Baby names

[Æscwyn]

Well, every Indian/Paki/Bangladeshi who has ever been through the education system here has been ‘teased’; it has not affected the choice of names for their offspring.

True enough but they have the advantage of being able to cry racism in such instances and the teasing doesn't usually come from within their own communities. I went to school with a boy called Edwin, which is a perfectly reasonable and unremarkable OE name, and he got teased for it. Just makes me mindful of what an Edgar, Leofric or Aethelstan could experience. Children can be cruel.

You should take a visit to Chichester Cathedral, where there are portraits of Bishops up unto the 1500's, Old English names are plentiful right up until the end, if I recall.

Can you remember any examples of these? I did a quick lookup of some Bishops of Chichester on Wikipedia and found only post-Saxon Medieval Germanic names (Godfrey, Richard, Gilbert etc).

[Osweo]

From Anglo-Saxon names I like these, maybe best as middle names.

Middle names are interesting. You can get away with almost anything there. And if you feel, you can always start using them, even if you were a bit nervous of them at first.

Denby Anglo-Saxon Male From the Danish settlement.

Where's the 'twitching eye' smilie?
Denby... Why not Ingleborough?!

Brigantia Anglo-Saxon Female Yorkshire goddess.

Our Devon lass is right that this one isn't 'English' as such, but the name does have a history in England from times after the Norse came here from Ireland. The form they used was that which gave us our modern Bride. Bridie's actually a pretty name, I think. And as you say, there are links with specific parts of England, which is nice. There are tons of Bridekirks up in the North West, and a few Bridestowes in more Saxon parts. Brigid is an Irish form, of course.

Brogan Anglo-Saxon Male Terror.
Bron Anglo-Saxon Male Brown or dark.
Isen Anglo-Saxon Male Iron.

They're not NAMES!!!!!!!!!!!

Diera Anglo-Saxon Female From Diera.

East Yorkshire was called variously DEIra, Dere, Deur...

The old form of modern 'dear' was diere

Irwin Anglo-Saxon Male Sea lover.

.. Who says?

Reviving proper Old English names is nice in theory... but the child is going to be living in the real 21st century world and will have to deal with the very real likelihood of teasing if they have what appears to be an 'unusual name' among their playground peers.

Abdul
Amir
Bogdan
Cheung
Conchobhor
Dawood
Edwulf
Farooq
Gwenhwyfar
Hasan
Jamal
Kashif
Keiyrann
Latifaaaah
Mbwanaka
Mohammad
Mohammad
Mohammad
Mohammad
Puja
Saoirse
Tariq
Wakim

- I don't think it'll be a problem...

That said, I recently saw a birth announcement for a baby Wulfstan in The Times newspaper.

Edward or Edwarda

God... I hate female names made by sticking an 'A' on the end of a male one!!!
The worst I've seen; Nigella, Edwina, Donalda...
'-A' in Old English was more often seen on male names, actually.
English women's names most often ended -burh, -flaed, -thryth, -wynn.

Here's a nice list of women;

