The Authority for Name Information since 1996

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3. Presidents' Names

George

George is a name with Greek origins and means farmer. Presidential Georges include George Washington, George Herbert Walker Bush, and George Walker Bush.

John

John is a name with Hebrew origins and means God is gracious. Presidential Johns include John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, and John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

Thomas

Thomas is a name with Greek origins meaning twin. The only American president named Thomas was Thomas Jefferson.

James

James is the most common name of American presidents. James is a Hebrew name meaning supplanter. The six presidents with the first name James include James Madison, James Monroe, James Polk, James Buchanan, James Garfield, and James “Jimmy” Carter.

Andrew

Andrew is a name with Greek origins meaning manly. There were two presidential Andrews: Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson.

Martin

Martin is a name with Latin origins. The meaning of Martin is servant of Mars/God of War. Martin van Buren was the only president with the first name of Martin.

William

William is a name with English origins meaning strong-willed warrior. William is the third most common presidential name, after James and John. Presidential Williams include William Henry Harrison, William Taft, William McKinley, and William Jefferson Clinton.

Zachary

Zachary is a name with Hebrew origins, meaning God has remembered. Zachary Taylor is the only president with the first name Zachary.

Millard

Millard is an English name meaning guardian of the mill. Millard Fillmore is the only president with the first name Millard.

Franklin

Franklin is a name meaning free man from the English. The two presidents with the name Franklin were Franklin Pierce and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Abraham

Abraham is a Hebrew name meaning father of nations. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. His nickname was "Honest Abe."

Ulysses

Ulysses is a Latin name meaning wounded in the thigh. Ulysses S. Grant is the only presidential Ulysses but his first name was actually Hiram, a Hebrew name meaning exalted brother.

Rutherford

Rutherford in an English name meaning from the Cattle ford. Rutherford B. Hayes is the only president with the first name Rutherford.

Chester

Chester is a name with English origins meaning fortress. It is a diminutive form of Rochester. Chester Arthur became president after James Garfield was assassinated.

Grover

Grover is an English name meaning in the grove. Grover Cleveland was the only president named Grover, but he was president twice: he was our 22nd and 24th president.

Benjamin

Benjamin is an English name meaning son of my right hand. Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd president, between the two Grover Cleveland presidencies.

Theodore

Theodore is a Greek name meaning divine gift. Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president. His nickname was “Teddy” and because of this was named the teddy bear.

Woodrow

Woodrow is an English name meaning from the lane in the woods. Woodrow Wilson and a founder of the League of Nations, the forerunner of the United Nations.

Warren

Warren is an English name meaning guard. Warren G. Harding’s middle name was Gamaliel, a Biblical/Hebrew name for God is my reward.

Calvin

Calvin is a Latin name meaning bald. Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States. Other famous Calvins include Calvin Klein and the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes.

Herbert

Herbert means army bright and is of English origins. Herbert Hoover was the 31st president of the United States.

Harry

Harry is an English name meaning army ruler. The “S” in Harry S. Truman most likely stands for family names of his two grandfathers “Shipp” and “Solomon.” The name Harry was originally a nickname for the formal name Henry.

Dwight

Dwight is an English name meaning devotee of Dionysus. It is also from an English surname “Diot.” Dwight David Eisenhower was nicknamed “Ike” as a diminutive of Eisenhower, which became a nickname on its own and a catchphrase for his campaign: I LIKE IKE.

Lyndon

Lyndon is an English name meaning from the flax hill. Lyndon B. Johnson was nicknamed LBJ. B stood for Baines, his mother’s maiden name.

Richard

Richard is an English name for brave ruler. Richard Nixon was the only president to resign. Nicknames for Richard include Rich, Richie, and Dick, the latter of which was used by Richard Nixon. After the Watergate scandal and his resignation, he was monikered "Tricky Dick."

Gerald

Gerald is an English name meaning rules with spear. Gerald Ford became president after Richard Nixon resigned from office. A common nickname for Gerald is Jerry.

Ronald

Ronald is an English name for counsel rule. Ronald Reagan was the 40th president of the United States and was often called Ron or Ronnie.

Barack

Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States. President Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is of Kenyan and American origins. Barack is the Arabic word for blessed and is related to the Hebrew word/name Baruch.