Nicholas

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Sebastiane

Origin: Greek
Meaning: “victory of the people.”

Today is St. Nicholas Day! So, I thought, what a perfect opportunity to blog about the name Nicholas and all his myriad variations.

This is an update of a post I wrote three years ago in December. I thought I would rerun it with some updates.

The name is derived from the Greek, Νικόλαος, (Nikolaos), which is composed of the Greek words νικη (níkē), meaning, “victory” and λαὸς (laos), meaning, “people.” λαὸς (laos) could also derive from the Greek root word, λας (-las) as in “λα-τομεῑο“, which means, “stone” “rock”, as in Greek mythology it was believed that all humans were formed from the stones that Deucalion and Pyrrah threw over their shoulders as they were running.

In the post-Christian world, the name Nicholas was popularized through the cult of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, (the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus). He was known for his acts of charity toward the poor, the most popular story being that he saved a local poor man’s daughters from lives of prostitution by dropping gold nuggets down the man’s chimney so that the man could pay for his debts instead of selling his daughters.

St. Nicholas is a very popular saint in both the Eastern and Western Churches.

The name was introduced into England in the form of Nicholas, though the sans H version has also its share of usage in the Anglophone world. Nicholas first came into usage in England around the 12th-century and remained common even through the period of the Reformation. Currently, Nicholas is the 42nd most popular male name for boys in the United States, (2011). His rankings in all his various forms in other countries are as follows:

# 1 (Nika/Nikoloz(i), Georgia, 2011)
# 3 (Nikola, Macedonia, 2006)
# 3 (Nikola, Serbia, 2011)
# 5 (Nikolay, Bulgaria, 2009)
# 5 (Nikolaos, Greece, 2010)
# 6 (Nicolás, Argentina, 2009)
# 9 (Nicolás, Columbia, 2011)
# 9 (Nicolás, Mexico, 2011)
# 15 (Nicholas/Nick/Nicholai/Nicoló, Malta, 2011)
# 16 (Mikołaj, Poland, 2009)
# 22 (Nicolò, Italy, 2010)
# 22 (Nicolas, Spain, 2010)
# 24 (Niklas, Austria, 2010)
# 27 (Nikola, Croatia, 2009)
# 29 (Nicolas, Belgium, 2008)
# 31 (Nikolaj, Denmark, 2011)
# 36 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 36 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 45 (Nikolai, Norway, 2011)
# 51 (Nicolas, Catalonia, 2010)
# 56 (Nicolas, Austria, 2010)
# 69 (Nicolas, France, 2010)
# 72 (Miklós, Hungary, 2011)
# 75 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 82 (Nikola, Slovenia, 2010)
# 93 (Niklas, Norway, 2011)
# 94 (Nikola, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010)
# 168 (Nicolas, United States, 2011)
# 181 (Scotland, 2010)
# 332 (Nicolaas, Netherlands, 2011)
# 451 (Nicolas, Netherlands, 2011)
# 473 (Nikolas, United States, 2011)
# 550 (Nickolas, United States, 2011)
# 639 (Nikolai, United States, 2011)

Other forms of the name include the following, (divided alphabetically by linguistic origin):

Latinate Forms
Variations used in Latin languages

Micolau (Catalan)
Nicolau (Catalan/Galician/Occitanian/Portuguese)
Niculaiu (Corsican)
Nicoty (Brusseler: a French dialect)
Colin (French: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name, not to be confused with the Celtic Colin/Collin which has a completely different etymology and pronunciation)
Nicolas/Nico (French: diminutive forms are Colas, Coliche, Colineau, Coya, Koni, Nic, Nico and Nikko)
Coletto/Colino (Italian: obscure)
Niccola/Nicola (Italian: Cola is a diminutive form)
Nicolai (Italian)
Nicolao (Italian)
Niccolò/Niccolo/Nicolò (Italian)
Nicoletto (Italian: obscure)
Niccolino/Nicolino (Italian: obscure)
Nico (Italian/Romanian/Spanish: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
Nicolás/Colás (Leonese)
Nicu (Leonese/Romanian: originally diminutive forms, used as independent given names)
Nicolaus (Late Latin)
Nicolinus (Late Latin)
Neculai/Nicolae/Niculae (Romanian: diminutive form is Nicoară)
Nicușor (Romanian: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
Clà/Clau (Romansch)
Niclà/Nicolà/Niculin (Romansch)
Nigola (Sardinian)
Nicolao/Nicolás (Spanish)