Acha 1 - e/m vii (Sister of Edwin 2 of Northumbria; king Oswald 1's mother)
Adola 1 - e viii (Abbess)
Aldgyth 1 - (Benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Aloburg 1 - e ix (Witness to Kentish charter, c.827)
Alta 1 - l viii (Wife of Wiferd 1, fl. 781x796)
Ansith 1 - e/m viii (Wife of Wihtred 2; owner of land in Middx.)
Ase 1 - m x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Aswig 1 - l x (Mother of Ufi 2, late 10thC)
Balthild 1 - m/l vii (St.; Anglo-Saxon Queen of the Franks, d. c.680)
Bave 1 - (Wife of Æthelweard pada and benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Beage 1 - e/m viii (Daughter of Leppa 1, comes, 718x745; holder of land in Hwiccian region)
Bebbe 1 - (Queen after whose name the city of Bamburgh was named)
Begu 1 - e/m vii (Nun at Hackness)
Beonne 1 - e ix (Witness at Clofesho, 827)
Beorhtgifu 1 - l x (Noble lady, fl. 968; land-owner)
Beorhtwaru 2 - l x-e xi (Slave at Offley, Herts., fl. 990x1001)
Beorhtwynn 2 - m x (Mother of Wynnflæd 1, ?mid 10thC)
Beornflæd 1 - l x-e xi (Slave, 990x1001)
Beorngyth 1 - l vii (Abbess [of / near Bath?], c.680)
Beornwynn 1 - e ix (Sister to Ælfflæd 7 and Walenburg 1, fl. 833)
Bertana 1 - l vii (Abbess of Bath, fl. 675)
Berthgyth 1 - m viii (Sister of Baltheard 1)
Bliththryth 1 - l vii-e viii (Pippin 1 II's wife)
Bregoswith 1 - l vi-e vii (Mother of Hild 1)
Brunhild 1 - l vi-e vii (Queen of the Franks, d.613)
Bucga 1 - l vii-e viii (Nun, fl. 675x704; daughter of Dunne 1)
Bugga 1 - l vii (Daughter of King Centwine 1)
Burga 1 - e x-l xi (Mother of Ælfwaru 1)
Burghild 1 - e ix (Sister of King Cenwulf 3)
Burginda 1 - m vii-l viii? (Letter-writer)
Byrhflæd 1 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Byrhtgifu 1 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Byrnflæd 1 - (Benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Bægia 1 - e viii (Nun, fl. c.727; owner of land in Gloucs.)
Bægswyth 1 - e ix (Witness at Clofesho, 825)
Cenburg 1 - m viii (Abbess)
Censwith 1 - l vii (Nurse of Cuthbert 1; Cwenswith)
Cenwynn 1 - e x (Name entered in the Liber Vitae of St Gallen, 929)
Ceolburg 1 - e ix (Mother of Æthelric 8 and Abbess of Berkeley, d. 805.)
Ceolflæd 2 - m x-e xi (Mother of Æthelweard 32, fl. 990x1016)
Ceolswith 1 - l vii-e viii (Abbess, fl. 699-705x726; Cilla, sister of Hæha 1)
Ceolthryth 1 - e x-l xi (Woman known to Wynnflæd 1)
Ceolwynn 1 - l ix-e x (Owner of land in Kent, fl. 900)
Cneuburg 1 - m viii (Abbess)
Crawe 1 - m x-e xi (Kinswoman of Ælfflæd 13, fl. 962x991-1000x1002)
Culfre 1 - l ix-e x ([?Nun of Much Wenlock], fl. 901)
Cuniburg 1 - (Abbess)
Cuthburg 2 - l vii-m viii? (Queen seen in hell in a vision)
Cuthswith 1 - l vii (Abbess, fl. 693)
Cuthswith 3 - e viii (Owner of land in Warwicks., 704x709)
