Welcome to our unique compilation of canine appellations inspired by an era steeped in history and rich in culture. This page is dedicated to those who have a profound appreciation for the medieval period, particularly the 12th century, and wish to name their beloved pets after figures, events, or even common names of that period.
The 12th century, a time of knights, castles, and great upheaval, was also a period when dogs were highly valued, serving as loyal companions, hunters, and protectors. The names from this era are filled with distinction and character, reflecting the valor, nobility, and charm of the time. This collection of monikers is not only historically accurate but also carries a certain timeless elegance that may suit your four-legged friend perfectly.
Whether you're a history enthusiast, an admirer of medieval culture, or simply seeking a unique and meaningful name for your new canine companion, this page offers a treasure trove of choices. From noble titles to artisan roles, from mythological creatures to popular names of the era, you'll find an array of options that will give your dog a name that is both distinctive and meaningful.
Names
| Name | Reason to Choose |
|---|---|
| Clemence | Clemence of Hungary was a queen of France in the 12th Century |
| Clotilde | Clotilde of France was a princess in the 12th Century |
| Conrad | Named after Conrad III, a German king |
| Constance | Constance of Aragon was a queen of Sicily in the 12th Century |
| Cuthbert | A name of saints and bishops in early medieval England |
| Cyril | Saint Cyril of Jerusalem was a distinguished theologian of the 12th Century |
| Dermot | For Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster |
| Drogo | A common name among French nobility in the 12th century |
| Dunstan | Saint Dunstan was an influential figure in the 10th century, his name remained popular |
| Edessa | Namesake of the County of Edessa, a crusader state |
| Edgar | Edgar the Ætheling was a contender for the throne of England in the 12th Century |
| Edmund | A common royal name in England during this period |
| Egbert | A name of Anglo-Saxon kings, popular in medieval England |
| Eleanor | After Eleanor of Aquitaine, a prominent queen in the 12th Century |
| Elias | Elias of Maine was a count in the 12th Century |
| Elisabeth | Drawn from Elisabeth of Schönau, a German Benedictine visionary |
| Eric | Eric IX of Sweden was a king in the 12th Century |
| Ermengarde | Ermengarde of Anjou was a queen consort in the 12th Century |
| Euphrosyne | After Saint Euphrosyne, a 12th century hermit |
| Eustace | After Eustace III of Boulogne, a participant in the First Crusade |
| Eustathius | Eustathius of Thessalonica was a renowned Greek scholar in the 12th Century |
| Fergus | A popular name in Scotland and Ireland in the Middle Ages |
| Frederick | Frederick I was a Holy Roman Emperor in the 12th Century |
| Fulk | A name of several counts of Anjou in the 12th century |
| Geoffrey | After Geoffrey of Monmouth, a British cleric and historian |
| Gerald | For Gerald of Wales, a clergyman and chronicler of the 12th century |
| Gertrude | Gertrude of Sulzbach was a German queen in the 12th Century |
| Godefroy | After Godfrey of Bouillon, a leader of the First Crusade |
| Godfrey | Godfrey of Bouillon was a leader of the First Crusade in the 12th Century |
| Gregory | Pope Gregory VIII served in the 12th Century |
Groups
12th Century Literature Dog Names
The 12th century was a time of great literature, especially in the emerging vernacular languages, and many dogs might have been named after literary characters or authors.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Allegory | A common technique used in 12th century literature |
| Arthur | In reference to King Arthur, a popular figure in medieval literature |
| Avalon | The mythical island from Arthurian legends |
| Ballad | Refers to the narrative poems that were often sung |
| Chaucer | Inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer, a prominent English author in the 12th century |
| Crusade | Many stories and sagas were based on these Holy wars |
| Eleanor | After Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was a patron of literature |
| Fable | A popular storytelling format of the time |
| Gawain | Named after Sir Gawain, a character in Arthurian legends |
| Goliard | Known for their satirical Latin poetry |
| Guinevere | The name of King Arthur's queen |
| Heiress | Evocative of medieval romance novels |
| Isolde | Inspired by the romantic tale of Tristan and Isolde |
| Lancelot | A character from Arthurian literature, which was popular in the 12th century |
| Merlin | The renowned wizard from Arthurian tales |
| Minstrel | Refers to the musicians who often shared stories through song |
