I developed this list of medieval female names from England mostly through hard historical research,
although just a few of these names are from King Arthur. So if you’re a historical novelist looking for good medieval names that are accurate, I’ve saved you some time! If you’re writing an epic fantasy in the European “swords and sorcery” vein, you might like the feel of some of these, too.
I used this research myself in an early unpublished novel, and again when I was writing my magical romantic comedy, Her Knight at the Museum! My contemporary heroine’s name, Emily, is somewhat familiar to my medieval knight hero, though he’s used to seeing it spelled “Emelye.” This book has been optioned for a movie, and I can’t wait to see who plays Emily and Griffin.
I know some expecting parents have used my name lists, too, so if that’s why you came here looking for medieval girl names, congratulations! There are some pretty and unique ones in this mix.
This used to be a part of a huge master list of old medieval names, but because that one was a lot for people to scroll through, I’ve divided it up into a few separate posts. You can also use my list of Medieval Male Names and my list of Medieval Last Names.
Bookmark the page or save it on Pinterest so you can find it when you need it!
Medieval Female Names
Acelina
Adelina
Aelina
Agneta
Agnes
Althea
Alma
Anais
Aldith
Alice/Alis/Alicia
Alyson
Amelina
Amicia
Amya/Amy
Anicia
Anne
Artemisia
Athelina/Athelyna
Audry/Audrey
Augusta
Avelina
Avina
Barbetta
Basilia
Beatrice/Beatrix
Berta/Bertha
Blanche
Brangwine
Bridget
Caesaria
Cassandra
Catelin/Cateline
Caterina
Cecily/Cicily
Celestria (how pretty is this name?)
Clare/Clarice/Claricia
Colleta
Constance/Constancia
Cristina/Christina
Dameta
Dassella
Delia
Denise/Denisia/Dionisia/Deonicia
Douglas (yes, this was a medieval female name, but it somehow evolved to be a male name)
Dulcia
Ebete/Ebota
Edenea/Idonia
Edeva
Edith
Eglenti
Eglantine (famously used in Canterbury Tales)
Elle
Elaine
Eleanor
Elena
Enota
Ernaburga (this is from a Suffolk poll tax record from 1381, and I think it’s hilarious)
Eva
Elizabeth/Elizabetha/Helisabeth
Elysande (this medieval girl name means “healthy and strong”)
Emeline/Emelye
Emma
Etheldreda
Eva
Evaine
Evelune
Felicia/Felis
Florence
Floria
Genevieve
Genne
Gisela
Giselle
Gracia
Gratia
Guinevere (this famous old medieval name is actually Welsh, and it means “white shadow” or “white wave;” it’s related to the modern name Jennifer)
Gundred
Gwendolen
Gylda
Hawisia/Hawys/Hawyse
Hawota
Helewise/Helewisa
Ida
Ingerid/Ingerith
Isabella/Isabeau
Isemay
Isolda
Ivette
Janet (this sounds very modern to me, but it’s not)
Joan
Johanna
Jonhott
Joyce
Joya
Juliana
Justina
Laudine
Lavina/Lavena
Lenota
Letia
Leticia
Legarda
Lia
Lillian
Lena
Linota
Loveday
Lovota
Lora
Lucia/Lucy
Lunete
Mabilia/Mabella
Magdalen
Margareta/Margaret/Margery
Martha
Mary / Molly (I’ve never understood why “Molly” is a nickname for “Mary,” but English nicknames are sometimes like that)
Marie/Maria
Marion/Marian
Mariota
Masselie
Mathild/Mathilde/Matilda
Maud/Maude
Meliora
Miriel/Meriel/Muriel
Mirielda
Milicent/Milisant
Nesta
Nicola/Necola
Odelina
Oliva/Olyva
Orella
Paulina
Petronilla
Philyppa
Regina
Richolda/Ricolda
Roana
Rosa
Rosamund
Sabella
Sabina/Sabbe/Sabyn
Sapphira
Sarah/Sara/Sara
Sela
Semila
Sibilia
Sigga
Sophronia
Susanna
Swanhild
Sybil
Tephania
Theda
Thora
Ubelye
Venetia
Viviane
Ysmeine/Ysmeina
If you know of other good medieval names I should add to the list, let me know! And if you like master lists, check out my reference book Master Lists for Writers, designed to make writing go a little (or a lot) faster.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy writing!
I don’t know if it is Medieval, but it was way back on my friend’s family Tree. The name is Tryphosa. I liked it so much I used it for a dragon in one of my fantasy books.
What an interesting name! It sounds perfect for a dragon!
Happy holidays, Jessie. It’s been so nice to chat all through 2020!
Love the list.
In a writing challenge, I wrote a historical story and spent time researching appropriate names, so I really appreciate lists.
Oh yes–in historical writing, names can take a long time! Happy holidays, Denise. Thanks for the good conversation throughout the year!
Though I don’t think medieval themes are something I would be good at, these name lists give me a ton of great unique names for my characters that I’ve always been looking for. Thanks, this is awesome!
Thank you, Chris! Happy holidays to you! It’s been so nice to connect throughout 2020.
Hi Bryn, Great list Thanks! I have both Master Lists for Writers and 5,000 Writing Prompts and refer to those often. Thanks for sharing your expertise and hints, prompts, etc. I haven’t been doing as much writing as I would like lately (I might get away with blaming it on 2020 for now, but have to step it up), but when I do, I like to keep these volumes nearby. They get my mind working. 🙂
Hi Cheryl! Listen, we all blamed 2020, and I think that’s fair! Thank goodness it’s a new year. 🙂 Thank you for getting the books, and for the kind words! I’m so glad you like them!
A great list! Many thanks. I’m just finishing the final rewrite of a book set in Viking Britain, and my protagonist goes to Mercia in Anglo Saxon Britain, but the next book is in Britain in 1066, so these names will be invaluable, and for subsequent books set in 13th century. Many thanks.
I’m gearing up for a second volume of medieval-era stories for my Rise of the Draman series, and the name lists will be so helpful! Appropriate names are crucial and must match the character’s personality. They also need to be pronounceable and memorable! Thank you for making the lists freely available and for saving me so much time. All the best for the new year!
Nice to see my mother’s name on that list: Audrey. It is now my grand-niece’s name.