10 Medieval Baby Names That People Should Stop Using & 10 That Still Sound Cool
Which Medieval Name Is Your Favorite?
Some names never seem to go out of style, even if they should. While some baby names from the Middle Ages can sound charmingly old-fashioned, others are hopelessly outdated, harsh-sounding, and better left in the history books. From noble classics that stand the test of time to relics that really shouldn’t make a comeback, here are 10 medieval baby names people should stop using and 10 that still sound great.
1. Beatrice
The name Beatrice is associated with a 15th-century saint. The meaning of the name is "voyager." It's coming back in style after about a century of being out, but we think it should stay on voyage.
2. Benedict
Benedict was a massively popular name in the 12th century, and today, thanks to a famous actor, it's unfortunately coming back in style. The name means "blessed" or "well-spoken," but it's too castlecore for our taste.
3. Archibald
We're not sure who in 2025 is naming their baby Archibald. Even if you use the short form "Archie," it sounds like an old man's name. It's a Medieval name of Germanic origin meaning "genuine" and "bold."
4. Astrid
Astrid is of Scandinavian origin and is still popular in Nordic countries. It means "divinely beautiful," which is ironic considering how the name doesn't sound very pretty, at least in English.
5. Drogo
Is it just us, or does Drogo sound like the name of a villain? It fittingly translates to "hard" or "solid," and was popular among medieval nobility in both France and Germany.
6. Bartholomew
Bartholomew is an incredibly old-fashioned name with biblical origins. Even though its birth was several centuries before medieval times, it's still considered a medieval name because of its extreme popularity during that time, particularly in England and France, but we can't hear it and not think of Bart Simpson.
7. Sigrid
Sigrid is a girl's name with Norse origins, meaning "beautiful victory." In Scandinavian countries, it's associated with the strength and beauty of Viking women, but the name remains rare in English-speaking countries, probably because it doesn't sound very nice in English.
8. Matilda
Matilda sounds like the name of a scary or intimidating woman, and rightfully so. The name is of Germanic origin, and it means "mighty in battle."
9. Dorothy
Dorothy has Greek origins, but it's been a popular name in English-speaking countries since the 15th century. There are many nicknames available for it, including Dot, Dotty, and Dolly, but no matter how you slice it, it sounds like an old lady's name.
10. Maude
Maude is another name we can't imagine being used for baby girls in the modern day. It's a variation of Matilda with the same "mighty" meaning and association with war and battles.
Now that we've talked about the medieval-era baby names that are really uncool, let's talk about the ones that still work.
1. Amelia
Amelia is one of the most popular names in the US right now, and we can understand why. It's beautiful and delicate, with Germanic origins meaning "striving."
2. Genevieve
Genevieve is a gorgeous name for a baby girl that sounds equally beautiful in French and English. It's associated with Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris.
3. Aldous
Aldous is an intellectual-sounding boys' name with origins in Old English and German. It translates to "noble," and of course has a strong association with Aldous Huxley, the author of Brave New World.
4. Leif
Leif is not a very common name in the English-speaking world, but we think it should be. It has strong ties to Viking history, famously associated with Leif Erikson, the first European explorer to reach North America, but it also just sounds cool, simple, and strong.
Vitaliy Zalishchyker on Unsplash
5. Torsten
Torsten is an undeniably cool name for a boy. It has Scandinavian origins, meaning "Thor's stone," alluding to power and protection.
6. Petra
Petra is a name of Greek origin, linked to the ancient city in what is now Jordan. The feminine form of Peter, it means "rock," but it sounds much more beautiful than its hard meaning.
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7. Pascal
Toda,y it's associated with one of the most widely obsessed about actors, Pedro Pascal. However, the name has Latin origins, literally meaning "born on Easter." It became popular in the Middle Ages because of its religious connection.
8. Ella
With its soft vowel sounds, Ella is a lovely, musical, and poetic name. In the English-speaking world, it's associated with the jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald, but it has origins in several different cultures, including Spanish, Jewish, and German, making it an exceptionally multicultural name.
9. Conrad
Conrad is a powerful and cool-sounding male name with Germanic origins meaning "brave counsel." It was popularized across Europe in the medieval times because of its association with many rulers.
10. Serena
Serena is a melodic and flowy girls' name with enduring popularity over many centuries, but particularly in medieval Europe. It has Latin origins, meaning "serene" or "tranquil."