| Mystic | Religious literature was often mystical in nature |
| Parchment | The material on which most literature was written |
| Parzival | The protagonist of a famous Arthurian romance |
| Quill | The primary tool for writing in the middle ages |
| Scribe | In tribute to the writers of the era |
| Scroll | Commonly used to store and read literature |
| Sonnet | A form of poetry that started to gain popularity during this time |
| Tristan | Taken from the tragic romance of Tristan and Isolde |
| Troubadour | Referring to the lyric poets of the era |
12th Century Religious Dog Names
The 12th century was a time of great religious fervor, especially in Europe, and many dogs might have been named after saints or religious figures.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Anselm | Named after Saint Anselm of Canterbury, a significant theologian of the period |
| Benedict | Inspired by Pope Benedict VIII, a significant religious figure during this period |
| Cistercian | This dog name is derived from the Cistercian order, which flourished in the 12th century |
| Cluny | Taken from the Cluny Abbey, a notable Benedictine monastery in the 12th century |
| Dominic | In honor of Saint Dominic who was active in the religious community during the twelfth century |
| Francis | After Saint Francis of Assisi, a revered saint from the 12th century |
| Gregory | In honor of Pope Gregory IX, a pivotal religious figure of the era |
| Hildegard | Inspired by Hildegard of Bingen, a famous Christian mystic and theologian |
| Innocent | Named after Pope Innocent III, a significant Pope of the 12th century |
| Jerusalem | This city was a key religious site during the Crusades in the 12th century |
| Kildare | From the Cathedral of Kildare, an important religious site in the 12th century |
| Lourdes | In honor of Our Lady of Lourdes, a significant religious apparition of the era |
| Martin | After Saint Martin of Tours, a popular saint in this period |
| Norbert | Inspired by Saint Norbert, a prominent religious figure of this era |
| Odo | From Saint Odo, a revered religious figure in the 12th century |
| Peter | After Saint Peter, one of the most significant apostles from this era |
| Quintin | In honor of Saint Quintin, a popular saint during this period |
| Rome | This city was the center of Christianity during the 12th century |
| Savoy | From the House of Savoy, which was a significant promoter of Christianity during this period |
| Thomas | Inspired by Saint Thomas Becket, a key religious figure of the 12th century |
| Urban | In honor of Pope Urban II, who led the church during the First Crusade |
| Vitus | From Saint Vitus, a revered saint during the 12th century |
| Waldensian | This dog name is taken from the Waldensians, a Christian movement that was active in the 12th century |
| Xavier | Inspired by Saint Francis Xavier, a significant religious figure of this era |
| York | From the Archbishop of York, an important religious position during this period |
12th Century Norse Dog Names
The 12th century was the latter part of the Viking Age, and Norse mythology and culture can provide a unique source of dog names.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Astrid | In Norse, it means 'divinely beautiful', often used for precious pets |
| Baldur | In Norse mythology, Baldur is the god of light, joy, purity, and the summer sun |
| Bjorn | Derived from Old Norse, it means 'bear', a common name for strong animals in the 12th century |
| Erik | A common Norse name in the 12th century, means 'eternal ruler' |
| Fenrir | A monstrous wolf in Norse mythology, suitable for a large, strong dog |
| Freyja | Named after the Norse goddess of love, beauty and fertility |
| Frigga | Named after the Norse goddess of love and destiny |
| Gunnar | It's a Norse word that means 'brave and bold warrior', fitting for a fierce guard dog |
| Helga | Old Norse word for 'holy' or 'sacred', usually for highly cherished pets |
| Hilda | Means 'battle' in Old Norse, signifying a strong, brave dog |
| Huginn | In Norse mythology, Huginn is one of Odin's ravens, signifying thought |
| Ingrid | Derived from Old Norse, it signifies 'Ing is beautiful', ideal for a lovely pet |
| Ivar | Old Norse name meaning 'bow warrior', perfect for a hunting dog |
| Leif | A popular Norse name meaning 'heir' or 'descendant' |
| Magnus | A name of Latin origin, but was popular among Norse royalty in the 12th century |
| Muninn | In Norse mythology, Muninn is one of Odin's ravens, signifying memory |
| Njord | Named after the Norse god associated with sea, seafaring, wind, and fertility |
| Odin | A significant figure in Norse mythology, known as the god of wisdom and war |
