Strength is one of the commonest ideas in old names, because names were often made to wish a child courage or power. Old English and Old German built many from a few words for strength: þryþ in Audrey and Mildred, drud in Gertrude, hart ('hardy, brave') in Richard, Leonard and Bernard. Hebrew has Ethan ('firm, enduring') and Gabriel ('God is my strong man'), and Latin has Valerie and Valentina. Every meaning here is checked against a cited source, mostly Behind the Name, with England and Wales ranks from the ONS.
A few names are usually listed as 'strength' on thin evidence. Brian and Bridget may or may not have a 'power' root, and Boaz and Amos don't mean 'strength' at all. Those are marked uncertain.
By Rich · 13 November 2026 · 71 names · 41 with their real rank in England and Wales · every meaning checked against the sources below
Checked The meaning is recorded in the sources below.
Disputed The meaning is disputed or popular but unproven.
A small set of words turns up again and again. Old English þryþ ('strength') ends Audrey (Æthelthryth), Mildred and Elfreda. Its German cousin drud ends Gertrude, Hiltrud and Ortrud. Old German hart, 'hard, brave, hardy', ends Richard, Leonard, Bernard and Gerard. If you spot one of these at the end of an old name, you can be fairly sure strength is part of the meaning.
Choosing a nickname
Many strength names are long and old-fashioned, and come with friendly short forms. Matilda gives Tilly or Tilda, Gertrude gives Gertie or Trudy, Millicent gives Millie, and Valentina gives Val or Tina. Ezekiel shortens to Zeke and Hezekiah to Hez. It's worth trying the short form with your surname too.
Strength names in the Bible
Several Hebrew names carry the idea of God giving strength: Ezekiel ('God will strengthen'), Hezekiah ('Yahweh strengthens'), Uzziah ('my power is Yahweh') and Gabriel ('God is my strong man'). Ethan, 'firm, enduring', is the simplest, and it has been one of the most used boys' names in England and Wales for years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
+What girl name means 'strength'?
Matilda and Maud ('strength in battle'), Audrey ('noble strength'), Mildred ('gentle strength'), Gertrude ('spear of strength'), Valerie and Valentina ('strong'), and Thrud (Old Norse, 'strength').
+What name means 'strength of God'?
Gabriel means 'God is my strong man', Ezekiel 'God will strengthen' and Hezekiah 'Yahweh strengthens' in Hebrew. Uzziah means 'my power is Yahweh', and Chike, from Igbo, 'God of strength'.
+What name means 'strength' in Hebrew?
Oz means 'strength', Eyal 'might, strength' and Adir 'strong, mighty'. Ethan and its modern form Eitan mean 'solid, enduring, firm'.