Showing posts with label Slovak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slovak. Show all posts

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Iamb What I Am (boys)

I've been wondering--why do we have so many iambic names for girls, but not for boys? (if you need a reminder, an "iamb" is a word/name with a 'weak' syllable followed by a stressed syllable. e.g. Denise, Renee, Marie)
Iambic names are often the go-to names for girls' middles, but boys don't seem to have that many options. I think we should try to remedy that. :)
(before we even start, yes, this list leans heavily French)

  • Achille (ah-SHEEL, French)--form of Achilles
  • Adair (ah-DEHR, English [surname])--form of Edgar
  • Adán (ah-DAHN, Spanish)--form of Adam
  • Aimé (eh-MAY, French)--masculine of Amy/Aimée
  • Alain (ah-LEN, French)--form of Alan
  • Aleix (ah-LEHSH, Catalan)--form of Alexis
  • Amir (ah-MEER, Arabic, Hebrew) [separate derivations]
  • Armand (ar-MAWN, French)--from Germanic, "army man"
  • Armel (ar-MEL, French)--from Old Breton, "bear-prince"
  • Arnaud (ar-NOH, French)--form of Arnold
  • Aviv (ah-VEEV, Hebrew)--"spring" [the season]
  • Benoit (ben-WAH, French)--form of Benedict/Bennett
  • Bohdan (boh-DAHN, Czech, Ukrainian)--from Slavic, "given by God"
  • Canute (kah-NOOT, English)--from Old Norse, "knot"
  • Charlot (shar-LOH, French)--masculine of Charlotte
  • Cornell (kor-NEL, English [surname])--form of Cornelius
  • Darnell (dar-NEL, English [surname])
  • Denzel (den-ZEL, English [surname])--also spelled Denzell
  • Eloy (eh-LOY, Spanish)--from Latin, "chosen". Also spelled Eloi (Catalan) and Elói (Portuguese). 
  • Emil (eh-MEEL, English)--masculine of Emily. French form is Émile (ay-MEEL).
  • Eugene (yoo-JEEN, English)--from Greek, "born good". French form is Eugene (oo-ZHEN). 
  • Fernand (fehr-NAWN, French)--from Germanic, "brave journey". Other forms include Ferran (fehr-RAHN [rolled Rs], Catalan) and Hernan (ehr-NAHN, Spanish). 
  • Gaspar (gahs-PAHR, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan)--form of Jasper/Casper
  • Gawain (gah-WAYN, English)--older form of Gavin
  • Gerard (jer-ARD, English)--from Germanic, "brave spear". French form is Gérard (zhay-RAHR). 
  • Ivan (ee-VAHN, Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Czech, Polish, Slovak, Portuguese)--form of John. Spanish spelling is Iván.  
  • Javier (hahv-YEHR, Spanish)--form of Xavier
  • Jermaine (jur-MAYN, English)--from Latin, "brother". French form is Germain (zhehr-MAHN). 
  • Jerome (jeh-ROHM, English)
  • Jourdain (zhor-DAHN, French)--form of Jordan. Other forms include Jordán (hor-DAHN, Spanish), Jordão (zhor-DOW, Portuguese), and Yarden (yar-DEN, Hebrew).
  • Lamar (lah-MAHR, English [surname])--from French, "the pond"
  • Lazare (lah-ZAHR, French)--form of Lazarus, "God has helped"
  • Louis (loo-EE, French)--from Germanic, "famous battle". Other forms include Luis (loo-EES, Spanish), Luís (loo-EESH, Portuguese) and Loïc (loh-EEK, Breton).
  • Manuel (man-WEL, English; mahn-WEL, Spanish, Catalan, Italian)--form of Emmanuel
  • Marcel (mar-SEL, English, French, Catalan)--from Latin, poss. "of Mars"
  • Martell (mar-TEL, English [surname])--form of Martin, or from French "hammer"
  • Maurice (mor-EES, French, English)
  • Pascal (pas-KAL, French, pahs-KAHL, Dutch, German)--from Latin "Easter". Other forms include Pascual (pahs-KWAHL, Spanish), Pasqual (pahs-KWAHL, Catalan), and Paskal (pas-KAHL, Bulgarian).
  • Ramón (rah-MOHN, Spanish)--form of Raymond
  • Renard (reh-NAHR, French)--from Germanic, "brave advisor" [also means "fox" in modern French]
  • Rennell (ren-NEL, English [surname])--form of Reynold/Reginald
  • Ruslan (roos-LAHN, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian)--poss. from Turkish, "lion". 
  • Salim (sah-LEEM, Arabic)--"safe"
  • Sinclair (sin-CLEHR, English [surname])--"Saint Clair"
  • Stephane (stay-FAHN, French)--form of Stephen. Other forms include Stepan (stee-PAHN, Russian). 
  • Tyrone (tye-ROHN, English)--from Irish place-name, "Owen's land"
  • Yefim (yeh-FEEM, Russian)--masculine of Euphemia

Thursday, February 18, 2016

-Ric Rollin'

Haha, now that song's in your head!

