A Collection of Frisian Forenames of the First Millennium

Despite the fact that some Frisian forenames still find their way into modern name-giving, like Bente, Dirk, Doutzen, Eske, Femke/Famke, Fenna, Finn, Froukje, Gemma, Hauk, Hiske, Jildou, Jitske, Sjoerd, Tammo, Treintje, Ubbo, etc., on the whole, authentic Frisian names are losing ground. It is a shame because the name-giving culture of Frisia is actually extremely rich. In this blog post, we present a random collection of 176 Frisian forenames — and many more variants thereof — that might inspire upcoming parents to explore the richness of Frisian name-giving for more than 2,000 years.

The collection presented in this blog post consists of the names of Frisians encountered while reading about the early history of Frisia. It spans roughly a thousand years, from the first century AD up to and including the tenth century AD.

Sadly, most of the names found are male forenames; only a mere fourteen women’s names appear. This is hardly surprising given the ‘professions’ associated with the names we came across: kings, bishops, abbots, saints, blacksmiths and goldsmiths, Roman imperial bodyguards, and numerous counts, warriors, raiders, and (mercenary) soldiers.

In addition, we found the occasional merchant, asega (‘legal expert’), slave, serf, farmer, rune writer, master of coin, bard, and quite a few farmers. In particular, in cases where a woman’s name is known, she is mostly identified as ‘the mother, daughter, sister, or wife of’ someone. However, we did find one abbess.

For most of history, Anonymous was a woman

Virginia Woolf

A girl has no name

Arya Stark, Game of Thrones

We divided the collection into two, namely the forenames from the Roman Period, ca. AD 1-325, which is a small corpus, and the Early Middle Ages, together with part of the Migration Period, ca. AD 425-1000.

The oldest name of a Frisian is probably that of farmer and former legionair in the Roman army Criptorix. He is mentioned in the year AD 28.

King Finn, son of Folcwald, is commonly situated around the year 440, and Folcwald, therefore, is the oldest name of the early-medieval era, that is, the Migration Period. Another possibility, however, is that Folcwald was not a name but a title (Bliss 1982), meaning something like ‘ruler of people.’ From other early medieval sources (Historia Brittonum and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle), we know of Finn, son of Godulf or Godwulf. Then Godulf would be the oldest Frisian name of the Early Middle Ages (including the Migration Period). Reckon around the year 410, the year when the Romans left Britannia for good. This name is composed of the elements ‘god/deity’ and ‘wolf.’

Instructive to know is that during the Roman Period, the Frisians, known as Frisii or Fresones, were probably a Celtic people. During the fourth century, most of the coastal lands of the Netherlands where the Frisian tribes once dwelled were virtually depopulated. Throughout the fifth century AD, these lands were repopulated by peoples of Germanic origin migrating from the east and north into Frisia, notably the Saxons. These newcomers also came to be known as Frisians. Therefore, the first collection of names is (probably) Celtic, while the second collection is definitively Germanic.

When more information in one of our blog posts can be found about a certain historic person, a hyperlink is attached to her/his name.

1. Roman Period (ca. AD 1-325)

Bassus (m) Roman imperial bodyguard in Rome; Carus (m) slave; Caturix (m) slave; Criptorix (m) farmer; Frissiaus (m) mercenary soldier Roman army; Hilarus (m) Roman imperial bodyguard in Rome; Hnaudifridi (m) also named Hnaudifridius, Notfrid, and Nothfried, chieftain and mercenary soldier Roman army; Malorix (m) a king of the Frisii; Mandus (m) mercenary soldier Roman army; Mausaeus (m) mercenary soldier Roman army; Sextus Valerius Genialis (m) mercenary soldier Roman army; Verritus (m) a king of the Frisii.

