Names That Mean Strength
Some of the most familiar names in English secretly mean “strong.” Ethan is Hebrew for “firm, enduring,” Valentina and Valerie come from the Latin valere, “to be strong,” and Audrey means “noble strength.” Other languages add their own: Irish Fergus (“man of vigor”), Swahili Imara (“strong, firm”), Sanskrit Ojas (“vitality”) and Japanese Tsuyoshi (“strong”).
Below are more than 90 names with genuine “strength” meanings, grouped by origin, plus the mythological figures who personified power. If you want names that feel tough rather than mean it, try our strong boy names and strong girl names; for courage specifically, see names that mean brave. All themes live under name meanings.
Hebrew and biblical names that mean strength
Hebrew names often express God’s strength: Gabriel (“God is my strength”), Ezekiel (“God strengthens”) and Uzziah (“the Lord is my strength”). Find more in our biblical names.
| Name | Meaning | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Ethan | Firm, strong, enduring | Ethan the Ezrahite, 1 Kings 4:31; Psalm 89 |
| Eitan | Strong, steadfast (modern Hebrew form of Ethan) | Modern Israel |
| Gabriel | God is my strength | The archangel, Luke 1:26 |
| Gabriella | Feminine of Gabriel, “God is my strength” | Italian and Spanish form |
| Ezekiel | God strengthens | The prophet, Book of Ezekiel |
| Hezekiah | God strengthens | King of Judah, 2 Kings 18 |
| Uzziah | The Lord is my strength | King of Judah, 2 Chronicles 26 |
| Uzziel | God is my strength | Exodus 6:18 |
| Oz | Strength, might | Modern Hebrew |
| Boaz | Possibly “in him is strength” or “swiftness” | Husband of Ruth, Book of Ruth |
| Abir | Strong, mighty | Hebrew |
| Adira | Mighty, strong, noble | Hebrew |
| Azaziah | Yahweh is strong | 1 Chronicles 15:21 |
Germanic and English names meaning strength
Old Germanic names were built from warrior words: hard (“brave, hardy”), maht (“might”) and þryþ (“strength”). They gave English some of its most classic names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Audrey | Noble strength (Æðelþryð) | Old English |
| Etheldreda | Noble strength; the original form of Audrey | Old English |
| Matilda | Mighty in battle | Germanic |
| Maude | Medieval form of Matilda | Germanic, via Norman French |
| Gertrude | Spear strength | Germanic |
| Trudy | Short for Gertrude; “strength” | Germanic |
| Richard | Strong ruler, powerful and brave | Germanic |
| Everett | Brave as a boar, strong as a boar | Germanic |
| Everard | Boar-hardy, strong as a boar | Germanic |
| Bernard | Strong or brave as a bear | Germanic |
| Leonard | Lion-hardy, strong as a lion | Germanic |
| Gerard | Spear-hardy, strong with a spear | Germanic |
| Arnold | Eagle power | Germanic |
| Harding | Son of the hardy, strong one | Old English |
| Reinhard | Brave, strong counsel | German |
| Kenard | Royal and hardy (Cyneheard) | Old English |
| Maynard | Strong and hardy | Germanic |
| Hardy | Bold, tough, hardy | English |
| Bernadette | Feminine of Bernard, “strong as a bear” | French |
| Ricarda | Feminine of Richard, “strong ruler” | German, Spanish |
Latin, Greek and Romance names that mean strength
The Latin verb valere (“to be strong, healthy”) is the root of a whole family of names, from Valerie to Valentino.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Valentina | Strong, healthy | Latin |
| Valentine | Strong, healthy; the saint of February 14 | Latin |
| Valentino | Strong, healthy | Italian |
| Valentin | Strong, healthy | French, German, Slavic |
| Valerie | To be strong | French, from Latin |
| Valeria | Strong, healthy | Latin |
| Valerian | Strong; also the healing herb | Latin |
| Valens | Strong, powerful | Latin |
| Kratos | Strength, power; a Greek god | Greek |
| Bia | Force, might; Kratos’s sister | Greek |
| Stheno | Strength; one of the Gorgons | Greek |
| Dynamis | Power, strength | Greek |
Irish, Scottish and Welsh names meaning strength
Gaelic gus means “vigor, strength,” and it shows up in some of Scotland and Ireland’s best-loved names. See more in our Irish boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Fergus | Man of vigor, man of strength | Irish, Scottish |
| Angus | One strength, one choice (Aonghus) | Scottish Gaelic |
| Cathal | Strong in battle | Irish |
| Fergal | Man of valor, man of strength | Irish |
| Bridget | Power, strength (Old Irish <em>brígh</em>); also “exalted one” | Irish |
| Brigid | Exalted one, strength; a saint and a goddess | Irish |
| Brian | Possibly “high, noble” or “strong” | Irish |
Arabic, Sanskrit and world names that mean strength
Across Asia and Africa you’ll find names that celebrate strength of body, mind and spirit. More ideas in our Arabic names and Swahili names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Aziz | Mighty, powerful; also “beloved” | Arabic |