Feminine forms ares

Nicolaua (Catalan)
Colette (French: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
Coline (French: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name. The name also coincides with the French word for hill. Diminutive form is Colinette)
Nicole (French)
Nicolette (French: originally a diminutive form of Nicole, now exclusively used as an independent given name)
Nicoline (French)
Nicolasa (Galician/Spanish)
Nicoletta (Italian)
Nicolina (Italian)
Nicoleta (Romanian)
Nicolina/Niculina (Romanian)
Nicoleta/Nicolá (Spanish)

Germanic Forms
Variations used in Germanic based languages

Nikolaus (Afrikaans/Old Dutch)
Claus/Klaus/Niels (Danish: originally diminutive forms but used as independent given names for centuries)
Nicolai/Nikolaus/Nikolaj (Danish)
Nilaus/Nis (Danish)
Nicolaas/Nikolaas (Dutch)
Klaas/Nico/Niek/Niels (Dutch: Originally diminutive forms but have been used as independent given names for centuries)
Nicholas/Nicolas (English: diminutive forms include: Cole, Nat, Nick and Nicky)
Niklas/Niklái (Faroese)
Niklaas (Flemmish)
Klaas/Klaes (Frisian)
Nickel/Nickels (Frisian)
Claus/Claas/Klaas/Klaus/Klas (German: originally diminutive forms but have been used as independent given names for centuries)
Nickolaus/Nicolas/Nicolaus/ Niklaus/Nikolaus/Niklas (German)
Nico/Niko (German)
Neikaulaus (Gothic)
Néckel/Kleeschen/Klos (Lexumburgish)
Klaos (Limburgish)
Nikolaas/Nicolaas (Low Saxon)
Nicolai/Nikolai (Norwegian)
Niels (Norwegian)
Nickel (Plattdeutsch)
Michlaus (Swabian)
Niclas/Nicklas/Niklas (Swedish)
Nels/Nils (Swedish)
Klas/Claes (Swedish)
Chlaus/Glaus (Swiss-German)

Germanic feminine forms are:

Nikoline (Danish)
Klasina/Klazina (Dutch)
Nicole (Dutch/English/German: a borrowing from the French, very popular in the 1980s in German-speaking countries, English-speaking countries, as well as in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. In 1980, Nicole was the 7th most popular female name in the United States)
Nicolet (Dutch: a bastardization of the French, Nicolette)
Nicolien/Nicoline (Dutch)
Nicola/Nichola (English: a name that was particularly popular in Great Britain in the 70s and 80s, not to be confused with the masculine versions which are separate evolutions. This is pronounced NIK-uh-lah, and is most likely a feminization of the Scottish Nichol)
Nikolina (Faroese)
Nikólína (Icelandic)

Slavic Forms
Forms used in Slavonic languages

Mikalai Мікалай (Belarusian)
Nikola(y)/Niklen Никола/Николай/Никлен (Bulgarian: diminutive forms are: Kole, Kolyo, Kolyu and Nikùlitza).
Nikola/Niko (Croatian: Nikša and Nikica are diminutive forms)
Mikoláš/Mikuláš (Czech: short form is Mikula )
Nikola (Macedonian: diminutive forms are Kole and Nikolče nee-KOL-che)
Mikołaj (Polish: diminutive forms are Kola, Mikcio, Mik, Mikołajek, Miki, Miko, Mikoś, Mikuś, Misza, Nicz, Niki and Niko)
Nikolai Николай (Russian: Kolya and Nikita are diminutive forms)
Nikola Никола (Serbian)
Mikoláš/Mikuláš (Slovakian)
Nikolas (Slovakian)
Nikita (Slovakian: a borrowing from the Russian, sometimes used as an independent given name in Slovakia)
Miklavž/Niko/Nikolaj (Slovene)
Mikławš/Klaws (Sorbian)
Mykola Микола/Mykolai Миколай (Ukrainian)

