Tough Girls' Names

Boys' names with stalwart, warrior-type names are pretty darned common--Ethan ("enduring"), Alexander ("defender of men"), William ("willful protector"), Nicholas ("people's victory")--the list goes on and on. For girls' names, though, most cultures historically have tended towards pretty, poetic, or virtuous names--Sophia ("wisdom"), Elizabeth/Isabella ("God's promise"), Chloe ("green shoot"), Sarah ("princess"), etc.
Trying to find a fighting name for a girl can be tough, unless you want to use a feminization of a boys' name, like Nicole, Alexandria, and Louise ("famous warrior"), or an originally male name, like Riley ("valiant"), Alexis ("defender"), and Aubrey ("elven power").
And before you even look, yes, this is a very Germanic-heavy list.

• Audrey (AW-dree, English)--"noble strength"
• Bellatrix (BEL-lah-triks, Latin)--"warrior"
• Bellona (bel-LOH-nah, Latin)--"fight"
• Berenice (behr-en-EYE-see, English, or behr-en-EE-cheh, Italian)--from Greek, "bringing victory". Variants include Veronica and Bernice.
• Boudica (BOH-dih-kah, Celtic)--"victorious"
• Brava (BRAH-vah, Esperanto)--"valiant"
• Brenda (BREN-dah, English)--from Old Norse, "sword"
• Edith (EE-dith, English)--"blessed war"
• Efigénia (ef-ih-ZHEN-yah, Portuguese)--from Greek, "born strong"
• Eunice (YOO-nis, English)--from Greek, "good victory"
• Gertrude (GER-trood, English, or gehr-TROO-deh, German)--"spear of strength"
• Hilda (HIL-dah, Germanic)--"battle"
• Hillevi (HIL-eh-vee, Finnish)--from Germanic, "healthy in battle"
• Jaya (jah-yah, Indian [Hindi])--"victory"
• Jördis (YOR-dis, German)--from Old Norse, "sword goddess"
• Katsumi (kaht-soo-mee, Japanese)--"victorious beauty"
• Koa (koh-ah, Hawaiian)--"brave, bold"
• Lalama (lah-lah-mah, Hawaiian)--"daring, clever"
• Lanakila (lah-nah-kee-lah, Hawaiian)--"victorious"
• Liv (LEEV, Scandinavian)--"protection" [also means "life" in modern Swedish & Danish]
• Makana (mah-kah-nah, Hawaiian)--"fierce"
• Matilda (mah-TIL-dah, English, Swedish)--from Germanic, "strength in battle"
• Móirne (MORN-yeh, Irish)--"great"
• Nanna (NAHN-nah, Scandinavian)--"daring"
• Nahoa (nah-hoh-ah, Hawaiian)--"bold, defiant"
• Nessa (NES-sa, Irish)--"not gentle". Anglicized from Neasa (NYAS-ah).
• Rhonwen (RHON-wen, Welsh)--"blessed spear"
• Romilda (roh-MIL-dah, Italian)--from Germanic, "famous battle"
• Rosamund (ROZ-ah-mund or ROHZ-ah-mund, English)--from Germanic, "horse protection"
• Roswitha (roz-VEE-thah, German)--"famous strength"
• Saskia (SAS-kee-ah or ZAHS-kee-ah, German & Dutch)--from Germanic, "knife"
• Shamira (shah-meer-ah, Hebrew)--"guardian"
• Shinobu (shin-oh-boo, Japanese)--"endurance"
• Shun (shoon, Japanese)--"speed"
• Signy (SIG-nee, Scandinavian)--"new victory"
• Sigrid (SIG-rid, Scandinavian)--"beautiful victory"
• Solveig (SOL-vay, Scandinavian)--"strength of the sun"
• Tisiphone (tih-SIH-foh-nee, Greek"--"avenging murder"
• Toril (TOR-il, Scandinavian)--"Thor's battle"
• Tressa (TRES-sah, Irish)--"strength". Anglicized from Treasa/Trása (TRAH-sah).
• Valda (VAHL-da, Germanic)--"power" 
• Valencia (vah-LEN-see-ah, Spanish)--from Latin, "power"
• Venka (VEN-kah, Esperanto)--"victorious"
• Victoria (vik-TOR-ee-ah, Latin)--"victory"
• Ylva (EEL-vah, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "she-wolf"
• Yumi (yoo-mee, Japanese)--"[archery] bow"

The 'I's Have It.

