Meaning and Origin of: Raven

Raven is and English and means "Dark haired", "wise', "a bird"

Girl name origins & meanings

  • English : Dark haired; wise; a bird

Girl name variations

Boy name origins & meanings

  • Old English : A raven

Boy name variations

Family name origins & meanings

  • English and Scottish : from Middle English raven, used as a nickname for a thievish or dark-haired person. In some cases it may be from a personal name derived from this word, a survival into Middle English of the Old Norse byname Hrafn or of an Old English cognate name (Hræfn). A few early forms such as William atte Raven (London 1344) suggest that it may also in part be derived from a house sign.
  • North German : from Middle Low German rave(n) ‘raven’, a nickname or an old personal name. Compare 1 above.