Taxonymy....nymy? (flowers)

Okay, yes, I have a lot of flower-name posts already. But, despite all those, I'm sure I can find more (plus, it's my birthday and I wanna).

[Previous "Taxonymy....nymy" posts: butterflies, ferns, seabirds & shorebirds, songbirds, trees]

I will try to avoid names I've mentioned on here before, especially more well-known names, but some are just too pretty to omit. :) I will also be omitting flowering trees, since most of those were already mentioned on my aforementioned trees post, as well as orchids, because they deserve their own list.

(all names are genera unless otherwise specified)

• Acaena
• Adriana
• Alcea
• Aletris
• Alisma
• Allium
• Althaea
• Alyxia
• Ambrosina
• Anticlea
• Aristaloe
• Aristea
• Astelia
• Astonia
• Bellevalia
• Caesia
• Calathea (also common name)
• Calla
• Callisia
• Calluna
• Calydorea
• Canna (also common name)
• Carex
• Carlina
• Cassiope
• Celosia
• Cistanthe
• Cleome
• Cleomella (also common name)
• Clivia
• Cordia
• Cressa
• Cyanella
• Danae
• Dianella
• Dioclea
• Elettaria
• Eurybia
• Genista
• Gloriosa
• Halenia
• Hestia
• Inula
• Ismene
• Iva
• Ixia
• Ixora
• Jovellana
• Lanaria
• Liatris
• Lilaea (also common name)
• Lilium
• Liriope
• Lissanthe
• Menodora
• Milla
• Muilla (also common name)
• Moraea
• Nerine (also common name)
• Nicandra
• Nolina
• Ottelia
• Paris
• Pereskia
• Philesia
• Phycella
• Rivina
• Roseling (common name)
• Ruscus
• Scilla
• Silene
• Solandra
• Stellaria
• Tacca
• Triantha
• Tulista
• Velleia
• Vellozia
• Xyris
• Ypsilandra
• Zenobia
• Zephyra
• Zizia

Taxonymy...nymy? (Seabirds & Shorebirds)

Oh, I miss the beach. While I wouldn't recommend 'booby' or 'haematopus', there are some really nice-sounding seabird names. :)
Oddly, unlike the butterflies or the songbirds, only a few seem to be based on human given names or surnames.

(all are genera, unless specified as common name)

• Aethia
• Agamia
• Alca
• Alle
• Aphriza
• Ardea
• Ardenna
• Ardeola
• Arenaria
• Avocet (common name)
• Calidris
• Cormorant (common name)
• Curlew (common name)
• Diomedea
• Dunlin (common name)
• Egretta
• Esacus
• Fregata
• Fulmar (common name)
• Gannet (common name)
• Guillemot (common name)
• Heron (common name)
• Ibis (common name)
• Jacana (common name)
• Larus
• Limosa
• Lugensa
• Morus
• Murrelet (common name)
• Petrel (common name)
• Phaethon
• Rissa
• Skua (common name)
• Sula
• Thalassoica
• Umbrette (common name)
• Vanellus
• Xema

Flowers, Please

The holidays are over; winter can be over now too, thanks. ;)
I was thinking the other day about names with "flower" meanings, specifically Greek -antha/anthe names, but I wonder if other languages have a fun selection as well....
(unless otherwise noted, all names are feminine)
[Anglicized spellings/pronunciations given for the ancient Greek names]

