Showing posts with label finnish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label finnish. Show all posts

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Un Otro Reto Alfabético

Names ending in "oh" are trending pretty nicely right now, mostly for boys, but definitely a bit for girls as well. The boys' names mostly tend to actually end with -o, but for girls they're more mixed--some -o, some -ot, some -ow/owe.
For some crazy reason, I felt like setting myself another alphabet challenge--for both genders.
The rules are simple: one name for each letter, and it can't be a name I've mentioned before on this blog.

Boys:
  • Aro (AH-roh, Swedish, Finnish [trilled R in Finnish])--form of Aaron
  • Breno (BREH-noo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--from Latinized Gaelic, prob. "prince" or "raven" [making it a form of either Brendan or Bran]
  • Cisco (SIS-koh, Spanish)--short form of Francisco
  • Darrow (DEHR-oh, DA-row, Scottish [surname])--prob. from darach "oak"
  • Ensio (EN-see-oh, Finnish)--"first"
  • Franco (FRAHN-koh, Italian)--form of Frank or short form of Francesco, both from the Germanic tribe name 'Franks'. 
  • Gaio (GYE-oh, Italian)--from Latin Gaius/Caius, origin uncertain
  • Hanno (HAHN-no, German)--short form of Johannes
  • Ícaro (EE-kah-roo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese; EE-kah-oh, Spanish)--form of Icarus
  • Jesco / Jesko (YES-koh, German; JES-koh, English)--nickname for Slavic jar/yar- names, "spring [the season]" or "power"
  • Kenno (KEN-noh, Danish, Finnish)--nickname for Germanic kun/cun-names, "kin"
  • Laszlo (LAZ-loh, English)--from Hungarian László, itself from Slavic Vladislav, "rule-glory"
  • Miro (MEE-roh, Croatian, Italian, Finnish, Slovene, Swedish)--short form of Slavic mir- names, "peace"
  • Nilo (NEE-loh, Italian, Spanish; NEE-loo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--form of 'Nile' [the river], or short form of Danilo
  • Odino (oh-DEE-noh, Italian)--form of Odin
  • Pelayo (pel-EYE-oh, Spanish)--from Ancient Greek Pelagius, "sea"
  • Quincio (KEEN-see-oh, Spanish) / Quíncio (KEEN-see-oo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--form of Quintius/Quincy
  • Renzo (REN-tsoh, Italian; REN-soh, Spanish; REN-zoo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--short form of Lorenzo
  • Sidlow (SID-loh, English [surname])--origin uncertain, poss. "south hill" or "wide hill"
  • Távio (TAHV-yoo [short 'oo', like "foot"], Portuguese)--short form of Otávio/Octávio
  • Usebio (oo-SEH-bee-oh, Aragonese, Spanish)--from Ancient Greek, "good worship" or "well-respected"
  • Vico (VEE-koh, Italian)--nickname for Ludovico/Louis
  • Wilko / Wilco (VIL-koh, Dutch, German)--diminutive of William and other Wil-names.
  • Xanto (KSAHN-toh, Italian)--from Ancient Greek, "yellow" [a masculine form of name-nerd favorite Xanthe]
  • Y--gah, I've got nothing I haven't mentioned before (although I really thought it'd be Q or X that got me, so yay!)
  • Zaccheo (zak-KEH-oh, Italian)--from Biblical Hebrew Zacchaeus, "pure"

Girls:
  • Argyro (ahr-gee-ROH, Greek)--"silver"
  • Bio (bee-OH, [ancient] Greek; BEE-oh, Anglicized)--prob. "life" or "force"
  • Caro (KEHR-oh, KA-roh, KAH-roh, English; KAH-roh, Dutch, German, Spanish)--nickname for Caroline/Carolina and other Car-names
  • Damaro (dah-mah-ROH, [ancient] Greek; dah-MAH-roh, Anglicized)--prob. "taming" or "wife"
  • Emmelot (em-meh-LOH, [medieval] French)--diminutive of Emma-names
  • Fairlow / Fairlowe (FEHR-loh, FAYR-loh, English [surname])--poss. "pleasant hill" or "fern hill". 
  • Gwenno (GWEN-noh, Welsh)--diminutive of Gwen-names
  • Haido (HYE-doh, Greek)--prob. "caress" [likely source of the literary name Haidee/Haydée]
  • Ivalo (EE-vah-loh, Danish, Greenlandic)--from Greenlandic, "sinew, thread"
  • Jurietto (joo-ree-et-toh, Japanese [pop culture])--gairaigo ["Japanization"] of Juliet
  • Kallo (kah-LOH, [ancient] Greek; KAL-loh, Anglicized)--prob. "beautiful"
  • Laino (lahn-yoh, Basque)--"cloud, mist"
  • Margalo (MAR-gah-loh, English)--contraction of Margaret Lorraine
  • Nikeso (nik-ay-SOH, [ancient] Greek; nik-EE-soh, Anglicized)--prob. "victory" or "victor"
  • Orvo (OR-voh, Finnish)--short form of Orvokki "violet flower" [unisex]
  • Phaio (fye-OH, Greek [mythology]) / Phaeo (FEE-oh, Anglicized)--"shining"
  • Q--nada. Lost twice over. :/
  • Runo (ROO-noh, Finnish)--"poem" [unisex]
  • Siro (SEE-roh, Finnish)--"graceful"
  • Tayloe / Taylo (TAY-loh, English [surname])--poss. form of Taylor, or from 'teal' [a type of duck]
  • Ushio (oo-shee-oh, Japanese)--"tide" [unisex]
  • Vireo (VEER-ee-oh, English [word, quite rare as a name])--a type of bird, from Latin "green"
  • Wealthow / Wealtheow (WEL-thoh / WEL-theh-oh, [literary] English)--origin uncertain, poss. "foreign servant"
  • Xenno (ksen-NOH, [ancient] Greek; ZEN-noh, Anglicized)--prob. "guest, hospitality"
  • Ysabeau (ee-zah-BOH, [medieval] French)--form of Isabel/Elizabeth
  • Zafiro (sah-FEE-roh, Spanish)--"sapphire"

Thursday, August 25, 2016

"Girlish" Boy Names

I did "boyish" girl names, so now I have to do the reverse, of course! Boys have much more diversity when it comes to name endings, but girls do have a higher proportion of names ending in -a, ah, ne, le, th, i, and y. Boys also have the minority of names starting with A, E, P, S, & V, so I'll be looking especially for those. :)
(I do not have room to list all the Biblical -iah names for boys, so just look here if those strike your fancy)

