An Expanded List of Scytho-Sarmatian Names
Overview
The following list of personal names is based on the excellent article “Greek Names with Scytho-Sarmatian Roots” by Ursula Georges as part of the Academy of St. Gabriel’s Medieval Names Archive. It’s intended to serve as a resource for those interested in Scythian and Sarmatian names from roughly the 7th c. BCE to the 2nd c. CE.
The list in Georges’ article was expanded by Aritê gunê Akasa in “List: Personal Names,” although some of the names there appear as far ahead of the aforementioned period as the 11th c. CE. If you’re interested in Sarmatian names from the 2nd c. CE onward, please check out that article—gunê Akasa annotates all of her additions to Georges’ list.
The list below has been supplemented further with names from V.I. Abaev’s 1949 article “Scythian Language” reprinted in Nartamongae (2012), IX(1-2), pp. 7-114. This article is especially notable for its inclusion on pp. 54-58 of an index of Scythian names and titles identified by their various Scythian language (i.e., ancient Iranian) roots.
However, there are a few relevant names found in classical sources that, for whatever reason, do not appear in any of the above documents. Accordingly, this list of names has been further developed via individuals and groups mentioned in:
- Herodotus’ Histories
- Polyaenus’ Strategems
- Quintus Curtius Rufus’ History of Alexander the Great of Macedon
- Strabo’s Geography
- Polybius’ Histories
- Barry Cunliffe’s (2019) Scythians: Nomad Warriors of the Steppes (Oxford UP)
I have expanded the list a bit further with names from the appendix to Adrienne Mayor’s (2014) The Amazons: Lives & Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient World (Princeton UP). This appendix has a huge list of names that include Greek names and (potential) nicknames; I have added only those identified by Mayor as having Iranian, Circassian, Abkhazian, and/or Ubykh roots. An invaluable, in-depth discussion of most of these names and how they were identified & translated can be found in:
The list was updated again with names from S.R. Tokhtas’ev’s (2013) article on Iranian names in Olbian inscriptions from 1st-3rd c. CE (in Commentationes Iranicae, eds. S.R. Tokhtas’ev and P.B. Lurje, St. Petersburg: Nestor-Istoriya, pp. 565-607). Many of these names are identified as Sarmatian; I have tried to leave out those names with unclear (i.e., not identifiably Iranian) etymologies according to Tokhtas’ev.
All names in Georges’ article were provided in Latin characters. For consistency’s sake (and for the sake of the SCAdian who may have difficulty reading Greek characters), I have done the same for the names included in my various additional sources.
I examined my sources and added names as follows:
- Names from Abaev are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- Names from gunê Akasa are indicated with a plus (+).
- Names from Herodotus, Polyaenus, Curtius, Strabo, Polybius, or Cunliffe are indicated with a percent sign (%).
- Names from Mayor are indicated with a dollar sign ($).
- Names from Tokhtas’ev are indicated with a pound sign (#).
- Names from Harmatta (mostly in the Indo-Scythian section) are indicated with a caret sign (^).
- Names from other misc. sources, mentioned in my update notes, are indicated with an ampersand (&).
There may well be errors in my identification, categorization, or transcription/transliteration. My apologies for any you encounter.
A few Bactrian names, marked as such, have been added based on info from: Harmatta, J. (1994). Languages and scripts in Graeco-Bactria and the Saka kingdoms. History of Civilizations in Central Asia, 2.
One more feminine name has been added (Senamotis) based on scholarly interpretations/identifications by Vinogradov (1987) and Ivantchik (2019) of a Scythian princess and daughter of Skilurus, ultimately based on the inscription SEG 37:674. Additionally, an alternate form/spelling of Kamasorýe, Kamasarýe, was mentioned in CIRB 75.
Several names have been added of kings from Scythia Minor (Dobrudja) whose names are on extant coinage, based on info in Dragonov (2010), The coinage of Scythian kings in the west Pontic area: Iconography, Archaeologica Bulgarica, XIV(3), pp. 29-52.