I love a good -ric name. And unlike many constructions, this one is pretty much exclusively male (well, I did turn up modern unisex word-name Lyric, Irish girls' name Aifric, and Thai girls' name Bundarik, but that's it!).
Eric was a 70s/80s staple, Frederick's been on the downswing for the last century, Patrick is my age (or my parents'), and Maverick is quickly scaling the US charts.
While relatively uncommon today, -rich/ric names used to be fairly widespread in Europe, thanks to good ol' Proto-Germanic, where '-rich' meant "ruler" or "power".
  • Adalrich (AHD-al-rik, Germanic)--"noble ruler"
  • Alaric (AL-ah-rik, English)--from Germanic "ruler of all"
  • Alberich (AHL-beh-rikh, German)--original form of Aubrey
  • Aldric (ahl-DREEK, French)--from Germanic "old power". Other forms include Aldéric (ahl-day-REEK) and Audric (oh-DREEK).
  • Amalric (AHM-al-rik, ah-MAHL-rik, Germanic, ah-mahl-REEK, French)--from Germanic "work power". One of the possible sources for Emmerich/Emery.
  • Ardaric (AR-dah-rik, Germanic)--poss. "brave power"
  • Athanaric (ah-THAN-ar-ik, Germanic)
  • Baderich (BAH-der-ik. Germanic)--"battle ruler"
  • Baldric (BAHL-drik, English)--from Germanic "bold power"
  • Berich (BEHR-ik, Germanic)--"bear ruler"
  • Brunric (BROON-rik, Germanic)--"armor ruler" or poss. "brown ruler"
  • Bystrík (BIS-treek, Slovak)--poss. "quick-witted"
  • Cedric (SED-rik, English)
  • Cenric (KEN-rik, Old English)--"bold power". One of the sources of surname Kendrick
  • Cyneric (KIN-eh-rik, Old English)--"royal power". Another possible source for Kendrick.
  • Eboric (EB-or-ik, Germanic)--"boar power"
  • Edric (ED-rik, Old English)--"wealth ruler"
  • Elric (EL-rik, English)--either from Old English Alfric (AL-frik) "elf power" or Athelric (ATH-el-rik) "noble power"
  • Embrik (EM-brik, Norwegian)
  • Erchamrich (EHR-kam-rik, Germanic)--"chief ruler"
  • Ermenrich (EHR-men-rik, Germanic)--"great ruler" Another possible source for Emmerich/Emery.
  • Emmerich (EM-er-ikh, German)--other forms include Émeric (ay-meh-REEK, French) and Aymeric (eh-muh-REEK, French).
  • Garrick (GEHR-ik, English)--from Occitan "oak tree", or possibly Germanic "spear power"
  • Genseric (GEN-ser-ik, Germanic)--poss. "spear power". Variants include Gaiseric (GYE-ser-ik), and Geiserich (GYE-ser-ikh, German)
  • Godric (GAHD-rik, English)
  • Guerric (gehr-REEK, French)
  • Gumerich (GOO-mehr-ik, Germanic)--"ruler of man"
  • Gunderic (GOON-deh-rik, Germanic)--"war ruler"
  • Heinrich (HINE-rikh, German)--original form of Henry "home ruler". Other forms include Henrik (HEN-rik, German, Scandinavian) and Hendrik (HEN-drik, Dutch). Another possible source for Kendrick, as well as a possible source of Emmerich/Emery.
  • Hilderich (HIL-der-ik, Germanic)--"battle ruler"
  • Imrich (IM-rik, Czech, Slovak)--form of Emmerich/Emery
  • Isanric (EE-san-rik, Germanic)--poss. "iron ruler". Also written as Isenric.
  • Jarich (YAH-rikh, Frisian)--poss. from Germanic "spear"
  • Landrich (LAHN-drik, Germanic)--"land ruler"
  • Leofric (lee-OF-rik. Old English)--"beloved ruler"
  • Lorik (LOHR-ik, Albanian)--poss. "quail"
  • Merrick (MEHR-rik, English)--from Welsh Meurig (a form of Maurice) or Germanic "famous ruler".
  • Odrich (AHD-rik, Germanic)--"ruler of riches". Variants include Audéric (oh-day-REEK, French).
  • Osric (OZ-rik, Old English)--"god power"
  • Pierrick (PYEHR-eek, French)--form of Pierre/Peter
  • Roderick (RAHD-er-ik, English)--from Germanic, "famous ruler". Other forms include Rörik (ROH-rik, Swedish), Rorik (ROH-rik, Old Danish), and Rurik (ROO-rik, Russian).
  • Romaric (RAHM-ah-rik, Germanic; roh-mah-REEK, French)--poss. "famous power"
  • Serik (SEHR-ik, Kazakh)--"support"
  • Shurik (SHOOR-ik, Russian)--diminutive of Alexander
  • Sigerich (SEE-geh-rik, Germanic)--"victory ruler"
  • Siserich (SEE-ser-ik, Germanic)--"song ruler"
  • Tarık (TAHR-ik, Turkish)
  • Theodoric (thee-AHD-oh-rik, Germanic)--"ruler of the people". Variants include Dietrich (DEET-rikh, German), Diederich (DEE-der-ikh, German), Dederick (DED-er-ik, English), and Dedrick (DED-rik, English).
  • Ulrich (OOL-rik, German, ool-REESH, French)--variants include Olric (OHL-rik) and Odalric (OH-dahl-rik). 
  • Volkrich (VOHL-krik, Germanic)--"people's ruler"
  • Waldrich (VAHL-drik, Germanic)--"ruler of power". Other forms include Waldric (WAHL-drik, English) and Gaudéric (goh-day-REEK, French), and Galdric (gahl-DREEK, French).
  • Wilrich (VEEL-rik, Germanic)--"willful ruler"
  • Winrich (VEEN-rikh, German)--from Germanic, "friend ruler"
  • Wirich (VEER-ikh, German)--from Germanic, "war ruler"
  • Witteric (VEET-er-ik, Germanic)--poss. "forest ruler"
  • Wulfric (WOOL-frik, Old English)--"wolf power". Another form is Ulfric (OOL-frik).
  • Yorick (YOHR-ik, English, Dutch)--form of George. Other spellings include Jorick (YOH-rik, Dutch) and Jorik (YOH-rik, Dutch)