It occurred to me the other day that I is a most underused vowel. If you're watching the final round of Wheel of Fortune, no one ever picks I as their vowel. If you ask someone to start listing names that start with I, they'll probably go though Isaac, Ian, Isaiah, Isabel/Isabella, Irene, Iris, maybe even Imogen, Ivan, Ivy, or Isla. The popular list pretty much stops there, though. Admittedly, O & U are even rarer as name-starters, but from some reason, I feel I-names should be more common.

Boys:

• Iago (ee-AH-goh, Galician & Welsh)--from Hebrew James/Jacob
• Idan (ee-dahn, Hebrew)--"era"
• Idris (ID-ris, Welsh)
• Ignatius (ig-NAY-shus, English)--from Latin/Etruscan. Other forms include Ignacio (ig-NAH-cee-oh, Spanish), Iñaki (een-YAH-kee, Basque), and Ignace (IN-yahs, French)
• Iker (EE-ker, Basque)
• Ikram (ik-rahm, Arabic)--"honor"
• Imre (EEM-reh, Hungarian)--form of Emmerich
• Ingo (ING-oh, German)
• Ingram (ING-ram, English)
• Iokua (ee-oh-KOO-ah, Hawaiian)--form of Joshua
• Isamu (ih-sah-moo, Japanese)--"courage"
• Ishmael (ISH-may-el, English)--from Hebrew, "God will hear".
• Isidore (IZ-ih-dor or ees-ih-DOR, English & French)--from Greek. Also spelled Isadore, Isador, Isidor, or Izidor.
• Iskandar (is-KAN-dar, Arabic & Indonesian)--from Greek Alexander.
• Ivailo (ee-VYE-loh, Bulgarian)--"wolf". Also spelled Ivaylo.
• Ivor (EE-vor or EYE-vor, English)--from Norse, "bow warrior"

Girls:

• Ianthe (ee-AN-thee or eye-AN-thee, Greek)
• Idonea (id-OH-nee-ah, English)--from Norse Iðunn. Other versions include Idony (ID-oh-nee) and Idun (ee-DUN).
• Idoya (ee-DOY-ah, Spanish)--Also spelled Idoia.
• Idriya (ee-dree-ah, Hebrew)
• Ilana (ee-lah-nah, Hebrew)
• Ilaria (ee-LAR-ee-ah, Italian)--form of Hilary.
• Ilkay (il-KYE, Turkish)--"new moon"
• Ilona (EE-lon-ah or ee-LOH-nah, Hungarian)--from of Helen.
• Imelda (ee-MEL-dah, Spanish)--from German Irmhild.
• Indira (in-THEER-ah, Indian [Hindi])--"beauty"
• Iolana (ee-oh-LAH-nah, Hawaiian)--"to soar"
• Iro (EER-oh, Greek)--modern form of Hero.
• Ismene (IS-men or ees-MAY-nay)--Greek, "knowledge"
• Isolde (ee-ZOL-deh, German & English)--poss. from Celtic "fair to behold". Variants include Eseld, Esyllt, Iseult, Isotta, and Yseult.
• Izumi (iz-oo-mee, Japanese)--"fountain"

You're a God (Part III)

And now for a change of pace! Roman & Greek gods & goddesses have been part of the general culture for a while. Their names have been used for superheroes, brand names, scientific terminology, and yes, for baby names, too. Celtic mythologies, however, despite being just as old as Greek & Roman, have remained relatively untouched in modern culture. Unfortunately, this is likely because Celtic mythologies (especially continental/Gallic) merged with Roman, and the god-names were interchanged. Early Christian missionaries also attempted to "de-paganize" Celtic legends, leading to confusion over which legendary figures were gods, fairies, heroes, or mortals, and even whether they were really even part of the Celtic religions. Because of this, I've limited this list to gods with strong cultural or archaeological evidence.

