Here’s a list that will appeal to both prospective parents and writers who are stumped for some good character names. The focus is on names used between the Norman Conquest and the year 1300 in England, names that have in some cases been out of circulation for many years, but might now safely be revived.
Masculine Names
- Adémar
- Aimery (uncertain) Perhaps a form of Emery
- Amaury French form of a Germanic name) "powerful labor"
- Anselm (Germanic) ans, "god", and selm, "protection, helmet"
- Benedict (Latin) "blessed"
- Berenger
- Bertran (Germanic) "bright raven"
- Clement (Latin) "gentle, merciful"
- Etienne (French) French form of Stephen, "crown"
- Everard (Germanic) "brave boar"
- Frederick (Germanic) "peaceful ruler"
- Geoffrey (Germanic) The first element, geof is of uncertain meaning, but the second, frey, comes from frid, meaning "peace"
- Gervase (English) the English form of a Latinized form of a Germanic name meaning "spear"
- Gregory (Latin) "watchful, alert"
- Guillaume (French) French form of William, "resolute protector"
- Guy (Norman) the Norman form of Germanic names beginning with the element witu or wit
- Hélie (French) Maybe a form of Helios, the Greek word for "sun"
- Henry (Germanic) "home ruler"
- Hugh (Germanic) "heart, mind, or spirit"
- Jordain (English) Anglicized form of the French form of Jordan, "to flow down"
- Joscelin (Norman) the Norman French variant of a Germanic name, Gautelen, which was derived from the name of a Germanic tribe, the Gauts
- Odo (Germanic) a short form of any name beginning with od, "wealth, fortune"
- Osgood (Germanic) "god is good"
- Otto (German) late form of Odo, "wealth, fortune"
- Peter (Greek) "stone"
- Philippe (French) French form of the Greek Philippos, which means "lover of horses"
- Ranulf (Old Norse) Scottish variant of the Old Norse Randulfr, "rim of a shield"
- Robert (Germanic) "bright fame"
- Rocelin (uncertain) possibly a male variant of Rosalyn, "soft horse"
- Roger (Germanic) "famous spear"
- Roland (Germanic) "famous land"
- Stephen (Greek) "crown"
- Thibault (French) French form of the Germanic Theobald, "bold people"
- Thomas (Greek) Greek form of the Aramaic name Te’oma, "twin"
- Toly
- Turstin (Old Norse) "Thor stone"
- Walter (Germanic) "ruler of an army"
- Warin (Germanic) "enclosure"
- William (Germanic) "resolute protector"
- Wymon
Feminine Names
- Adelaide (Germanic) "noble sort"
- Ailith (uncertain) possibly an Anglicized form of Ailís, the Irish form of Alice, a short form of Adelaide
- Alice (Old French) a short form of Adelaide, "noble sort"
- Amaria (Latin?) Possibly from the Latin amarus, "bitter"
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