You're a Star, pt. 3

I've already done a post on named stars, as well as one on names that mean 'star'. However, that overlooks one very narrow category of stellar names: those referring to one specific star--in this case, the morning and evening star (both are actually Venus, but let's not get too semantic). ;)

Danica and Lucifer are probably the only ones familiar in the US, but there are a quite a few others....
(surprisingly, most of the names I found are commonly used on people; the few that are mainly mythological/literary are marked with an *. Also, almost all the names refer to the morning star--or Venus in general--the ones referring to only the evening star are noted as such)

Feminine:

• Arusiak (ah-ROOS-yak, Armenian)--also transliterated as Arusyak. 
• Aušrinė (oh-SHREEN-ay [trilled/rolled R], Lithuanian)
• Ayelet (ah-YEH-let, Hebrew)--lit. "gazelle". 'Ayelet hashachar ("gazelle of dawn") is the Hebrew name for the morning star.
• Berlewen (behr-LEOO-en ['EOO' roughly sounds like the short 'e' of English "let" and the short 'oo' of "took" smashed together], Cornish)--a modern revival Cornish name. Another form is Borlowen* (bor-LOO-en). 
• Danica (DAN-ik-ah, English; DAH-neets-ah, Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, Slovenian)
• Jitřenka (yih-TRZHENK-ah [no close English equivalent for the ř, sort of a buzzy rolled R], Czech)
• Lucero (loo-SEH-roh, Spanish)--lit. "light-giver, brilliance". Lucero del alba ("light-giver of dawn") is the Spanish name for the morning star. 
• Quetzalli (ket-SAHL-lee, Nahuatl)--lit. "feather". Quetzalcoatl is the god of the morning star in Aztec mythology. Modern Spanish spelling is Quetzali.
• Sagal (sah-GAL, Somali)
• Vakarinė* (vah-kah-REE-nay [trilled/rolled R], Lithuanian) [evening]
• Zornitsa (zor-NEET-sah, Bulgarian)
• Zorya* (ZOHR-yah, Russian, Ukrainian)--lit. "dawn". Zorya Vechernyaya and Zorya Utrennyaya are the goddesses of the evening star and morning star, respectively, in Slavic mythology.
  [related names Zora/Zoran/Zorana are common in the Slavic languages]

Masculine:

• Ēarendel* (AYR-en-del, Old English)--Old Norse form is Aurvandil* (AWR-vahn-dil). Orentil*, Orendel*, and Erentil* are related names found in medieval German literature.
  [Tolkien fans might notice the similarity between Ēarendel and Eärendil--well, Tolkien was an Old English scholar. ;) ]
• Lucifer* (LOO-sif-er, [anglicized] Latin)--lit. "bringer of light"
• Tariq (TAH-rik, Arabic)--lit. "knocker, striker"
• Tāwera (TAH-weh-rah, Maori)
• Vesper* (VES-per, [anglicized] Latin)--Original Greek form is Hesperos*. [evening]

Unisex:

• Khwezi (KWEH-zee, Zulu)
• Tsolmon (TSAHL-mun, Mongolian)

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Ari

A Top 500 boy name on the rise, Ari has begun to gain momentum as a girls' nickname--nothing new in the naming world, of course--thanks to the doubly-Top 100 Ariana/Arianna, and wow-it's-rising-fast!-Aria. Ari on its own also had a respectable rise on the girls' charts, now sitting a bit below the Top 1000 at 1326. Although it is a full name in its own right, wanting a full name for Ari is understandable: while it's masculine in most cultures, it's easily mistaken for a girl's name in English.

Boys:

• Aram (AH-rahm, Armenian)--"excellence"
• Aravind (AHR-ah-vind, Hindi)--"lotus"
• Archibald (AHR-chih-bahld, English, Scottish)
• Ardal (AHR-dahl, Irish)--"high valor". Anglicized from Ardghal. 
• Arduino (ahrd-WEE-noh, Italian)
• Argus (AHR-goos, [ancient] Greek)--"shining"
• Arkadiy (ahr-KAH-dee, Russian)--Also spelled Arkady or Arkadi. 
• Arnor (AHR-nohr, Scandinavian)
• Arrigo (ahr-REE-goh, Italiah)--from of Harry
• Arthur (AHR-thur, English)--other forms include Artair (Scottish), Arturo (Spanish, Portuguese), Artturi (Finnish), & Artūrus (Lithuanian)

Girls:

