13th century because of St Francis of Assisi. The Italian word Francesco was the saint’s nickname, his Christian name being Giovanni, the Italian form of JOHN. It was given to him in his worldly youth because of his love of fashionable French things. It was first used in Britain in the 15th century. Fran is a short form along with Frank and Frankie. Frank can be used as an independent name.
Françoise see Frances
Frank, Frankie see Frances, Francis
Franklin m.
From a medieval English word meaning ‘free’. A franklin was a man who owned land in his own right, but was not a noble. The name came into use in America in honour of Benjamin Franklin (1706–90), statesman, writer and inventor. A famous holder of the name was Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945), 32nd US President.
Fraser, Frazer m.
A Scottish surname of unknown meaning, used as a first name. Frasier is another form of the name.
Frea see Freya
Fred, Freddie, Freddy see Alfred, Frederick
Freda see Frederick, Winifred
Frederick m., Frederica f.
From the Old German, meaning ‘peaceful ruler’. It is also found with such spellings as Frederic and Frederik. Common abbreviations are Fred, Freddie and Freddy, also used as independent names. The female form is Frederica, the origin of the names Freda, Frida or Frieda (the last two influenced by the German form, Friede).
Freya f.
The name of the ancient Norse goddess of beauty, love and fertility. It can also be found as Frea or spelt the Swedish way Freja. The name became better known through the indomitable travel writer Freya Stark (1893–1993).
Frida, Frieda see Frederick
Fulvia see Flavia
G
Gabriel m., Gabrielle f.
From Hebrew, containing the elements ‘God’, ‘man’ and ‘strength’, and possibly implying the phrase ‘strong man of God’ or ‘God is my strength’. In St Luke’s Gospel, Gabriel is the Archangel who announces to Mary that she is to bear the baby Jesus. Use as a first name used to be restricted to Ireland, where it can be shortened to GAY, but it is now increasingly fashionable elsewhere. Gabrielle, a French form, or the Italian Gabriella, the female forms, are much more common. A short form is Gaby.
Gaenor see Jennifer
Gaia f.
In Greek myth Gaea or Gaia is the earth goddess, the universal mother, probably once the most important divinity. Her name is occasionally found used as a first name, usually with ‘green’ or feminist overtones. It was recently used by the actress Emma Thompson.
Gail f.
Originally a pet form of ABIGAIL, now widely used as a name in its own right. The spellings Gale and Gayle are also found.
Gaius see Caius
Galal, Galil, Galila see Jalal
Ganesh m.
A title of the Hindu god SHIVA, and the name of his elder son, derived from the Sanskrit for ‘lord of the hosts’. It is customary to appease Ganesh at the beginning of Hindu ceremonies.
Gareth m.
From the Welsh meaning ‘gentle’. This name was used for one of King Arthur’s knights by the 15th-century writer Malory in his Morte d’Arthur, and later by Alfred Tennyson, the 19th-century poet, in his version of Malory’s story, Gareth and Lynnette. It was due to the latter that the name was revived in the 20th century. Garth and GARY or Garry can be used as short forms.
Garfield m.
A surname meaning ‘spearfield’ in Old English, used as a first name, probably after J.A. Garfield (1831–81), 20th president of the USA. The cricketer Sir Garfield (Gary) Sobers is a well-known holder of the name, and also shows its short form.
Garret, Garrett see Gerard
Garth, Garry see Gareth
Gary m.
While this can be used as a short form of both GARETH and GARFIELD, its use as an independent name owes much to the film star Gary Cooper (1901–61). He was born Frank James Cooper, and chose his stage name from the American town of Gary. Garry is also found, reflecting the usual pronunciation, although Gary Cooper pronounced his name to rhyme with ‘airy’.
Gaspar, Gaspard see Jasper
Gaston m.
A French name, originally spelt Gascon and meaning a man from the region of Gascony. It is a common French first name which has been used occasionally in Britain.
Gauri f.
This name is from the Sanskrit for ‘white’, and was applied to the wife of the Hindu god SHIVA when she had acquired a fair complexion after meditating in the snows of the Himalayas.
Gavin m.
The name of Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s famous nephew, was Gauvin in Old French, and from France was adopted in Scotland as Gavin. Originally confined to Scotland, the name is now found throughout the English-speaking world.
Gay(e) f.
This name is simply the adjective meaning happy and lively, and its use dates from the 20th century. Since the adoption of the word ‘gay’ by the homosexual community, few parents have used the name. In Ireland Gay is a short form of the boy’s name GABRIEL.
Gayle see Gail
Gaynor see Jennifer
Geena see Gina
Geeta see Gita
Gemma f.
The Italian word for ‘gem’. Its modern use is probably due in part to the Italian saint Gemma Galgani (1875–1903), canonised in 1940. Rare before the 1980s it then became one of the most popular names in the country. It is also spelt Jemma.
Gene see Eugene
Genevieve f.
A French name possibly meaning ‘lady of the people’. It is found in Latin records as Genovera and Genoveva. St Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris; she saved the city from the Huns in the 5th century by cool thinking, courage and prayer. The name has been used in Britain since the 19th century. French pet forms are GINA, Ginette and Veva.
Geoffrey, Jeffrey m.
From the Old German Gaufrid the second half of which means ‘peace’, but the meaning of the first half is unclear. Geoffrey or Jeffrey was popular between the 12th and 15th centuries in England resulting in many surnames e.g. Jeffries, Jeeves, Jepson. It fell from favour from the 15th until the 19th century, when it was revived. Geoff and Jeff are common abbreviations.
George
