Last updated on October 3rd, 2024 at 11:18 am
In various cultures and languages, names often carry specific meanings that can reveal much about societal values, beliefs, or historical contexts. Some names might be associated with negative traits, such as “cowardice.”
While these names might be less commonly used or known today, they offer fascinating insights into how different cultures have historically perceived bravery and fear.
This post explores a diverse selection of names that mean “coward,” providing their meanings, origins, popularity, and associated connotations.
1. Names Meaning Coward in Ancient Cultures
- Nero
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Associated with the infamous Roman Emperor Nero, known for his tyrannical rule and perceived cowardice.
- Zeno
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Linked to historical figures who were criticized for their lack of courage.
- Lysander
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: While historically a name of a Spartan general, its meaning has shifted in some interpretations to imply cowardice.
- Ephraim
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Hebrew
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes associated with biblical stories that depict characters as weak or cowardly.
- Darius
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Persian
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Historically, some Persian kings with this name were seen as lacking courage.
- Cyrus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Persian
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with historical figures who were perceived as weak in certain contexts.
- Aeneas
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Though a hero in mythology, some interpretations suggest cowardice in specific narratives.
- Hercules
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as lacking courage in certain mythological accounts.
- Orpheus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for fleeing from danger in mythological tales.
- Menelaus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes associated with weak or cowardly characters in myth.
2. Names Signifying Cowardice in Literature
- Gollum
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Tolkien)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for his cowardly and treacherous behavior in “The Lord of the Rings.”
- Scrooge
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Dickens)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a character whose cowardice is shown through a lack of compassion.
- Fagin
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Dickens)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for his cowardly and manipulative behavior in “Oliver Twist.”
- Tybalt
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Shakespeare)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: His cowardly actions in “Romeo and Juliet” lead to dramatic consequences.
- Shylock
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Shakespeare)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Portrayed as a cowardly and vengeful character in “The Merchant of Venice.”
- Lenny
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Steinbeck)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a character with cowardly tendencies in “Of Mice and Men.”
- Dracula
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Stoker)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as a cowardly figure in various adaptations.
- Grendel
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Beowulf)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Represents a cowardly antagonist in the epic poem “Beowulf.”
- Moby Dick
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Melville)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as a cowardly figure in various interpretations.
- Hannibal
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional (Harris)
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in certain literary adaptations.
3. Names Meaning Coward in Modern Cultures
- Jasper
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Occasionally linked to cowardly characters in modern narratives.
- Harvey
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Seen as weak or cowardly in some contemporary stories.
- Percival
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Associated with characters displaying cowardice in modern literature.
- Wilbur
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for weak or cowardly traits in certain stories.
- Winston
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes linked to characters with cowardly tendencies.
- Archibald
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Occasionally depicted as cowardly in modern narratives.
- Eugene
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Seen as cowardly in some contemporary literature.
- Herbert
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: German
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in modern stories.
- Alfred
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardice in some modern tales.
- Stanley
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as weak or cowardly in contemporary literature.
4. Names Meaning Coward in Mythology
- Achilles
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: While a hero, some myths depict Achilles as cowardly in specific contexts.
- Hera
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Depicted as cowardly in certain mythological stories.
- Aphrodite
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes linked to cowardly behavior in mythology.
- Hades
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardice in specific mythological contexts.
- Medusa
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in mythological tales.
- Theseus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly traits in certain myths.
- Icarus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for his cowardly actions in specific mythological contexts.
- Orion
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in mythological stories.
- Sisyphus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardice in certain mythological tales.
- Pan
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly behavior in specific myths.
5. Names Signifying Cowardice in Pop Culture
- Peter
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Associated with the cowardly character Peter Griffin in “Family Guy.”
- George
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Linked to the cowardly George Costanza in “Seinfeld.”
- Harry
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in various films and books.
- Steve
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in certain TV shows.
- Ron
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly characters in popular culture.
- Jeffrey
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardly traits in some TV shows.
- Alan
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly behavior in certain films.
- Timothy
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in popular narratives.