• Araceli (ah-rah-SEH-lee, Spanish)
• Araminta (ah-rah-MIN-tah, English)
• Aranka (AW-rahn-kah, Hungarian)--"gold"
• Arantxa (ah-rahnt-shah, Basque)
• Arendse (ah-REND-seh, Danish)--feminine of Arendt/Arnold
• Arezoo (ah-reh-ZOO, Persian)--also spelled Arezu or Arezou.
• Argiñe (ahr-gee-nyeh, Basque)--"light"
• Ariadne (ah-ree-AHD-nee, [ancient] Greek)--"most holy". Other forms include Ariadna (Spanish), Ariane (French), & Arianna (Italian)
• Arilda (ah-RIL-dah, Scandinavian)--feminine of Arild/Harold. 
• Arlette (ahr-LET, French)
• Armida (ahr-MEE-dah, Italian, Spanish)
• Arneke (AHR-neh-keh, Dutch, German)--from Germanic, "eagle". Also spelled Arnika or Arnike. 
• Arundhati (ah-ROOND-hah-tee, Hindi)
• Aruzhan (ah-roo-ZHAHN, Kazakh)--"beautiful soul"

Same Name?!?--Mini Grab Bag II (boys)

• Aubrey (AW-bree, English))
• Alberico (al-BEHR-ee-koh, Italian)
• Auberon (OH-behr-on, French)--Also spelled Oberon.
• Avery (AY-ver-ee, English)
• Isaac (EYE-zak, English)
• Isaak (EE-sahk, German, Scandinavian; ee-SAAHK, Russian)
• Izaak (ee-ZAHK, Polish)
• Izsák (EE-zhahk, Hungarian)
• Sahak (sah-HAHK, Armenian)
• Yitzhak (yeets-KHAHK, Hebrew)

• Noah (NOH-ah, English)
• Noach (noh-AHKH, Hebrew)
• Noak (NOH-ahk, Swedish)
• Noé (noh-AY, French, Spanish, Portuguese)
• Noe (NOH-ay, Italian)
• Nojus (NOY-us, Lithuanian)

• Xavier (ek-ZAYV-yer, ZAYV-yer, English)
• Javier (hah-vee-EHR, Spanish)
• Ksawery (ksah-VEH-rih, Polish)
• Saverio (sahv-EHR-ee-oh, Italian)

April Showers Bring....

May flowers! Happy, uh, May Day? We'll go with that.
On the heels of my bird-themed post, a flower-themed post also seemed like a fun idea. So, here're various flower-names from other languages. Unless otherwise noted, these are female.

