170+ Names That Mean Warrior

  1. Alvar
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "elf warrior"
    • Description:

      This name woould be hard to picture in a contemporary kindergarten, though it does have some cultural cred via Finnish architect and furniture designer Alvar Aalto. Aalto would actually make a more interesting choice.
  2. Armando
    • Origin:

      Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form of Herman, German
    • Meaning:

      "soldier"
    • Description:

      Armando takes the flat-footed Herman and makes it romantic. This is another of the Latin names we expect to be seeing more of.
  3. Donnacha
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "brown-haired warrior"
    • Description:

      Virtually unknown in this country, Donnacha is currently in the Top 100 in Ireland. According to legend, Donnacha was a High King of Ireland until his death in 1064. The English version Donaga (done-a) might be preferable here.
  4. Griselda
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "grey battle"
    • Description:

      Griselda is a famous folklore figure, noted for her patience and obedience. Her story has been told by Petrarch, Chaucer, Boccaccio and set to music by Scarlatti, Vivaldi and Massenet.
  5. Garrick
    • Origin:

      Teutonic
    • Meaning:

      "mighty warrior"
    • Description:

      A rarely used last-name-first-name, never as popular as cousins Garrett or Derek.
  6. Gunther
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "battle warrior"
    • Description:

      When it's spelled with two dots over the 'u' in German, Gunther is pronounced GUWN-ter, but it has a much softer sound when the 'h' is voiced by English-speakers, as it was, for example, for the name of a character in Friends.
  7. Imelda
    • Origin:

      Italian and Spanish from German
    • Meaning:

      "all-consuming fight"
    • Description:

      Saint's name made infamous by Philippine dictator's wife Imelda Marcos. A more positive famous bearer is the British actress Imelda Staunton, best known for playing Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies.
  8. Warner
    • Origin:

      English from German
    • Meaning:

      "army"
    • Description:

      Long-time connection to the movie biz doesn't lend it any pizzazz.
  9. Cathal
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "battle rule"
    • Description:

      The name of an ancient Irish saint is in the contemporary Irish Top 50. While it's one of the rare Irish names for boys that hasn't immigrated to the U.S., it may follow brothers Aidan and Declan to our shores. The t is not pronounced.
  10. Cahir
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "battle man"
    • Description:

      Cahir along with its traditional spelling Cathair is well-used in modern Ireland. Now it's finding a wider audience thanks to The Witcher , though Cahir is the main villain of the series. It was in the US charts from 2017 to 2020, but fewer than 5 baby boys were named Cahir in the US in 2021, suggesting that the effect on parents was short-lived.
  11. Einar
    • Origin:

      Old Norse
    • Meaning:

      "bold warrior"
    • Description:

      With Norse (and pseudo-Norse) names such as Thor, Odin and Magnus growing in popularity, this one, which refers to warriors destined for Valhalla on account of their bravery, might have some appeal outside Scandinavia. Its slightly Eeyore-ish sound is balanced out by connections to some major historical figures, including a Norwegian prime minister.
  12. Luigi
    • Origin:

      Italian vernacular form of Louis
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

      Italian classic Luigi, though it lacks the modern style of Nico, Enzo, and Rocco, does have some notable namesakes, such as Nobel Prize winning author Luigi Pirandello and composer Cherubini..
  13. Lothar
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "famous army"
    • Description:

      Lothar is cloddish, till you add a dashing io to the end...
  14. Marsha
    • Origin:

      Variation of Marcia, diminutive of Marcella
    • Meaning:

      "warlike"
    • Description:

      Marcia is the most common version of this group of names in the U. S., now found more often among moms and grandmas than babies. Marsha was a Top 100 name in the 1950s, when Marcy was its common go-by name.
  15. Brunhilda
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "armed for battle"
    • Description:

      Variant of Brunhild, still clad in heavy armor. Though the heroine Brunhilda of Quentin Tarantino's recent film Django Unchained may have given this version of the name new appeal.
  16. Igor
    • Origin:

      Old Norse via Russian
    • Meaning:

      "warrior"
    • Description:

      Musical association with Igor Stravinsky, but also Dr. Frankenstein's right-hand man.
  17. Umberto
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Humbert
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

      A definite improvement over the English Humbert, Umberto has nevertheless been rarely heard outside the Italian community.
  18. Raynor
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "mighty army"
    • Description:

      Original and straightforward, but with little appeal.
  19. Cadogan
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "honor in battle"
    • Description:

      This surname borne by several early Welsh leaders has a lot of energy.
  20. Armani
    • Origin:

      Italian surname derived from Herman or Arman, German or Persian
    • Meaning:

      "soldier; wish,hope"
    • Description:

      One of the designer baby names -- Chanel and Gucci are others -- that have appeared in this era of branding everything from your purse to your offspring. It helps that the name is similar to more established choices, such as Amani, Marnie, Amy, and Aria.