Ancient Names
Some of the oldest names ever written down are still in use. Sarah and Daniel go back three thousand years; Enheduanna, the first author known by name, signed her hymns in Sumer around 2300 BC. This page gathers more than 100 ancient names from the great early civilizations, each with its meaning and the person or culture that made it memorable.
Whether you want a baby name with deep roots or a believable name for a historical novel, start with the culture. Egypt has its own page of ancient Egyptian names, and Rome is covered in depth in Roman names. For heroes and gods, see mythology boy names.
Mesopotamian names: Sumer, Akkad, Babylon and Assyria
The world’s first writing recorded these names in cuneiform. Many are sentences addressed to a god.
| Name | Meaning | Who bore it |
|---|---|---|
| Enheduanna | “High priestess, ornament of heaven” | Poet-priestess, daughter of Sargon |
| Sargon | “The true king” | Sargon of Akkad |
| Gilgamesh | Possibly “the ancestor is a hero” | Hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh |
| Hammurabi | “The kinsman is a healer” | Babylonian lawgiver |
| Nebuchadnezzar | “O Nabu, protect my heir” | King of Babylon |
| Ashurbanipal | “Ashur is creator of an heir” | Assyrian king, great library |
| Semiramis | Greek form of Shammuramat | Legendary Assyrian queen |
| Kubaba | Meaning uncertain | Tavern-keeper who became queen of Kish |
| Ninsun | “Lady wild cow” | Mother of Gilgamesh |
| Enkidu | “Lord of the pleasant place” | Gilgamesh’s companion |
| Nabonidus | “Nabu is praised” | Last king of Babylon |
| Ishtar | Goddess of love and war | Also known as Inanna |
| Ennigaldi | “Lady of beautiful things” (approx.) | Princess who curated a museum |
| Naram-Sin | “Beloved of the moon god Sin” | King of Akkad |
| Kushim | Meaning unknown | Among the oldest recorded names, c. 3100 BC |
Ancient Persian names
Old Persian royal names were Hellenized by Greek writers, which is how most people know them. See modern forms on Persian names.
| Name | Meaning | Who bore it |
|---|---|---|
| Cyrus | Possibly “sun” or “far-sighted” | Cyrus the Great |
| Darius | “He who holds firm the good” | Darius I |
| Xerxes | “Ruling over heroes” | Xerxes I |
| Atossa | From Hutaosa, “well-thighed” (strong) | Queen, daughter of Cyrus |
| Roxana | “Little star” or “bright” | Wife of Alexander the Great |
| Artemisia | From the goddess Artemis | Carian queen and admiral |
| Mithridates | “Given by Mithra” | Kings of Pontus and Parthia |
| Arsaces | Possibly “hero” | Founder of Parthia |
| Parysatis | Possibly “much-loved” | Achaemenid queen |
| Zarathustra | Possibly “with old camels” | Prophet of Zoroastrianism |
| Shapur | “Son of the king” | Sasanian kings |
| Ardashir | “Whose reign is truth” | Founder of the Sasanian Empire |
Ancient Greek names
Greek names combined two meaningful words, for example Philip = “lover of horses.” Explore Spartan names and Greek girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Who bore it |
|---|---|---|
| Leonidas | “Son of the lion” | King of Sparta |
| Pericles | “Surrounded by glory” | Athenian statesman |
| Socrates | “Whole power” | Philosopher |
| Aristotle | “The best purpose” | Philosopher |
| Sappho | Possibly “sapphire” | Poet of Lesbos |
| Hypatia | “Highest, supreme” | Mathematician of Alexandria |
| Themistocles | “Glory of the law” | Victor at Salamis |
| Aspasia | “Welcome” | Intellectual partner of Pericles |
| Gorgo | “Grim, fierce” | Spartan queen |
| Philip | “Lover of horses” | Philip II of Macedon |
| Olympias | “Of Olympus” | Mother of Alexander |
| Thales | Meaning uncertain | First Greek philosopher |
| Agathon | “Good” | Tragic poet |
| Phoebe | “Bright” | Name from myth, used by women |
| Kallisto | “Most beautiful” | Myth and everyday use |
| Demetrius | “Of Demeter” | Many kings and generals |
| Herodotus | “Gift of Hera” | The “father of history” |
| Diogenes | “Born of Zeus” | Cynic philosopher |
| Penelope | Possibly “weaver” | Odysseus’s faithful wife |
Ancient Roman names
A Roman man had a praenomen, family nomen and cognomen: Gaius Julius Caesar. Women used the feminine family name. More in Roman girl names and Roman boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aurelia | “Golden” | Mother of Julius Caesar |
| Julia | Feminine of Julius | Daughter of Augustus |
| Livia | Possibly “bluish” | Wife of Augustus |
| Octavian | “Eighth” | Birth name of Augustus |
| Maximus | “Greatest” | Common cognomen |
| Lucius | “Light” | Common praenomen |
| Gaius | Possibly “rejoice” | Common praenomen |
| Claudia | “Lame” | Patrician family name |
| Valeria | “Strong, healthy” | Valerian family |
| Cicero | “Chickpea” | Orator Marcus Tullius Cicero |
| Seneca | “Old” | Philosopher |
| Cornelius | Possibly “horn” | Great patrician family |
| Fulvia | “Yellow, golden” | Political powerhouse, wife of Mark Antony |
| Hadrian | “From Hadria” | Emperor, built a wall in Britain |
| Tiberius | “Of the Tiber river” | Second emperor |
| Vesta | Goddess of the hearth | Vestal Virgins |
| Antonia | Feminine of Antonius | Mother of the emperor Claudius |
| Agrippa | Meaning debated | Marcus Agrippa, Augustus’s general |
Celtic, Gaulish and British names
Most of what we know comes from Roman writers and coins, so the names are recorded in Latin forms. See Celtic names.