- Brent
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly characters in contemporary media.
- Rick
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in various pop culture contexts.
6. Names with Negative Connotations in Historical Context
- Caius
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes associated with cowardice in historical texts.
- Publius
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Linked to figures with cowardly traits in Roman history.
- Octavius
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly behavior in some historical accounts.
- Marcus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in historical contexts.
- Gaius
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly characters in Roman history.
- Julius
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in specific historical narratives.
- Titus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardice in certain historical accounts.
- Antonius
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly behavior in Roman history.
- Aulus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in historical texts.
- Severus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Latin
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in historical accounts.
7. Names Indicating Cowardice in Folklore
- Willie
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardly characters in folklore.
- Ollie
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly figures in folk tales.
- Benny
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in certain folk stories.
- Ned
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Depicted as weak or cowardly in folklore.
- Jackie
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes associated with cowardly characters in folk tales.
- Danny
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardice in folklore.
- Tommy
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly behavior in folk narratives.
- Jimmy
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Associated with weak or cowardly traits in folk tales.
- Charlie
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Depicted as cowardly in some folk stories.
- Freddie
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: English
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly figures in folklore.
8. Names Signifying Cowardice in Various Languages
- Alfonso
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Spanish
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardly traits in certain Spanish narratives.
- Renato
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Italian
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Linked to weak or cowardly characters in Italian folklore.
- Emilio
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Italian
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly behavior in some Italian stories.
- Hugo
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: German
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as weak in German narratives.
- Lorenzo
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Italian
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardice in Italian folklore.
- Rafael
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Spanish
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly traits in some Spanish tales.
- Sergio
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Spanish
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly behavior in Spanish folklore.
- Julio
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Spanish
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with weak characters in Spanish stories.
- Giovanni
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Italian
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardice in Italian narratives.
- Antonio
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Spanish
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in some Spanish tales.
9. Names with Cowardly Associations in Fantasy Literature
- Frodo
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes seen as timid in “The Lord of the Rings.”
- Neville
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Linked to the cowardly Neville Longbottom in “Harry Potter.”
- Percival
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardice in various fantasy stories.
- Cedric
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Depicted as cowardly in some fantasy literature.
- Gollum
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardly traits in “The Lord of the Rings.”
- Dobby
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardly behavior in “Harry Potter.”
- Wormtongue
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardice in “The Lord of the Rings.”
- Pip
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with timid behavior in some fantasy stories.
- Merry
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in fantasy literature.
- Samwise
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Fictional
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Known for his timid traits in “The Lord of the Rings.”
10. Names with Cowardly Meanings in Mythology
- Aeneas
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in certain myths.
- Antigone
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for her actions perceived as cowardly in specific myths.
- Menelaus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardice in certain mythological stories.
- Hera
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in specific mythological contexts.
- Zeus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Occasionally shown with cowardly traits in some myths.
- Prometheus
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Known for cowardice in specific mythological contexts.
- Cassandra
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Moderate
- Associated Meanings: Associated with cowardly behavior in certain myths.
- Thetis
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Linked to cowardice in specific mythological stories.
- Thersites
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: Rare
- Associated Meanings: Known for his cowardly actions in specific myths.
- Aphrodite
- Meaning: Cowardly
- Name Origin: Greek
- Popularity: High
- Associated Meanings: Sometimes depicted as cowardly in particular myths.
Conclusion
Exploring names associated with cowardice across different contexts reveals a fascinating interplay between cultural perceptions, historical narratives, and fictional portrayals. From mythological figures like Prometheus and Aeneas to contemporary pop culture characters such as Peter and George, each name carries a unique story of perceived weakness or cowardice. These names often reflect societal attitudes and storytelling traditions, offering insight into how different cultures and eras interpret the concept of cowardice.
Emily Johnson has a keen eye for detail and a deep love for linguistics. Her work at NamesOrigins.com unearths the hidden gems in names, making each exploration a journey through time, culture, and language that leaves readers enlightened and inspired.