Cwenburg 1 - (Wife of Milfrith 1)
Cwengyth 1 - l vii (Owner of land near London, late 7thC)
Cwenthryth 1 - e ix (Abbess of Minster-in-Thanet, fl. 824-825; daughter of King Cenwulf 3 of Mercia)
Cyneburg 1 - m/l vii (Daughter of Penda 1; wife of Ealhfrith 1)
Cynegyth 2 - l viii (Queen of the Mercians, fl. 799; wife of Cenwulf 3)
Cynehild 1 - m viii (Correspondent of Boniface 5)
Cyneleofu 1 - l x-e xi (Slave at Offley, Herts., fl. 990x1001)
Cynelufu 1 - e x-l xi (Recipient in Wynnflæd 1's will)
Cyneswith 1 - m/l vii (Sister of King Wulfhere 1 of Mercia)
Cynethryth 6 - e/m x (Mother of Dunstan 1)
Cynewise 1 - e/m vii (Queen [of Mercia; Penda 1's wife], fl. 655)
Cynewynn 1 - l x (Mother of Anonymous 1002, late 10thC)
Cynric 4 - m viii (West Saxon nobleman in spurious charter, '749')
Deorswith 1 - e x (Owner of land in Wilts., fl. 901; ?daughter of Deormod 5)
Duhchae 1 - l viii (Nun)
Dunne 1 - e viii (Nun; owner of land in Gloucs.)
Eadburg 8 - m x (Sister of King Æthelstan 18, fl. 939)
Eadflæd 5 - l x (Holder of land in Warwicks., late 10thC)
Eadgifu 14 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Eadgyth 8 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Eadhild 1 - e/m x (Daughter of Edward 2 and wife of Hugh 1 the Great)
Eadleofu 1 -m/l x (Wife of Oswulf 20, fl. 969; sister-in-law of Bishop Oswald 8)
Eadmær 9 - (Holder of land in ?Worcs., late 10th / early 11thC; cf. Eadmær 8)
Eadswith 1 - l vii (Hildmer 1's wife, named in marginal note of Bede's Life of Cuthbert)
Eadwulfu 1 - e/m x (Nun, fl. 939; owner of land in Berks.)
Eadwynn 1 - e x-l xi (Slave at Charlton)
Eafe 1 - l vii (Queen of Æthelwalh 1 of Sussex)
Ealdgyth 1 - l x-e xi (Wife of Morcar 2, fl. 1002x1004)
Ealfthryth 1 - e/m ix (Daughter of Oswulf 4)
Ealhburg 1 - m ix (Owner of land in Kent, fl. 850; probably wife to Ealdred 19)
Ealhflæd 1 - m vii (Wife of Peada 1 of Mercia; daughter of King Oswiu 1 of Northumbria)
Ealhswaru 1 - e x (Wife of Alfred 29, fl. 918x924)
Ealhswith 1 - l ix-e x (Wife of Alfred 8 the Great, d. 902)
Ealhthryth 1 - l viii-l ix (Daughter of Ealdorman Alfred 18 and Wærburg 3, fl. 871x899)
Ealhwaru 1 - m ix (Witness to Kentish charter, 850)
Ealhwynn 1 - m ix (Daughter of Ealhhere 9, fl. 850)
Eanburg 1 - l viii (Abbess, fl. 780; kinswoman of Offa 7)
Eanflæd 1 - e vii (Queen of Oswiu 1; daughter of Edwin 2, 626-post685)
Eangyth 1 - e viii (Abbess, fl. 719x722)
Eanswith 2 - e ix (Holder of land in Worcs., c. 814)
Eawynn 1 - m x (A religious woman, fl. 946; owner of land in Essex)
Ecgburg 3 - e ix (Witness at Clofesho, 825)
Echitrad 1 - l ix (Luantic woman suffering from hemorrhoids)
Edlu 1 - m viii (Nun, fl. 729xc.744)
Emma 1 - e vii (Queen of Eadbald 2 of Kent)
Eoleoba 1 - m viii (Leoba 1's disciple)
Eorcengota 1 - m/l vii (Daughter of King Eorcenberht 1 of Kent)