| Name | Meaning | Who bore it |
|---|---|---|
| Boudica | “Victorious” | Iceni queen who revolted against Rome |
| Vercingetorix | “Great king of warriors” | Gaulish leader against Caesar |
| Cartimandua | Possibly “sleek pony” | Queen of the Brigantes |
| Caratacus | “Beloved” | British chieftain |
| Cassivellaunus | Possibly “devoted to Belenus” | Opposed Caesar in Britain |
| Brennus | Possibly “king” or “raven” | Gaul who sacked Rome, 390 BC |
| Ambiorix | “King of the surrounding land” | Belgic leader |
| Onomaris | “Seeking to kill” (debated) | Legendary Gaulish woman leader |
| Dumnorix | “King of the world” | Aeduan chieftain |
| Epona | “Horse goddess” | Celtic deity popular with Roman cavalry |
Hebrew, Phoenician and Arabian names
Biblical and Near Eastern names are the most enduring on this page. Browse more in biblical names.
| Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah | “Princess” | Genesis 17 |
| Abraham | “Father of many” | Genesis 17 |
| Deborah | “Bee” | Judge and prophetess, Judges 4 |
| Solomon | “Peace” | King of Israel |
| Miriam | Possibly “bitter” or “beloved” | Sister of Moses |
| Hannibal | “Grace of Baal” | Carthaginian general |
| Hamilcar | “Brother of Melqart” | Hannibal’s father |
| Dido | Possibly “wanderer” | Founding queen of Carthage |
| Jezebel | Possibly “where is the prince?” | Phoenician princess, 1 Kings 16 |
| Zenobia | “Life of Zeus” (Greek form) | Queen of Palmyra |
| Bilqis | Traditional name of the Queen of Sheba | Arabian tradition |
| David | “Beloved” | King of Israel |
| Ruth | “Friend, companion” | Book of Ruth |
Ancient Indian and Chinese names
Two of the world’s oldest continuous naming traditions.
| Name | Meaning | Who bore it |
|---|---|---|
| Ashoka | “Without sorrow” | Mauryan emperor |
| Chandragupta | “Protected by the moon” | Founder of the Mauryan Empire |
| Siddhartha | “One who achieved his goal” | The Buddha |
| Gargi | From the sage Garga | Vedic philosopher |
| Maitreyi | “Friendly” | Philosopher in the Upanishads |
| Kautilya | Possibly a clan name | Author of the Arthashastra |
| Kongzi | “Master Kong” | Confucius |
| Laozi | “Old master” | Founder of Daoism |
| Sunzi | “Master Sun” | Author of The Art of War |
| Fu Hao | “Lady Hao” | Shang dynasty general |
| Qin Shi Huang | “First emperor of Qin” | Unified China |
| Ban Zhao | Personal name “Zhao” | Han dynasty historian |
| Panini | “Descendant of Panin” | Sanskrit grammarian |
| Xi Shi | “Lady Shi of the west” | One of the Four Beauties of China |
How to choose an ancient name
- For babies, pick ancient names that already fit English: Aurelia, Cyrus, Phoebe, Julia and Dido need no explaining.
- For fiction, keep a character’s name inside its culture and century. A Persian soldier named Darius is right; a Persian soldier named Brennus is not.
- Check the meaning. Claudia means “lame” and Cicero means “chickpea,” which may or may not charm you.
- Long royal names shorten well: Nebuchadnezzar to Nebby, Artemisia to Misia, Vercingetorix to Vix.
- Add a mythic touch with mythology girl names or Greek god names.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest recorded name?
Kushim, a name on a Sumerian clay tablet from around 3100 BC, is often cited as one of the oldest known personal names. Enheduanna (c. 2300 BC) is the first named author.
What are some ancient girl names?
Aurelia, Zenobia, Atossa, Boudica, Hypatia, Semiramis, Phoebe and Livia are strong ancient names for girls.
What are some ancient boy names?
Cyrus, Leonidas, Darius, Ashoka, Hannibal, Maximus and Hadrian are popular choices.
Are ancient names good for babies today?
Yes, many are already familiar: Julia, Sarah, Phoebe, Cyrus and Maximus all rank or have ranked in the US.