Note: Some people have written in asking just who some of these people are. So I'm beginning to add notation of which show the character appeared on, and what season for the more confusing ones.
Amy Madison
Amy: "My cherished one" based on the Latin amabilis, lovable. An anglicized form of the Old French word aim?, meaning "loved".
Madison: Old English "son of the powerful soldier"
Andrew
Andrew: From the Greek word for "manly."
Angel
Angel: "A guiding spirit," from the Greek angelos, a messenger.
(see also Liam)
Anya Emerson
Anya: Russian diminutive of Anna. "The graceful maiden" from the Hebrew hannah, grace.
Emerson: Old English "son of the industrious one"
As of Season 5
Anya Christina Emmanuella Jenkins
Anya: Russian diminutive of Anna. "The graceful maiden" from the Hebrew hannah, grace.
Christina: a feminine form of the name Christian, meaning "a follower of Christ," Greek for "the annointed one".
Emmanuella: a feminine form of the Hebrew name Emmanuel which means "God is with us."
Jenkins : Low German "little son of John"
Ben
(BtVS: Season 5)
Ben: Hebrew "son" or a short form of the Latin benedictus, "blessed."
Bethany
(Angel: Season 2)
Bethany: Hebrew "house of God"
Buffy Anne Summers
Buffy: diminutive of Elizabeth, the Hellinized form of Elisheva. "To the lord I consecrate thee," from the Hebrew Eli, my lord, and sheba, an oath.
Anne: A French and English form of Anna "The graceful maiden" the Hellenic from of the Hebrew hannah, grace. Also "gracious and merciful."
Summers: English - "summoner" the petty official who calls people to appear in court. Also a form of "sumer" one born in summer
Catherine Madison
(BtVS: Season 1)
Catherine: "The immaculate one; the purified one" based, ultimately, on the Greek kathairein, to cleanse.
Madison: (see under Amy)
Chanterelle, aka. Lily, aka. Anne
(BtVS: Seasons 2 and 3, Angel: Season 2)
Chanterelle: French. A type of delicate mushroom
Lily
Lily: From the Latin lilium, "lily", long considered a symbol of purity
Anne
Anne: A French and English form of Anna "The graceful maiden" the Hellenic form of the Hebrew hannah, grace. Also "gracious" and "merciful."
Clem
(BtVS: Season 6)
Clem: From the Latin clemens meaning "mercy."
Collin, aka. The Annointed One, aka. The Annoying One
(BtVS: Seasons 1 and 2)
Collin: a variant of Colin, the Irish short form of the name Nicholas, which is Greek meaning "victorious people" or "a victory of the people."
Connor, aka. Cherub, Cappellini, The Wee Poofter, The Hairless Capybara, Baby Gonna-Bite-It, The Ugly Beagle, Prophecy Boy and now Steven
Connor: The American spelling of Conor, a modern Anglicization of the Old Irish Conchubhar, formed from roots words cu meaning "dog" and cobar "desiring." According to the Department of Gaelic Studies, it would not be wrong to conclude that the literal meaning of this name is, "But we wanted a dog."
Steven: A variant of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This name is derived from the Greek stephanos, meaning a garland or crown.
Cordelia Chase
Cordelia: "Daughter of the sea" from the Celtic creiryddlydd. A symbol of faithfulness, in allusion to the youngest and favorite daughter of the monarch in Shakespeare's "King Lear."
Chase: "woods particularly suitable for hunting" from the Old French chaceur (hunter.)
Darla
Darla: English, a short form of Darlene, an endearing slur of "darling" from the Anglo-Saxon deorling, based on deore (dear, precious) and ling (a suffix denoting littleness) Darla Hood was noteable as the only girl in the Little Rascals gang.
David Nabbitt
(Angel: Season 1)
David: "The beloved son," from the Hebrew david or dawid meaning "beloved" or "darling"
Dawn Summers
Dawn: "The beginning of happiness," in allusion to the dawning of light, from the Anglo-Saxon dagian, to dawn. Also the English version of the goddess Aurora, who was married to the Titan Astraeus and gave birth to the stars, the winds, and Eosphorus, the Morning Star.