| Azizah | Mighty, precious, beloved | Arabic |
| Qawi | Strong, powerful | Arabic |
| Mateen | Firm, strong, solid | Arabic |
| Izza | Might, honor, glory | Arabic |
| Metin | Strong, firm, solid | Turkish, from Arabic |
| Imara | Strong, firm, resolute | Swahili |
| Jabari | Brave, fearless, mighty | Swahili, from Arabic |
| Ojas | Vitality, strength, inner power | Sanskrit |
| Shakti | Power, energy; the divine feminine force | Sanskrit |
| Urja | Energy, vigor, strength | Sanskrit |
| Balwant | Powerful, strong | Sanskrit, Punjabi |
| Balaram | Strong Rama; brother of Krishna | Sanskrit |
| Balveer | Strong and brave | Punjabi |
| Sahas | Strength, courage | Sanskrit |
| Tsuyoshi | Strong, sturdy (剛 or 強) | Japanese |
| Chikara | Power, strength (力) | Japanese |
| Qiang | Strong, powerful (强) | Chinese |
| Kang | Healthy, strong (康), or strong (强) | Chinese, Korean |
| Takeshi | Strong, sturdy, or martial (剛 or 武) | Japanese |
| Jian | Healthy, strong, when written 健 | Chinese |
| Qadir | Capable, powerful | Arabic |
| Sultan | Power, authority | Arabic |
| Sabal | Strong, full of strength | Sanskrit |
| Jelani | Mighty, strong | Swahili |
Strong girl names that mean strength
A quick-scan list for parents who want a daughter’s name with power in its meaning. Several above (Audrey, Valentina, Matilda, Imara) fit too; our badass girl names list has more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Andrea | Manly, strong (feminine form of Andreas) | Greek |
| Alcina | Strong-minded (from Greek <em>alkē</em>, “strength”) | Greek |
| Alcmene | Strength of the moon; mother of Heracles | Greek |
| Abira | Strong, mighty (feminine of Abir) | Hebrew |
| Gavriela | God is my strength (Hebrew spelling of Gabriela) | Hebrew |
Boy names from the Greek words for strength
Ancient Greek had two words for strength, alkē and sthenos, and both turn up in heroic names — Heracles himself was born Alcides.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Alcides | Descendant of Alcaeus; Heracles’s birth name, from <em>alkē</em> | Greek |
| Alcaeus | Strength, might; a famous lyric poet | Greek |
| Sthenelus | From <em>sthenos</em>, “strength”; a hero of the Trojan War | Greek |
| Firmin | Firm, steadfast, strong (Latin <em>firmus</em>) | French, Latin |
Mythological figures of strength
When a name’s story matters as much as its meaning, these legendary strongmen and strongwomen deliver. More in our Greek god names.
| Name | Who they are | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
| Hercules | Roman name of Heracles, the strongest hero | Roman, Greek |
| Samson | The Israelite judge whose strength was in his hair (Judges 13–16) | Hebrew |
| Magni | Son of Thor; his name means “strong, mighty” | Norse |
| Móði | Son of Thor, “brave, angry” | Norse |
| Thrud | Thor’s daughter Þrúðr; her name means “strength” | Norse |
| Bhima | The mightiest of the Pandava brothers | Hindu (Mahabharata) |
| Hanuman | The monkey god of immense strength and devotion | Hindu |
| Atlas | The Titan who holds up the sky | Greek |
| Cú Chulainn | Ulster’s superhuman hero | Irish |
How to choose a name that means strength
- Decide between meaning and sound. Ethan and Audrey mean strength but sound gentle; Kratos and Balwant sound as strong as they are.
- Look for strength in your heritage. Fergus for Irish roots, Ojas or Shakti for Indian families, Imara for East African ties.
- Use the middle-name slot. A strong-meaning middle name (Grace Valentina, Leo Fergus) adds depth without a bold first name.
- Pair with complementary meanings. Strength plus courage (names that mean warrior) or strength plus protection makes a meaningful sibling set.
- Check popularity. Ethan and Gabriel are very common in the US; Everard, Cathal or Adira are much rarer.
Frequently asked questions
What name means strength for a girl?
Valentina, Valerie, Audrey (“noble strength”), Matilda (“mighty in battle”), Gertrude (“spear strength”), Imara (Swahili, “strong”), Adira (Hebrew, “mighty”) and Shakti (Sanskrit, “power”) are all good choices.
What boy name means strong?
Ethan (Hebrew, “firm, strong”), Everett, Bernard, Richard, Fergus, Ezekiel, Gabriel, Tsuyoshi (Japanese) and Ojas (Sanskrit) all carry strength in their meaning.
Does Ethan mean strong?
Yes. Ethan comes from the Hebrew eitan, meaning “firm, strong, enduring.” It appears in the Bible as the name of a wise man, Ethan the Ezrahite.
What name means God is my strength?
Gabriel and its feminine forms Gabriella, Gabrielle and Gavriela mean “God is my strength,” as does Uzziel. Uzziah means “the Lord is my strength.”
What does Valentina mean?
Valentina comes from the Latin valens, “strong, vigorous, healthy.” It’s the feminine form of Valentine and Valentino.