Feminine Names
Amage / Amagi *
Amezan $
Aritê
Atossa
Barkida $
Benzei ** (this appears in Abaev’s discussion of root forms on p. 22, identified as an Ossetian “woman’s name,” but it does not appear in his compiled list of Scythian names and titles)
Beurazouria *
Gordafarid $
Gordieh $
Gugamis $
Zarína *
Thabeís **
Kamasarýe, Kamasorýe *
Kepes $
Khasa $
Kheuke (Xeuxe) $
Leimeiê
Mada
Mazaía *
Maiôsara
Nushaba $ [included in Mayor’s list, but her book dates the name to a 12th c. tale of Alexander the Great rather than to Scythian-contemporary sources]
Oas oas $
Odatis **
Oigme $
Opoiê %
Pkpupes $
Roxánê * [Bactrian]
Rhoxana %
Sanape $
Saneía *
Sarukê
Semiramis $
Senamotis &
Serague $ (noted by Mayor et al. as non-gendered and thus applicable to men or women)
Shirin $
Skyleia $ [proposed as a feminine version of Skyles]
Sosia $
Sparethra, Sparethe $
Storanê
Tamura
Tirgataô *
Tómyris % [while the College of Heraldry precedents re: Tomyris are ~16-17 years old, anyone wanting to register Tomyris should be aware of them]
Masculine
A
Abaziôn
Abdarakos
Abeacus + (1st c. CE)
Abnozos *
Abragos
Aboagos
Abrozeos
Agaros *
Adiagos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Adoês
Aelis &
Aitates ^ [Bactrian]
Azariôn
Aziagos
Azias *
Azos
Akásas, Akkas
Akrosas &
Aldis
Alexarthos
Allaxarthos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Alonthagos *
Amaiakos, Amaeiakos
Amárdiakos *
Amarthastos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Amboȗstos *
Amórgês %
Amo[r]thastos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Amômaios *
Amoram[aros] # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Amo-romaros # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Amôspados
Anácharsis *
Andánakos *
Andra[n]akos
Apama ^ [Bactrian]
Aphtheimakos, Aphthaimakos +
Apsachos +
Araouê[g]os
Argamênos
Argouanagos
Argodas / Argotas *
Ardabda *
Ardaboȗrios *
Ardagdakos
Ardágthakos *
Ardaros, Ardarakos, Ardariskos
Ardonagaros *
Ardónastos *
Arthámon *
Artham[ma]nos, Arthiemmanos
Ariántas *
Ariapeithês *
Ariphárnês *
Arnákes *
Arpóxais *
Aroasios
Arsákês *
Arsaliôn
Arsêouachos, Arsêoachos, Arsêochos
Artabazos ^ [Bactrian]
Artanes ^ [Bactrian]
Artasouras ^ [Bactrian]
Atrosokes ^ [Bactrian]
Asanos
Asaros
Aspakos
Aspamitharês
Aspándanos *
Asparoúkis *
Aspourgos
Asphôrougos
Atamázas *
Atásas *
Atêas *
Auasis
Aubadag[-?]