Boys:

• Aengus (AYN-gus, Irish)--god of youth and love. Anglicized to Angus.
• Aeron (EYE-ron, Welsh)--god of war 
• Alaunus (al-AW-nus, Gallic)--god of healing & prophesy
• Amaethon (ah-MY-thon, Welsh)--god of agriculture
• Dylan (DUL-an, Welsh)--sea-god
• Govannon (goh-VAN-non, Welsh)--smith-god. Irish equivalent is Goibnu.
• Lenus (LEHN-us, Gallic)--god of healing
• Lir (LEER, Irish)--god of the sea. Welsh equivalent is Llŷr.
• Lugus (LOO-gus, Gallic)--god of trade, commerce, & travellers. Irish equivalent is Lugh; Welsh is Lleu.
• Mabon (MAH-bon, Welsh)--god of youth
• Taranis (TAHR-an-is, Gallic)--god of thunder

Girls:

• Agrona (ah-GROH-nah, Gallic)--goddess of war
• Andraste (an-DRAHST, Brythonic)--goddess of victory
• Brighid (BREED, Irish)--goddess of fire, poetry, & wisdom. Modern forms include Brigid (Irish), Bridget (Irish, English), Brigitta (German, Dutch), & Britta (Scandinavian)
• Ceridwen (KEHR-id-wen, Welsh)--goddess of poetry & inspiration
• Clíodhna (KLEE-o-nah, Irish)--goddess of beauty. Sometimes written as Clíona. Anglicized to Cleena.
• Danu (DAN-oo, Irish)--mother-goddess of a race of ancient Irish. Modern form is Dana ("DAN-yah").
• Epona (EP-ohn-ah or ee-POH-nah, Gallic)--goddess of horses and fertility
• Erecura (ehr-eh-CU-rah, Gallic)--earth-goddess
• Étaín (EH-dan or eh-DEEN, Irish)--goddess of horses. Modern Irish forms are Éadaoin and Eadan. Anglicized as Aideen.
• Fand (FAND, Irish)--sea-goddess. Sometimes written as Fann.
• Rhiannon (hree-AN-non, Welsh)--goddess of fertility & the moon
• Sirona (sih-ROH-nah, Gallic)--healing-goddess

Part 1 (Roman)--Part Deux (Greek)--Part D (Germanic)--Part the Final (Misc.)

More Subtle than Blaze, Jagger, or Hawke

The girls sure do have the advantage when it come to word-names, don't they? Name your little girl 'Rose' or 'Honor' and it's "Awww!", but name your son 'Briar' or 'Valor' and it's "Are you a hippy?" Here're some more 'covert' ideas for giving your son a well-meaning moniker.

• Adalwin (ad-AHL-win, Germanic)--"noble friend"
• Alaric (AL-ah-rik, Germanic)--"ruler of all"
• Alvar (al-VAHR, Swedish & Finnish)--"elf warrior"
• Ansel (AN-sel, English)--"helmet of God"
• Andor (AHN-dor, Norwegian)--"Thor's eagle"
• Aurelio (aur-EY-lee-o, Italian & Spanish)--"golden"
• Basil (BAH-sil, Arabic)--"brave"
• Basil (BAZ-il, English)--"king"
• Brennus (BREN-nus, Celtic)--"prince"
• Cato (CAY-to, Latin)--"wise"
• Conall (CON-all, Irish)--"strong wolf"
• Conrí (CON-ree, Irish)--"wolf king"
• Duncan (DUN-kan, Scottish)--"brown warrior"
• Edric (ED-rik, English)--"blessed ruler"
• Egon (EY-gon, German)--"edge of a sword"
• Eilert (EYE-lert, Frisian)--"brave sword"
• Elric (EL-rik, English)--"noble rule" 
• Evander (ev-AN-der, Latin)--"good man"
• Ezio (ETS-ee-o, Italian)--"eagle"
• Frey (FRAY, Norse)--"lord"
• Gerard (jer-AHRD, English)--"brave spear"
• Haytham (HYE-tham, Arabic)--"young eagle"
• Ivar (EYE-var or EE-var, Irish & Scottish)--"bow warrior"
• Kavi (kah-vee, Indian [Hindi])--"wise man"
• Kekoa (keh-koh-ah, Hawaiian)--"the brave one"
• Leander (lee-AN-der, English)--"lion man"
• Levent (lev-ent, Turkish)--"handsome"
• Lyall (lye-ALL, English)--"wolf"
• Perun (PERH-uhn, Slavic)--"thunder"
• Roald (ROO-al, Norwegian; ROE-ald, English)--"famous ruler"
• Savio (SAH-vee-o, Italian)--"clever"
• Shea/Shay (SHAY, Irish)--"admirable"
• Yorath (YOR-ath, Welsh)--"handsome lord"