  • Achille (ah-SHEEL, French; ah-KEEL-leh, Italian)--form of Achilles
  • Adlai (AD-lay, AD-lye, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Alexei (ah-leks-AY, al-leks-EE, Russian, Ukrainian)--form of Alexis. Other forms include Aleksi (AH-lek-see, Finnish) and Aleksy (AH-lek-see, Polish).
  • Alvah (AL-vah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--poss. "ascending". Also spelled Alva.
  • Alwi (AL-wee, Old English)--prob. "elf battle". Also spelled Alwy
  • Amaury (ah-moh-REE, French)--form of Emmerich/Emery
  • Arkady (ar-KAH-dee, Russian)--also spelled Arkadi or Arkadiy
  • Arne (AHR-neh, Scandinavian, German)--from Germanic, "eagle"
  • Artemiy (ar-TEM-ee, Russian)--from ancient Greek, "of Artemis"
  • Asa (AY-sah, English; ah-sah, Hebrew)--from Biblical Hebrew, prob. "healer"
  • Aulay (AW-lee, Scottish)--form of Olaf
  • Augustine (AW-gus-teen, aw-GUS-tin, English)--from Latin, "great"
  • Braith (BRAYTH, English)--prob. from Old Norse, "broad"
  • Columba (koh-LUM-bah, Latin)--"dove"
  • Conleth (KAHN-leth, Irish)
  • Dara (DAH-rah, Irish)--"oak tree" or "fruitful". Also spelled Darragh. [feminine in other languages]
  • Davi (DAH-vee, Portuguese)--form of David. Another form is Daveth (DAV-eth, Cornish).
  • Éanna (AY-nah, Irish)--also spelled Énna. Anglicized form is Enda
  • Elisha (ee-LYE-shah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"God is my salvation"
  • Emrys (EM-ris, Welsh)--form of Ambrose
  • Fiachra (FEE-ahk-rah, Irish)--"raven". French form is Fiacre (fee-AH-creh). 
  • Harith (HAH-rith, Arabic)--prob. "cultivator"
  • Heath (HEETH, English)
  • Hirah (HYE-rah, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"splendor"
  • Iorwerth (YOR-werth, Welsh)--"handsome lord". Anglicized as Yorath.
  • Kuisma (KOO-ees-mah, Finnish)--form of Cosmo. Other forms include Cosme (KAHZ-mee, Portuguese; COHM, French) and Kuzma (kooz-MAH, Russian).
  • Lorne (LORN, English)--from Scottish place name
  • Malachy (MAL-ah-kee, Irish)
  • Perry (PEHR-ree, English)--from English "pear tree" or Welsh "son of Harry". Also spelled Parry
  • Pryderi (prid-EHR-ee, Welsh)--prob. "cared for"
  • Rishi (rish-EE, Hindi)--"poet"
  • Savely (sah-VEL-ee, Russian)--form of Sabine. Also spelled Saveliy or Saveli
  • Selby (SEL-bee, English)--from Old Norse, "willow farm"
  • Sindre (SIN-dreh, Scandinavian)--another form is Sindri (SIN-dree)
  • Visti (VEES-tee, Danish)--from Old Norse, "west". Other forms include Vesti (VES-tee, Danish) and Vestri (VES-tree, Old Norse).

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name: Ray/Rae

Is it just me, or is everybody using the middle name Ray/Rae right now, for both boys and girls? Although the "cute" factor is probably a big part of it (esp. for girls!), I imagine many have to be honor names as well.
Rachel and Raymond are the usual full forms (and Ray is of course used quite often on its own), but there are a few other ways to get Ray/Rae. :)

Boys:
  • Rafe (RAYF, English)--form of Ralph
  • Rayburn (RAY-burn, English [surname])--from Old English, "deer stream". Also spelled Raeburn.
  • Rayner (RAY-ner, English)--from Germanic, "army advisor"
  • Rayson (RAY-son, English [surname])--"reason"
  • Réamann (RAY-man, Irish)--form of Raymond
  • Reidar (RAY-dar, Swedish)--from Old Norse, "home warrior". Another form is Reier (RAY-er, Swedish).
  • Reijo (RAY-yoh, Finnish)--form of Gregory
  • Reino (RAY-noh, Finnish)--form of Reynold. Other forms include Reynaldo/Reinaldo (ray-NAHL-doh, Spanish, Portuguese) and Reynaud (ray-NOH, French)
  • Rémi (ray-MEE, French)--also spelled Rémy
  • Reynir (RAY-neer, Icelandic)--"rowan tree"

Girls:
  • Areia (ah-RAY-ah, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "prayer", or from the god Ares
  • Dareia (dah-RAY-ah, [ancient] Greek)--feminine of Darius
  • Mireille (mee-RAY, French)--from Occitan "admire". Other forms include Mirèio (mee-REH-oh, Occitan), Mireia (mee-RAY-ah, Catalan, Spanish), and Mireya (mee-RAY-ah, Spanish).
  • Nereida (neh-RAY-dah, Spanish)--from Ancient Greek, "of Nereus"
  • Rayhana (ray-HAH-nah, Arabic)--"basil". Turkish form is Reyhan (ray-HAHN). 
  • Raymonde (ray-MAWND, French)--feminine of Raymond
  • Rayna (RAY-nah, English)--Anglicized from Spanish Reina, "queen", or Yiddish Reina, "pure"
  • Régine (ray-ZHEEN, French)--form of Regina
  • Reida (RAY-dah, Swedish)--from Old Norse, "home"
  • Reija (RAY-yah, Finnish)--feminine of Reijo/Gregory
  • Reynalda (ray-NAHL-dah, Spanish)--feminine of Reynaldo
  • Reynilda (ray-NIL-dah, [medieval] English)--from Old Norse, "battle advisor"
  • Rheia (RAY-ah, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "flow"

Unisex:
  • Rayan (ray-AN, Arabic)--also spelled Rayyan
  • Raven (RAY-ven, English)
  • Reagan (RAY-gen, English)--Anglicized from Irish surname Ó Riagáin, poss. "king" or "impulsive"
  • Wray (RAY, English [surname])--from Old Norse, "nook"

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Cal

Handsome Cal! How have I forgotten you? While Cal is starting to gain use on its own, it's still down below the Top 1000. Traditionally short for Calvin, of course, but there are plenty of other great options.
Thanks to Nicole for this suggestion. :)

