐhaʁt
Meaning: strong/brave as a wild boar
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The ancestor of Everett and Everard — the original, uncompressed form.

Fridolin

Origin: Germanic
Pronunciation: FREE-doh-leen · ˈfriːdoʊliːn
Meaning: little peaceful one
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Swiss and Austrian saint’s name; unusual and warm.

Grimoald

Origin: Germanic (Frankish/Lombard)
Pronunciation: GRIM-oh-awld · ˈɡrɪmoʊɔːld
Meaning: masked ruler (helmet/mask + rule)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Lombard kings bore this name; it sounds almost like something from fantasy literature but is completely real.

Hartmann

Origin: Germanic (German)
Pronunciation: HART-mahn · ˈhɑːrtmən
Meaning: hard/strong man
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Very rare in English; common in Germany and Austria.

Hildebrand

Origin: Germanic (German)
Pronunciation: HIL-duh-brand · ˈhɪldəbrænd
Meaning: battle sword (battle + sword/torch)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Saint Hildebrand became Pope Gregory VII and stood up to Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV — a name associated with moral backbone.

Ingvar

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: ING-var · ˈɪŋvɑːr
Meaning: Ing’s warrior
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Viking Age name; rare in the US, still used in Scandinavia.

Lothere

Origin: Old English (Germanic)
Pronunciation: LOH-theer · ˈloʊðɪər
Meaning: famous army/famous warriors (fame + war-band)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A 7th-century King of Kent; extremely rare.

Maelgwn

Origin: Welsh (Brittonic)
Meaning: hound prince, prince of hounds
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A 6th-century Welsh king; pronounced “mile-goon” — wild and wonderful.

Oisín

Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: oh-SHEEN · oʊˈʃiːn
Meaning: little deer, fawn
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

The poet-warrior of Irish mythology, son of Fionn Mac Cumhaill; Ossian in the Scottish form.

Philibert

Origin: Germanic (via Old French)
Pronunciation: FEE-lee-bair · filiˈbɛʁ
Meaning: very bright, greatly brilliant
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ragnar

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: RAG-nar · ˈrægnɑr
Meaning: counsel of the army
Popularity: #2,272 and falling (#1,732 → #2,272, 2024)

Ragnar doesn’t literally mean ‘warrior’ or ‘gods’; regin/rǫgn means ‘counsel’ (only loosely tied to divine powers, as in Ragnarök) and herr means ‘army’, so ‘army counsel’ is the more accurate gloss.

Rigunth

Origin: Germanic (Frankish)
Pronunciation: REE-goonth · ˈriːɡʊnt
Meaning: mighty in battle (power/rule + battle)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Merovingian princess’s name — almost no one uses this.

Roderick

Origin: Germanic (also anglicizes Gaelic Ruairidh and Welsh Rhydderch)
Pronunciation: ROD-er-ik · ˈrɑːdərɪk
Meaning: famous ruler
Popularity: #1,909 and rising (#1,923 → #1,909, 2024)

Medieval European royalty name; Rod is a usable nickname.

Swithun

Origin: Old English
Pronunciation: SWITH-ən · ˈswɪðən
Meaning: from ‘swīþ’ meaning ‘strong’, combined with a second element of uncertain meaning
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Saint Swithun’s Day is July 15th — an Anglo-Saxon bishop’s name with a gentle, breezy quality.

Theobald

Origin: Germanic (via Old French)
Pronunciation: THEE-oh-bawld · ˈθiːəbɔːld
Meaning: bold people (from Proto-Germanic ‘þeudō, ‘ people/folk, + ‘balþaz, ‘ bold)
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Theobald was a common medieval name among European aristocracy; almost entirely absent today.

Thurstan

Origin: Old Norse
Pronunciation: THUR-stən · ˈθɜːr.stən
Meaning: Thor’s stone
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

A Viking Age name; Thurstan, Archbishop of York, refused to submit to the Archbishop of Canterbury and maintained Northern English independence.

Wulfric

Origin: Old English
Meaning: wolf ruler / wolf-king
Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings