Choosing a Craft Name

It is traditional to choose a name when entering the Craft. This needs to be a name that you feel is completely you (especially, magickally speaking). It is not necessary that it match your birth number, that is a preference left up to individuals. In some cases, if a candidate for initiation does not pick a name, the initiator may choose one, under the guidance of the gods, of course.

A Craft name is a symbol of your re-birth into the Craft. It is a sign of all you are and all you aspire to be, so think on it carefully. There are some Witches who keep their name secret, revealing it only to coven-mates or other trusted Witch friends (because many believe that to know someone’s true name is to have power over them). There are others who openly use their Craft name among the general Pagan populace. There are still others who take two different names, a private Craft name and a public one (Inner Circle and Outer Circle names).

One of the origins of taking a new name, according to Craft lore, was to ensure secrecy and safety. If no one in the coven knew anyone else’s true name, it made it impossible to betray them to the Witch-finders.

Symbolic Meaning of Names


Symbolic Meanings of Names

Afghani
Badria: Moonlike
Mallalai: Beautiful
Palwasha: Spark of light
Roxanna: Sparkling
Shahla: Beautiful eyes



Arabian
Akilah ("ah KEE lah"): Intelligent
Anan: Clouds
Falak: Star
Fatin ("FAH teen"): Captivating
Hana: Happiness
Hilel: The new moon
Sabir: Patient
Shadi: Singer
Talib: Seeker
Umm: Mother



Armenian
Anahid: Goddess of the moon
Astrid: Star
Nairi: Land of canyons
Siran: Lovely



Basque
Izar: Star
Lur: Earth
Nora: Greek, Light
Pellkita: Latin, Happy



Burmese
Mima: Woman
Mya: Emerald



Cambodian
Chan: Sweet-smelling tree
Chantrea ("CHAN thee ay"): Moonshine
Dara: Stars



Danish
Asta: Greek, Star



Ethiopian
Desta: Happiness
Fannah: Fun
Seble: Autumn



Finnish
Ametisti ("AH may tis tea"): Amethyst
Eeva : Life
Haltijatar ("HAHL ti yah tahr"): Fairy
Haukka ("HOUK kah"): Hawk
Joki ("YOA key"): River
Jumalatar ("YOU mah lah tar"): Goddess
Kalevi ("KAHL ev ee"): Hero
Kesa ("KAY sah"): Summer
Kevat ("KAY vaht"): Spring
Kuu ("KOO"): The moon
Lilja ("LEEL yah"): Lily
Linna: Castle
Luuta: Broom
Maaginen ("MAA gi nayn"): Magic
Metsa ("MAYT sa"): Forest
Noita ("NOI tah"): Witch
Moituus ("NOI tooss"): Witchcraft, magic
Onnellinen ("OAN nayl li nayn"): Happy
Onyksi ("OA newk si"): Onyx
Satu ("SAH too"): Fairy tale
Syksy ("SEWK sew"): Autumn
Talvi ("TAHL vi"): Winter
Timantti ("TI mahnt ti"): Diamond
Vesiputous ("VAY si poo toa ooss"): Waterfall



French
Artur: Celtic, Noble, Bear man
Blaise: Latin, Stammerer
Candide: Pure white
Demitri: Greek, Goddess of the harvest
Denis: Greek, God of wine
Fantine: Childlike
Gustave: Teutonic, Staff of Gods
Isidore: Greek, A gift of ideas
Marlon: Little falcon
Morgance/Morgane: Sea-dweller
Natacha/Nathalie: Born at Yule
Sylvie/Sylvianne: From the forest
Tatiana: Russian, Fairy queen
Vivien/Vivienne: Lively



Greek
Aretha: Nymph
Calandra: Lark
Charis ("KAHR is"): Love
Cloris: Goddess of flowers
Damia: Goddess of the forces of nature
Delia: Goddess of the moon
Kalliope ("kahl ee O pee"): Beautiful voice
Medea: Part Goddess, part sorceress
Silas/Silvanos: Forest
Thea: Goddess
Vanessa: Butterfly



Hawaiian
Haimi: The seeker
Kahoku ("kuh HOH koo"): The star
Kaili ("kah EE lee"): Hawaiian deity
Kala ("kuh LAH"): Sun, Princess
Kalama: Flaming torch
Kali ("KAH lee"): Spear carrier
Kele: Seahorse
Kolika: From the ocean
Konane ("ko NAH neh"): Bright as moonlight
Laka: Goddess of the hula
Lani: Sky
Leilani: Sky child
Lono: God of peace and farming
Luana: Enjoyment
Lukela ("loo KEH luh"): Like a fox
Mahina: Moon
Makani: Wind
Mana: Supernatural power
Mapuana ("mah poo AH nuh"): Wind-blown fragrance
Nahele ("nah HEH leh"): Forest, grove of trees
Peni ("PEH ne"): Weaver



Indian
Aditi: Goddess Ambar: Sky
Ambika: Goddess of power and destruction
Amma: Mother Goddess
Amritha: God
Anala: Fire
Anila: Wine God
Chandra: Moon; Moon God
Ellama: Mother Goddess
Ganesha ("guy NAY shuh"): God of good luck and wisdom
Guri: Goddess of abundance
Hema: Daughter of the mountains
Indra: God of power
Manda: God of the occult
Matrika: Mother
Mitra: God of daylight
Sesha: Symbol of time
Sita: Mother earth Goddess
Soma: Moon



Italian
Argento: Silver
Capra: Goat
Cascata: Waterfall
Chiaro di Luna: Moonlight
Corrente: Stream, current
Dea: Goddess
Dio: God
Incanto: Witchery
Luce stellare: Starlight
Luna: Moon
Magico: Magician
Maliardo: Sorcerer
Mistico: Mystic
Mita: Myth
Pagano: Pagan
Quercia: Oak
Raggio lunare: Moonbeam
Salice: Willow
Scintillante: Twinkling
Scintillare: Twinkle
Sirena: Mermaid
Stella: Star
Stellato: Starlit
Strega: Female Witch
Stregone: Male Witch
Stregoneria: Witchcraft
Sucente: Starlike



Irish Girl’s Names
Affrica: Pleasant
Arienh ("A reen"): Pledge
Bebhinn ("BEH vin"): Melodious lady
Briana: Strong
Bride: Strength
Caitlin ("KAT leen or "KATE lin"): Pure
Erin: Peace
Fiona ("FEE oh nah" or "FEE nah"): White, fair
Glynis: Valley
Grainne ("GROH nyuh"): Grace
Ide ("EED uh"): Thirst
Kelly: Warrior
Kennocha ("ken OH kuh"): Beauty
Kerry/Keriann: Dark-haired
Lasairiona ("las a REE nuh"): Flame wine
Luighseach ("LOO seh"): Bringer of life
Mave: Mirth
Mavelle: Songbird
Morgan: Sea dweller
Moya: Great
Rowena: White mane
Sheena: God’s gift
Siobhan ("shuh VAHN"): Gracious
Sorcha: Clear, bright
Tara: Tower
Una ("OO nuh"): Unity



Irish Boy’s Names
Aidan: Flame, fiery
Aindreas ("AHN dree ahs"): Manly
Artur: Noble, bear man
Baird: Ballad singer
Bevan: Youthful warrior
Brenainn ("BREH neen"): Sword
Brendan: Raven
Broin ("bree AHN"): Raven
Carlin: Little champion
Cillian/Killian ("KEEL yan"): War
Conroy: Wise man
Conway: Hound of the plain
Corey: From the hollow
Cullan/Collin: Handsome
Dagda: Good God
Daibheid ("DEH vid"): Beloved
Dallas: Wise
Daray: Dark
Devin: A poet
Donagh: High king
Donahue: Dark warrior
Donovan: Dark warrior
Duncan: Dark man
Erin: Peace
Evan: Young warrior
Faolan/Felan ("FEH lahn"): Wolf
Farrell: Courageous
Farry: Manly
Ferris: The rock
Fionan ("FIN ee ahn"): Fair
Gannon: Fair of face
Glen: Valley
Innis: Island
Kearney: Warrior
Keegan: Little and fiery one
Logan: From the hollow
Maghnus ("MAKH nus"): Great
Mannix: Monk
Nealon: Champion
Nolan: Famous
Padraig ("PAH dreek"): Noble
Rory: Famous ruler
Scully: Town crier
Sean/Shawn/Shane: God’s gift
Searlas ("SHAR las"): Full-grown: manly
Wynne: White, fair