Bringing Brythonic Back

Once upon a time, the British Isles had several languages, all descended from Celtic.
If you think of a language tree like a family tree, Celtic was the grandmother (her sisters were Latin and ancient Greek); Celtic's "daughters" were Gaelic & Brythonic, who each had a few "daughters" of their own. When the Anglo-Saxons and other peoples repeatedly migrated to Britain, the Celtic languages were phased out, quite forcibly in some cases; and English, the descendant of Anglo-Saxon, became the primary language. While two Gaelic "daughter" languages--Irish & Scottish--survived to modern times fairly well, two Brythonic languages--Welsh & Breton--were quickly dying, and several languages had been lost.

Over the past decade, there have been movements to preserve and celebrate the history of the British Isles, and part of that is preserving and reviving the pre-invasion languages. Part of that is using original names from those languages, and inventing new ones! If you claim some British blood, or just love the idea of being part of a revival, one of these names may be for you.

Welsh:

• Boys:
• Addaon ("ah-THAH-on")
• Adeon ("ah-DEY-on")--"wing"
• Aeddon ("EYE-thon")--"fire"
• Alawn ("AH-loun")--"melody"
• Arthen ("AR-then")
• Awen ("OW-en")
• Bergam ("BER-gam")--an early Welsh poet
• Cadell ("KAD-ehl")
• Cadoc ("KAD-ock")
• Cadwgan ("kad-OOG-an")--also spelled Cadogan
• Cei ("KYE")--also spelled Cai; King Arthur's foster brother
• Coel ("KOYL")--"trust"
• Dai ("DYE")
• Dylan ("DUL-an")
• Elidir ("el-IH-dir")
• Gareth ("GAR-eth")
• Gethin ("GETH-in")
• Gruffydd ("GRIF-ith")--anglicized as Griffith or Griffin
• Heulyn ("HAY-lun")--"ray of sun"
• Hywel ("HUE-el")--anglicized as Howell
• Iorweth ("EEOR-weth")--"handsome lord"
• Mabon ("MAHB-on")--Celtic god of youth
• Madoc ("MAHD-oc")
• Meilyr ("MY-lir")
• Meredydd ("meh-REHD-ith")--anglicized as Meredith
• Morien ("MOR-yen")
• Pryderi ("prid-EY-ree")
• Pwyll ("PU-il")--"wisdom"
• Rhodri ("HROH-dree")
• Sulien ("SIL-yen")
• Girls:
• Aderyn ("ah-DER-in")
• Aerona ("eye-ROE-na")--"berry"
• Aneira ("an-AY-ra")
• Afanan ("a-VAHN-an")
• Anwen ("AN-wen")
• Briallen ("bree-AHL-en")
• Bronwen ("BRON-wen")
• Calan ("CAHL-an")--"new year's day"
• Carys ("CAHR-iss")--"love"
• Ceridwen ("kerr-EED-wen")--goddess of poetry
• Eigra ("EY-gra")
• Eilir ("EY-leer")--"butterfly"
• Eirian ("ey-REE-an")
• Eluned ("el-EE-ned")--anglicized as Lynette
• Ffion ("FEE-on")--"rose"
• Glenys ("GLEN-is")--"pure"
• Gwenfrewi ("gwen-vree-OO-ee")
• Gwenllian ("gwen-HLEE-an")
• Gwenydd ("GWEN-ith")--"morning star"
• Gwylan ("GWEE-lan")
• Gwyneth ("GWIN-eth")--"joy"
• Hedydd ("HEY-dith")--"skylark"
• Lluan ("HLEE-an")
• Lynfa ("LIN-va")
• Manon ("MAH-non")--"queen"
• Meinir ("MY-nir")--"tall and slender"
• Meleri ("mel-EYR-ee")
• Mwynen ("MWEE-nen")
• Nerys ("NEH-ris")
• Olwen ("OHL-wen")
• Rhiain ("HREE-an"
• Rhiannon ("hree-AN-on")
• Rhunedd ("HREE-neth")
• Seirion ("SAYR-yon")--"sparkling"
• Seren ("SEHR-en")--"star"
• Surwen ("SEER-wen")
• Tegan ("TEG-an")
• Telyn ("TEL-in")--"harp"
• Tesni ("TESS-nee")