  • Calaïs (KAH-lah-ees, [ancient] Greek)--"turquoise"
  • Calamus (KAL-ah-mus, [ancient] Greek)--"reed"
  • Calchas (KAL-kas, [ancient] Greek)--uncertain, poss. "purple" or "to make trouble"
  • Calbhach (KAL-vak, KAHL-wak, Irish)--cognate of Calvin. Anglicized as Calvagh (KAL-vah). 
  • Calidore (KAL-id-or, English)--poss. from Greek, "beautiful gift"
  • Calixte (kah-LICKST, French)--from Greek, "most beautiful". Other forms include Callistus (kah-LIS-tus, Latin) and Calisto (kah-LEES-toh, Spanish, Portuguese).
  • Callahan (KAL-ah-han, Irish [surname])--diminutive of Ceallach (KAL-akh), the original form of Kelly
  • Callan (KAL-lan, Irish [surname])--either from Cathaláin (KAH-hal-ahn, "battle power") or from one of the places named for High King Niall Caill, meaning uncertain, poss. "Niall of the forest".
  • Callias (KAL-ee-as, kah-LEE-as, [ancient] Greek)--"beauty"
  • Callinus (KAL-in-us, [ancient] Greek)--"beautiful". 
  • Callister (KAL-is-ter, Scottish [surname])--shortening of MacAlister, "son of Alistair/Alexander".
  • Calloway (KAL-oh-way, English [surname])--poss. from French, "pebble". Also spelled Callaway.
  • Callum (KAL-um, Scottish)--from Latin, "dove". Also spelled Calum. Another form is Kalman (KAHL-man, Scandinavian).
  • Calydon (KAL-id-ahn, [ancient] Greek)
  • Carlisle (KAR-lile, English)
  • Carroll (KEHR-ol, English; KAH-rol, Irish)--from Irish, "cutting". Anglicized from Cearbhall (KAH-rool).
  • Chalcon (KAL-con, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "copper"
  • Kalevi (KAH-lev-ee, Finnish)--poss. from Estonian "cloth". Other forms include Kalervo (KAH-lehr-voh, Finnish) and Kalev (KAH-lev, Estonian).
  • Kalle (KAHL-leh, Scandinavian)--form of Charles/Karl. Also spelled Calle. Other forms include Kallu (KAHL-loo, Finnish).
  • Kálmán (KAL-man, Hungarian)
  • Kalmen (KAHL-men, Yiddish)--from Greek, "good name". Also spelled Kalman.
  • Kaloyan (kah-loh-YAHN, Bulgarian)--"handsome John"
  • Kalyan (kal-YAHN, Hindi)--"beautiful"
  • Pascal (pas-KAL, French)--"Easter"

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Same Name?!--Raymond

If you're anything like me, you consider Raymond a "grandpa name" (and I'm not trying to be mean; it is literally my grandpa's name). But, like many Germanic names, it has spread far and wide across Europe, helped by several saints.

Original Germanic form: Raginmund ("RAH-gin-moont")
English form: Raymond (RAY-mund)

Other forms:
  • Erramun (ehr-rah-moon)--Basque
  • Ramón (rah-MOHN)--Spanish
  • Raimo (RYE-moh)--Finnish
  • Raimondas (rye-MAWN-das)--Lithuanian
  • Raimondo (rye-MOHN-doh)--Italian
  • Raimund (RYE-moont)--German. Also spelled Reimund.
  • Raimundo (rye-MOON-doh)--Spanish, Portuguese. Also spelled Raymundo.
  • Raymond (ray-MAWN)--French
  • Raymond (RYE-mond)--Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish
  • Réamann (RAY-man)--Irish
  • Redmond (RED-mund)--[Anglicized] Irish
  • Reima (RAY-mah)--Finnish

Feminine forms:
  • Erramona (ehr-rah-moh-nah)--Basque
  • Raimonda (rye-MOHN-dah)--Italian
  • Raimunde (rye-MOON-deh)--German
  • Ramona (rah-MOHN-ah)--English, Italian, Romanian, Spanish)
  • Ramóna (raw-MOHN-ah)--Hungarian
  • Raymonde (ray-MAWND)--French

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Triple Goddesses!

No, that's not an anime (that I know of, anyway).
Goddess-trios are a common theme in mythology, and while the Greeks are most famous for them, they do exist in many ancient pantheons. And many of them have fun names! (perhaps better for cats than human babies, but still fun!)

The Charites (Greek) [sing.: Charis, "grace"]; goddesses of beauty and creativity:
  • Aglaea (ah-GLYE-ah, ah-GLEE-ah) "glory"
  • Euphrosyne (yoo-FROS-in-ee) "mirth"
  • Thalia (THAHL-yah) "festivity"

The daughters of Maderakka (Sami); goddesses of childbirth and children:
  • Sarakka (SAH-rahk-kah) "separating woman"
  • Juksakka (YOOK-sahk-kah) "bow [archery] woman"
  • Uksakka (OOK-sahk-kah) "door woman"

The Erinyes (Greek) [sing.: Erinys, poss. "angered" or "dark"]; goddesses of vengeance:
  • Alecto (ah-LEK-toh) "unceasing"
  • Tisiphone (tis-IF-oh-nee) "avenging murder"
  • Megaera (meh-JEER-ah) "grudge"

The goddesses of Mecca (pre-Islamic Arabian):
  • Allat (al-LAT) poss. "the goddess"
  • Al-‘Uzzá (al-OOZ-ah) poss. "the mightiest"
  • Manat (man-AT) poss. "fate"

The Gorgons (Greek) ["terrible"]; personifications of the dangers of the sea:
  • Medusa (meh-DOO-sah) "queen"
  • Euryale (yoo-RYE-ah-lee) prob. "wide step" or "wide sea"
  • Stheno (STHEN-oh) "strength"

The Graeae (Greek) [sing.: Graea, "gray woman, old woman"]; personifications of sea foam:
  • Pemphredo (pem-FREE-doh), poss "alarm" or "guide"
  • Enyo (EN-yoh) "warlike"
  • Deino (DEE-noh) "dread"

The Hesperides (Greek) [sing.: Hesperis, "of the evening"]; personifications of the evening:
  • Aegle (EG-lee) "shining"
  • Erytheia / Erytheis (eh-REETH-ay-ah / eh-REE-thays) "red"
  • Hesperethousa (hes-pehr-eh-THOO-sah) "swift evening"; sometimes replaced with Hespere (HES-peh-ree) or Hesperia (hes-PEHR-ee-ah)

The Horae (Greek) [sing.: Hora, "hour" or "season"]; goddesses of nature, or of law and order:
  • Thallo (THAH-loh) "blossom"
  • Carpo (KAR-poh) "fruit"
  • Auxo (OWKS-oh) "growth"

  • Dike (DYE-kee) "justice"
  • Eunomia (yoo-NOH-mee-ah) "good order"
  • Eirene (eye-REE-nee) "peace"

The Hyperboreiai (Greek) [sing: Hyperboreia, "beyond the North Wind']; Artemis' archery attendants:
  • Oupis (OO-pis) "sighting"
  • Hecaerge (heh-SEER-jee) "distancing"
  • Loxo (LOKS-oh) "angling"

The Moirai (Greek) [sing.: Moira, "portion"]; controllers of each person's fate:
  • Clotho (KLOH-thoh) "spinner"
  • Lachesis (LAK-eh-sis) "allotter"
  • Atropos (AT-rop-ohs) "inevitable"

