The story behind Hamlet
From Latin Amlethus, as written by 13th-century Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, and borrowed into English by way of François de Belleforest's French Hamlet, originally rendered as Hamblet in English. Ultimately from Old Danish Amlethæ, corresponding to Old Norse Amlóði (“fool”), claimed to be suggestive of the way that Hamlet acts in the play, from ama (“to annoy”).
Pronunciation
US: /ˈhæm.lət/
Regional pronunciation variants
- UK: /ˈhæm.lɪt/
Popularity
Hamlet ranked #9204 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Hamlet
Hiacynt
Learned borrowing from Latin Hyacinthus, from Ancient Greek Ὑάκινθος (Huákinthos). Doublet of Jacenty (whence Jacek).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Albert
From Old English Æþelbeorht, from Proto-West Germanic *Aþalaberht, a compound of *aþalaz (“noble”) + *berhtaz (“bright, famous”), or from Old French Albert, from Latin…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
August
Early Middle English August(us), re-Latinized from Old English Agustus, from Late Latin Agustus, from Latin augustus (“month of August”), from the agnomen Augustus…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bennet
From Benedict. See French Benoît, Norman Beneît. Doublet of Benoit and Benito.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Clement
From Late Latin Clēmens (genitive Clēmentis), name of early saints and popes, from clēmens (“merciful”). Doublet of Clemens and San Clemente.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Florent
Name of early Christian saints, from Latin Florentem "flourishing".
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Hamlet
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Absalom
From Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם (avshalóm, literally “father of peace”), from אָב (av, “father”) + שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”). Learned borrowing from Latin Absālōm, from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abundio
Borrowed from Latin Abundius. Borrowed from Spanish Abundio.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Hamlet
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length