And don't let the -richs scare you off! ;) There's plenty of precedent to Anglicize those German/Germanic names by changing the '-rich' to '-ric/rick' or '-ry'.
So for instance, Winrich would logically be Winric/Winrick (WIN-rik), or Winry (WIN-ree) in Modern English.
(Full Metal Alchemist fans rejoice! :p )

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

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Same Name?!--Henry

Oh, Henry; handsome Henry. His usage may have waned for a few decades, but he's never fallen out of the top 150. With dozens of namesakes, including several royals from a few different nations, it's no surprise that he's spread throughout the Western world, and is always in style.

Original Germanic form: Heimirich (HYE-mih-rikh)
Latinized form: Henricus (HEN-rih-kus)
English form: Henry (HEN-ree)

Other forms:
  • Anraí (AHN-ree)--Irish
  • Arrigo (ahr-REE-goh)--Italian
  • Eanrig (EN-rik)--Scottish
  • Endika (en-dee-kah)--Basque
  • Enric (en-REEK)--Catalan
  • Enrico (en-REE-koh)--Italian
  • Enrique (en-REE-kay)--Spanish
  • Harris (HEHR-ris)--English (via Harry)
  • Harry (HEHR-ree)--Medieval English
  • Heikki (HAYK-kee)--Finnish
  • Heinrich (HINE-rikh)--German
  • Hendrik (HEN-drik)--Dutch
  • Henri (awn-REE)--French

Now to make things a bit tricker, there's the Germanic name Emmerich. It could be derived from Heimirich/Henry, but it could also come from Ermenrich or Amalrich. Most likely, the three similar names all got muddled into one, much like Guy/Vitus in ancient times, or Amelia/Emilia in modern English.
So, because the derivation is less clear, I've listed Emmerich's variants separately. Some linguists hold them equivalent to Henry; some don't.  
  • Amaury (ah-moh-REE)--French
  • Américo (ah-MEH-ree-koh)--Spanish, Portuguese
  • Amerigo (ah-MEHR-ih-goh)--Italian
  • Émeric (aym-REEK)--French
  • Emery (EM-er-ee)--English
  • Imre (EEM-reh)--Hungarian
  • Imrich (IM-rikh)--Slovak

Monday, June 4, 2012

Same Name?!--Margaret

I actually had to go and double-check previous posts to make sure I haven't done this one yet. How on earth have I missed Margaret? A classic girls' name that's been slowly declining for decades, it's actually still in the SSA's top 200. And being the name of several saints, the permutations of Margaret have spread throughout the western world.

Original Greek form: Margarites [Μαργαριτης] (mahr-gah-REE-tes)
Latin form: Margarita (mahr-gah-REE-tah)
English form: Margaret (MAHR-gah-ret)

Other forms:
  • Maarit (MAH-rit)--Finnish
  • Mairéad (mah-RAID)--Irish
  • Mairead (MYE-ret)--Scottish
  • Małgorzata (mow-gohr-ZHAH-tah)--Polish
  • Maret (MAH-ret)--Estonian
  • Margalit (mahr-gah-LEET)--Hebrew
  • Margaretha (mahr-gah-RET-tah)--Dutch, German
  • Marged (MAHR-ged)--Welsh
  • Margery (MAHR-jer-ee)--Medieval English
  • Margit (MAHR-git)--Hungarian
  • Margita (mahr-GEE-tah)--Slovak
  • Margriet (mahr-KHREET)--Dutch
  • Marguerite (mahr-gah-REET)--French
  • Marit (MAH-rit)--Scandinavian
  • Marketta (MAHR-ket-tah)--Finnish
  • Mererid (MEH-reh-reed)--Welsh
  • Merete (meh-REH-teh)--Danish