Eormenburg 1 - l vii (Abbess, fl. 699; second wife of Ecgfrith 4 of Northumbria)
Eormenhild 1 - l vii-e viii (Abbess; daughter of Seaxburg 1)
Eormenthryth 1 - m x (Granddaughter of King Alfred 8; daughter of Ælfthryth 5 and Baldwin 2)
Etan 1 - e/m viii (Kinswoman of Abbot Ealdhun 2, fl. 729xc.744)
Faghild 1 - (Name inscribed in runic script in the Catacomb of Sts Marcellinus and Peter (via Labicana, Rome))
Folcburg 1 - l vii (Woman connected with Bath, fl. 680)
Frigyth 1 - m vii (Nun at Hackness)
Frithugyth 1 - l vii-m ix (Queen of the West Saxons, fl. 737)
Gerburg 1 - e x-l xi (Slave at Chinnock, Somerset)
Gisla 1 - l viii-e ix (Abbess and sister of Charlemagne 1)
Gode 1 - l x-e xi (Elder daughter of Wulfwaru 3, fl. 984x1016)
Godgifu 1 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Godhyse 1 - m x (Holder of land in Worcs., fl. 966)
Godwif 1 - l x (Daughter of Leofrun 5, fl. 990x1001)
Gænburg 1 - e/m ix (Wife of Æthelnoth 12, fl. 805x832)
Hadamout 1 - e/m ix (Dedicatee of Rudolf's Life of Leoba)
Heahberht 9 - e ix (Ealdorman, fl. 807)
Heahburg 1 - e viii (Daughter of Eangyth 1; aka Bugga)
Heanflæd 1 - l x-e xi (Abbess of Wherwell, fl. 1002)
Heiu 1 - m vii (Founder of the monastery at Hartlepool, fl. 640s)
Hereburg 1 - e viii (Abbess of Watton, early 8thC)
Herelufu 1 - l x (Abbess of Shaftesbury, d. 982)
Hereswith 1 - e/m vii (Hild 1's sister)
Hidburg 1 - l vii-e viii (Nun, fl. 675x710)
Hild 1 - e/m vii (Saint; abbess of Whitby, 614-680)
Hildeburg 1 - m x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Hildelith 1 - e viii (Abbess of Barking)
Hrothwaru 1 - l vii-l viii (Abbess, grand-daughter of Dunne 1, fl. 736x737)
Hundruda 1 - m viii (Nun at court of Offa 7, king of the Mercians)
Hungifu 1 - l x (Owner of land latterly belonging to Peterborough)
Hungyth 1 - l viii (Owner of land in Oxon, fl. 874x879)
Hygeburg 1 - l viii (Nun of Heidenheim and author)
Irmigi 1 - m/l viii (Nun, fl. 760x778)
Isenburg 1 - (Benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Kyre 1 - (Benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Leoba 1 - e/m viii (Abbess of Bischofsheim)
Leobgyda 1 - (Probably same as Leoba 1, whose life was written by Rudolf of Fulda)
Leofcwen 1 - e x-l xi (Owner of land in Suffolk, 11thC)
Leofdæge 1 - e xi (Wife of Healthegen 1, fl. 1026)
Leofflæd 1 - l x (Holder of land in Worcs., fl. 991)
Leofgifu 1 - (Wife of Ceolsige 1)
Leofgifu 2 - e xi (Owner of land in Essex and Suffolk, fl. 1035x1044)
Leofgyth 1 - (Wife of Ælfgar 19 and benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Leofrun 6 - l x-e xi (Slave of Æthelgifu 15, fl. 990x1001)
Leofsidu 1 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Leofwaru 2 - e xi (Daughter of Leofflæd 5, fl. 1017x1035)