Feminine forms are:

Nikoleta/Nikolina Николина/Николета (Bulgarian)
Nikolina/Nika/Nina (Croatian)
Nikoleta (Czech/Polish/Slovakian)
Nikola (Czech/Polish/Slovakian: currently very popular in all three countries)
Nikol (Czech/Polish: a corruption of the French, Nicole, and is a relatively recent form in the Czech Republic and Poland and is also rapidly increasing in popularity)
Nikolina (Czech/Polish)
Mikuláška (Slovakian: obscure)
Nika/Nikolaja (Slovene)

Celtic Forms
Forms used in Celtic Countries

Nikolaz/Nikolazig (Breton)
Nikolas (Cornish)
Cóilín (Irish)
Nicolás/Nioclás (Irish)
Neacel/Nichol/Nicol (Scottish)
Niclas (Welsh)

Baltic Forms
Forms used in the Baltic

Klaus/Laas/Laus (Estonian)
Nigol/Nigulas/Nigul (Estonian)
Niilas/Niilo/Niilu (Estonian)
Niklas/Nikolai/Niko (Estonian)
Nikita (Estonian: a borrowing from the Russian, occasionally used as an independent given name)
Nil/Nillo/Nilo/Nils/Nilus (Estonian)
Launo/Niilo/Niklas/Niko (Finnish)
Nikolajs/Niks/Nils (Latvian)
Klavs/Niklavs (Latvian)
Mikalojus/Mikas/Nikalojus (Lithuanian)
Miklay Миклай (Mari)
Mikuk Микук (Mari)
Mikus Микуш (Mari)
Nibá (Saami)
Nigá/Nigo (Saami)
Nihkke/Nihkko (Saami)
Niillas/Nilá/Nillá/Nilsa (Saami)

Feminine forms are:

Nikolė (Lithuanian)
Nikoleta/Nikoletė (Lithuanian)

Other Forms
Forms used in other languages

Nikolla/Nikollë/Koll/Kol (Albanian)
Nikolas ኒኮላስ (Amharic/Ethiopian)
Nikoghayos Նիկողայոս/Nikoghos o Նիկողոս (Armenian)
Nikola (Basque)
Mikulay/Mikuҫ Микулай, Микуҫ (Chuvash)
Nikolaus/Niqwela/Niqewlawes نيقولاوس (Coptic/Lebanese/Syriac)
Niko (Fijian)
Nikoloz ნიკოლოზ (Georgian)
Nikolaos Νικόλαος/Nikolas Νικόλας/Nikos Νίκος /Nikolis Νικολής (Greek Modern)
Niilsi/Niisi (Greenlandic)
Nikku/Nikkulaat (Greenlandic)
Miklós/Nikola (Hungarian)
Nikku/ Nikkii/Nikorasu (Japanese)
Nikola (Maltese)

Feminine forms are as follows:

Níkē Νίκη/Nikoléta Νικολέτα/Νikolína Νικολίνα (Greek: modern)
Nikkuliina/Nikkuliit (Greenlandic)
Nikolett (Hungarian)

Lucas, Luke

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “from Lucania.”
Eng (LOOK); Fre IPA (LUYK)

Both names are derived from the Greek, Λουκας (Loucas), which means, “from Lucania”, the name of a region in Italy.

The name was popularized throughout the Christian world due to the fame and renown of St. Luke, a Christian convert, gentile and doctor. He is credited as being the author of the Acts and the third Gospel in the New Testament.

In the English speaking world, Luke has been in usage since the 12th-century, he is currently the 39th most popular male name in the United States, (2011). His latinate form of Lucas is the 29th most popular male name. Their rankings in other countries are as follows:

For Luke/Luc

# 1 (Luke, Malta, 2010)
# 5 (Luuk, Netherlands, 2011)
# 9 (Ireland, 2010)
# 17 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 24 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 33 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 38 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 50 (Lluc, Catalonia, 2010)
# 56 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 45 (Scotland, 2010)
# 99 (Luc, Netherlands, 2011)
# 249 (Netherlands, 2011)
# 253 (Luc, France, 2010)

For Luca(s)

