Norman
Norman: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈnɔɹmən/ · /ˈnɔːmən/
Meaning and origin of Norman
- A male given name from Old English used in the Middle Ages and revived in the 19th century.
Etymology
From Middle English Norman, from Old English Norman (a variant of Norþman) and Old French Normant. It is certain that the word is derived from the base of the Germanic words for north and the Germanic base of the words for man. However, given the frequent movement of Germanic groups especially into and out of Britain in the post-classical world, it is unclear in what tongue it came to be used first. In addition, the generally accepted meaning, a person from Normandy or one of the many French-speaking invaders to Britain, was used chiefly by Anglo-Norman and Old French, though it originally referred to any Scandinavian of the time. See also Northman.
How popular is Norman?
Since 1880, 1,602 girls and 253,160 boys in the U.S. have been named Norman (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #974 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #36 in 1931. In 2025, 169 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Norman
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Norman FAQ
What does the name Norman mean?
A male given name from Old English used in the Middle Ages and revived in the 19th century. From Middle English Norman, from Old English Norman (a variant of Norþman) and Old French Normant. It is certain that the word is derived from the base of the Germanic words for north and the Germanic base of the words for man. However, given the frequent movement of Germanic groups especially into and out of Britain in the post-classical world, it is unclear in what tongue it came to be used first. In addition, the generally accepted meaning, a person from Normandy or one of the many French-speaking invaders to Britain, was used chiefly by Anglo-Norman and Old French, though it originally referred to any Scandinavian of the time. See also Northman.
What is the origin of the name Norman?
Norman is listed as a name of Old English used in the Middle Ages origin.
How popular is the name Norman?
Since 1880, 1,602 girls and 253,160 boys in the U.S. have been named Norman (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #974 in 1929. Its highest rank for boys was #36 in 1931. In 2025, 169 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Norman a boy or girl name?
Norman is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 1,602 girls and 253,160 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.