• Acalanthis (ak-ah-LAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "thorn-flower"
• Aika (ah-ee-kah, Japanese)--"indigo flower" or "love flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Amaranthis (am-ah-RAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "ditch flower" [specifically, usually catchfly or basil]. Masculine form was Amaranthus. 
• Anthemion (an-THEM-ee-on, [ancient] Greek)--"little flower" [unisex; spelled/pronounced the same for both genders in English, but not in Greek]
• Arianthes (ar-ee-AN-theez, ehr-ee-AN-theez, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "best flower" [masculine]. Another form was Arianthus [also masculine]. 
• Ayaka (ah-yah-kah, Japanese)--"color flower"
• Bellaflor (BEL-lah-flohr, [medieval] Italian)--from Latin, "beautiful flower". Other forms included Fiorabella and Belleflos. 
• Blanchefleur (blawn-sheh-fleur, [medieval] French)--"white flower"
• Bláthnat (BLAH-nat, Irish)--"little flower". Variants include Bláithín (BLAH-een) and Bláithnaid (BLAH-nad). 
• Blodwen (BLAHD-wen, Welsh)--"white flower"
• Bryanthis (brye-AN-this, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "full flower". Masculine form was Bryanthus. 
• Calanthe (kah-LAN-thee, English)--from Greek, "beautiful flower" [an orchid genus]
• Calfuray (kal-foo-RYE, Spanish, Mapuche)--from Mapudungan, "violet flower"
• Callistanthe (kal-lis-TAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"most beautiful flower"
• Charianthe (kar-ee-AN-thee, kehr-ee-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "graceful flower". Masculine form was Charianthus. 
• Chrysanthe (kris-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"golden flower". Other forms included Chrysanthis and Chrysanthus [masculine]. 
• Cleanthes (klee-AN-theez, [ancient] Greek)--"glory flower" [masculine]. Other forms include Cleanthus [ancient, masculine], Cleanthis [klee-AN-this, ancient, feminine], Kleanthis [kleh-AHN-theez, modern, masculine], and Kleanthi [kleh-AHN-thee, modern, unisex]
• Cyminanthe (kim-in-AN-thee, sim-in-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "cumin flower"
• Diantha (dee-AHN-thah, Dutch; dee-AN-thah, dye-AN-thah, English)--from Greek "divine flower" [from another flower genus, Dianthus]
• Edanthe (eh-DAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "delightful flower"
• Evanthe (ev-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"good flower". Other forms include Evantha [ancient], Evanthus [ancient, masculine], Evanthis [ev-AN-this, ancient, feminine], and Evanthis [ev-AHN-theez, modern, masculine]. 
• Finscoth (FEEN-skuh, Irish [mythology])--prob. "vine flower" or "white flower"
• Fioralba (fee-or-AHL-bah, Italian, Albanian)--"dawn flower"
• Fiorella (fee-oh-REL-lah, Italian)--"little flower". Another form is Fioretta. 
• Florimel (FLOH-rim-el, [literary] English)--from Latin "honey flower"
• Fumika (foo-mee-kah, Japanese)--"history flower" or "wealth flower"
• Fuyuka (foo-yoo-kah, Japanese)--"winter flower"
• Golnar (gohl-NAHR, Persian)--"pomegranate flower"
• Golnaz (gohl-NAHZ, Persian)--"pride flower"
• Glycanthis (glye-KAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--"sweet flower"
• Haruka (hah-roo-kah, Japanese)--"spring flower" [other translations possible, some unisex/masculine, depending on characters]
• Helianthe (hee-lee-AN-thee, English; heh-lee-AHN-theh, Dutch)--"sun flower" [from another flower genus, Helianthus]
• Hiroka (hee-roh-kah, Japanese)--"wise flower" or "wealth flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Honoka (hoh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"harmony flower"
• Ianthe (eye-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"violet flower"
• Iolanthe (eye-oh-LAN-thee, [literary] English)--prob. from Greek "violet flower"
• Melantho (mel-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--"dark flower". Other forms include Melanthe [ancient], Melanthus [ancient, masculine], Melanthis [mel-AN-this, ancient, feminine], and Melanthis [mel-AHN-theez, modern, masculine]
• Melianthus (mel-ee-AN-thus, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "honey flower" [masculine]
• Mika (mee-kah, Japanese)--"beautiful flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Millaray (mee-yah-RYE, Spanish; meel-lah-RYE, Mapuche)--from Mapudungan, "golden flower"
• Neantho (nee-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "new flower". Other forms included Neanthis and Neanthes [masculine]. 
• Nicanthe (nik-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"victory flower"
• Nonoka (noh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"field flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Oenanthe (ee-NAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"vine-flower" or "wine flower" [specifically usually grape, sometimes dropwort]. Other forms included Oenanthis and Oenanthes [masculine].
• Philantho (fil-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--"beloved flower". Masculine form was Philanthus. 
• Polyanthis (pahl-ee-AN-this, [ancient] Greek)--"many flowers". Masculine form was Polyanthus. 
• Prianthe (pree-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "oak flower" or "ridge flower". Another form was Prianthis.
• Pualani (poo-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly flower"
• Puanani (poo-ah-nah-nee, Hawaiian)--"beautiful flower"
• Reika (ray-kah, Japanese)--"beautiful flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Rika (ree-kah, Japanese)--"pear flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Rodanthi (roh-DAHN-thee, Greek)--"rose flower". Another [ancient] form was Rhodanthis. 
• Ruka (roo-kah, Japanese)--"lapis flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Setsuka (set-soo-kah, Japanese)--"snow flower"
• Sonoka (soh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"garden flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Timantha (tim-AN-thah, [ancient] Greek)--"prized flower". Other forms included Timanthis and Timanthes [masculine]. 
• Tomoka (toh-moh-kah, Japanese)--"wise flower" or "companion flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
• Yuka (yoo-kah, Japanese)--"fond flower" or "reason flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]

Taxonymy....nymy? (ferns)

Fern is kind of an odd name if you think about it. I mean, we don't call kids 'Algae' or 'Angiosperm' or 'Conifer' (although...Conifer could actually kind of work).
Ferns are a unique group of plants--they're complex with many different specialized cells, but don't have seeds or flowers, and instead reproduce with spores, like algae & fungi.
They're also not as large a group as the flowering plants, but I bet we can still find some fun potential names. :)
(all are genera, not common names)

• Azolla
• Ceradenia
• Christella
• Cyathea
• Danaea
• Davallia
• Drynaria
• Kaulinia
• Lindsaea
• Llavea
• Marattia
• Marsilea
• Matonia
• Mickelia
• Mohria
• Oleandra
• Onoclea
• Osmunda
• Paesia
• Pellaea
• Pteris
• Ptisana
• Rumohra
• Salvinia
• Vittaria

Nature in Other Languages

It's probably pretty obvious by now that I love nature names. And of all the nature-y posts I've done so far, I think "Plants in Other Languages" is probably one of my favorites. Naturally, I've now decided to try another along those lines, but widening the field to all nature word-names. :) And so, here are translations of the 12 most common nature-names in the US (minus the plant-names).
*Asterisks indicate the name is already in use in that language, and, unless otherwise indicated, feminine.