# 1 (Luka, Croatia, 2009)
# 1 (Luca, Malta, 2010)
# 1 (Luka, Serbia, 2011)
# 1 (Luka, Slovenia, 2010)
# 2 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 2 (France, 2010)
# 2 (Luca, German-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 2 (Monaco, 2009)
# 2 (Sweden, 2011)
# 3 (Belgium, 2008)
# 3 (Denmark, 2011)
# 3 (Faroe Islands, 2010)
# 3 (Luca, French-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 3 (Luka, Georgia, 2011)
# 3 (Lucas/Lukas, Germany, 2011)
# 3 (Luca(s), Liechtenstein, 2010)
# 3 (Lukas, Lithuania, 2011)
# 4 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 4 (Lukáš, Czech Republic, 2010)
# 4 (Luca, Luxembourg, 2010)
# 5 (Lucas, Brazil, 2011)
# 5 (Lucas, French-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 5 (Lukáš, Slovakia, 2011)
# 6 (Netherlands, 2011)
# 9 (Luca, Italian-speaking, Switerland, 2010)
# 12 (Luca, Italy, 2009)
# 13 (Scotland, 2010)
# 17 (Norway, 2011)
# 19 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 21 (Spain, 2010)
# 22 (Luca, Austria, 2010)
# 22 (Luca, Belgium, 2008)
# 28 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 32 (Luca, Netherlands, 2011)
# 36 (Catalonia, 2010)
# 38 (Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010)
# 38 (Łukasz, Poland, 2009)
# 70 (Luca, England/Wales, 2010)
# 79 (Luca, Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 79 (Ireland, 2010)
# 95 (Luka, Belgium, 2008)
# 96 (Luca, Scotland, 2010)
# 100 (Luca, France, 2010)
# 112 (Luka, France, 2010)
# 182 (Luka, Netherlands, 2011)
# 260 (Luca, United States, 2011)
# 743 (Luka, United States, 2011)

Other forms of the name include:

Luka Лука ლუკა (Albanian/Belarusian/Croatian/Georgian/Macedonian/Old Church Slavonic/Russian/Serbian/Slovene/Ukrainian)
GhukasՂուկաս (Armenian)
Lucas Лукас لوکا (Belarusian/Dutch/English/Farsi/French/German/Portuguese/Romansch/Scandinavian/Spanish)
Lukaz (Breton)
Lluc (Catalan)
Lukáš (Czech/Slovak)
Luuk (Dutch)
Luke (English/Dutch)
Luuka(s) (Finnish)
Luc (French/Galician)
Lukas (German/Latvian/Lithuanian/Scandinavian)
Loukas Λουκάς (Greek)
Lukács (Hungarian)
Lúkas (Icelandic)
Luca (Italian/Maltese/Romanian/Sardinian)
Lucano (Italian: obscure)
Luchino (Italian: obscure)
Luchetto (Italian: obscure)
Lucone (Italian: obscure)
Lúcás (Irish-Gaelic)
Luch (Piedmontese)
Łukasz (Polish)
Lücha (Romansch)
Łuca (Venetian)
Luk (Walon)

An Italian feminine form is Luchina.

In English, Lucky is occasionally used as a pet form.

Sources

Gabriel, Gabriella

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Sebastiane

Origin: Hebrew גַבְרִיאֵל Γαβριηλ
Meaning: “strong man of God.”
Eng (GABE-ree-el); (gah-bree-EL-ah); Fre (gah-bree-EL); Germ (GAHP-ree-el); Pol (GAHP-ryel)

The name is derived from the Biblical Hebrew, גַבְרִיאֵל (Gavri-el) meaning, “strong man of God.”

In Judeo-Christian religions, it is the name of a powerful archangel, who is often viewed as a messenger of God. He appears several times in the Old and New Testaments.

Among Christians, one of his most important messages was relayed to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. Islamic tradition also believes the same, and in Islam, it was the angel Gabriel who revealed the Qu’ran, (through God), to Mohammed.

In Mormon theology, Gabriel is believed to be the embodiment of Noah in the afterlife.

Gabriel is a fairly common name among Christians, Jews and Muslims, making him an extremely cross-cultural portable name.