The Morrigna (Irish) [sing.: Morrigan, prob. "phantom queen"]; war & sovereignty goddesses:
  • Badhbh (BIVE) "crow" 
  • Macha (MAH-khah), prob. "field"
  • Neamhain (NYAV-an), prob. "poison" or "seizer"; sometimes replaced with Anand or Morrigan

The (three original) Muses (Greek); goddesses of the arts:
  • Aoide (ah-EE-dee, ay-EE-dee) "voice"
  • Melete (MEL-eh-tee, mel-ET-ee) "practice"
  • Mneme (NEE-mee) "memory"

The Norn (Norse) [prob. "whisper" or "twine"]; goddesses of destiny:
  • Urd/Urth (OORD / OORTH [hard 'th', like "the"]) "fate"
  • Verdandi/Verthandi (VEHR-dahn-dee / VEHR-thahn-dee [hard 'th']) "becoming"
  • Skuld (skoold ['oo' like in "foot"]) "future" or "blame"

The Parcae (Roman) [sing.: Parca, prob. "frugal" or "slight"]; equivalent to the Greek Moirai:
  • Nona (NOH-nah) "ninth"
  • Decima (DES-ee-mah) "tenth"
  • Morta (MOR-tah) "death"

The patron goddesses of Ireland:
  • Éire (EHR-eh) poss. "abundant"
  • Banbha (BAHN-uh-vah) poss. "unplowed land" or "sow"
  • Fodhla (FOH-lah) poss. "sod"

The Praxidicae (Greek) ["exacting justice"]; goddesses of justice:
  • Praxidike (prak-SID-ik-ee) "exacting justice"
  • Arete (EHR-eh-tee) "virtue"
  • Homonoea (hoh-MOH-nee-ah) "unanimity"

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Big A, little a

What begins with A?
Lots of smallish girls' names, and they also end that way:

  • Abha (ahb-hah, Hindi)--"light, luster"
  • Achsa (AHK-sah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Ada (AY-dah, English; AH-dah, German, Polish, Scandinavian, Turkish) [multiple derivations]
  • Adla (AHD-lah, Swedish)--form of Adela/Adelaide
  • Adva (ahd-vah, Hebrew)--"little wave"
  • Aella (EYE-lah, [ancient] Greek)--"whirlwind"
  • Agda (AG-dah, Swedish)--form of Agatha
  • Aida (ah-EE-dah, English, Italian)--from Arabic, "returning"
  • Aika (ah-ee-kah, Japanese)
  • Ailsa (AYL-sah, Scottish)
  • Aina (EYE-nah, Finnish, Spanish; ah-ee-nah, Japanese) [separate derivations]
  • Aira (EYE-rah, Finnish)
  • Aisha (ah-EE-shah, Arabic)--"life, alive". Other forms include Asha (Swahili).
  • Alba (AHL-bah, Italian, Latin, Spanish)
  • Alda (AHL-dah, Italian, Portuguese)
  • Alka (AHL-kah, Croatian)
  • Alma (AL-mah, English; AHL-mah, Italian, Scandinavian, Spanish)
  • Alta (AL-tah, English)
  • Alva (AHL-vah, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "elf"
  • Ambra (AHM-brah, Italian)--form of Amber
  • Anca (AHN-kah, Romanian)
  • Anna (AN-nah, English; AH-nah, everywhere else)--Also spelled Ana. Other forms include Ania, Anka, & Anya.
  • Ansa (AHN-sah, Finnish)
  • Arja (AHR-yah, Finnish)
  • Arla (AHR-lah, Swedish)
  • Arna (AHR-nah, Germanic, Scandinavian)--"eagle"
  • Arwa (UR-wah, Arabic)
  • Åsa (OH-sah, Norwegian, Swedish)
  • Asha (AH-shah, Hindi)--"hope"
  • Asta (AHS-stah, Scandinavian)--form of Astrid and other Ast-names. 
  • Auda (OW-dah, Germanic)--form of Otto/Odette
  • Audra (OH-drah, Lithuanian; AW-drah, English) [separate derivations]
  • Aura (OW-rah, Finnish)
  • Aušra (OH-shrah, Lithuanian)--"dawn"
  • Ava (AY-vah, English; AH-vah, German, Persian, Scandinavian) [multiple derivations]
  • Avra (AH-vrah, Greek)--"aura, breeze"
  • Aya (ah-yah, Japanese, Scandinavian) [separate derivations]
  • Ayça (eye-jah, Turkish)--"crescent moon"
  • Ayla (AY-lah, English; eye-LAH, Turkish) [separate derivations]
  • Azra (AZ-rah, Arabic, Bosnian, Turkish)

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Vowel-Names for Boys

It occurred to me the other day that I do a lot of 'names by construction' posts for girls, but not really many for boys. So then I had to think of what I could do--besides the overplayed -aidens, and surname-y -sons & -tons, boys' names don't really have a lot of distinct patterns.
However, while vowel-y names for girls are in abundance, there aren't a lot for boys....

  • Abijah (ah-BYE-jah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Adamo (ah-DAH-moh, Italian)--form of Adam. Other forms include Adão (ah-DOW, Portuguese) and Akamu (ah-kah-moo, Hawaiian)
  • Adino (ah-dee-noh, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Adlai (AD-lay, AD-lye, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Aimo (EYE-moh, Finnish)--"good, real"
  • Aldo (AHL-doh, English, Italian, Swedish)
  • Alejo (ah-LEH-hoh, Spanish)--form of Alexis. Other forms include Aleksey (Russian), Aleksi (Finnish), & Alessio (Italian)
  • Arlo (AR-loh, English)
  • Asa (AY-sah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Elio (EL-yoh, Italian)--from Greek, "sun"
  • Eliseo (eh-lee-ZEH-oh, Italian; eh-lee-SEH-oh, Spanish)
  • Eloy (eh-LOY, Spanish)--from Latin, "chosen". French form is Éloi (AYL-wah). 
  • Ezio (ETS-yoh, Italian)--from Latin, "eagle"
  • Iago (ee-AH-goh, English, Portuguese; YAH-goh, Welsh)--form of Jacob. Spanish form is Yago
  • Ibai (ee-bye, Basque)--"river"
  • Ingo (EEN-goh, German)
  • Ithai (ith-EYE, [Biblical] Hebrew)--"with me". Also transliterated as Ittai or Itai.
  • Ivailo (ee-VYE-loh, Bulgarian)--prob. "wolf". Also transliterated as Ivaylo.
  • Obadiah (oh-bah-DYE-ah, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Obi (OH-bee, Igbo)--"heart"
  • Omri (AHM-ree, [Biblical] Hebrew)
  • Orsino (or-SEE-noh, Italian)--from Latin "bear". Another form is Orso.  
  • Otto (AH-toh, English, Danish, German, OH-toh, Swedish)--from Germanic, "wealth". Other forms include Ottone (Italian) & Udo (German). 
  • Yermolai (YEHR-moh-lye, Russian)--also transliterated as Ermolai.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Nikki

How on earth did I do a Nicky-names post for boys, and not include some for girls? Shame, shame.
Nicole, of course, was a staple of 80s naming, and surprisingly, isn't too far out of the Top 100 today. Nicolette & Nicola are pretty recognizable variants, but what else can lead to Nicki?