Aunamos
Aurazakos
Aphthamakos *
Aphtheimakos, Aphthaimakos
Apsachos
B
Bagdosauos
Bagdochos
Bagês, Bagios
Badagos, Badakês, Padagos
Badas
Baioraspos
Baiormaios
Baiórmoaios *
Banas
Baxagos
Bartatua %
Barzandes ^ [Bactrian]
Bastakas
Bástakos *
Bida[k]ês
Bistês
Boraspos
Borbar[akos], Borobarakos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Bornon # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Bórus *
Bradakos
Bôrakos
Bôrnôn
Bôropsazos
G
Gadas
Gadeis # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Gadikios, Gadikeios
Gadis # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Galatus + (2nd c. CE)
Gaos
Gasteis, Gastein
Gatalus %
Gnouros %
Godosauos
Gorgósas *
Gosôn
Gôdigasos
Gôsakos
Gosamphflias # (1st-3rd c. CE) [see Thachafleis]
D
Dadagos, Dadakos
Dalósakos *
Dánapris *
Danarasmakos
Dandaxarthos
Dataphernes ^ [Bactrian]
Didumoxarthos
Dosumoxarthos
Douáragos *
E
Eisgoudios
Eubarnákês
Eunones + (1st c. CE)
Eupator + (2nd c. CE)
Z
Zábagos *
Zabagios
Zabargos
Zabandos
Zárandos *
Zeúakos * (2nd c. CE)
Zor-sanos, Zor-thinos, [Z]or-thinês # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Zorsines # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Zosines + (1st c. CE)
Zoúrês *
E(ta)
Êlmanos
Êrakas
Hyspasines ^ [Bactrian]
Th
Thachafleis, Thachamflia[s] # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Thámyris %
Thiágaros *
Thiárgakos *
Thirthagos
Thuloganos
Thuskês *
I
Iazad[agos], Iezdagos, Iezdrados
Iasandánakos *
Iaúakos
Iaphagos
Idanthýrsus %
Ilbios # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Inensimeos, Inismeos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Ininthimaios # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Insazagos
Iramboustos
Irauadis
Irbis
Irganos
Ishpaka % / Ishpakai *
Iôdas
Iôdesmagos
[Iod]eism[a]kos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Itanes ^ [Bactrian]
K
Kadánakos *
Kainaxarthos, Kênexarthos
Kamorsazês, Kamarsazês
Kanites &
Kararýes *
Karaxstos, Karaxtos, Karastos
Karthasis %
Kárzeis *
Karzoazos, Karzouazos
Karsas
Kasagos, Kasakos
Kasais
Kaphánagos *
Katanes ^ [Bactrian]
Katokas, Kattas, Katiôn
Kynéxarthos *
Koláxais *
Kossas, Kosous, Kossous, Kousous, Kos[sô]n
Kouzaios
[K]ouridatês (-os)
Kopharnos
L
Labazos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Leímanos, Límnakos [see Phleimnagos]
Lipóxais *
Lýkos * / Lycus %
M
Madakos, Madôis
Madýês *
Mádos *
Mazis, Mazous
Maiakos
Máês *
Maisês
Maipharnos
Mámmaros *
Mandasos *
Maniagos
Márzakos *
Mardauos
Masas
Mastas, Mastous, Mastounos, Mastarous
Medosákkous +
Megis
Meuakos
Mêthakos, Mêsakos
Mêtagos, Mêtakos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Mithroaxos ^ [Bactrian]
Moísês *
Mordos
Mougísagos *
Mouliourgos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Mourdagos
N
Nabazos
Namgênos
Namouchos
Nauakos, Nauagos
Níchekos *
X
Xaiorsazês
Xaranos ^ [Bactrian]
Xathran[n]os # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Xartamos, Xárthamos, Xárthanos
Xêgodis
Xêsságaros *
Xiamphôkanos
Xobas
O
Oaroz[b]alakos
Odíardos *
Okoarzǻnês *
Oktamasadês %
Olgasus
Olthakós / Olthacus *
Olkábas *
Omrasmakos
O[ua]mpsalakos, Ouamps[a]lagos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Oxardôzis
Oxeboakos ^ [Bactrian]
Oxyártês % [Bactrian]
Orikós *
Oróntês *
Orophérnês *
Orsiomichos
Orsodates ^ [Bactrian]
Osmárakos *
Ospínmazos *
Ossi[gas?]os / Ossígasos
Ouag[a]sis
Oumanes ^ [Bactrian]
Ouaras
Ouarazakos
Ouargadakos *
Ouardánês *
Ouarzbalos
Oúarzbálakos *
Ouastobalos
Oúataphárnês *
Oúachôzakos *
Ouzia[g]os
Oumbêouaros, Oumbêouoros # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Oúmbnioúaros *
Ourbazos
Ourgbalos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Oűrgbazos *
Ourgios
Ousigasos, Ousigos
Oustanos
Ocho[a]rzanês
Ouachôza[k]os, Ochôdiakos, Ochôziakos
P
Pagos
Palacus %
Pantikápaion *
Parzos ^ [Bactrian]
Parspanakos
Pátaikos *
Pateis, Patias
Pateiros
Pêrakos
Pídanos, Pidos, Pideis [see: Phidas]
Pitopharnakês, Pitpharnakês, Phitopar[nakês?]