Currently, in the United States, his popularity has been rising. He is the 24th most popular male name, (2011). In other countries, his rankings in all his various forms are as follows:

# 2 (Gabriel(e), Liechtenstein, 2010)
# 3 (Brazil, 2011)
# 4 (Romania, 2009)
# 6 (Gabriele, Italy, 2009)
# 7 (France, 2010)
# 9 (Quebec, Canada, 2011)
# 19 (Croatia, 2009)
# 26 (Belgium, 2008)
# 28 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 28 (Mexico, 2010)
# 29 (Austria, 2010)
# 35 (Spain, 2010)
# 40 (Poland, 2009)
# 47 (Sweden, 2011)
# 48 (Norway, 2011)
# 52 (Catalonia, 2010)
# 78 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 95 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 124 (Scotland, 2010)
# 189 (Djibril, France, 2010)
# 313 (Jibril, France, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Jibrail/Jibrīl جبرائيل ጂብሪል (Arabic/Ethiopian)
Gabriel გაბრიელი ገብርኤል
(Armenian/Catalan/Coptic/Czech/Danish/English/Ethiopian/Finnish/French/Georgian/German/Norwegian/Polish/Portuguese/Romanian/Romansch/Spanish/Swedish)
Gavrik (Armenian)
Cəbrayıl/Cibril (Azeri)
Gawryil Гаўрыіл (Belarusian)
Džibril/Džebrail (Bosnian)
Gavrail Гавраил (Bulgarian)
Zheberejil Жәбірейіл (Central Asian)
Gabrijel (Croatian/Maltese/Serbian)
Gabriël (Dutch)
Gaabriel (Estonian)
Gabrel (Ethiopian)
Kaapo/Kaapro (Finnish)
Gabriél Γαβριήλ (Greek)
Gavril Γαβριηλ (Greek)
Gavriel גַּבְרִיאֵל (Hebrew)
Gábriel (Hungarian)
Gábor (Hungarian)
Gabríel (Icelandic)
Jibril (Indonesian)
Gaibriéil (Irish-Gaelic)
Gabo/Gabbo (Italian)
Gabriele (Italian: more common form)
Gabriellino (Italian)
Gabriello (Italian)
Gabrio (Italian)
Cibrayîl (Kurdish)
Gabrielus (Latin)
Gabriels (Latvian)
Gabrielius (Lithuanian)
Jibrail (Malaysian)
Gavriilu Гаврїилъ (Old Church Slavonic)
Khabbriele (Puglian)
Gabin (Provençal)
Gavril Гавриил (Romanian/Russian)
Crabiele/Gabilele/Gabriello (Sardinian)
Cabbrieli (Sicilian)
Gabri’el ܠܒܪܝܐܝܠ (Syrian)
Gebrael (Syrian)
Cebrâîl (Turkish)
Gavrel גַאבְֿרֶעל (Yiddish)

English short form is Gabe.

Its feminine form of Gabriella/Gabriela is also rising in popularity. Currently, Gabriella is the 34th most popular female name in the United States, (2011). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 3 (Gabriela, Bulgaria, 2009)
# 5 (Gabrielė, Lithuania, 2011)
# 5 (Gabrielle, Philippines, 2011)
# 7 (Gabriela, Columbia, 2011)
# 8 (Gabriela, Romania, 2009)
# 9 (Gabriela, Puerto Rico, 2011)
# 10 (Gabriela, Brazil, 2010)
# 13 (Gabriela, Poland, Warsaw, 2010)
# 19 (Gabriela, Poland, 2009)
# 28 (Gabrijela, Croatia, 2009)
# 30 (Gabriela, Mexico, 2010)
# 30 (Gabrielly, Brazil, 2010)
# 36 (Gabriela, Croatia, 2009)
# 38 (Gabriela, Chile, 2010)
# 64 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 64 (Gabriela, Spain, 2010)
# 67 (Gabrielle, France, 2010)
# 72 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 94 (Gabrielle, Canada, BC, 2010)
# 119 (Gabrielle, United States, 2011)
# 466 (France, 2010)

Other feminine forms include:

Gebre’elwa ገብርኤሏ (Amharic/Ethiopian)
Gabriela (Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/German/Polish/Portuguese/Romanian/Scandinavian/Slovak/Spanish)
Brielle (Cajun: abbreviated form of Gabrielle)
Gabrijela (Croatian/Serbian)
Gabriëlle (Dutch)
Briella/Briela (English)
Gabrielle (French/English)
Gabria (Italian)
Gabrielina (Italian)
Gabriella (Italian/English/Hungarian/Scandinavian: more common form in Italy)
Gabrielė (Lithuanian)
Gavriila Гавриила (Russian)

Czech diminutives are: Gába, Gabika, Gábina, Gabrina and Gabby.