(I also have to say, how amazed I am--whenever I do one of these posts, I discover some great names that really could work for previous UNUNs!)


  • Adonika (ah-DOH-nee-kah, Swedish)--feminine of Adonis
  • Ainikki (EYE-neek-kee, Finnish)
  • Andronika (ahn-DRON-ee-kah, Greek)
  • Annika (AHN-nee-kah, Scandinavian)--form of Anna/Hannah. Other forms include Anniken (AHN-nee-ken, Norwegian), and Annikki (AHN-neek-kee, Finnish).
  • Arnika (AHR-nee-kah, Scandinavian--from Germanic, "eagle" [coincides with German & Polish arnika, cognate of the plant arnica]
  • Aunikki (OW-neek-kee, Finnish)--form of Agnes
  • Dominika (doh-MEE-nee-kah, Czech, Russian, Slovak; doh-mee-NEE-kah, Polish)--feminine of Dominic. Another form is Domnika (DOM-nee-kah, Macedonian).
  • Enikő (EN-ee-koo, Hungarian)
  • Hennika (HEN-nee-kah, Scandinavian)--feminine of Henry
  • Jannike (YAH-nee-kah, Scandinavian)--form of Jane. Other forms include Janneke (Dutch) and Jannicke (Norwegian).
  • Mainikki (MYE-neek-kee, Finnish)--"wonderful"
  • Nicaia (NEE-kah-yah, [Ancient] Greek)
  • Nicolaia (NEE-koh-lah-yah, Danish)--Another form of Nicole. Also spelled Nikolaia.
  • Nicolina (nee-koh-LEE-nah, Italian)--And another form of Nicole. Also spelled Nikolina.
  • Nikhila (NIK-hil-ah, Hindi)
  • Nikita (nee-KEE-tah, English, Scandinavian)--from Greek via Russian, "unconquerable"
  • Veronika (veh-RON-ih-kah, veh-roh-NEE-kah, vehr-OH-nee-kah)--also spelled Veronica.


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Millie/Mila

I haven't done this one yet? Really?? *hangs head in shame*
Originally short for Millicent, Mildred, and other musty Germanic names, Millie is more likely today to be a nickname for the comeback favorites Amelia & Camilla.
And speaking of rising favorites, Mila has quite a bit of potential overlap with Millie. Although it's pretty established as a given name overseas, it was originally a nickname for many Slavic -mil- names.

  • Amelina (ah-meh-LEE-nah, Germanic)--original form of Emmeline
  • Bohumila (baw-hoo-MEE-lah, Czech)--from Slavic, "dear to God"
  • Camellia (kah-MEE-lee-ah, kah-MEL-ee-ah, English)
  • Jamila (jah-MEE-lah, Arabic)--"beautiful". Spanish form is Yamila.
  • Magnhild (MANG-nhild, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "mighty in battle"
  • Marsaili (MAR-sah-lee, Scottish)--form of Marcella
  • Matilda (mah-TIL-dah, English)
  • Maximiliane (maks-ee-mil-YAH-neh, German)--other forms include Maximilienne (French) & Maximiliana (Latin)
  • Mélisande (may-lee-SAHND, French)--form of Millicent
  • Melitta (meh-LIT-tah, German, Scandinavian)--form of Melissa
  • Micheline (mee-sheh-LEEN, French)--form of Michele/Michaela
  • Mielikki (MEE-eh-lik-kee, Finnish)
  • Mihaela (mee-HYE-lah, Croatian, Romanian)--another form of Michaela/Michele
  • Milada (mee-LAH-dah, Croatian)
  • Milagros (mee-LAH-grohs, Spanish)--"miracles"
  • Milda (MEEL-dah, Lithuanian)--Lithuanian goddess of love
  • Milena (mee-LEH-nah, Slavic)--another form is Milana.
  • Milica (MEE-lee-tsah, Slavic)--also spelled Militsa
  • Milou (mee-LOO, Swedish, French)--from French, form of Émilie/Emilia
  • Milva (MEEL-vah, Italian)
  • Romilda (roh-MEEL-dah, Italian)--from Germanic, "famous battle'
  • Sharmila (shar-MEE-lah, Hindi)
  • Theomilla (theh-oh-MEE-lah, German)

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Same Name?!?--Agnes

Oh, poor Agnes. Once one of the most popular girls names in all the English-speaking world, she fell off the charts in the early 70s, and has hardly been seen since. If the "hundred-year rule" holds true, we may be seeing more of her soon, but thanks to a celebrated saint, you can already find a different version in nearly every language in the Western world.

Original Greek form: Hagne [Άγνη] (HAHG-nee)
Latin form: Agnes (AHG-nes)

Other forms:
  • Agnė (AHG-nay)--Lithuanian
  • Agnese (ahn-YEH-zeh)--Italian
  • Agnese (AHG-neh-seh)--Latvian
  • Agnessa (ahg-NYEH-sah)--Russian
  • Agneta (ang-NEH-tah)--Scandinavian. Also spelled Agnetha.
  • Agneza (ahg-NEH-zah)--Croatian
  • Agnieszka (ag-NYESH-kah)--Polish
  • Agnija (AHG-nee-ah)--Macedonian, Serbian
  • Annis (AN-nis)--English
  • Aune (OW-neh)--Finnish
  • Inès (ee-NEZ)--French
  • Inês (EE-nez)--Portuguese
  • Inés (ee-NES)--Spanish
  • Inez (ee-NEZ, EYE-nez)--English
  • Jagusia (yah-GOO-shah)--Polish
  • Nancy (NAN-see)--English
  • Nesta (NES-tah)--Welsh
  • Neža (NEH-zhah)--Slovene
  • Oanez (WAHN-ez)--Breton

Friday, March 8, 2013

A Few Gems

Woo! Time for another theoretical names post (I have a lot of fun with these).
Lots of gemstone- & other mineralogical-type names are/have been used in English. Ruby, Jasper, JadeOpal, Pearl, Amber, Emery, & Coral are all pretty recognizable, and several more have been in rarer use as well--Amethyst, Garnet, CelestineDiamondEmerald, SapphireTopaz, HyacinthBeryl.
And so, here are a few more gems & minerals that could be used as names, IMO.


Gemstones in other languages (asterisks indicate established names):
  • Ágata (AH-gah-tah, Spanish, Portuguese, Galician)--"agate". Italian is Agata (ah-GAH-tah) [also a form of Agatha].
  • Ametista (ah-meh-TEES-tah, Italian)--"amethyst". Spanish is Amatista.
  • Azurita (ah-soo-REE-tah, Spanish)--"azurite"
  • Berillo (beh-REEL-loh, Italian)--"beryl"
  • Biyu (bee-yoo, Mandarin [碧玉])--"jasper" [lit. "blue jade"]
  • Lazurit (lah-ZOO-reet, Russian [лазурит])--"lapis lazuli". Japanese is Ruri (roo-ree) [ 琉璃--lit. "sulfur(?) glass"]
  • Maragda (mah-RAHG-dah, Catalan)--"emerald". Spanish & Portuguese is Esmeralda* (fem).
  • Mercan* (mehr-JAHN, Turkish, feminine)--"coral"
  • Meripihka (MEHR-ih-pihh-kah, [the H is not silent] Finnish)--"amber"
  • Nilam* (NEE-lam, Hindi, unisex)--"sapphire". Portuguese is Safira.
  • Olivina (oh-lee-VEE-nah, Italian)--"olivine, peridot"
  • Rubin (roo-BEEN, Czech, Danish, Dutch, German....)--"ruby". Italian is Rubino* (masculine).
  • Yeşim* (yeh-SHEEM, Turkish, feminine)--"jade". Italian is Giada* (JAH-dah, feminine); Russian is Nefrit (NEH-freet) [нефрит].

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Grab Bag I (boys)

There are quite a few popular nicknames that are seriously lacking a variety of sources! Of course, I have to try anyway. This will definitely be the first of several of these 'grab bag' posts.
Thanks to Ashlie for several nickname suggestions. :)

"Dom" without Dominic:
  • Adomas (ah-DOM-as, Lithuanian)--form of Adam
  • Damasus (dah-MAH-soos, Latin)
  • Damir (DAHM-eer, Slavic)--"giving peace"
  • Dómald (DOH-mald, Icelandic)
  • Domar (doh-MAHR, Swedish)
  • Domen (DOM-en, Slovene)--form of Dominic
  • Domitian (dom-EE-tee-an, dom-ISH-an, English)
  • Edom (EE-dom, English)

"Huck/Hux" without Huxley (had to go really surname-y for this one!):
  • Habakkuk (huh-BAK-uk, HAB-ah-kuk, English)--from Hebrew, "embrace"
  • Huckett (HUK-ett, English)--surname form of Hugh
  • Huckin/Hukin, Huckins/Hukins (HUK-in, HUK-ins)--another surname form of Hugh
  • Hucknall  (HUK-nal, English)--surname, "Hucca [tribe] valley"
  • Huxham (HUKS-am, English)--surname, "Hoc's home"

"Sam" without Samuel:
  • Bassam (bah-SAM, Arabic)--"smiling"
  • Samad (sam-AHD, Arabic)--"eternal"
  • Samang (sahm-ANG, Khmer)--"lucky"
  • Samay (sam-EYE, Khmer)--"daydream"
  • Samir (sam-EER, Arabic)
  • Sampo (SAHM-poh, Finnish)
  • Samson (SAM-son, English)--from Hebrew, "sun"
  • Samuli (SAH-moo-lee, Finnish)--form of Samuel

Friday, March 1, 2013

Elementary

I've done quite a few nature-name posts, but I realized I'd left out a lot of names! Captain Planet would be ashamed.

Earth:
  • Avani (ah-vah-NEE)--Hindi, feminine
  • Bhumi (bhoo-mee)--Hindi, feminine
  • Daichi (dah-ee-chee)--Japanese, masculine; "great earth/land" [other meanings possible dep. on characters]
  • Demeter (deh-MEE-ter, deh-MEH-tehr)--Ancient Greek, feminine; "earth mother" 
  • Gaia (GAH-yah)--Greek, feminine
  • Ila (EE-lah)--Hindi, feminine
  • Kun (KOON)--Chinese, usually masculine
  • Terra (TEHR-rah)--English [from Latin], feminine

Wind:
  • Anemone (ah-NEM-ah-nee)--English [from Greek], feminine
  • Anil (an-NEEL), masculine; Anila (ah-NEE-lah), feminine--Hindi
  • Era (EH-rah)--Albanian, feminine
  • Ghobad (ghoh-BAHD)--Persian, masculine
  • Haizea (eye-seh-ah)--Basque, feminine
  • Ilma (EEL-mah)--Finnish, feminine; "air"
  • Meltem (mel-TEM)--Turkish, feminine; "breeze"
  • Nasim (nah-SEEM)--Arabic, feminine; "breeze"
  • Tuula (TOO-lah)--Finnish, feminine. Other forms include Tuuli, Tuulia, & Tuulikki (TOO-lik-kee).
  • Vayu (VAH-yoo)--Hindi, masculine
  • Zephyr (ZEF-er)--Greek, masculine; "west wind". French feminine form is Zéphyrine.

Fire:
  • Agni (AHG-nee)--Hindi, masculine
  • Aodhán (AY-ahn, AY-dahn), masculine; Aodnait (AY-nat), feminine--Irish, "little fire". Anglicized as Aidan & Enat, respectively.
  • Azar (ah-ZAR)--Persian, feminine
  • Cináed (KIN-ee, KIN-ay, KIN-ahd)--Scottish, masculine; "born of fire". Anglicized as Kenneth.
  • Fiammetta (fee-ah-MEH-tah)--Italian, feminine; "little fire"
  • Jehoash (jeh-HOH-ash)--English [from Hebrew], masculine; "fire of God". Another form is Joash (JOH-ash).
  • Nina (NEE-nah)--Quechua, feminine
  • Plamen (PLAH-men)--Slavic, masculine
  • Shula (SHOO-lah)--Arabic, feminine
  • Şule (shoo-LEH)--Turkish, feminine
  • Ugnė (OOG-nee)--Lithuanian, feminine

Water:
  • Aysu (eye-SOO)--Turkish, feminine; "moon & water"
  • Damla (dahm-LAH)--Turkish, feminine; "water droplet"
  • Douglas (DUG-las)--Scottish, masculine; "dark water"
  • Kelda (KEL-dah)--English [from Old Norse], feminine, "spring, fountain"
  • Maayan (mah-ah-yahn)--Hebrew, feminine; "spring, fountain"
  • Mayim (mah-yeem)--Hebrew, feminine. Another form is Maya.
  • Mortimer (MOR-tim-er)--English [from Old French], masculine; "still water"
  • Neith (NEETH, NAYTH)--English [from ancient Egyptian], feminine
  • Nerio (NEHR-yoh)--Italian [from Greek], masculine
  • Shui (shoo-ee)--Chinese, usually masculine
  • Su (SOO)--Turkish, feminine
  • Tirto (TEER-toh)--Javanese, masculine; "holy water"

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Ideals & Imagery

While doing my virtue-names post a while back, I came across many names with meanings that weren't quite virtues. While naming your daughter Beauty would probably be seen as presumptuous (not to mention a bit too Disney), there are plenty of names that mean 'beauty', as well as many other poetic inspirations.