Summers: (see under Buffy)
Dennis, The Phantom
Dennis: "The gay blade," in allusion to Dionysos, the god of vegetation and wine in Greek mythology. Also from dio "of the gods" and Nysa, a city in Greece , meaning "divine one of Nysa."
Devon
(BtVS: Seasons 1-4)
Devon: Irish Gaelic "poet"
Doyle, Alan Francis
Alan: Irish Gaelic: handsome; cheerful. Also "The pugnacious," from the Latin, in allusion to a fierce Scythian nation.
Francis: "The free" from the Germanic Franko, the name of a people on the Rhine who referred to themselves as "the free."
Doyle: Irish Gaelic "dark stranger"
Drusilla
Drusilla: "Fresh as the dew" from the Greek drosos (dew) in allusion to the Roman family Livius which assumed the name Drusus to commemorate the slaying of a Gallic general named Drausus, who attacked at dawn.
Latin: descendant of Drusus, the strong one (Also recorded as being the name of Caligula's sister)
Edith, Miss
Edith: from the Old English elements ead, "prosperous," and gyth, "battle."
Ethan Rayne
Ethan: "The strong" or "the firm," from the Hebrew
Rayne: Old English "a division"
Faith
Faith: "She who trusts" from the Latin fidere, to trust. Also Middle English "fidelity"
"Ford"
(BtVS: Season 2)
Billy: diminutive of William (listed)
Fordham: English "one whose home is at the ford"
Forrest Gates
(BtVS: Season 4)
Forrest: "One who lives or works in the forest," ultimately from the Latin foris, out of doors.
Gates: English "dweller in a gate, gap or passage through a chain of hills or entrance of some kind"
Fred
Fred: dim of Winifred, "A friend of peace," from the Anglo-Saxon wine "friend" and the Germanic frithu "peace."
Also seen as a form of the Celtic Gwenfrewi, meaning "white stream."
Burkle: English, from OldEnglish name Burgheard, meaning "hardy, brave, and/or strong fort"
Gavin Park
Gavin: From the Old Welsh Gwalchmai, "hawk of the plain". Later shortened to Gawain and Anglicized as Gavin, it more accurately means "little hawk."
Park: English, "an open space" or an abbreviated form of Parker "keeper of the park"
Giles, Rupert
Rupert: a variant of Robert. "(The man of) illustrious fame" based on the Germanic ruod (fame)and beraht (bright).
Giles: "(The bearer of) the shield." from the Greek aigis, a goatskin. In Greek mythology the aegis was a breastplate used by Zeus. The name most likely honors the aegis of Pallas Athena, daughter of Zeus. The most famous bearer of the name was Gilles de Rais, a companion of Joan of Arc who practiced witchcraft and was burned at the stake.
Gordo, Mr.
Gordo: Spanish "fat; obese"
Graham Miller
(BtVS: Season 4)
Graham: "(The man from) the gray house" Derived from the Middle English grai (gray) and the Anglo-Saxon ham (house, home.)
Gunn, Charles
Charles: "The full-grown, manly, and strong." Derived through the French, but ultimately from the Germanic Karl.
Gunn: Scottish "war" Also variant of Gunther, Scandinavian "battle army; warrior"
Glory
(BtVS: Season 5)
Glory: from the Latin gloria, meaning "glory" or "fame"
Gwendolyn Post
(BtVS: Season 3)
Gwendolyn: "the fair and shapely" from the Welsh gwen (white, fair) and French doler (to hew into shape)
Post: A German Jewish name derived from the Latin postis meaning a pole or post. A name given to those living near an important boundary pole or post.
Hank Summers
Hank: a diminutive of Henry, "ruler of the home" derived from the Germanic heim (home) and rihhi (ruler).
Summers: (see under Buffy)
Harmony Kendall
Harmony: Latin "harmony"
Kendall: Old English "from the bright valley"
Holland Manners
Holland: English One from Holland, from Hollow-land. Also a form of Hold land, the land taken and kept, held, and governed.