Poudanakos, P[t]oudagos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Pourthaios, Pourthais, Pourthakês
Potêgo[u]s # (1st-3rd c. CE)
R
Rabais *
Radamasis
Radamaseos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
[R]adameistos
Radamophourtos
Radamsadios, Radamps[adios] # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Radampsôn, Radanpsôn
Radamphôn
Radamphourtos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Rathagôsos
Raodmêos
Rapakês
Rass[o]gos
Rachoísakos *
S
Sagádares *
Sadaíos *
Sadimanos
Saios # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Saitapharnês
Sákdeos *
Sakesphárês *
Sanagos
Sánôn *
Sarakos
Saráxasos *
Saraxazos
Saratos
Sariakes &
Sáron *
Sarorgos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Saróês *
Sasas, Sasôn
Satrabátês *
Satrákês *
Sattiôn
Sauagaskos, Sauagas
Saúagos *
Sauaiôsos
Sauanôn
Sauliôs %
Saúmakos *
Seauagos
Seúragos *
Seimeikos
Sênêkas
Serague $ (noted by Mayor et al. as non-gendered and thus applicable to men or women)
Siagous *
Siauakos
Siauask[is]
Siauos
Siaúaskis *
Sinokrates ^ [Bactrian]
Siranos
Siômachos
Siouragos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Skýlês %
Skôpasis %
Skunxa
Sógos *
Sochrakes ^ [Bactrian]
Sozirsauos
Sorchakos
Spadágas *
Spadakos
Spadínês *
Spaldines +
Sp[a]kos
Spargapísês %, Spargapeíthês *
Sparophotos
Spitamenes ^ [Bactrian]
Spithamês
Staúakos *
Stormais
Stosarakos
Stúrakos *
Sturanos
Spharobais
Suarobais
Sôrakos *
Sôchoubazos
T
Tanousas &
Táxakis *
Taordounos # (1st-3rd c. CE) [maybe?]]
Targítaos *
Tasius + (2nd c. CE)
Teirixares ^ [Bactrian]
Tibês
Tillês
Tiranês, Teiranês, Tiranios
Toumbagos, Toumibagos
Ph
Phadiaróazos *
Phadínamos *
Phadious, Phazious
Phadinamos, Phazinamos
Phaldaranos
Phandarazos
Phárados *
Phárzêos *
Pharnagos, Pharnakês, Pharnakiôn
Pharnarnos
Pharnês
Pharnoxarthos
Phêdánakos *
Phidas, Phidanous, Phêdanakos, Pidos, Pideis, Pidanos
Phidanos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Phitopar[nakês?]
Phitophar[nakos] # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Phleimnagos, Phlimanakos, Leimanos, Limnakos
Phlemnakos, Phlimnakos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Phlianos
Phodakos
Phodêragos # (1st-3rd c. CE)
Phorgabakos
Phorêranos
Phoriauos
Phoros
Phosakos
Phourtas
Ch
Chanakês
Charaspes &
Chárax *
Charáxênos *
Cháraxtos *
Chardeis
Choárgaros *
Chodainos
Chodekios
Chodios
Chodiakios, Chozi[a]kos
Chómeuos *
Choroathos, Choroua[thos]
Choróxathos *
Chorsámantis *
Chorsómanos *
Chouarsazos
Chounaros
Chopharnos
Chophrasmos, Chophrazmos
Chôdarzos
Chôdonakos
Chôdiakos