Pages

Monday, August 25, 2014

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Molly

Poor Molly. Is she a nickname, or a full given name? I guess the answer is 'both': Molly was originally a regional pronunciation of Mary (that pesky R-to-L shift), but became widespread as a nickname during medieval times.
So, nowadays, she's rather in limbo--too "nickname-y" for a full name, but Mary to Molly isn't really intuitive in Modern English.

  • Amalia (ah-MAH-lee-ah, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish)--form of Amelia
  • Amalthea (ah-mahl-THEE-ah, ah-mahl-THEH-ah, [ancient] Greek)--"soothing"
  • Magali (mah-gah-LEE, Provençal)--form of Magdalene. Also spelled Magalie
  • Mahalah (mah-hah-lah, mah-khah-lah [Biblical] Hebrew)--also written as Mahlah (mah-lah, mah-khlah) or Maala (mah-ah-lah).
  • Mahalath (mah-hah-lahth, mah-khah-laht, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"lyre"
  • Mahalia (mah-HAY-lee-ah, English)--form of Mahalah or Mahalath
  • Mahulena (mah-hoo-LEH-nah, Czech). Slovak form is Mahuliena (mah-hoo-LYEH-nah).
  • Malaika (mah-LYE-kah, Arabic, Swahili)--from Arabic "angels"
  • Malati (MAHL-uh-tee, Hindi)--"jasmine"
  • Malena (mah-LEH-nah, Czech, Scandinavian, Spanish)--form of Magdalena or Mahulena.
  • Malie (mah-lee-eh, Hawaiian)--"calm"
  • Malika (mah-LEE-kah, Arabic)--"queen"
  • Malina (MAH-lin-ah, mah-LEE-nah, Bulgarian, Czech, Croatian, Polish, Serbian, Slovak)--"raspberry"
  • Malini (MAH-lin-ee, Hindi)--"sweet-smelling"
  • Marilena (mah-ree-LEH-nah, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian)--contraction of Maria Elena
  • Marsaili (MAR-sah-lee, Scottish)--also spelled Marsali
  • Maryla (mah-RIL-ah, Polish)--form of Maria

No comments:

Post a Comment