• Aoi (ah-oh-ee, Japanese)--"hollyhock"
• Aravind (ahr-ah-vind, Hindi)--"lotus" [masculine]
• Amaranta (ah-mah-RAHN-tah, Spanish & Italian)--"amaranth"
• Ayame (ah-yah-may, Japanese)--"iris"
• Azucena (ah-soo-SEH-nah, Spanish)--"madonna lily"
• Brânduṣa (brahn-DOO-shah, Romanian)--"crocus"
• Briallen (bree-AHL-len, Welsh)--"primrose"
• Capucine (kah-poo-SEEN, French)--"nasturtium"
• Crina (KREE-nah, Romanian)--"lily"
• Cullen (KUL-len, Irish)--"holly" [masculine]. Variant is Quillan.
• Celyn (KEL-in, Welsh)--"holly" [masculine]
• Daphne (DAF-nee, Greek)--"laurel"
• Đurđica (joor-JITS-ah, Croatian)--"lily of the valley" [also the Croatian form of Georgia]
• Eirlys (IRE-lis or AYR-lis, Welsh)--"snowdrop"
• Endzela (end-ZEL-ah, Georgian)--"snowdrop"
• Ffion (FEE-on, Welsh)--"rose" or "foxglove"
• Hollis (HOL-lis, English)--"holly tree" [usually masculine]
• Ianthe (ee-AN-thee or eye-AN-thee, Greek)--"violet"
• Ibolya (ee-boy-ah, Hungarian)--"violet"
• Ivančica (ee-vahn-CHEE-tsah, Croatian)--"daisy"
• Irit (ee-reet, Hebrew)--"asphodel"
• Jessamine (JES-sah-min, English)--"jasmine"
• Kamala (kah-mah-lah, Hindi)--"lotus"
• Kielo (KEE-eh-loh, Finnish)--"lily of the valley"
• Kiku (kee-koo, Japanese)--"chrysanthemum"
• Laleh (lah-LAY, Persian)--"tulip"
• Lan (LAHN, Chinese & Vietnamese)--"orchid"
• Liên (LEE-en, Vietnamese)--"lotus"
• Madara (mah-DAH-rah, Latvian)--"galium"
• Madelief (mah-deh-LEEF, Dutch)--"daisy"
• Marganita (mahr-gah-nee-tah, Hebrew)--"scarlet pimpernel"
• Margarita (mahr-gah-REE-tah, Spanish)--"daisy" [also the Spanish form of Margaret]
• Marguerite (mahr-ge-REET, French)--"daisy" [also the French form of Margaret]
• Mawar (MAH-wahr, Indonesian)--"rose"
• Melati (mel-AH-tee, Indonesian)--"jasmine"
• Nasrin (nahs-REEN, Persian)--"wild rose"
• Nóinín (NOH-neen, Irish)--"daisy"
• Nurit (noo-REET, Hebrew)--"buttercup"
• Orvokki (OHR-voh-kee, Finnish)--"pansy"
• Raisa (rye-sah or rye-zah, Yiddish)--"rose"
• Ren (ren, Japanese)--"lotus" [can also mean "love"]
• Rhoda (ROH-dah, English)--from Greek, "rose"
• Rotem (roh-TEM, Hebrew)--"retama" [unisex, more often masculine]
• Rozenn (ROH-zen, Breton)--"rose"
• Růžena (roo-ZHEN-ah, Czech)--"rose"
• Sakura (sah-koo-rah, Japanese)--"cherry blossom"
• Sayuri (sah-yoo-ree, Japanese)--"small lily"
• Spomenka (spoh-MEHN-kah, Croatian)--"forget-me-not"
• Vartan (VAHR-tahn, Armenian)--"rose" [masculine]
• Vered (veh-REHD, Hebrew)--"rose"
• Vuokko (VOO-oh-ko, Finnish)--"anemone"
• Yolanda (yoh-LAHN-dah, Spanish)--from Latin, "violet"
• Yuri (yoo-ree, Japanese)--"lily"

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name: Kate/Kat/Kitty

Wow. This was a hard one. I challenged myself to not use any Katherine-variants on this list. Consequently, this list has a lot less Western Europe than usual. :)

• Ankita (ahn-kee-tah, Indian [Hindi])
• Arcadia (ar-KAY-dee-ah, English; or ahr-KAH-dee-ah, Greek & Portuguese)
• Carita (kah-REE-tah, Swedish)--from Latin, "dear one" or "charity"
• Christine (kris-TEEN, French & English)--from Latin, form of Christian. Other forms include Christina & Kristin.  [if you think this one's odd--Kit is a nickname for Christopher, so why not for the feminine Christ-names?]
• Chrysanta (kris-AN-tah, English)--from Latin, "golden flower"
• Giachetta (jah-KET-tah, Italian)--feminine form of Jacob
• Kanti (kahn-tee, Indian [Hindi])--"beauty"
• Katar (kah-TAHR, Armenian)--"peak, summit"
• Katida (kah-TEE-dah, Esperanto)
• Katriela (kah-tree-EL-lah, Hebrew)--"crown of God"
• Katsumi (kaht-soo-mee, Japanese)--"victorious beauty"
• Kavita (kah-vee-tah, Indian [Hindi])--"poem"
• Keturah (keh-TOO-rah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
• Ketziah (ket-ZYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--original form of Keziah
• Kirtida (keer-tee-dah, Indian [Hindi])
• Kvĕta (KVEH-tah, Czech)--"flower"
• Leocadia (leh-oh-KAH-dee-ah, Spanish, Italian)
• Markéta (mar-KEH-tah, Czech)--form of Margaret. Spelled Marketta in Finnish.

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Kori/Corey

Although I generally write this sort of posts for very popular (some would say overused) nicknames, today I'm writing about Cory. Originally a surname of unknown/varied origins (possibilities include French, Norse, & Scottish), it became a boys' name, peaking in popularity in the 70s & 80s. As expected, it also started being used as a girls' name, but oddly enough, never became popular. Currently, Corey is the most popular male form, sitting down in the 300s on the SSA chart. Kori is the most popular girls' form, but it doesn't even rank in the top 1000. While it is a full name on its own, the "ee" ending may sound a bit too informal for some.