Leofwynn 4 - e xi-l xi (Wife of Thurcytel 10, 11thC; owner of land in Norfolk)
Lewknor 1 - l x (Abbess, fl. 990x992)
Licgeard 1 - (Benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Lufu 2 - e x (Slave? at Ebbesborne, fl. 902)
Luha 1 - l ix-e x (Slave? at Ebbesborne, fl. 902)
Mildburg 1 - e viii (Abbess of Much Wenlock, d.715)
Mildrith 1 - l vii-m viii (Abbess of Minster-in-Thanet, fl. 716-733)
Mærwynn 1 - l x (Abbess of Romsey, fl. 967x975)
Nana 1 - e/m viii (Leoba 1's disciple)
Nerienda 1 - l vii (Abbess [in Kent], fl. 699)
Nothgyth 1 - l vii (Sister of King Nothhelm 1, fl. 692)
Noththry 1 - m/l viii (Nun; kinswoman of Bishop Eardwulf 3 of Rochester and King Eardwulf 2)
Osburg 2 - m viii (Mother of Alfred 8 and daughter of Oslac 2)
Osgifu 1 - l viii (Wife of Alhred 1)
Osthryth 1 - l vii (Queen of Mercia; wife of King Æthelred 2)
Oswaru 1 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Oswynn 1 - m x (Devotee of St Edmund 6 )
Pega 1 - l vii-e viii (Sister of St Guthlac 2)
Quen 1 - m x (Matrona of King Edgar 11, fl. 959)
Ringwaru 1 - m xi (Owner of land in Norfolk, mid 11thC)
Seaxburg 1 - m/l vii (Queen of Kent; abbess of Ely, c.679-c.700)
Seleburg 1 - e ix (Abbess, fl. 811)
Selethryth 1 - l viii-e ix (Abbess of Lyminge, fl. 785-805)
Sifflæd 1 - (Owner of land in Norfolk, 9th / 10thC)
Sigeburga 1 - m viii (Abbess, fl. 761x764-763/4)
Sigegyth 1 - l vii-e viii (Nun and recipient of letter from Aldhelm 3)
Sigethryth 1 - m ix (?Wife of Lulla 9; owner of land near Canterbury, fl. ?844)
Sigewaru 1 - (Anglo-Scandinavian person entered in the Reichenau Liber Vitae)
Suitha 1 - m/l viii (Abbess)
Swete 1 - (Benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Sæthryth 1 - m vii (Stepdaughter of King Anna 1; nun in Frankia, fl. c.640)
Tecla 1 - e/m viii (Leoba 1's disciple)
Tette 1 - l vii (Mother of St Guthlac 2)
Thecla 1 - l vii-e viii (Nun; correspondent of Aldhelm 3)
Thurwif 1 - m x (Slave [at ?Yaxley], mid 10thC)
Tibba 1 - (Saint translated from Ryhall to Peterborough by Ælfsige 84)
Tidburg 2 - l viii (Wife of Wærbald 2, fl. 770)
Tinti 1 - ()
Torhtgyth 1 - l vii (Sister at Barking monastery)
Tuce 1 - l x (Mother of Clac 4, late 10thC)
Verca 1 - l vii (Abbess in the Prose life of Cuthbert)
Wale 1 - e viii (Abbess)
Walenburg 1 - e/m ix (Sister to Beornwynn 1 and Ælfflæd 7, fl. 833)
Weahtræth 1 - m ix (Probably wife of Oswig 2, fl. 858x866)
Welwynn 1 - l x (Owner of land in Herts., fl. 990x1001)
Wethburg 1 - m viii (Traveller to Rome, fl. 738)
Wiala 1 - (Queen seen in hell, d. before 757)
Wigburg 1 - l ix-e x ([?Nun of Much Wenlock], fl. 901)
Wigswith 1 - l ix (Witness to Worcs. charter, 897)
Wihtburg 1 - m/l vii (Saint [sister of St Æthelthryth 2 of Ely])
Wihtflæd 1 - m/l x (Holder of land in Worcs., fl. 966)
