Oberon
Male nameGermanic
✨ Meaning
Oberon descends from the Frankish name Alberich, built from 'alb,' meaning elf, and 'ric,' meaning ruler, giving 'elf king.' The name travelled from Germanic legend into medieval French romance as Auberon and reached English as Oberon. Its meaning is unusually apt for its literary career, since the character who bears it in English literature is precisely a king of the fairies.
🌍 Origin
Oberon appears as the fairy king in the thirteenth-century French romance Huon of Bordeaux and, most famously, in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. The name was also given to one of the moons of Uranus, all of which are named after Shakespearean and Popean characters. It is very rare as a given name and is chosen for its literary weight.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Oberon mean?
Oberon means 'elf king,' descending from the Frankish Alberich through the French Auberon.
Is Oberon a Shakespearean name?
Shakespeare made it famous as the fairy king in A Midsummer Night's Dream, but the character predates him in French romance.
Is Oberon a moon?
Yes. One of the moons of Uranus is named Oberon, following the convention of naming them after Shakespearean characters.