Savannah

• Sabana (sah-BAH-nah)--Spanish
• Safana (sah-FAH-nah)--Arabic
• Savana (sah-VAH-nah)--Greek, Italian, Portuguese
• Savane (sah-VAN)--French
• Savanne (sah-VAH-neh)--Dutch, German, Norwegian
• Savanni (SAH-vahn-nee)--Finnish

Autumn

• Aki (ah-kee)--Japanese* [many other kanji/meanings also, some unisex or masculine]
• Automne (oo-tawn)--French*
• Esen (EH-sen)--Bulgarian, Macedonian
• Fómhar (FOH-var)--Irish
• Güz (gooz)--Turkish*
• Jesień (YESH-en)--Polish [*surname]
• Ósen (OH-seen)--Russian
• Payiz (pah-EES)--Persian
• Sharad (SHAH-rad)--Hindi* [masculine]
• Stav (stahv)--Hebrew* [unisex]

Aurora

• Gealán (GAL-awn)--Irish
• Selas (SEH-las)--Greek

Ruby

• Odem (oh-dem)--Hebrew
• Rubiini (ROO-bee-nee)--Finnish
• Rubin (ROO-been)--German, Danish, Hungarian, Polish, Norwegian, Swedish (and probably others)
• Rubino (roo-BEE-noh)--Italian [*surname]

Jade

• Giada (JAH-dah)--Italian*
• Jade (zhahd)--French*
• Jade (YAH-deh)--German, Finnish
• Jade (ZHAH-thee [th like in 'this'])--Portuguese*
• Jade (HAH-day)--Spanish
• Nephritis (nef-FREE-tees)--Greek

River

• Aven (AH-ven)--Breton
• Fluss (floos)--German
• Ibai (ee-bye)--Basque* [masculine]
• Nadi (NAH-dee)--Hindi
• Nahar (NAH-har)--Arabic [*same spelling is a surname, but stressed on the second syllable, and means "day"]
• Nahar (nah-HAR)--Hebrew* [unisex]
• Reka (REH-kah)--Russian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Slovene
• Rika (REE-kah)--Ukrainian
• Río (REE-oh)--Spanish, Galician
• Rivière (reev-YEHR)--French [*surname]

August

• Elokuu (EH-loh-koo)--Finnish
• Eost (AY-ohst)--Breton
• Lúnasa (LOON-uh-sah)--Irish

Jasper

• Biyu (bee-yoo)--Mandarin*
• Diaspro (dee-AHS-proh)--Italian
• Jasma (YAHSH-mah)--Russian
• Jaspe (zhasp)--French
• Jaspe (ZHAZ-pee)--Portuguese
• Jaspe (HAHS-pay)--Spanish
• Jaspis (YAHS-pis)--German, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Norwegian, Czech
• Yeşim (YESH-im)--Turkish*

Summer 

• Été (AY-tay)--French
• Haf (hahv)--Welsh*
• Kesä (KEH-sa [short a, like in 'cat'])--Finnish [*surname]
• Léto (LEH-toh)--Czech, Russian
• Ljeta (LYEH-tah)--Belarusian
• Natsu (naht-soo)--Japanese* [usually combined with another character]
• Samhradh (SOW-rah)--Irish, Scottish
• Sayf (sah-eef)--Arabic
• Suvi (SOO-vee)--Estonian, Finnish*
• Uda (oo-dah)--Basque*
• Udara (oo-dah-rah)--Basque*
• Verano (vehr-AH-noh)--Spanish
• Verão (vehr-OW)--Portuguese
• Zomer (ZOH-mer)--Dutch [*surname]

(I actually had to leave out the next two here, sorry--Brooks because plurals are tricky, and Sienna because there just isn't a word for it in most other languages!)

Colt

• Bromach (BRAHM-akh)--Irish, Scottish
• Ju (joo)--Chinese [*surname, but with different characters/meaning]
• Varsa (VAHR-sah)--Finnish

Amber

• Ambra (AHM-brah)--Italian*
• Ambre (AWMbr)--French*
• Kohaku (koh-hah-koo)--Japanese* [unisex]
• Meripihka (MEHR-ee-pee-hkah)--Finnish
• Ómra (OHM-rah)--Irish
• Rav (rahv)--Norwegian

Ember

• Ascua (AHS-koo-ah)--Spanish
• Brasa (BRAH-sah)--Spanish
• Brasa (BRAH-zah)--Catalan, Portuguese
• Favilla (fah-VEEL-lah)--Latin
• Jamra (ZHAM-rah)--Arabic
• Kekäle (KEK-al-ay)--Finnish
• Pruna (PROO-nah)--Latin
• Sintel (SIN-tel)--Dutch
• Thraka (THRAH-kah)--Greek

Taxonymy....nymy? (trees)

Time for some more theoretical fun! Previously I found some songbird and butterfly genera that I thought might make decent human names (many are actually based on given names or surnames anyway), and today's post will feature trees and shrubs :)
(all are genera, unless specified as a common name)

• Acacia (also common name)
• Acer
• Agathis
• Aloe
• Annona
• Aralia
• Aronia
• Ash (common name)
• Aspen (common name)
• Camellia
• Canella
• Carya
• Cassia
• Castanea
• Cedrela
• Cedrus
• Ceiba
• Chione
• Clethra
• Cordia
• Cordyline
• Corylus
• Cydonia
• Cyrilla
• Daphne
• Durio
• Durian (common name)
• Duranta
• Erica
• Erythrina
• Eugenia
• Hawthorn (common name)
• Ilex
• Inga
• Kalmia
• Larix
• Laurel (common name)
• Laurus
• Linden (common name)
• Lyonia
• Magnolia (also common name)
• Melia
• Meryta
• Morinda (also common name)
• Myrica
• Myrsine
• Myrtle (common name)
• Nerium
• Nolina
• Nyssa
• Olea
• Persea
• Phoenix
• Plumeria
• Ravenea
• Rhus
• Robinia
• Rowan (common name)
• Sabal
• Savia
• Senna (also common name)
• Serenoa
• Sophora
• Suriana
• Tamarisk (common name)
• Tamarix
• Tilia
• Viburnum (also common name)
• Willow (common name)

Flowers A-Z

Happy Spring! I'm going to celebrate with a flower post! But, since I do have a tendency to go a bit overboard with the long lists, I'm imposing two rules on myself: one flower/name per letter, and only names I've not mentioned before on here.
*cracks knuckles*
Here we go.