Williswind 1 - l viii (Nun healed by St Leoba 1)
Willnoth 1 - l vii-e viii (Abbess, fl. 699x716)
Wilswith 1 - m x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Wiswith 1 - m x (Woman known to Ælfgar 9)
Withburg 1 - m vii (Sister of Æthelthryth 2)
Wulfflæd 1 - e x-l xi (Slave; servant of Æthelflæd 7and Eadgifu 5)
Wulfgifu 4 - e xi (Matrona, fl. 1003x1016; holder of land in Worcs.)
Wulfgyth 3 - l ix ([?Nun of Much Wenlock], fl. 901)
Wulfhild 1 - e x (Person whose name was entered in the Liber Vitae of St Gallen in 929)
Wulfrun 10 - l x-e xi (Slave at Standon, Herts., fl. 990x1001)
Wulfswith 2 - m x (Ancilla Dei, fl. 939; owner of land in Wilts.)
Wulfthryth 2 - l ix (Queen of the West Saxons; wife of King Æthelred 15, fl. 868)
Wulfwaru 1 - m/l x (Slave, mid/late 10thC)
Wulfwynn 2 - (Wife of Byrhtwald 2 and benefactor of the New Minster Winchester)
Wynnflæd 6 - l x-e xi (Mother of Eadric 12; before 1014)
Wynngifu 1 - e x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Wynnthryth 1 - (Person whose name was entered in the Liber Vitae of St Gallen in 929)
Wærburg 1 - l vii-e viii (King Wihtred 1 of Kent's queen, fl. 699x716)
Ymme 1 - l x (Slave at Westwick, Herts., late 10thC)
Æbbe 4 - e/m viii (Mother of Leoba 1)
Æffe 2 - l x (Holder of land in Beds., fl. ?986)
Ælfflæd 3 - l vii-e viii (Daughter of Oswiu 1 who died in the monasterium of Hild 1)
Ælfgifu 19 - l x-e xi (Æthelgifu 15's neice, fl. 990x1001)
Ælfgyth 1 - e ix (Witness to Mercian/Kentish charter, c.827)
Ælfhild 1 - e x-l xi (Wife of Ælfwald 41 and benefactor of the New Minster
Ælfleof 1 - l x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Ælfrun 1 - m x-e xi (Sister of Romsey Abbey (c.967x1031))
Ælfswith 11 - l x-e xi (Slave at Clifton, Beds., fl. 990x1001)
Ælfthryth 9 - l x (Daughter of Wulfrun 8, fl. 994)
Ælfwaru 5 - l x-e xi (Daughter of Wulfric 55; slave, fl. 990x1001)
Ælfwenna 1 - l x (Younger daughter of Æthelstan Mannessune, fl. ?986)
Ælfwynn 4 - e/m xi (Daughter of Leofflæd 5, fl. 1017x1035)
Æscburg 1 - m viii (Abbess, fl. 737)
Æscwynn 1 - l x (Mother of Ælfric 80, fl. 980x987)
Æthelburg 1 - e vii (Daughter of Æthelberht 3 I of Kent; queen of the Northumbrians)
Æthelflæd 24 - e/m xi (Wife of Toki, fl. 1020x1038)
Æthelgifu 5 - e x-l xi (Seamstress)
Æthelgyth 2 - e x-l xi (Slave at Coleshill, Berks.)
Æthelhild 6 - l x (Mother of Ælfwine 39, fl. 975x978)
Æthelswith 6 - e/m xi (Daughter of Leofflæd 5, fl. 1017x1035)
Æthelthida 1 - l viii (Abbess and mother of Æthelred 7, king of the Northumbrians)
Æthelthryth 1 - m vii (Daughter of King Edwin 2 of Northumbria, d. after 627)
Æthelwynn 4 - l x-e xi (Slave, fl. 990x1001)
Ætte 1 - l vii-e viii (Witness to Kentish charter, fl. 699x716)
Æulf 1 - m x (Owner of land known to Ælfgar 9, before 946x951)