2. Early Middle Ages (ca. AD 425-1000)

A – B

Abba (m) also Alfbad, count; Adelgarda (f); wife of Wrssing, mother of Nothgrim and Thiadgrim; Adolf (m); Adujislu (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚪᛞᚢᛡIᛋᛚᚢ; Aib (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚪᛁᛒ; Aladram (m) brother of count Hatto; Alberik I & II (m) also Alfrik, bishops of Utrecht, Alberik II brother of Frederick of Utrecht; Albóð (m) Frisian merchant living in Sweden; Aldburga (f); Aldchravan (m) farmer; Aldgisl (m) also Aldgilles and Eadgils, king; Aldo (m); Aldolf (m) farmer; Alétha (f) also Aleth, wife of raider Corsoldus and lover of Coarchion; Alguskaþi (m) also Lguskaþi, actually a Wurst-Saxon but early fifth century thus little distinction with Frisian, name preserved in runic writing ᛚXᚢᛋᚲᚫᚦI; Altfried (m) son of Hriathrud, abbot, bishop; Arnulf of Ghent (m) count; Ating (m) priest; Atte (m) see Wrssing, count; Audulf (m) also Audulfus and Audulfo, local ruler or king; Æbbe (m) warrior fighting for King Ælfred the Great of the West Saxons; Æðelhere (m) warrior fighting for King Ælfred the Great of the West Saxons; Æhæ (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚫᚻᚫ; Æniwulufu (m) also Aniwulufu, name preserved in runic writing ᚫᚾᛁᚹᚢᛚᚢᚠᚢ, possibly blacksmith; Æpa (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚫᛈᚪ; Bernlef (m) blind bard; Betto (m).

C – F

Coarchion (m), brother of Corsold, raider in Brittany; Corsold (m), also Corsoldus, Corseul, Corseult, Corsult, Corsolt, Corsoult, Cursoul, Corseu, Courseu, and Corseulle, brother of Coarchion, raider and ruler in Brittany; Daeġhrefn (m) also Dagoramn, warrior fighting for the king of Frisians, possible slayer of King Hygelac of the Geat; Dirk I, II and III (m) also Durk, Diederik, Diderik, Ditericus, Thidericus, and Theoderic, counts; Þorbjǫrn (m) Frisian rune writer living in Sweden; Þorkell (m) Frisian merchant living in Sweden; Edo (m); Eilrath (m); Eisolf (m); Elburga (f) also Atelburga and Adelburg(a), ancestor of St. Ludger; Erulf (m) also Herulf and Erulfus; Eurin (m) also Eurinus, the sacrificed saved by St. Wulfram; Evorbald (m) farmer; Evurhard (m); Femburg (f), miraculously cured from sickness; Finn (m) son of Folcwald, son of Godulf, king; Folcker (m) also Fol(c)kerus and Folker, Saxon ruler probably Frisian from mother’s side; Folcwald (m) also Folcwalda, Folcwalding, Folkwaldan and Foldepald, father of Finn, perhaps king; Folkhard (m); Folkric (m); Frederick of Utrecht (m) also Friderici, Frethericus, and Frederik, brother of Alberik II, saint, bishop of Utrecht; Frideburg (f) weatlhy Frisian woman living in Sweden and mother of Katla; Frithuwulf (m) possibly the son of King Finn; Fris (m), soldier in Frankish army, saint in France.

G – H

Gardulf (m) also Gardulfus, brother of Gerulf the Elder, count, Garhelm (m); Gárulf (m) possibly Frisian, warrior in the retinue of King Finn; Gebo (m); Geldis (m); Geldolf (m); Geldulf (m); Gemberht (m) also Gebbo, first Frisian pupil of St. Boniface; Gerbraht (m); Gerfried (m) also Gerfrid, son of Reginthrud, abbot, bishop; Gerhart de Fresia (m); Gerhelm (m) farmer; Gerulf the Elder (m) also Gerdulf and Gerdulfus, count and brother of Gardulf and father of Gerulf II; Gerulf II (m) son of Gerulf the Elder, count; Gerulf III (m); Gerwali (m) also Gerwalda; Godulf (m); also Godwulf, father of King Finn, king; Gozewijn (m) Gozwinus, son of Hartbert of Bierum; Habuku (f) also Habuke, name preserved in runic writing ᚻᚪᛒᚢᚳᚢ; Hada (m) also Hadda, name preserved in runic writing ᚻᚪᛞᚪ, possibly blacksmith; Hardbraht (m); Hartbert of Bierum (m) also Heribert, father of Gozewijn, bishop of Utrecht; Hatto (m) also Hatto, count; Hebi (m) also Hebus, knight in Rome; Hengist (m) also Hengest, Hengistus, Engisto, Engistus or Eugistus, brother of Horsa, son of Victgils, father of Oisc and Rowena, king, prince, mercenary, and raider (see note 1); Heribald (m); Heriburg (f) sister of St. Ludger; abbess; Herwic de Fresia (m); Hiaro (m) soldier in the Frankish army in Italy; Hiddo (m) also Hiddonis and Hidda; Hidulf (m) farmer; Hildigrim (m) also Hildegrim, brother of St. Ludger, bishop; Hoffo (m); Horsa (m); also Horsus, brother of Hengist, son of Victgils, prince, mercenary, and raider (see note 1); Hriathrud (f) sister of St. Ludger; Hunger (m) also Hungerus Frisus, Hungerus Frisius, Hungarus, Hungarius, saint, bishop of Utrecht; Huno (m).