• Aubretia (aw-BREE-shah)--also called Aubrieta (aw-bree-ET-tah) [does this count as breaking a rule already?]
• Bergenia (ber-GEEN-ee-ah, ber-JEN-ee-ah)
• Clematis (klem-AT-is, KLEM-ah-tis)
• Diascia (dye-AY-shah)
• Eglantine (EG-lan-tine, eg-lan-TEEN) [I tried to find something else, I really did. How are there so few flowers starting with E?]
• Freesia (FREE-zhah)
• Gaura (GOHR-ah, GAWR-ah)
• Heliantha (hee-lee-AN-thah) or Helianthe (hee-lee-AN-thee) [from Helianthus, a sunflower genus. Cheating?]
• 'Ilima (ee-LEE-mah)
• Justicia (jus-TIS-ee-ah, jus-TISH-ah)
• Kerria (KEHR-ee-ah)
• Lupin (LOO-pin)--also spelled Lupine (American English)
• Malva (MAHL-vah)
• Nigella (nye-JEL-lah)
• Orris (OR-ris)
• Plumeria (ploo-MEHR-ee-ah)
• Quince (KWINS)
• Ruellia (roo-EL-lee-ah)
• Scilla (SIL-lah)
• Tamarisk (TAM-ah-risk)--also called Tamarix (TAM-ah-riks)
• Ursinia (oor-SIN-ee-ah)
• Vinca (VEEN-kah)
• Wulfenia (wool-FEEN-ee-ah)
• Xeranthe (zehr-AN-thee) or Xerantha (zehr-AN-thah) [from Xeranthemum, another sunflower genus]
• Yarrow (YEHR-oh)--I failed. I've used Yarrow before, but I can't come up with any other flowering plants for Y. :(
• Zephyranthe (zef-er-AN-thee) [from Zephyranthes, an amaryllis genus]

Plants in Other Languages

Floral and other plant names are again having a heyday--Lily, Violet, Jasmine, Hazel, Willow, Ivy, etc. The boys are even getting into it with Rowan, Reed, and Sage. And while there's certainly no dearth of uncommon alternatives, I still thought it'd be fun to look at translations of the 12 most common plant names (ignoring the obvious cognates, like Lilja or Yasmin, because I need to save space!)
*Asterisks indicate the name is already in use in that language, and, unless otherwise indicated, feminine.


Lily

• Azucena (ah-soo-SEH-nah)--Spanish*
• Lelie (LAY-lee)--Dutch
• Lelija (LEL-ee-yah)--Lithuanian
• Lys (LEES)--French
• Nari (nah-ree)--Korean*
• Shoshana (shoh-shah-nah)--Hebrew* [also spelled Shoshannah]
• Sousan (soo-SAHN)--Persian* [also can be transliterated as Soosan or Susan]
• Yuri (yoo-ree)--Japanese*

Violet

• Fialka (fee-AHL-kah)--Czech, Russian, Slovak
• Fjóla (FYOH-lah)--Icelandic*
• Jincai (jin-kye)--Mandarin [*a male name, but with different characters/meaning]
• Ibolya (EE-boy-yah)--Hungarian*
• Orvokki (OR-vok-kee)--Finnish*
• Sigalit (see-gah-leet)--Hebrew*
• Sumire (soo-mee-reh)--Japanese*
• Waireti (WYE-reh-tee)--Maori*
• Ziluolan (zee-loo-oh-lahn)--Mandarin

Jasmine

• Giasemí (yah-seh-MEE)--Greek
• Iasomie (yah-SOHM-yay)--Romanian
• Matsuri (maht-soo-ree)--Japanese*
• Melati (meh-LAH-tee)--Indonesian*
• Moli (moh-lee)--Mandarin ["jasmine"]
• Molihua (moh-lee-hwah)--Mandarin ["jasmine flower"]

Hazel

• Aveleira (ah-veh-LEHR-ah)--Portuguese
• Avellano (ah-veh-YAH-noh)--Spanish
• Calltainn (KAHL-ten)--Scottish
• Coll (KAHL)--Irish
• Collen (CAH-hlen)--Welsh
• Corylus (KOR-ee-lus)--Latin
• Lazda (LAHZ-dah)--Latvian
• Leska (LEH-skah)--Slovene
• Líska (LEES-kah)--Czech
• Nocciolo (noh-CHYOH-loh)--Italian [accented on the first syllable, means "core" or "kernel"]

