71 Best Arthurian Names You'll Adore
Gallery
Wanting a baby name with a certain mystique to it?
We've researched the 71 best Arthurian names for your newborn, covering the knightly to the mystical.
Arthurian legend informs the history, culture, and narrative of much of Britain, but particularly Cornwall and Wales.
Whether the figure we understand as King Arthur was a mythical legend or an actual warlord has been hotly debated by historians and archaeologists - but whether real or not, the stories around the sword in the stone and the Holy Grail continue to inform Celtic and Gaelic myth.
Mentions of King Arthur and his 12 Knights of the Round Table reach back to the 9th century; his legend was first recorded by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century.
If you're looking for more names from the wilds of Arthurian legend, check out our list of Welsh names, or if you're considering gender neutral names, choose from one of these.
The Knights' Names
First things first, the knights. Arthurian legend is dominated by the myth of the Knights of the Round Table, so it would be a significant oversight not to include these in a breakdown of the best knightly names for your newborn.
Think of them as unique monikers to confer strength and ambition to your baby, with deep roots in Celtic, Gaelic, and Welsh heritage.
1) Agravain - Brother to Gawain, Gaheris, and Gareth; a skilled knight and an unusual baby name.
2) Arthur - King, son of Uther Pendragon, and wielder of Excalibur.
3) Bedivere - Helped Arthur fight the giant of Mount St. Michael.
4) Bors - The only one of the three knights who pursued the Holy Grail to return.
5) Ector - Was entrusted the young Arthur by Merlin; King Arthur saw Ector as his father.
6) Lancelot - The First Knight, raised by the Lady of the Lake.
7) Gaheris - Brother to Gareth, Gawain, and Agravain, also accidentally killed by Lancelot.
8) Galahad - Son of Lancelot and one of the knights who pursued the Holy Grail.
9) Gareth - Brother of Gawain and tragically killed by Lancelot when rescuing Queen Guinevere.
10) Gawain - Legends suggest that Gawain was the rightful heir to Camelot following the death of King Arthur.
11) Geraint - According to legend, he died fighting the Saxons.
12) Kay - Son of Ector, and substitute brother to Arthur. A strong unisex name.
13) Lamorak - Son of King Pellinore, and a fearsome warrier.
14) Pelleas - Becomes the husband of the Lady of the Lake. Also spelled Pellias.
15) Percival - The third of the Grail Knights.
16) Sagramore - Another of the knights, known for his virtue.
17) Tristan - Nephew of King Mark of Cornwall. A recognisable Arthurian name, spelled Tristram in Old English.
Magical Figures
A list of Arthurian legend names without the many magical, mystical Arthurian figures would only be half-complete. These baby names come steeped in British lore and fable.
18) Caelia - A fairy queen, lover of Arthur's illegitimate son Tom.
19) Gwion - A mythical figure with the power of prophecy and foresight.
20) Morgan (Le Fay) - An enemy of the king who could perform magic.
21) Nineve - An alternative name for the Lady of the Lake. Others include Nimue and Niniane.
22) Oberon - King of the fairies, son of Morgan Le Fay.
23) Pelles - The name of the Fisher King, encountered by the Grail Knights.
24) Taliesen - Arthur's Bard and the oldest known Welsh poet. Might have been Gwion (above).
25) Vivien - Lady of the Lake. Put Merlin in a spell and gave Arthur Excalibur.
Names of Arthurian Women
Although the myths and legends of the time are dominated by Arthur's knights, there are a number of women who play a significant role in the narratives of these knights. Their role in the fabric of Arthurian culture should therefore not be overlooked.
26) Brangaine - Iseult's handmaid.
27) Dindrane - Sister to Sir Percival, legendary bearer of the Holy Grail.
28) Elaine - Elaine of Astolat died from Lancelot's unrequited love.
29) Evaine - Wife of Bors, Lancelot's aunt.
30) Eneuavc - Daughter of Bedivere.
31) Enid - Wife of Geraint.
32) Guinevak - Guinevere's half sister.
33) Guinevere - King Arthur's wife. Unsurpassably beautiful.
34) Igraine - Mother to Arthur.
35) Iseult - Enamoured with Tristan, informing the tragic story of Tristan & Isolt. Also spelled Isolde.
36) Laudine - Lady of the Fountain, Ywain's wife.
37) Lynette - Wife of Gaheris.
38) Lyonesse - Sister of Lynette, wife to Gareth.
39) Modron - May have been the legendary forerunner of Morgan Le Fay; mother to Ywain and Morvydd.
40) Morgana - Mother to Mordred, Arthur's sister. Also known as Morgause and Morgaine.
41) Morvydd - Sister of Ywain.
42) Orgeluse - Sometime wife of Gawain.
Names of Arthurian Men
There were inevitably many men who weren't Arthur's knights who nonetheless shaped his world and court, not all of whom were friendly to his rule. This list includes the names of some of the King's enemies, of which there were many.
43) Amren - Bedivere's son.
44) Balin - Kills the Lady of the Lake.
45) Bertilak - The Green Knight against whom Gawain battled.
46) Caradoc - Initially an enemy of Arthur's, but becomes his ally in later life.
47) Constantine - The cousin of King Arthur.
48) Ector - Father of Sir Kay, raises Arthur as his own son on Merlin's command.
49) Elyan (the White) - Assists Lancelot's rescue of Guinevere.
50) Erbin - Father of Geraint.
51) Galehaut - Originally Arthur's enemy, but becomes his ally after striking up a close friendship with Lancelot.
52) Geoffrey (of Monmouth) - 12th century Chronicler of King Arthur.
53) Gorlois - The first husband of Arthur's mother, Igraine.
54) Joseph (of Arimathea) - Given the Holy Grail by Pontius Pilate; settled in Britain where he buried it.
55) Kahedin - Brother to Iseult.
56) Lamorak - King Pellinore's son and lover of Morgana.
57) Lanval - An overlooked knight of Arthur's court, who falls in love with a fairy.
58) Lot - Father to several of the knights, including Gawain.
59) Mark - Uncle to Tristan, also King of Cornwall.
60) Madoc - Arthur's brother, son of Uther Pendragon.
61) Maleagant - Abducted Queen Guinevere, necessitating her rescue by Arthur and his knights. Earlier myth names him Melwas.
62) Melehan - Eldest son to Mordred, Arthur's murderer.
63) Meliodas - Tristan's father.
64) Mordred - Arthur's nephew and killer.
65) Morholt - An Irish knight and rival of Tristan for Iseult's love.
66) Pellinore - Friend to Arthur, father of Percival and Dindrane, slayer of King Lot.
67) Thomas (Malory) - Not an Arthurian man himself, but the first to provide an English prose version of his story, Le Morte D’Arthur.
68) Tom Lincoln - Illegitimate son of Arthur. Tom is one of the more evergreen baby names.
69) Uther Pendragon - Arthur's father, fell in love with his mother, Igraine.
70) Urien - Father of Ywain and Morvydd, husband to Morgan Le Fay.
71) Ywain - The son of mythical Morgan Le Fay, brother of Morvydd. Alternative spellings include Owain and Yvain.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in English
Alice CarlillBachelor of Arts specializing in English
With a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Cambridge, Alice is passionate about all things art, literature, and culture. She has written a short collection of poems and continues to edit scripts for theater, TV, and film. Alice grew up in London and now resides there, but her favorite places are by the sea or somewhere cozy with her five dogs. She also has two younger sisters who keep her on her toes.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