I – P

Ilderado (m) soldier in the Frankish army in Italy; Ingomar (m) also Ingomarus, the sacrificed saved by St. Wulfram; Husilef (m); Jisuhidu (f) also Gisehilde and Gisihild(e), name preserved in runic writing ᛡIᛋᚢᚻIᛞᚢ; Katla (f) also Catla, living in Sweden and daughter of the wealthy Frisian woman Frideburg; Landrik (m) converted by St. Ludger; Leomot (m) soldier in the Frankish army in Italy; Liafburg (f) mother of St. Ludger, sister of Wilibrath and Thiadbrath; Ludger (m) also Liudger, Liudgerus, Ludgerus, bishop, saint. Marclef (m); Meinsuit (f) noble woman and acquaintance of Bernlef; Nothbodo (m) farmer; Nothgrim (m) son of Adelgarda and Wrssing, brother of Thiadgrim; Nothrad (m); Oatbald (m); Odlef (m); Oisc (m); also Œric, Æsc or Ocha, brother of Rowena, son of Prince Hengist, king; Oka (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚩᚳᚪ; Osbruht (m); Oslef (m); Osnath (m); Ovo (m) the sacrificed saved by St. Wulfram; Poppo (m) also Bubo, king.

R – S

Radbaud (m) possible of Frisian decent and offspring of King Radbod, bishop of Utrecht; Radbod (m) also Redbad, Rathbold, Rathbodus, Rachordus, Radbodus, Redbodus, Redbald, Radboud, Radbaud, Radbaut, Rabbodus, Rebbolt, Rambault, Rembauz, Robuet, Rabel, Rabeu, Rapoto, Reinbaldr, Rabeu, Richoldus, Ritzert, Ritsaert, king; Radbodo (m) also Ruotboto, count; Radfrid (m) also Radfridi, Radifridus, Ratfridum, and Radfried, son of Walfrid of Bedderwald, saint; Radnath (m); Radulf (m) also Rothulf, Hrothalf; Redbald (m): Redger (m); Rednath (m) master of coin; Redulf (m) farmer; Reginthrud (f) also Regintrud, sister of St. Ludger; Reingerd (m); Revnulf (m) farmer; Ricbald (m), deacon; Ricfried (m) bishop of Utrecht; Rothulf (m) also Radulf and Radulfus; Rowena (f) also Rouuenne, Ronixa, Reonixa and Rothwen, daughter of Hengist, sister of Oisc, queen; Saxbraht (m) serf; Saxger (m) farmer; Saxmund (m) asega legal expert; Skanomodu (m) name preserved in runic writing ᛋᛣᚪᚾᛟᛗᛟᛞᚢ, possibly blacksmith; Slóði (m) also Slodi, by-name meaning lazy-one, Frisian merchant living in Sweden; Sinath (m).

T – Z

Tatto (m); Tiebo (m); Theudesinda (f) also Theudesinde, Thiadsvind, and Theolinda, princes and daughter of King Redbad; Therasia (f) wife of St. Walfrid and mother of St. Radfrid; Theudoald (m) possible grandson of King Radbod; Thiadbraht (m) son of Elburga, brother of Liafburg and Willibrath; Thiaddag (m); Thiadgrim (m) also Thiatgrim, father of St. Ludger, son of Wrssing and Adelgarda, brother of Thiadgrim; Thiadwold (m); Thietmer (m); Tuda (m) also Tudda, name preserved in runic writing ᛏᚢᛞᚪ. Ubba the Fisian (m) also Ubbi fríski, Ubba dux Fresciorum, and Ubbo Fresicus, legendary son of Ragnar Loðbrók, raider and Viking leader of the Great Heathen Army; Umæ (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚢᛗᚨ; Unilrad (m); Unno (m); Uræ (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚢᚱᚫ; Victgils (m) also Victgilsus, Wictgils or Wihtgils, father of Hengist and Horsa; Walfrid of Bedderwald (m) also Walfridi, Walifridus, Walfried, Waldefrid, Wilfrid, and Wolfryt, father of Radfrid, saint; Waldger (m) also Waltger, Waldgerus, Walcherus, Walkerus, and Walker, count; Weladu (m) also Wayland, Wēland, Welund, Weyland, Völundr, Vølund, Vǫlundr, Velent, Wieland, and Wiolant, name preserved in runic writing ᚹᛖᛚᚪᛞᚢ, blacksmith; Wibald (m) farmer; Willibrath (m) son of Elburga, brother of Liafburg and Thiadbraht; Wimœd (m) name preserved in runic writing ᚹIᛗᛟᛥ; Wlemar (m) also Wlemarus, asega legal expert; Wrssing (m) also UUrssing, Wursing, Atte, and Ado, grandfather of St. Ludger, count; Wulfbold (m) farmer; Wulfheard (m) warrior fighting for King Ælfred the Great of the West Saxons; Wulfnoth (m).