Willow

• Arava (ah-rah-VAH)--Hebrew* [also means "prairie"]
• Helygen (hel-IG-en)--Welsh
• Itiá--(ee-tee-AH)--Greek
• Íva (EE-vah)--Russian
• Liu (lee-oo)--Chinese [*surname]
• Paju (PAH-yoo)--Estonian, Finnish*
• Saule (SOLE)--French
• Selje (SEL-yeh)--Norwegian [also the name of a Norwegian city, probably of different origin]
• Varba (VUR-bah)--Bulgarian
• Verba (VUR-bah)--Ukrainian
• Vide (VEE-deh)--Swedish* [masculine]
• Víðir (VEE-deer)--Icelandic* [masculine]
• Weida (VYE-deh)--German [also means "pasture"]
• Yanagi (yah-nah-gee)--Japanese [*surname]

Ivy

• Edera (EH-dehr-ah)--Italian
• Eidheann (AY-yen)--Scottish
• Eidhneán (EYE-nan)--Irish
• Hedera (HED-ehr-ah)--Latin
• Hera (EHR-ah)--Portuguese
• Heura (ay-OOR-ah)--Catalan
• Hiedra (YEH-drah)--Spanish
• Iederă (YEH-deh-rah)--Romanian
• Lierre (lee-EHR)--French
• Muratti (MOOR-at-tee)--Finnish

Daisy

• Bellis (BEL-lis)--Latin [also means "wars" (dat/abl) or "pretty" (pl dat/abl)]
• Hinanit (khin-ahn-EET)--Hebrew
• Madelief (mah-deh-LEEF)--Dutch*
• Margaritka (mar-gar-IT-kah)--Bulgarian
• Margaritka (mar-gar-EET-kah)--Russian, Macedonian
• Marguerite (mar-geh-REET)--French*
• Neòinean (NAW-nen)--Scottish
• Nóinín (NOH-uh-neen)--Irish

Rose

• Gül (GOOL)--Turkish* [short 'oo', similar to English foot]
• Ruža (ROO-zhah)--Croatian*, Serbian*
• Trojánda (troh-YAHN-dah)--Ukrainian
• Vered (veh-red)--Hebrew*
• Warda (WAR-dah)--Arabic*
• Yueji (yoo-eh-jee)--Mandarin

Rowan 

• Caorthann (KWEHR-an)--Irish
• Cerddinen (kehr-THEE-nen)--Welsh [hard 'th', like in the]
• Eberesche (eh-beh-RESH-eh)--German
• Jarebika (yah-REH-bee-kah)--Croatian, Serbian
• Pihlaja (PEE-hlah-yah)--Finnish [*shortened form Pihla is used as a name]
• Reynir (RAY-neer)--Icelandic* [masculine]
• Sorveira (sohr-VAY-rah)--Portuguese
• Tis (TEES)--Persian

Iris

• Ayame (ah-yah-meh)--Japanese*
• Perunika (peh-ROO-nee-kah)--Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, Slovene

Olive

• Azeitona (ah-zay-TOH-nah)--Portuguese
• Elaía (el-EYE-ah)--Ancient Greek
• Eliá (el-YAH)--Greek
• Maslina (mahs-LEE-nah)--Bulgarian
• Maslina (MAHS-lee-nah)--Russian, Serbian
• Maslyna (mahs-LEE-nah)--Ukrainian
• Oliven (oh-LEE-ven)--Danish, Norwegian, Swedish
• Ulli (OO-lee)--Albanian
• Zaituni (zye-TOO-nee)--Swahili*
• Zayit (zah-YEET)--Hebrew
• Zaytun (zay-TOON)--Arabic
• Zeituni (zay-TOO-nee)--Swahili*
• Zeytun (zay-TOON)--Persian

Reed

• Ashi (ah-shee)--Japanese
• Cana (KAH-nah)--Portuguese
• Canya (KAHN-yah)--Catalan
• Kaisla (KYE-slah)--Finnish*
• Kalami (kah-LAH-mee)--Greek
• Kamýsh (kah-MEESH)--Russian
• Nendrė (NEN-dray)--Lithuanian
• Ney (NAY)--Persian
• Qasaba (KAH-suh-bah)--Arabic [also means "town"]
• Rákosí (RAH-koh-see)--Czech
• Roseau (roh-zoh)--French
• Siv (SEEV)--Danish, Norwegian [*used as a name, but from a different derivation]
• Yoshi (yoh-shee)--Japanese [*unisex name, but with different kanji/meaning(s)]

Taxonymy.....nymy? (Songbirds)

A while back, I went looking for taxonomic names that can work as (or already are!) people-names, starting with butterflies. Now it's time for songbirds! We already have Robin, Lark, Wren, & Sparrow; and I bet we can find others. :)
(all are genera, unless specified as common name)

• Acanthis
• Alaemon
• Alauda
• Alcippe
• Alethe
• Allenia
• Amadina
• Anthus
• Arremon
• Atticora
• Cardellina
• Cardinal (common name)
• Carduelis
• Certhia
• Cettia
• Chrysomma
• Cinnyris
• Curaeus
• Cyornis
• Dunnock (common name)
• Elminia
• Emberiza
• Eminia
• Estrilda
• Euphonia
• Finch (common name)
• Galerida
• Heleia
• Hylia
• Hyliota
• Iduna
• Iole
• Irania
• Jery (common name)
• Junco 
• Leonardina
• Linaria
• Linnet (common name)
• Malia
• Martin (common name)
• Minla
• Mino
• Mirafra
• Munia
• Myna (common name)
• Nesillas
• Nicator
• Oenanthe
• Palila (common name)
• Palmeria
• Parus
• Petronia
• Pipit (common name)
• Prinia
• Prunella
• Quelea
• Regulus
• Remiz
• Rukia
• Sialia
• Sylvia
• Tanager (common name)
• Tersina
• Tesia
• Tiaris
• Timalia
• Verdin (common name)
• Weaver (common name)
• Yuhina

Taxonomy...-nymy?

It never ceases to amaze me how many names are also animal genera. Quite a few taxonomic names might make good people-names, too, it turns out.
Many of these of course have other references, but what do they all have in common? They're butterflies!

• Adelpha
• Aella
• Alaena
• Aldania
• Alenia
• Alesa
• Allora
• Amauris
• Anetia
• Aphrissa
• Arcas
• Archon
• Ariadne
• Aricia
• Arita
• Arletta
• Arnetta
• Aurina
• Bia
• Brenthis
• Bruna
• Calisto
• Calliana
• Caria
• Castilia
• Catia
• Cethosia
• Charis
• Colias
• Cordelia
• Coreana
• Cressida
• Cyrenia
• Dion
• Dione
• Drucina
• Elina
• Elodina
• Enantia
• Erynnis
• Eucheira
• Euthalia
• Glennia
• Greta
• Herona
• Iliana
• Imelda
• Inessa
• Iolana
• Iridana
• Issoria
• Jera
• Joanna
• Juditha
• Justinia
• Kallima
• Leona
• Levina
• Losaria
• Lucia
• Lucida
• Lycas
• Lysandra
• Marela
• Mathania
• Memphis
• Micandra
• Milena
• Miyana
• Morys
• Myrina
• Myrinia
• Nelia
• Nessaea
• Nicolaea
• Ocaria
• Odina
• Oleria
• Olynthus
• Palla
• Pamela
• Patia
• Patricia
• Phaedra
• Pierella
• Pontia
• Ravenna
• Rohana
• Sabina
• Sephisa
• Sovia
• Suniana
• Teria
• Terra
• Thecla
• Thereus
• Thessia
• Thisbe
• Timelaea
• Trina
• Una
• Urbanus
• Vanessa
• Viola
• Yramea
• Yvretta
• Zaretis
• Zea
• Zela
• Zera
• Zerene
• Zintha

Volcanoes!

You can thank my 7-year-old's obsession for this list. While watching a documentary on Icelandic volcanoes, I couldn't help but notice how interesting many of the names are. And so, another just-for-fun name post is born.
(note: none of these have done any major or modern destruction. :) )

• Amiata (ahm-YAH-tah)--Italy
• Dutton (DUT-ton)--USA
• Elbrus (EL-brus)--Russia
• Genovesa (hen-oh-VEH-sah, jen-oh-VEH-zah)--Ecuador ['Genoese' in Spanish & Portuguese]
• Graciosa (grah-see-OH-zah)--Portugal ['graceful, elegant' in Portuguese]
• Iraya (ee-RAH-yah)--Philippines
• Ischia (EES-kyah)--Italy
• Kaena (kah-eh-nah)--USA ['the heat' in Hawaiian]
• Katla (KAHT-lah)--Iceland [from Old Norse, 'helmet'] *a feminine name in Iceland
• Krýsuvík (KREE-soo-veek)--Iceland. Also spelled Krísuvík. 
• Yali (yah-LEE)--Greece. Also spelled Gyali or Yiali. ['glass' in Greek]
• Yelia (YEH-lee-ah)--Papua New Guinea
• Zimina (zee-MEE-nah)--Russia

Elemental Names (or Nominal Elements?)

I admit, I'm always looking for ways to make fun namesake posts. I already did female scientists (nowhere near a comprehensive list), and have been looking for some way to do a more guy-centered list about science--difficult, since well, there have been quite a few more male scientists than female, and they've gotten much more attention for their works.
I think I found a fun way, though: here are the people--male, female; fictional or real--who've had elements named for them (albeit occasionally in a round-about way). :)

• Albert Einstein--German physicist; Einsteinium (Es, 99)
• Alfred Nobel--Swedish chemist; Nobelium (No, 102)
• Cadmus (m)--figure in Greek mythology; Cadmium (Cd, 48)
• Ceres--Roman goddess; Cerium (Ce, 58)
• Dmitri Mendeleev--Russian chemist; Mendelevium (Md, 101)
• Enrico Fermi--Italian physicist; Fermium (Fm, 100)
• Ernest Lawrence--American physicist; Lawrencium (Lr, 103)
• Ernest Rutherford--British physicist; Rutherfordium (Rf, 104)
• Glenn T. Seaborg--American chemist; Seaborgium (Sg, 106)
• Iris--Greek goddess; Iridium (Ir, 77)
• Johan Gadolin--Finnish chemist; Gadolinium (Gd, 64)
• Lise Meitner--Austrian physicist; Meitnerium (Mt, 109)
• Marie Curie--French chemist; Curium (Cm, 96)
• Mercury--Roman god; Mercury (Hg, 80)
• Neptune--Roman god; Neptunium (Np, 93)
• Nicolaus Copernicus--Polish astronomer; Copernicium (Cn, 112)
• Niels Bohr--Danish physicist; Bohrium (Bh, 107)
• Niobe (f)--figure in Greek mythology; Niobium (Nb, 41)
• Pallas--alternate name for the goddess Athena; Palladium (Pd, 46)
• Pierre Curie--French chemist; Curium (Cm, 96)
• Pluto--Greek god; Plutonium (Pu, 94)
• Prometheus--Greek god; Promethium (Pm, 61)
• Tantalus (m)--figure in Greek mythology; Tantalum (Ta, 73)
• Thor--Norse god; Thorium (Th, 90)
• Uranus--Greek god; Uranium (U, 92)
• Vanadis--alternate name for the goddess Freyja; Vanadium (V, 23)
• Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets--Russian mining engineer; Samarium (Sm, 62)
• Wilhelm Roentgen--German physicist; Roentgenium (Rg, 111)

I admit, I was expecting more historical figures, and fewer mythological ones. Hmmph.

You're a Star (Pt 2)

A while back I did a post on names of stars, but I was recently struck on how nice names that mean "star" are--Stella, Estelle/Estella, Seren, Esther, and the like. And so, I just had to go looking for more, and of course, to see if the word 'star' in other languages has name-potential in the US. ;)

Established names (feminine unless otherwise indicated):

• Astraea (as-TRAY-ah, [Ancient] Greek)
• Citlalli (seet-LAH-lee, Nahuatl)--also spelled Citlali.
• Csilla (CHEE-lah, Hungarian)
• Dara (DAH-rah, Khmer) [masculine/unisex in other languages/origins]
• Dzvezda (ZVEZ-dah, Macedonian)
• Hoku (hoh-koo, Hawaiian) [unisex]
• Hoshi (hoh-shee, Japanese) 
• Izar (ee-sahr, Basque)
• Nthanda (nTAHN-dah, Tumbuka) [unisex]
• Nyota (NYOH-tah, Swahili)
• Setareh (seh-tah-RAY, Persian)--also spelled Setare.
• Sitara (sit-AH-rah, Hindi)
• Steluţă (steh-LOO-tsah, Romanian)
• Sterre (STEH-reh, Dutch)
• Tähti (TA [like in 'cat']-htee, Finnish)
• Tara (TAH-rah, Hindi)
• Twila (TWYE-lah, English)--from Cajun French étoile. Also spelled Twyla. [may also be derived from 'twilight']
• Whetu (FEH-too, Maori) [unisex]
• Yıldız (yil-diz, Turkish)
• Ylli (OO-lee, Albanian) [masculine]. Feminine is Yllka (OOL-kah). 
• Zvezdana (zvez-DAH-nah, Serbian)
• Zvjezdana (ZVYEZ-dah-nah, Croatian) 

Possibilities?

• Byeol (byohl, Korean)--also transliterated as Pyol (pyohl)
• Najm (NAH-jm, Arabic)--Masculine. Feminine is Najma. [also means "movie star"]
• Réalta (RAYL-tah, Irish)
• Reul (REE-ul, Scottish)
• Rionnag (RYOO-nahk, Scottish)--Feminine
• Tala (TAH-lah, Tagalog)
• Zírka (ZEER-kah, Ukrainian)--Feminine

Spring! 'Bout Time!

Well, it's finally here! In celebration of warmer weather, of Easter/Ostara, here are names that can be associated with the season.

Boys:

• Anastasiy (ah-nah-STAHS-ee, Bulgarian, Russian)--from Greek, "resurrection"
• Aviv (ah-VEEV, Hebrew)--"spring"
• Beathan (BEH-an, Scottish)--"life"
• Bion (bee-ohn, [ancient] Greek)--"life"
• Can (JAHN, Turkish)--"life, soul"
• Chayim (khah-YEEM, Hebrew)--"life". Also spelled Chayyim or Chaim.
• Eguzki (eh-goos-kee, Basque)--"sun"
• Elio (EL-yoh, Italian)--from Latin, "sun"
• Haruki (hah-roo-kee, Japanese)--"spring" + "hope", "rare", "precious", "star", "life", or "shine" [other meanings possible depending on kanji]
• Khurshid (khoor-SHEED, Persian)--"shining sun"
• Kusuma (koo-SOO-mah, Indonesian)--"flower"
• Oran (OH-rahn, Irish)--"little green one"
• Pascal (pahs-KAHL, French, Dutch)--from Latin, "Easter". Over forms include Pasquale (Italian), Pascual (Spanish), Pasco (Cornish), & Paskal (Bulgarian, Macedonian) 
• Rabi (RAH-bee, Arabic)--"spring"
• Ravi (RAH-vee, Hindi)--"sun"
• Renatus (reh-NAH-tus, Latin)--"reborn". Other forms include René & Renato.
• Sorin (soh-REEN, Romanian)--"sun"
• Tsvetan (tsveh-TAHN, Bulgarian)--"flower"
• Vitale (vih-TAHL-eh, Italian)--from Latin, "of life". Other forms are Vitalis (Latin), Vitaliy (Russian) & Vidal (Spanish)
• Vito (VEE-toh, Italian, Spanish)--from Latin, "life"
• Walid (wah-LEED, Arabic)--"born"
• Ziyad (zee-YAHD, Arabic)--"growth"
• Zotikos (zoh-tee-KOS, Greek)--"full of life"

Girls:

• Anastasia (an-ah-STAY-zhah, English, ah-nah-STAHS-yah, Russian)--feminine of Anastasiy
• Anfisa (ahn-FEE-sah, Russian)--from Greek, "flower"
• Anthea (an-THEE-ah, an-THEH-ah, English)--from Greek, "flower"
• Arevik (ah-ray-VEEK, Albanian)--"sun"
• Aviva (ah-vee-vah, Hebrew)--feminine of Aviv.
• Ayaka (ah-yah-kah, Japanese)--"color" + "flower" or "petal" [other meanings possible depending on kanji]
• Bahar (bah-HAHR, Persian)--"spring"
• Beathag (BEH-ak, Scottish)--feminine of Beathan
• Bláthnat (BLAH-nat, Irish)--"little flower"
• Bluma (BLOO-mah, Yiddish)--"flower"
• Bopha (boh-PAH, Khmer)--"flower"
• Calanthe (kah-LAN-thee, English)--from Greek, "beautiful flower". Another form is Calanthia.
• Ceres (KEH-rehs, Latin; SEH-rez, English)--from Latin, "to grow"
• Chaya (khah-YAH, Hebrew)--feminine of Chayim
• Chloe (KLOH-ee, English)--from Greek, "green shoot"
• Chrysanta (krih-SAN-tah, English)--from Greek, "golden flower"
• Cvetka (TSVET-kah, Slovene)--"blossom"
• Diantha (dee-AHN-than, English; dee-AHN-tah, Dutch)--from Greek, "heavenly flower"
• Eliana (eh-lee-AH-nah, Italian)--from Latin, "of the sun". French form is Éliane.
• Enid (EE-nid, English; EH-need, Welsh)--from Welsh, "life, soul"
• Evanthe (eh-VAHN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"good flower"
• Fiorella (fee-oh-REL-lah, Italian)--"little flower"
• Flora (FLOHR-ah, Latin)--"flower". Goddess of spring.
• Gonca (gohn-JAH, Turkish)--from Persian, "flower bud"
• Hana (hah-nah, Japanese)--"flower"
• Haruka (hah-roo-kah, Japanese)--"spring" + "flower"
• Honoka (hoh-noh-kah, Japanese--"harmony" + "flower"
• Hua (hoo-ah, Chinese)--"flower"
• Ianthe (ee-AHN-thee, eye-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"violet flower"
• Leilani (lay-LAH-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly flower"
• Liv (LEEV, Scandinavian)--"life" [also means "protection"]
• Lore (loh-reh, Basque)--"flower"
• Lule (LOO-leh, Albanian)--"flower"
• Luljeta (lool-YEH-tah, Albanian)--"flower of life"
• Malai (mah-LYE, Thai)--"garland of flowers"
• Mali (mah-LEE, Thai)--"flower"
• Mei (may, Japanese)--"bud" + "life" or "reliant"
• Midori (mee-doh-ree, Japanese)--"green"
• Moe (moh-eh, Japanese)--"sprout"
• Orna (OR-nah, Irish)--feminine of Oran. Another form is Ornat.
• Pascale (pahs-KAL, French)--feminine of Pascal.
• Pranvera (prahn-VEHR-ah, Albanian)--"spring"
• Rayen (rah-YEN, Spanish)--from Mapuche, "flower"
• Renata (reh-NAH-tah, Latin)--feminine of Renatus. Others forms include Renée & Renita.
• Saulė (SOW-lay, Lithuanian)--"sun". Goddess of the sun.
• Sethunya (set-HOON-yah, Tswana)--"flower"
• Sol (SOHL, Portuguese, Spanish)--"sun"
• Soleil (soh-LAY, English)--from French, "sun"
• Rabi'a (rah-BEE-ah, Arabic)--feminine of Rabi
• Solveig (SOOL-vye, SOOL-vay, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "strength of the sun"
• Sorina (soh-REE-nah, Romanian)--feminine of Sorin
• Sunčana (SOON-chah-nah, Croatian)--"sunny"
• Sunniva (SOO-nee-vah, Norwegian)--from Old English, "gift of the sun"
• Tesni (TES-nee, Welsh)--"warm sunshine"
• Verna (VER-nah, English)--from Latin, "spring"
• Vesna (VES-nah, Slavic)--"spring" [poetic]
• Vita (VEE-tah, Italian)--feminine of Vito
• Vitalia (vee-TAHL-yah, Italian)--feminine of Vitale
• Zahrah (ZAH-hrah, Arabic)--"bloom" 
• Zoe (ZOH-ee, English; ZOH-eh, Italian)--from Greek, "life"

Unisex:

• Chun (choon, Chinese)--"spring"
• Haru (hah-roo, Japanese)--"spring"
• Nitzan (neet-ZAHN, Hebrew)--"flower bud"
• Xuân (swahn, Vietnamese)--"spring"

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, Jade, Opal, Pearl, Amber, Emery, & Coral are all pretty recognizable, and several more have been in rarer use as well--Amethyst, Garnet, Celestine, Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, Hyacinth, Beryl.
And so, here are a few more gems & minerals that could be used as names, IMO.

• Agate (AG-at, English; ah-GAHT, French)
• Ametrine (AM-eh-treen)
• Barytes (bah-RYE-teez) [archaic]
• Cadmia (KAD-mee-ah) [archaic]
• Chalcedony (kal-SED-oh-nee)
• Citrine (SIT-reen, SIT-rin)
• Covelline (KOH-vel-leen)
• Euclase (YOO-clays)
• Galena (gah-LEE-nah, gah-LEH-nah)
• Jacinth (JAY-sinth, jah-SINTH)
• Olivine (OL-ih-veen)
• Peridot (PEHR-ih-doh, PEHR-ih-dot)
• Tourmaline (TOHR-mah-leen, TOOR-mah-leen)

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].

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"