| Ragnar | Originates from Old Norse, meaning 'strong counsellor' |
| Sif | In Norse mythology, Sif is a goddess associated with earth |
| Sigrid | An Old Norse name meaning 'victory, wisdom, and beauty' |
| Skadi | Named after the Norse goddess of winter and hunting |
| Tyr | Named after the Norse god of law and heroic glory |
| Ulf | It translates to 'wolf' in Old Norse, a good fit for a wolf-like dog |
| Ymir | In Norse mythology, Ymir is the ancestor of all jötnar (giants) |
12th Century Royal Dog Names
The 12th century had many famous monarchs and their dogs would have had names reflecting their royal status.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | A popular name among European royalty in the 12th century |
| Alfonso | Several Spanish monarchs during this period bore this name |
| Baldwin | Often used in royal families of the 12th century, symbolizing brave and bold |
| Becket | Archbishop Thomas Becket was a significant figure in the 12th century |
| Berengaria | The name of Richard the Lionheart's wife, a key figure in the 12th century |
| Blanche | Blanche of Castile was a popular queen of France during this period |
| Celestine | Inspired by Pope Celestine III who led the Catholic Church during this period |
| Constance | Constance of Sicily, a queen during this era, inspired this name |
| Eleanor | Inspired by Eleanor of Aquitaine, a powerful 12th-century queen |
| Eustace | This name was common in medieval Europe, making it fitting for a 12th-century dog |
| Geoffrey | Several historical figures in the 12th century bore this name |
| Godfrey | A popular name among Crusaders, those religious warriors would have named their dogs for good luck |
| Henry | Henry was a common name among English royalty, including King Henry II |
| Hildegard | Inspired by Hildegard of Bingen, a famed writer and composer of the 12th century |
| Hugo | Many 12th-century knights and noblemen were named Hugo |
| Isabella | Isabella of Hainault was a queen of France during the 12th century |
| Louis | Louis VII was a French king in the 12th century, hence a suitable dog name |
| Marguerite | The name of French queens and other nobles in the 12th century |
| Matilda | Named after Matilda of England, a prominent figure in the 12th century |
| Philippa | A feminine name popular among European nobility in the 12th century |
| Plantagenet | This name was used for the royal house of England in the 12th century |
| Roderick | Rodrigo Diaz, also known as El Cid, was a famed Spanish knight of this era |
| Saladin | Named for the renowned Muslim military leader of the 12th century |
| Sigurd | Sigurd I was a Norwegian king in the 12th century |
| Thomas | Saint Thomas Becket was a prominent religious figure of the 12th century |
Medieval European Dog Names
During the 12th century, Europe was in the High Middle Ages, which is often associated with knights and castles. Many of these names are still used today.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Agravain | A Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend |
| Arthur | Inspired by King Arthur, a legendary British leader |
| Avalon | An island paradise of Arthurian legend |
| Bors | One of the knights who succeeded in the quest for the Holy Grail |
| Bran | A Celtic god often depicted with a raven, common in 12th-century folklore |
| Elaine | Often associated with characters from Arthurian legend |
| Eleanor | Eleanor of Aquitaine was a powerful figure during this era |
| Galahad | A knight of King Arthur's Round Table |
| Gareth | A knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend |
| Gawain | An Arthurian knight known for his chivalry and bravery |
| Geraint | A figure from Welsh folklore and Arthurian legend |
| Guinevere | Named after King Arthur's queen |
| Igraine | Mother of King Arthur in Arthurian legend |
| Isolde | Tristan’s lover in medieval romantic literature |
| Lancelot | A prominent character in Arthurian literature |
| Merlin | A legendary figure best known as an enchanter or wizard |
| Mordred | A notorious traitor in Arthurian legend |
| Morgana | Named after a powerful enchantress in the Arthurian legend |
| Owain | A character from Arthurian legend, known as one of the Knights of the Round Table |
| Pendragon | The surname of King Arthur, a symbol of leadership and power |
| Perceval | A knight who was involved in the quest for the Holy Grail |
| Ragnelle | A character from the Arthurian legend 'The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle' |
| Roland | A Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became a major figure in medieval literature |
| Rowan | A name common in England during the 12th century |
| Tristan | Derived from a Celtic name, made famous by the tragic hero of a medieval tale |