Manners: French from Manoir, which is from the Latin Manere, to stay or abide. One who lives on lands granted by the king.
(Manners was actually in honor of the director, Kelly Manners.)
Holtz, Daniel
Daniel: Daniel: "God is my judge," from the Hebrew dani (my judge) and El (God.)
Holtz: Germanic form of the Old English holt, meaning, "a wood or forest."
Ira Rosenberg
Ira:"The watchful one" from the Hebrew eir, wide awake. Also "descendants" from more modern Hebrew sources.
Rosenberg: (see under Willow)
Jenny Calendar
(BtVS: Seasons 1-2)
Jenny: "The gracious gift of God." A diminutive of Joanna. Also a diminutive of Jennifer, Welsh "white, fair" a form of Guinevere
Jesse
(BtVS: Season 1)
Jesse: "The rich one," in allusion to the reputed wealth of Iassus, an ancient town. Also from the Hebrew yishai, meaning "gift"
Jonathan Levinson
Jonathan: "God has given" or "The Lord's Gift" from the Hebrew. In the Bible, Saul's oldest son. Jonathan's friendship with David was considered the apotheosis of platonic relations.
Levinson: the son of Leofwin, "a dear friend" English/Scottish. Or Hebrew, son of Levi, "(He who will) unite"
Joyce Summers
Joyce: "The merry one," from the Latin jocosa, merry.
Summers: (see under Buffy)
Justine
Justine: The French feminine of the Latin Justus, meaning, "justice or retribution." Also well-known as the title of a book by the Marquis de Sade.
Kate Lockley
(Angel: Seasons 1 and 2)
Kate: diminutive of Catherine "the immaculate one; the purified one" based, ultimately, on the Greek kathairein, to cleanse
Lockley: Old English "a fenced or gated meadow"
Kathy
(BtVS: Season 4)
Kathy: a diminutive of Catherine (listed)
Katrina Silbers
(BtVS: Seasons 5 and 6)
Katrina: A Scottish and German variant of Catherine (listed)
Kendra
(BtVS: Season 2)
Kendra: "The well-informed," from the Anglo-Saxon cennan, to teach or make known
Larry
(BtVS: Seasons 1-3)
Larry: diminutive of Laurence, "The one crowned with laurel" ie. the victor from the Latin laurus, the laurel.
Liam
Liam: an Irish form of William, short for Uilliam (see under William)(see also Angel)
Lilah Morgan
Lilah: Hebrew - "night" or a short form of Delilah - Hebrew "brooding" "the desirous one; the temptress"; also "poor" or "hair" or from Lillian - Latin, "lily flower" or Lilith - Arabic "of the night" or "night demon", first wife of Adam. "a female spirit of the night" from the Hebrew lilith. In accordance with legend, a female vampire or a witch regarded as unfriendly to children
Morgan: from the Welsh m?, "sea" or mawr "great, big" + can "bright" or cant "circle" or geni "born." This name could mean anything from "big circle" to "sea-born." One famous Morgan was Morgan la Fey, King Arthur's half-sister and a famed sorceress.
Lindsey McDonald
Lindsey: "Like the linden tree" from the Middle English linden (linden tree) and sy ( a suffix denoting affection)
McDonald: Scotch/Irish, son of Donald "the stranger with the brown hair" from the Irish Donghal (brown stranger)
Lorne, aka. Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan, aka. the Host, aka. GGG (Gay Green Guy), aka. Cary of Caritas.
Lorne: English - stems from the territory of Lorne in Argyll. Also, a variant of Loren and a short form of Laurence, an anglicization of the French form of Laurentius, meaning "a man from Laurentum." The name may originate with the Latin laurus, meaning laurel.
Maggie Walsh, aka. Evil Bitch Monster of Death
(BtVS: Season 4)
Maggie: diminutive of Margaret, "A pearl of a girl" from the Latin margarita (a pearl) based on the Greek margaros, a pearl oyster.
Walsh: A variant of Wallace - "A Welshman" from the Middle English Walisc, Welsh.