Creating your own unique name

The early-medieval Germanic names are nearly always inspired by weapons used in battle like swords and speers, and by mythical animals like ravens and wild boar. A combination often expressing bravery and strength.

In our blog post How to recognize the Frisians by name, we have already advised always consulting a native of Friesland, Ostfriesland, or Nordfriesland if you want to experiment with creating new Frisian name combinations. Nevertheless, if you feel confident enough, you can use this ‘name-generator’ developed by H.F.J. Veenstra (Fan van Friesland website). The rule is to take two — not more! — words from the list and combine them into a name. For example: liaf (kind, loving) + burg (protection) = Liafburg. Try it yourself, but do not say we did not warn you!

A – E

ad, high ancestry; adal, noble; agi(l), sword, able; elf, elf; ald, adult; alf, elf; amel effort in battle; and, combative; ans, god, good; arne, eagle; ask, spear, ash wood; badu, battle; bald(e), brave; ban, jurisdiction; barn, bear; baug, bow; be(h)rt, shining, radiate; bern, boar; blika, lightening; blom, flower, beautiful; boai, boy, hero; bod(e), commandment, decree; bold (bald), brave; brant, flaming sword; brecht, shining, radiating; brich, protection; brothar, spearhead of an army; brun, brown, bear; brunjo, breastplate; bur, neighbour, land man; burg, borough, protection; daad, deed, work; dag, day; dank, spirit, thought; degin, hero; diet, people, folk; diure, precious; drude, sorceress; ed, noble descent; ee, law; eer, honour, fame; ein, alone; erl, freeman, noble man; es(k), spear of ash wood; ethel, noble; ever (evor), wild boar.

F – G

falka, shining with many colours; ferdh, mind, spirit; folk, people, folk; forma, first, prominent; frama, prominent, brave; fred, peace; frithu, peace; frid(u), peace; frod(e), wise; frou, distinguished woman; funs, chancing; gade, counterpart; gadû, spear head; gal, lively, spirited; gand, sorcery staff; gard, tree branch; gard, enclosed area/space; gaut, belonging to the Goths; geb, generous; gebhan, giving, welcoming; geld, value, settling; ge(a)r, spear; gerd, enclosed area/space; gisal, child of distinguished parents; gisil, small spear; go(e)d, good; gond, battle; grad, greedy, hungry; grau(w), grey; grep, grip; grim, mask, angry; gund, battle.

H – M

habuk, hawk; hade, battle; hadu, battle; haga, hedge, enclosed space; hail, hail; hal, hero, warrior; hand, hand; har, army; hard, strong, brave; hart, strong, brave; heil, hail, happy; heim, homestead; held, battle; helm, helmet, protection; her(e), army; hild, battle; hoio, high, elevated; hold, rule; hraban, raven; hrava, raven; hred, fame; hrefn, raven; hremn, raven; hrod, fame; hroth, fame; hug, mind; huld, faithful, loyal; hun, young bear, brown; id, potency; irmin, great, powerful; ijser(n), iron weapon; iv, bow of yew wood; iwa, bow of yew wood; koen, skilled; kun(i), genus; laki, magician; land, land; lef, offspring, son; lewa, merciful; lewi, merciful; liaf, kind, loving; lind, shield of bass wood, snake; liud, people, folk; liuf, heir; lod, famous; loga, flame; madal, assembly site; magan, making; man, man; mar, renown; mark, border land; mathla, site of justice; megin, force, power; mei, making; mer, famous; mo(e)d, spirit, state of mind; moar, dark, swamp; mom, thought; mund, custodian.