Boys:

• Corbin (KOR-bin, English)--"raven"
• Cordell (kor-DELL, English)
• Corentin (KOR-en-tin, Breton)
• Corin (kor-in, French)
• Cormac (KOR-mac, Irish)
• Cornelius (kor-NEE-lee-us, Latin)
• Cornell (kor-NELL, English)
• Corrado (kor-RAH-do, Italian)--form of Conrad
• Corwin (KOR-win, English)
• Krikor (KRIH-kohr, Armenian)--form of Gregory

Girls:

• Coralie (KOR-ah-lee, French)
• Cordelia (kohr-DEE-lee-ah or kohr-DEHL-ee-ah, English)
• Cordula (KOR-doo-lah, German)--"heart"
• Coriander (KOH-ree-an-der, English)
• Corinna (koh-RIN-nah or koh-REE-nah, English)
• Corinne (koh-reen, French)
• Corisande (koh-ih-SAHND, French)
• Cornelia (kor-NEE-lee-ah or kohr-NEHL-ee-ah, Latin)
• Corona (koh-ROH-nah, Latin)--"crown"
• Kishori (kee-shohr-ee, Indian [Hindi])
• Kokoro (koh-koh-roh, Japanese)--"heart, spirit"
• Socorro (soh-KOR-roh, Spanish)--"help" or "relief"

Mini Names

The average American name (based on 2010's top 1000) is 6 letters long. Boys' names are slightly more likely to be shorter (5.8 ± 1.3 characters); girls are slightly more likely to be longer (6.0 ± 1.3 characters). So, if you want a name that stands out, or you want to balance a long or complex last name, a short name is the way to go.

Boys:

• Áed (AID, Irish)--"fire", precursor to Aidan
• Alv (AHLV, Norwegian)--"elf"
• Anu (ah-nu, Sumerian)--Sumerian god of the heavens
• Ari (AH-ree, Hebrew, Scandinavian, Armenian)
• Asa (AY-sa, Hebrew)
• Avi (AH-vee, Hebrew)
• Cai/Kai (KYE, Welsh, Scandinavian, Hawaiian)
• Dai (DYE, Welsh)--"shine"
• Dax (DAKS, English)
• Dov (DOHV, Hebrew)--"bear"
• Ean (EE-an, Manx)--form of John
• Eli (EE-lye, Hebrew)
• Gil (GEEL, Hebrew)--"happiness"
• Ira (EYE-ra, Hebrew)
• Ivo (EE-voh, Germanic)
• Jay (JAY, Indian [Hindi])--"victory"
• Kir (KEER, Russian)--form of Cyrus
• Lir (LEER, Irish)--Irish god of the sea
• Paz (PAHZ, Hebrew)
• Sem (SEM, Dutch)
• Tyr (TIHR, Norse)--Norse god of justice & war
• Udo (OO-do, German)--form of Otto
• Uri (OO-ree, Hebrew)--"my light"
• Wyn (WIN, Welsh)--"blessed"

Girls:

• Adi (ah-DEE, Hebrew)--"jewel"
• Aki (ah-kee, Japanese)--"bright", "sparkle", or "autumn"
• Anu (AH-noo, Finnish)--form of Anna
• Aya (ah-ya, Japanese)--"design" or "color"
• Dua (doo-ah, Arabic)--"prayer"
• Eda (eyd-ah, Turkish)
• Eha (ay-ha, Estonian)--"dusk"
• Emi (em-ee, Japanese)--"blessing"
• Ena (EE-na, Irish)--traditionally spelled Eithne
• Eos (AY-ohs, Greek)--Greek goddess of the dawn
• Fay/Faye (FAY, English)--"fairy"
• Ida (EYE-da or EE-da, Germanic)
• Ila (ee-la, Indian [Hindi])
• Io (EYE-oh or EE-oh, Greek)
• Ivy (EYE-vee, English)
• Jaya (jah-yah, Indian [Hindi])--"victory"
• Liv (LEEV, Scandinavian)
• Mae/May (MAY, English)
• Mei (MAY, Chinese & Japanese)
• Mio (mee-oh, Japanese)
• Nia (NEE-ah, Welsh)--form of Niamh
• Noa (noh-ah, Biblical Hebrew, Japanese)
• Oda (OH-da, German)--feminine of Otto
• Rei (RAY, Japanese)--"bell" or "lovely"
• Rue (ROO, English)
• Una (OO-na, Irish & Scottish)
• Wynne (WIN, Welsh)--"blessed"