Marcie Ross
(BtVS: Season 1)
Marcie: diminutive of Marcia, "The daughter of Marcus" in allusion to Marcius, a noted Roman gens, based on Mars, the god of war.
Ross: Scottish "one whose home is on a promontory or neck of land"
"Master, The"
Heinrich: A German form of Henry, "ruler of the household."
Joseph: Hebrew "God will add, God will increase."
Nest: A short form of the Old English Nesbit "a nose-shaped bend in a river." also a short from of the Greek Nestor "a traveler or wise one."
Merl
Merl: French, from merle, "blackbird." Also a short from of Merlin, "falcon."
Merrick
Merrick: "A serving ruler," from the Latin mereri "to serve" and the hypothetical root rik "ruler."
Michael
(BtVS: Season 3)
Michael: "Who is like God?" Michael was the archangel closest to God, and the messenger who carried out H/his judgments.
Nancy
(BtVS: Season 3)
Nancy: a diminutive variant of Anna or Anne, from the Hebrew hannah (grace.)
Olaf, aka. "The Troll"
(BtVS: Season 5)
Olaf: Scandinavian from the Old Norse anu, meaning "an ancestor."
Olivia
(BtVS: Season 4)
Olivia: The Italian version of the name Olive. The Olive tree was sacred to the goddess Pallas Athene in Greek mythology. It has signified peace and, when carried by new brides, fecundity.
"Oz"
Daniel: "God is my judge," from the Hebrew dani (my judge) and El (God.)
Osborne: Old English - "warrior of God", Scandinavian, from the Old Norse Asbjorn "divine bear"
Parker Abrams
(BtVS: Season 4)
Parker: English "keeper of the park"
Abrams: Hebrew, short form of Abraham, "father of multitudes/many nations"
Percy West
Percy: a diminutive of Percival, "From the valley which pierces (the mountains)" based on the French percer (to bore) and val (a valley); introduced, apparently, by Chr?ien de Troyes, French poet and author of Arthurian romances, in the 12th century.
West: English "one from the West."
Quinton Travers
Quinton: a variant of Quentin, from the Latin quintus, meaning "the fifth."
Travers: French "one at the crossroads"
Riley Finn
Riley: Irish Gaelic "valiant
Finn: Irish Gaelic "fair haired and fair complected" Old German "from Finland"
Rory Harris, aka. Uncle Rory
Rory: "The ruddy one" from the Celtic
Harris: (see under Xander)
Sheila Rosenberg
Sheila: A variant form, regarded as Irish, of Cecilia "Blinded by love" from the Latin caecus, devoid of light.
Rosenberg: (see under Willow)
Sid, the Dummy
(BtVS: Season 1)
Sid: diminutive of Sidney, "Saint Denis" the patron saint of France (see also under Dennis)
Sid, the Wily Dairy Gnome
(BtVS: Season 4)
Sid: diminutive of Sidney, "Saint Denis" the patron saint of France (see also Dennis)
Snyder, Principal
Snyder: Dutch "tailor" especially of coats and winter garments
"Spike"
Spike: English "ear of grain; long nail"
William the Bloody
William: "A willing protector," from the Germanic willio (will) and helm (protection).
the bloody: (self explanatory)
Tara Maclay
Tara: a savior goddess, in Mahayana Buddhism. In Gaelic, a tower, in allusion to the royal towers of the hill of Tara, where Irish kings resided. The most popular character on the TV show "The Avengers", Mrs. Emma Peel, was succeed by Tara King.
Maclay: Irish Gaelic "The son of Clay" Clay from the Gaelic Claiheamb meaning either a sword or river from their resemblance in glittering brightness.
Ted
(BtVS: Season 2)
Ted: diminutive of Theodore, Greek meaning "gift of God." Its popularity stems from St. Theodore, a Greek soldier martyred for having burned the temple of the goddess Cybele.