... Sexburgh and Faghild definitely need resurrecting.

[hereward]

I have just looked it up on wiki too, it is not what I remember. Maybe I am confused, but I certainly do not remember those names. I mentioned Chichester as I was surprised to see how long the names lasted after the conquest. I was only there in May 09.

[Æscwyn]

Osweo, continuing from your idea of updating the form of Old English names, what do you think of Ashwin?

Additionally, I can think of...

Cyneburh - Kimber
Aethelgyth - Ailith
Ealhswiþ - Elswyth

[Megrez]

Just makes me mindful of what an Edgar, Leofric or Aethelstan could experience. Children can be cruel.

Edgar is a perfectly normal name here in Brazil

[Osweo]

Is there any Anglo-saxon form for the Portuguese Ildefonso, which derives from the Gothic Hildefuns?

Interesting....
Hildefuns - Battle ready.
We have Hild in lots of names, but I've never seen anything like '-funs' as an ending. Perhaps it's unique to Gothic?

I looked in a Gothic dictionary, and it gives an Old English fus as a cognate, a word I've never encountered.
http://books.google.com.br/books?id=...q=funs&f=false

fús [] adj striving forward, eager for, ready for, inclined to, willing, prompt; expectant, brave, noble; ready to depart, dying
fúsléoð2 [] n (-es/-) death-song, dirge
fúslic [] adj ready to start; excellent; adv ~líce readily, gladly
fúsnes [] f (-se/-sa) quickness

So... *Hildfus!
The same source derives Alfonso not from Hildefuns, but from Athalafuns, of which a hypothetic English reflex would be *AEthelfus.

OE names have been out of vogue in England since the Norman conquest

I should have said; that's a widely held misconception. The old names lingered on for centuries. The problem is, historical actors of the period were Norman or socially mobile English with Normanising trends in naming. I've been visiting the local churches lately, and just about any Crusader effigy is ROGER de x-ton, with his wife as ALICE. Roger and Alice's husbandmen will have been the same old Doddas and Bubbas as ever they were.

True enough but they have the advantage of being able to cry racism in such instances and the teasing doesn't usually come from within their own communities. I went to school with a boy called Edwin, which is a perfectly reasonable and unremarkable OE name, and he got teased for it. Just makes me mindful of what an Edgar, Leofric or Aethelstan could experience. Children can be cruel.

[YOUTUBE]M89c3hWx3RQ[/YOUTUBE]

[Æscwyn]

Edgar is a perfectly common name here in Brazil

Yeah, I noticed that about Mexico too when I went there. There were loads of Edgars, Alfredos and Eduardos.

Funny how our names have survived and thrived in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking cultures, but not so much in our own.

[Troll's Puzzle]

male anglo names are hard to choose. They are usually either (i) boring/gay (alfie) (ii) preposterous today (Eggbert, Aethelbartalwulfricstan). Non-anglo germanic and particularly slavic men have particularly cool choices by contrast (Rutger, Dragan, or any 'bosnian war crimial' - Ratko, Radovan - they all sound bad-ass. Probably not 'slobodan' though).

Noone has mentioned 'Clifford', though, which is the only real bad-ass sounding male anglo saxon name I'm aware of (I use 'bad-assery' as my scale of aproval for male names - in case you hadn't noticed). Shortened to 'Cliff', it still sounds rock 'ard (literally, in fact). It's also my dad's name .

Girls names are easier to choose. A girl can get away with (almost) anything, so long as she isn't fugly as. Good list from Mickweo as well.

you can also try 'Wulfhere' for a boy

I agree with Mic... Osweo about giving english 'irish' names. Kids with Irish names (connor, liam etc) are also arseholes (this is a scientific fact).
'Anglo' place names might not be so bad though, and often sound OK in a modern context.

[Megrez]

Interesting....
Hildefuns - Battle ready.
We have Hild in lots of names, but I've never seen anything like '-funs' as an ending. Perhaps it's unique to Gothic?

I looked in a Gothic dictionary, and it gives an Old English fus as a cognate, a word I've never encountered.
http://books.google.com.br/books?id=...q=funs&f=false

So... *Hildfus!
The same source derives Alfonso not from Hildefuns, but from Athalafuns, of which a hypothetic English reflex would be *AEthelfus.

Noteworthy is that fus remains true to the loss of nasal consonants before fricatives in English: Goth. tunthus, Eng. tooth, Goth. uns, Eng. us.

Also, a lot of names in the list you provided end in -swith. I already had a clue for what was it, but I did a research:

Origin of SWITH
Middle English, strongly, quickly, from Old English swīthe strongly, from swīth strong; akin to Gothic swinths strong, Old English gesund sound — more at sound
First Known Use: 13th century

Swinthei: Gothic for strength. A historical character with this element in the name:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalaswintha

Etymology: http://www.20000-names.com/origin_of...malaswinth.htm

[Megrez]

Yeah, I noticed that about Mexico too when I went there. There were loads of Edgars, Alfredos and Eduardos.

Funny how our names have survived and thrived in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking cultures, but not so much in our own.

I don't doubt that the most famous Edgar in the world is this Mexican actor