Boys:
  • Argi (ahr-gee, Basque)--"light"
  • Argider (ahr-gee-dehr, Basque)--"beautiful light"
  • Arman (ahr-MAHN, Kazakh)--"dream"
  • Asher (ASH-er, English)--from Hebrew, "blessed"
  • Ayman (AY-man, Arabic)--"blessed, lucky"
  • Barak (bah-RAHK, Arabic)--"blessing"
  • Benedict (BEN-eh-dikt, English)--from Latin, "blessed"
  • Bhaskar (BHAHS-kar, Hindi)--"shining"
  • Cemal (jem-AHL, Turkish)--"beauty"
  • Daiki (dah-ee-kee, Japanese)--"great radiance" or "great & noble"
  • Enver (en-VEHR, Turkish, Albanian)--"radiance"
  • Eyal (eh-YAHL, Hebrew)--"strength"
  • Jamal (jah-MAHL, Arabic)--"beauty"
  • Kallias (KAHL-lee-as, Greek)--"beauty"
  • Kibwe (KEE-bweh, Swahili)--"blessed"
  • Krešimir (KRESH-ih-meer, Croatian)--"bringer of peace"
  • Macario (mah-KAHR-yoh, Spanish)--from Greek, "blessed"
  • Prakash (prah-KAHSH, Hindi)--"light"
  • Roshan (roh-SHAN, Persian)--"light"
  • Sisu (SEE-soo, Finnish)--"strength, willpower"
  • Taiki (tah-ee-kee, Japanese)--"great radiance"

Girls:
  • Abha (ahb-hah, Hindi)--"splendor"
  • Aditi (ah-DEE-tee, Hindi)--"freedom"
  • Aiman (eye-MAHN, Kazakh)--"beauty of the moon"
  • Áine (AW-nyeh, Irish)--"radiance"
  • Aisling (AHSH-leeng, Irish)--"dream"
  • Aoibhe (EE-vah, Irish)--"beauty"
  • Argiñe (ahr-gee-nyeh, Basque)--"light"
  • Audrey (AW-dree, English)--"noble strength"
  • Beata (beh-AH-tah, Latin)--"blessed"
  • Bracha (BRAH-khah, Hebrew)--"blessing"
  • Caoimhe (KWEE-vah, Irish)--"beauty". Anglicized to Keeva.
  • Carwen (KAHR-wen, Welsh)--"pure love"
  • Daina (DAY-nah, Lithuanian; DYE-nah, Latvian)--"song"
  • Dipika (dee-PEE-kah, Hindi)--"light"
  • Duana (DOO-an-ah, Irish)--"poem, song"
  • Feray (feh-RYE, Turkish)--"radiance of the moon"
  • Fotini (foh-tee-NEE, Greek)--"light"
  • Gita (GEE-tah, Hindi)--"song"
  • Hikari (hee-kah-ree, Japanese)--"light"
  • Indira (IN-dih-rah, Hindi)--"beauty"
  • Jyoti (jyot-EE, Hindi)--"light"
  • Kanti (KAHN-tee, Hindi)--"beauty"
  • Kavita (KAH-vee-tah, Hindi)--"poem, poetry"
  • Keren (keh-rehn, Hebrew)--"ray of light"
  • Lesedi (leh-seh-DEE, Tswana)--"light"
  • Lucy (LOO-see, English)--from Latin, "light". Other forms include Lucia, Luce, Lucille, Lucette, Lux, Luz, and Luzia.
  • Luule (LOO-leh, Estonian)--"poetry"
  • Masego (mah-seh-hoh, Tswana)--"blessing"
  • Megumi (meh-goo-mee, Japanese)--"blessing"
  • Mele (meh-leh, Hawaiian)--"song"
  • Nadra (NAH-drah, Arabic)--"radiance"
  • Nima (NEE-mah, Arabic)--"blessing"
  • Noya (no-yah, Hebrew)--"beauty"
  • Nur (NOOR, Arabic)--"light". Other forms include Nuru (NOO-roo, Swahili).
  • Säde (SAD-eh, Finnish)--"ray of light"
  • Sana (SAH-nah, Arabic)--"brilliance"
  • Saoirse (SEER-shah, Irish)--"freedom"
  • Sanja (SAHN-yah, Croatian, Serbian)--"dream"
  • Shira (shee-rah, Hebrew)--"poetry"
  • Solveig (SOHL-vay, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "strength of the sun"
  • Svajonė (svah-YOH-nyeh, Lithuanian)--"dream"
  • Svatava (svah-tah-VAH, Czech)--"light" or "world". Another form is Svetlana (Russian, Slavic)
  • Thi (TEE, Vietnamese)--"poem"
  • Treasa (TRAH-sah, Irish)--"strength"

Unisex:
  • Amets (ah-mehts, Basque)--"dream"
  • Li (LEE, Chinese)--"reason" or "strength" [several other meanings possible depending on the characters]
  • Liron (lee-rohn, Hebrew)--"my song"
  • Noa (noh-ah, Hawaiian)--"freedom"
  • Ori (oh-ree, Hebrew)--"my light"
  • Shir (SHEER, Hebrew)--"song"

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Same Name?!?--Sarah

Sweet, classical Sarah. Thanks to the Biblical matriarch (and probably her meaning as well--"princess"), she's been common for generations. Her spike in the 80s means she's usually stereotyped as an "our generation" name, like Jessica or Heather, but surprisingly, she's still in the top 50.
Fairly simple in sound, Sarah/Sara is used throughout the world with very little alteration. Her diversity lies mainly in diminutives, many of which are now in use as given names.

Original Hebrew form: Sarah [שָׂרָה] (sah-RAH)

Other forms:
  • Kala (KAH-lah, Hawaiian)
  • Sadie (SAY-dee, English)
  • Saija (SYE-ah, Finnish)
  • Sally (SAL-lee, English)
  • Sari (SAH-ree, Finnish, Hungarian)
  • Sarit (sah-REET, Hebrew)
  • Sassa (SAHS-sah, Scandinavian) [also a form of Alexandra or Astrid]
  • Suri (SOO-ree, Yiddish)
  • Tzeitel (tZYE-tel, Yiddish)

Saturday, January 26, 2013

U-La-La!