Veruca
(BtVS: Season 4)
Veruca: British slang for wart. Most notable: Veruca Salt, a character in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the band also called Veruca Salt
Virginia Bryce
(Angel: Season 2)
Virginia: From the Roman clan Virginius, meaning "manly race." In the USA this name often reflects Elizabeth, "The Virgin Queen" for whom the state of Virginia was named by Sir Walter Raleigh, leading to the more modern meaning of "a virgin."
Bryce: Welsh alternate form of Brice meaning "alert" or from the English for "son of Rice."
Warren Meers
Warren: From the Old German Varin, a folk name. It was brought to England by the Normans as Warin or Guarin and slowly became common and Anglicized to Warren. In modern times it is more common as a surname.
Wesley Wyndham-Price
Wesley: a variant of Westley, "(the resident of) the west meadow" based on the Middle English west (west) and ley (meadow.)
Wyndham: "From the house on the lane" based on the Scottish wynd, a lane, and the Anglo-Saxon ham, a home.
Price: Welsh "Son of Rhys" "son of the ardent one"
(On "Angel" the surname is spelled as Wyndam-Pryce, Wesley evidently no longer able to afford as many vowels as before.)
Whistler
Whistler: dweller near the fork of a river from the Old English twisla "fork of a river."
Wilkins, Mayor Richard
Richard: "The bold king" from the Germanic rihhi (ruler) and hart (bold).
Wilkins: Germanic "small son of William" (see William)
William
William: "A willing protector," from the Germanic willio (will) and helm (protection).
Willie the Snitch
Willie: diminutive of William (see under William)
Willow Rosenberg
Willow: Middle English "freedom; a willow tree" Certain tribes of gypsies believe that the willow possesses magical powers to heal the sick and revitalize the aged.
Rosenberg: German meaning "Mountain of Roses"
Wolfram & Hart
Wolfram: German, the kindred of the wolf. Also Teutonic, meaning "Wolf-raven" an 'animal-bird' name, implying one to be dreaded or respected
Hart: Old English: a deer, an adult male deer
Xander LaVelle Harris
Xander: diminutive of Alexander. From the Greek alexein, to protect, and aner, man. The defender of mankind or men. The popularity of this name has been credited to various communities pledging to name every infant male born within a year after Alexander the Great in honor of his sparing or rescuing their city.
LaVelle: French, dweller in the town or village. Latin: cleansing
Harris: son of Henry/Harry, "Ruler of the home," derived from the Germanic heim (home), and rihhi (ruler.)
Information stolen from:
The Dictionary of First Names by Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges, 1988
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names by Elizabeth Gidley Withycombe, 1949
American Surnames by Elsdon C. Smith, 1972
The Celtic Book of Names by D. J. Conway, 1999
Dr. Schmidt's Baby Name Finder by J. E. Schmidt, 1960
The Best Baby Name Book in the whole Wild World by Bruce Lansky, 1984
35,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, 1995
The Last Word on First Names by Linda Rosencrantz and Pamela Redmond Satan, 1995
Celtic Baby Names by Judy Sierra, 1997
The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Names by Nathaniel Altman, 1999
What to Name Your Jewish Baby by Anita Diamant, 1989
The Book of Names by J. N. Hook, 1983
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Baby Names by Sonia Weiss, 1999
Personal and Family Names: A Popular Monograph on the Origin and History of the Nomenclature of the Present and Former Times by Harry Alfred Long, 1883
What Shall We Name The Baby? by Winthrop Ames, 1935
The Book of Girls' Names by Linwood Sleigh and Charles Johnson, 1962
The Book of Boys' Names by Linwood Sleigh and Charles Johnson, 1962
Encyclopedia of American Family Names by H. Amanda Robb and Andrew Chesler, 1995
The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames by Basil Cottle, 1978
What to Name The Baby by Evelyn Wells, 1946
The New A to Z of Babies' Names by Jacqueline Harrod, 2001
The History of Christian Names by Charlotte Yonge, Big Momma of Onomastics, 1834
An Entymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names by William Arthur, 1857 (had to suck up to three librarians to get this one)
For more information on Buffy, Angel, and naming/onomastics, try the Links Page
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