N – Z

nand, brave, ruling; nard, very strong or courageous; nid, anger, fury; od(el), inheritance; ol, inheritance; old, mature; olf, wolf; ort, head of a weapon; ra(a)d, council, advice; ragin, council, decision; rand, shield edge; raven (ravan), raven; red, council; revn, raven; regi(n), council; ridan, ride; rik, rich, powerful; rod, fame; rom, fame; sake, legal dispute; sal, homestead, dark; sand, the one; sas, belonging to the Saxons; sig(i), victory; sigitet, joy of victory; sind, journey, way; skalk, servant of God; smede, blacksmith; smido, blacksmith; staf, stick, support; sten, stone, weapon; swan, swan; swind, strong; swith, largely; thiad, people, folk; trudh, strength; traut, loved; trud, strength; ulf, wolf; volk, people of war; wal, battlefield; wald, ruling; walha, foreign; war, goods; ward(in), protector; wel, will; wer(in), defend; wert(h), worthy; wich, battle; wid(ha), wide; widu, wood; wif, woman; wig, battle; wih (wi), holy; wil(ja), wish, will; win, friend; wis, wise; wisu, good; wold, ruling; wulf, wolf.

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Note 1 — The nationality of the (legendary) brothers Hengist and Horsa is not evident in the historic accounts of the epic poem Beowulf, the Finnburh Fragment, Nennius’ Historia Brittonum, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and Bede’s Ecclesiastical History. The brothers could have carried about any ‘nationality’ of the Germanic tribes living at the southern shores of the North Sea in the fifth century AD. Anglo-Saxon scholars often assume either the Jutish or Anglian nationality. However, (half) Danish and Lower Rhine-Frankish are being considered as well. Nevertheless, Frisian sagas, both in north-western Germany, especially the region of Nordfriesland, and in northern Netherlands, consider them of Frisian descent.

Note 2 — These are the names of fictional Frisian rulers, covering the time span between 313 BC to AD 774:

Prince Friso; Prince Adel; Prince Ubbo I; Prince Asinga Ascon; Prince Diocarus Segon; Prince Dibbaldus Segon; Prince Tabbo; Duke Ascon; Duke Adelboldus; Duke Titus Bojocalus; Duke Ubbo II; Duke Harron Ubbo; Duke Odilbaldus I; Duke Odulphus Haron; King Richoldus I Uffo; King Odilbaldus II; King Richoldus II; King Beroald; King Aldigisl I; King Radboud I; King Aldigisl II; King Gundebold, and; King Radboud II.

Suggested hiking

• Stroll along the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. in the city of flowers and sunshine Los Angeles in the state of California, USA.

Suggested music

• Sesame Street, The Names Song (2014)
• R.E.M., I Took Your Name (1991)
• Zangeres Zonder Naam, Ach vaderlief (1959)

Further reading

• Athelstan, V., The Medieval Monk. Early Medieval Male Names From The Domesday Book (2021)
• Behind the Name, Anglo-Saxon names (website)
• Bliss, A. (ed.), J.R.R. Tolkien. Finn and Hengest (1982)
• Bloothooft, G., Regionale voornamen: Fryslân (2020)
• Bonth, de R., De populairste voornamen uit de Middeleeuwen (2021)
• Buma, W.J., In runefynst út Rasquert (1966)
• Burdess, N., What’s in a name? A brief history of baby name trends from the Anglo-Saxons to today (2019)
• Halbertsma, H., Frieslands oudheid. Het rijk van de Friese koningen, opkomst en ondergang (2000)
• Laumonier, L., The Most Common (and Uncommon!) Medieval Names in Southern France (2022)
• Looijenga, T., Texts and Contexts of the Oldest Runic Inscriptions (2003)
• Medievalist, Old English Girls Names (2023)
• Medievalist, Ten Great Anglo-Saxon Girls’ Names (2014)
• Meer, van der M., Welke van deze 40 vergeten middeleeuwse voornamen verdienen een comeback? (2014)
• Mees, B., The English language before England. A epigraphic account (2023)
• Nicolay, J.A.W. & Eerden, van R.A., Wodan’s mythical birds. Symbolic language on a small-long brooch of the Domburg type from Heiloo (prov. North-Holland/NL) (2021)
• Nieuwenhuijsen, K., Namen in de Lage Landen voor 1150. Vroeg-middeleeuwse persoonsnamen in Nederland en Vlaanderen (website)
• Renswoude, van O., Germaanse namen (2017)
• Schaar, van der J., Woordenboek van voornamen (1964)
• Tuuk, van der L., De Saksen. Middeleeuwse geschiedenis in de Lage Landen (2024)
• Tuuk, van der L. & Mijderwijk, L., De Middeleeuwers. Mannen en vrouwen uit de Lage Landen, 450-900 (2020)
• Veenstra, H.F.J., Fan van Friesland. Voornaam-generator (website)
• Winkler, J., Friesche Naamlijst. Onomasticum Frisicum (1898)