Cornish (almost all "new" names, very few historical names survive)

• Boys:
• Arrans ("AHR-ranz")--"silver"
• Bideven ("bih-DEV-en")--"hawk"
• Cador ("CADH-or")
• Cuilliok ("CUIL-yok")
• Glewas ("GLOO-as")
• Golvan ("GALL-van")--"sparrow"
• Gwynek ("GWEE-nek")
• Marrek ("MAHR-rek")--"horseman"
• Zethar ("ZETH-ahr")--"seagull"
• Girls:
• Ailla (EYE-la)--"most beautiful"
• Blejan ("BLEH-jan")--"flower"
• Bryluen ("bree-LOO-en")--"rose"
• Elestren ("el-LESS-tren")--"iris"
• Elowen ("el-OH-en")--"elm"
• Kelyn ("KELL-in")
• Kerensa ("kehr-EN-sa")--"love"
• Kerra ("KEHR-ra")--"dearest"
• Newlyna ("new-LEE-na")
• Sevi ("SEV-ee")--"strawberry"
• Steren ("STEHR-en")--"star"

Breton (technically, a Gallic/French Brythonic language, but it's still undergoing revival!):

• Boys:
• Bleiz ("BLAYS", "BLAY")--"wolf"
• Corentin ("kor-EN-tin")--"hurricane"
• Judoc ("ZHUD-ohk")
• Judokael ("zhud-OH-kel")
• Mael ("MEL")
• Tanet ("TEY-net")--"afire"
• Girls:
• Elara ("ey-LAR-ah")
• Helori ("hey-LOH-ree")
• Levenez ("lay-VAY-nayz")--"happiness"
• Loana ("LOW-na")
• Maëlys (mah-EL-iss")
• Melle ("MEY-leh")--"lightning"
• Unisex:
• Gwenaël ("gwen-AH-ell")

Archaic is the New Vintage

It's safe to say that vintage names are on the rise. From Isabella to Oliver, your grandparents & great-grandparents likely share their names with toddlers all across the country. Many people think it's great; others can't stop picturing little old ladies. If Stella & Leo aren't your thing, perhaps we should go further back.

Boys:

• Alaric (AHL-ah-rick, Germanic)--"ruler of all"
• Anzo (AHN-zoh, Germanic)--"giant"
• Baldric (BALL-drick, English)
• Barnaby (BAR-na-bee, English)
• Berthold (BERT-hahlt, German)
• Brennus (BREN-nus, Celtic)--precursor to names like Bran & Brendan.
• Crispian (KRIS-pee-an, English) 
• Drustan (DROOST-an, Celtic)--precursor to Tristan
• Eastmund (AYST-mund, Anglo-Saxon)
• Federigo (feh-deh-REE-goh, Italian--form of Frederick
• Radulf (rah-DULF, Germanic)
• Rayner (RAY-ner, English)
• Wulfric (WUL-frick, Anglo-Saxon)
• Wymond (WYE-mond, English)

Girls:

• Adelais (ad-el-AH-ees, Germanic)--a "lost" variant of the Adele/Alice/Adelaide family
• Aldith (AHL-dith, English) 
• Annora (ahn-NOR-a, English)--"honor"
• Auda (AW-da, Germanic)--feminine of Otto
• Cateline (cat-el-een, French)--variant of Katherine
• Clemency (KLEM-en-see, English)--"mercy"
• Christobel (KRIS-to-bell, English)
• Dreda (DREH-da, English)--short form of Etheldreda, which probably isn't as usable.
• Dulcibella (dul-si-BEL-la, English)--"sweet and pretty"
• Emmeline (EM-el-een, English)
• Gytha (GEETH-a, English)
• Idonea (id-ON-ee-a, English)--from the Norse goddess of spring & immortality
• Jocosa (joh-OH-sa, English)
• Kasimira (kaz-ih-MEE-ra, German)
• Linza (LIN-za, German)--precursor to Linda
• Melicent (MEL-ih-cent, English)
• Meriel (MEH-ree-el, English)--"shines like the sea"
• Odilia (o-DEE-lee-a, German)--"wealth"
• Parnel (par-NEL, English)
• Peronel (pehr-o-NEL, English)
• Tacey (TAY-see, English)