Well, I've done I-names and O-names, so now it time for me to continue the trend of underused letters, this time with U.
Only 4 names starting with U appear in the US top 1000--Urijah, Uriel, Uriah, & Ulises.
Ursula charted in the past, and Unique more recently, but currently there are zero U-names in the girls' Top 1000!


Boys:
  • Ualan (ooAH-lan, WAH-lan, Scottish)--form of Valentine
  • Uberto (oo-BEHR-toh, Italian)--form of Hubert
  • Ùisdean (OOSH-jun, Scottish)
  • Ulderico (ool-deh-REE-koh, Italian)
  • Ulfilas (ool-FEE-las, Gothic/Germanic)--"little wolf"
  • Uljas (OOL-yahs, Finnish)--"noble, valiant"
  • Ulric (OOL-rik, English)--from Germanic, "rich heritage"
  • Ultan (UL-tan, Irish)
  • Ulvi (ool-VEE, Turkish)--"exalted"
  • Umar (OO-mar, Arabic)
  • Ümit (EU-meet, Turkish)--"hope"
  • Unathi (oo-NAH-tee, Xhosa)--"God is with us"
  • Untamo (oon-TAH-moh, Finnish)
  • Uolevi (OO-oh-leh-vee, Finnish)--form of Olaf/Oliver
  • Urard (UR-ard, Irish)--"tall"
  • Urban (OOR-bahn, German, Scandinavian, Slovene)--from Latin, "city dweller"
  • Usko (OOS-koh, Finnish)--"faith"
  • Usman (OOS-mahn, Arabic)
  • Uspaig (OOS-pek, Scottish)--from Old Norse, "wild"
  • Uxío (oo-SHEE-ah, Galician)--form of Eugene
  • Uzziel (oo-zee-EL, UZ-ee-el, English)--from Hebrew, "God is my power"
Girls:
  • Uaine (oo-AHN-yeh, WAHN-yeh, Irish)--"greenish"
  • Udane (oo-dah-neh, Basque)--"summer"
  • Uliana (ool-YAH-nah, Russian)--form of Juliana
  • Ülkü (eul-KEU, Turkish)--"ideal"
  • Ulrika (ool-REE-kah, Scandinavian, German)--feminine of Ulric
  • Ulviye (ool-VEE-yeh, Turkish)--feminine of Ulvi
  • Umeko (oo-meh-koh, Japanese)
  • Una (OON-ah, Irish)
  • Undine (oon-DEE-neh, UN-deen, English & German)--from Latin, "wave"
  • Unelma (OON-el-mah, Finnish)--"dream"
  • Ursa (UR-sah, OOR-sah, Latin)--"bear"
  • Usha (OO-shah, Hindi)--"dawn"
  • Usoa (oo-soh-ah, Basque)--"dove". Another form is Uxue (oo-shoo-eh). 
  • Ustinya (oos-TEEN-yah, Russian)--form of Justine
  • Uxía (oo-SHEE-ah, Galician)--form of Eugenia

Friday, January 18, 2013

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Carrie/Kari

The usual nickname for the classic Caroline, Carrie also has a timeless feel, although its use as a given name  has tanked over the last three decades. Her cousin Kari ("kah-ree", not "kehr-ee"), originally a nickname for Katarina, had a brief spike in the 70/80s, and I'm honestly surprised she's so rare now.
There're surprisingly few names that lead to Carrie, at least in my accent, and I imagine that can vary greatly by region. So, I'm combining Carrie & Kari into a list for both:

  • Caridad (kah-ree-DAHD, Spanish)--"charity"
  • Carita (kah-REE-tah, Scandinavian)
  • Carlota (kahr-LOH-tah, Portuguese, Spanish)--form of Charlotte. Italian form is Carlotta.
  • Carme (KAHR-meh, Catalan)--form of Carmen
  • Carola (kah-ROH-lah, Italian, German, Scandinavian). Also spelled Karola.
  • Hikari (hee-kah-ree, Japanese)--"light". Unisex form is Hikaru.
  • Inkeri (EEN-keh-ree, Finnish)--form of Ingrid.
  • Karella (kah-REL-lah, Scandinavian)--feminine of Karel/Karl/Charles
  • Karesinda (kah-reh-SEEN-dah, Esperanto)--"worthy of caress"
  • Karima (kah-REE-mah, Arabic)--"noble"
  • Karishma (kah-RISH-mah, Hindi)--"miracle"
  • Karstine (kar-STEE-neh, German)--form of Christine
  • Kerensa (keh-REN-zah, Cornish)--"love"
  • Kerttuli (KEHR-too-lee, Finnish)--form of Gertrude
  • Macaria (mah-KAH-ree-ah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Latin, "blessed"

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Same Name?!--Bridget

Poor confused Bridget. To some, she's an underused classic; to others, inescapably 70s'; and to many, quintessential Irish. One of the many goddess-names that has made it into common use; she's also the name of two saints, and has thus spread throughout the Western World.

Original Irish form: Brighid (BREED. BREEJ)
English form: Bridget (BRIJ-et)

Other forms:
  • Berit (BEHR-it)--Scandinavian
  • Birgitta (beer-GEE-tah)--Scandinavian
  • Bricia (BREE-see-ah)--Spanish [may also be from Bricius]
  • Brighde (BREE-jeh)--Scottish
  • Brigida (BREE-hee-dah)--Spanish
  • Brígida (BREE-zhee-dah)--Portuguese
  • Brigitte (bree-ZHEET)--French
  • Brygida (bri-GEE-dah)--Polish
  • Ffraid (FRIDE)--Welsh
  • Piritta (PEER-eet-tah)--Finnish

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

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


  • Benedict (BEN-eh-dikt, English)
    • Bengt (BENGT, Swedish)
    • Benito (ben-EE-toh, Italian)
    • Bennett (BEN-net, English)
    • Benoit (ben-WAH, French)
  • Laurence (LAW-rents, LOH-rents, English)
    • Labhrás (LAHV-rahs, LOW-rahs, Irish)
    • Lars (LAHRS, Scandinavian)
  • Steven (STEE-ven, English)
    • Esteban (es-TEH-bahn, Spanish)
    • Étienne (ay-TYEN, French)
    • István (EEST-vahn, Hungarian)
    • Tapani (TAH-pah-nee, Finnish)
  • Thomas (TOM-as, English)
    • Tavish (TAH-vish, Scottish)--anglicized from Támhas
    • Tommaso (toh-MAH-zoh, Italian)
  • William (WIL-yam, English)
    • Guillaume (gee-OHM, French)
    • Guillermo (gee-EHR-moh, Spanish)
    • Gwilym (GWIL-um, Welsh)
    • Willis (WIL-lis, English)