Kenyan
Barika: Bloom
Dalila ("dah LEE lah"): Gentle
Machupa ("mah CHOO pah"): Likes to drink
Makalani ("mah kah LAH nee"): One skilled in writing
Mwassaa ("m wah SAH"): Timely
Paka: Pussycat
Pili ("PEE lee"): Second-born
Sadiki ("sah DEE kee"): Faithful
Sanura ("sah NOO rah"): Kitten
Shani ("SHAH nee"): Marvellous
Sikudhani ("see koo THAN nee"): A surprise



Latin
Ardere: Fire
Astrum: Star
Deus: God
Dia: Goddess
Diva: Goddess
Divus: God
Fabula: Myth
Lumen: Star
Luna: Moon
Lunae Lumen: Moonlight
Magice: Magic
Paganus: Pagan
Quercus: Oak
Saga: Witch
Sagus: Prophetic
Siderbus Inlustris: Starlight
Stella: Star



Native North American
Aleshanee: She plays all the time
Amitola: Rainbow
Aponi: Butterfly
Awenasa: Cherokee. My home
Awenita: Fawn
Ayita: Cherokee. First in the dance
Elsu: Falcon flying
Enola: Alone
Gaho: Mother
Hadan: Fiery
Hinun ("hee NOON"): God of clouds and rain
Iye ("EE yeh"): Smoke
Jacy: Moon; creator of all plants
Kachina: Sacred dancer
Kai: Willow tree
Karmiti: Trees
Kaya: My elder sister
Kimama: Butterfly
Leotie ("leh o TEE eh"): Prairie flower
Litonya: Hummingbird darting
Lulu: Rabbit
Luna: Moon
Macawi: Motherly
Macha: Aurora
Mahal: Woman
Mahkah: Earth
Mamid: The star dancer
Mascha: Owl
Masou ("mah SO OO"): Fire deity
Meda: Prophet
Miakoda: Power of the moon
Migina: Returning moon
Mimiteh: New moon
Nahimana: Mystic
Nasnan: Surrounded by a song
Nata-Akon: Expert canoeist
Niabi: Fawn
Nidawi: Fairy girl
Nita: Bear
Nova: Chasing a butterfly
Nuna: Land
Onatah: Corn spirit, daughter of the earth
Orenda: Magic power
Pelipa: Lover of horses
Raini: Deity who created the world
Satinka: Magic dancer
Sedna: Goddess of food
Snana: Jingles like little bells
Tadewi: Wind
Taigi: Returning new moon
Taima: Crash of thunder
Taini: Coming new moon
Tala: Wolf
Tama: Thunderbolt
Tateeyopa: Happy hostess, her door
Tuwa: Earth
Waitilanni: Wonder water
Wakanda: Inner magical power


Scandinavian
Davin ("DAH vin"): The brightness of the Finns
Disa: Active spirit
Freya ("FRAY yah"): After Goddess Freyja
Kaia ("KAH ee ah"): From Gaia, earth Goddess
Karen ("KAH rehn"): Pure (also Kari, Karine, Katinka, Trine)



Scottish
Aaid: Magpie
Baird: Poet
Blair: Child of the fields
Cameron: Crooked nose
Campbell: Crooked mouth
Coleen: Girl
Duncan: Dark-skinned warrior
Gaisgeil: Heroic, brave
Geasachd: Enchantment, astrology
Geasadair: Wizard
Gointe: Bewitched, fay
Grian: Sun
Grianchrisos: Zodiac
Grianghamhstad: Winter Solstice
Grianghath: Sunbeam
Muir: Sea
Muireannach: Female champion
Muirn: Joy
Murdachan: Mermaid
Orra: Charm, amulet
Orraidheachd: Enchantments
Orrtha: Music or bewitchery
Orrthannan: Enchantment
Osran: Peace
Pogadh: Kissing
Ruis: Elder tree
Sgaileach: Shadowy, ghost-like
Suil: Willow tree
Uilioc: Mistletoe
Uchdbhan: Fair-breasted
Ur: Yew tree

Copied from Mark Sumpter