Fawn f.
The word for a young deer used as a first name.
Fay f.
A short form of both FAITH and EUPHEMIA, and also an old form of the word ‘faith’. In addition it is an old version of the French word for ‘fairy’ found in the name of the Arthurian enchantress Morgana le Fay. It was in use by 1872, at least in fiction. It is also spelt Faye.
Faysal m.
This Arabic name indicates one who decides between right and wrong, a decision-maker or a judge. This has been a royal name in modern times, borne by kings of Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The name is also found as Faisal and Feisal.
Feargus see Fergus
Fedelm, Feidhelm see Fidelma
Feisal see Faysal
Felice, Felicia see Felix
Felicity f.
From the Latin felicitas, meaning ‘happiness’. It was the name of two saints and was used by the Puritans in the 17th century.
Felix m., Felicia f.
From the Latin meaning ‘happy, lucky’. Felix was widely used in the Middle Ages and had a fairly strong hold in Ireland, where it was used to replace the Irish Phelim. It is currently enjoying a revival in popularity. The female form, Felicia, has a long history of use and was also very popular in the Middle Ages. Felice was a variant form.
Fenella f.
A Gaelic name meaning ‘white-shouldered’. The name became known in Britain in the 19th century as a result of Sir Walter Scott’s novel Peveril of the Peak. The Irish form of the name is Finola or Fionnuala (pronounced ‘Fin-noola’), which can be shortened to Nola or Nuala, a popular choice in Ireland.
Ferdinand m.
From the Old German for ‘brave journey’. Never a popular name in Germany, it was common in Spain, especially in the forms Fernando and Hernando. Short forms are Ferd, Ferdie and occasionally Nandy. At the moment the name is being used slightly more often than before.
Fergal m.
This is an Irish name meaning ‘valorous’. The surnames Farrell and Farall, which come from it, reflect the Irish pronunciation.
Fergus m.
Fergus or Feargus come from the Irish words for ‘man’ and ‘strength’. It is a fairly common first name in Scotland and Ireland and is also used in the North of England. Fergie is a short form.
Fern f.
The plant name used as a first name.
Ffion f.
Ffion is the Welsh word for the foxglove flower, and a word used in poetry to describe the cheek of a beautiful girl.
Fi see Fiona
Fidelma f.
The more usual form of the Irish name Fedelm or Feidhelm (in modern Irish, pronounced ‘fed-elm’). Its meaning is not clear, but several of the early women who bore the name were famous for their beauty.
Fifi see Josephine
Finbar, Finnbar, Fionnbharr see Barry
Finch see Raven
Fingal m.
This is the name given to the Scottish legendary hero (the equivalent of the Irish FINN), who figures in the 18th-century Ossianic poetry. He was a mighty warrior, a defender of the underdog and righter of wrongs. Fingal’s Cave is named after him. The name means ‘blond stranger’ and was a term used of the Vikings.
Finlay m.
This is a Scottish name meaning ‘fair hero’. It is also found as Finley and Findlay.
Finn m.
Finn, Fynn or Fionn is an Irish name meaning ‘white, fair’ or can also be used as a pet form of Finbar (see BARRY). Finn Mac Coul (Finn mac Cumaill) is a great hero of Irish mythology and folklore. He was chosen to lead the Fenians (an elite armed troop) because of his truthfulness, wisdom and generosity, but he was also of great physical strength. However, all these qualities were not enough to prevent Finn’s fiancée GRAINNE from running away with his companion, DERMOT. Finnian or Finian comes from the same root, and was the name of a 6th-century British saint; Fintan means either ‘white ancient one’ or ‘white fire’.
Finola see Fenella
Fintan see Finn
Fiona f.
From Gaelic, meaning ‘fair, white’. It was first used in the 19th century by William Sharp as a pen name (Fiona Macleod). He modelled it on the Irish man’s name Fionn or FINN. It was long thought of as a particularly Scottish name, but is now used throughout the English-speaking world. Fi is the short form.
Fionn see Finn
Fionnuala see Fenella
Flann m.
This is an Irish name meaning ‘red’ that would have started life as a nickname. Flannan started as a pet form of this.
Flavia f.
A Roman family name, which probably meant something like ‘golden or tawny-haired’. Fulvia has much the same meaning.
Fleur f.
The French word for ‘flower’. It was first used as a name in the 20th century, in John Galsworthy’s series of novels, The Forsyte Saga. The English equivalents Flower and Blossom are also found. (See also FLORA).
Flip see Philip
Flo, Floy see Florence
Flora f.
From the Latin meaning ‘flower’. Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and the spring. The male equivalent names Florent and Florian are now little used in Britain but are found on the Continent.
Florence f.
From the Latin name Florentius, derived from the word meaning ‘blooming’. In the Middle Ages, Florence was used as often for men as for women. Florence Nightingale was named after the town in Italy where she was born, and her fame popularised the name in the 19th century. Abbreviated forms are Florrie, Flossie, Floy and Flo.
Florent, Florian see Flora
Flower see Fleur
Floyd see Lloyd
Forbes m.
Forbes is a Scottish surname now used as a first name. It comes from a place near Aberdeen, meaning ‘field, district’.
Forrest m.
This is the word ‘forest’ in its surname form. It was originally used as a first name in the southern US in the late 19th century, when it was fashionable to name boys after Confederate generals – in this case, General Nathan Bedford Forrest. The name continues to be used sporadically in Britain as well as the USA. It is sometimes found as Forest.
Frances f.
This name derives from Francesca, the feminine form of the Italian Francesco (see FRANCIS). It was first used in Italy in the 13th century, about the same time as the French form Françoise began to appear. Francine is another French form. Frances was not used in Britain until the 15th century, and it became popular with the English aristocracy at the time of the Tudors. The short forms are Fanny, Fran, Francie and Frankie.
Francis m.
From the Latin meaning ‘little Frenchman’. The name became popular in Europe in the 13th century because of St Francis of Assisi. The Italian word Francesco