A Polish diminutive is Gabrysia (gah-BRIH-shah).

English short forms are: Gabby and Ella.

Designated name-days are: February 10/27 (Poland), February 19 (Sweden), March 24 (Czech/Finland/Poland/Slovakia/Sweden), September 29 (France/Germany), December 12 (Hungary)

Berenice, Bernice

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek Βερενικη
Meaning: “bringer of victory.”
Eng (ber-ə-NIE-see; ber-NEES); Fre (beh-hreh-NEES); It (bey-rey-NEE-cheh)

The name is an ancient Macedonian form of the Attic Greek, Pherenikë (Φερενίκη), which is composed of the Greek elements, phero (φέρω), “to bear” and nike (νίκη), “victory.” The earliest attestation of the name is a 3rd-century priestess of Demeter.

The name has often been associated with Veronica, but there is still debate as to whether these two names are actually related.

Berenice was a common one among the Ptolomy dynasty of Egypt, being borne by at least 9 Ptolomaic women. It also seems to have been common among the late Judaean Kingdom royalty, being born by 3 Jewish princesses, one of whom appears briefly in the New Testament as the name King Herod’s sister.

It was later borne by an early Christian Greek martyr, making the name remain common after the debut of Christianity.

In the English-speaking world, she has appeared interchangeably as Berenice and Bernice. In the United States, Bernice seems to have been the more common form, the highest she ever ranked was in 1921, coming in as the 39th most popular female name.

As of 2011, neither Berenice or Bernice appear in the U.S. top 1000, but Bérénice was the 279th most popular female name in France, (2010).

Other forms of the name include:

Bjeranika Бераніка (Belarusian)
Berenice (Catalan/Dutch/English/Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
Berenika Береника (Czech/Polish/Russian/Slovak)
Bernice (English)
Bérénice (French)
Berenike (German)
Bereníkē Βερενίκη (Greek: modern)
Bereniké (Hungarian)

Aurelian

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “golden one.”
Eng (aw-RIL-lee-yen) Fre (Pronunciation)

The name is derived from the Latin cognomen, Aurelianus, which means, “golden one.”

The name was borne by a 3rd-century Roman Emperor.

As of 2010, its French form of Aurélien was the 150th most popular male name in France. Other forms of the name include:

Aureliani (Albanian)
Aurelián (Aragonese/Czech)
Awrelijan Аўрэліян (Belarusian)
Avrelian Аврелиан (Bulgarian/Russian/Ukrainian)
Aurelià (Catalan)
Aurelijan Аурелијан (Croatian/Macedonian/Serbian)
Aurelian (English/German/Lombard/Polish/Romanian)
Aurélien (French)
Aureliano (Galician/Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
Avreliane ავრელიანე (Georgian)
Aurelianus (Latin)
Aureliāns (Latvian)
Aurelianas (Lithuanian)
Aurilianu (Sicilian)

A feminine form is Aureliana (Italian/Latin/Portuguese/Spanish)

Anatole

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek Ανατολιος
Meaning: “sunrise.”

The name is derived from the Greek, Anatolios Ανατολιος, which is derived from the word anatole ανατολη (sunrise). The name was borne by a 3rd-century Christian saint, philosopher and martyr.

The name was borne by several other saints.

An anatole is also a musical term employed in jazz.

The name was one of the most popular male names throughout the Soviet Union, before the October Revolution, the name was only used among monks and priests. The name no longer appears in Russia’s top 10.

Its French form of Anatole is 234th most popular male name in France, (2009).

Other forms of the name include:

Anatol Анатоль (Belarusian/Czech/German/Hungarian/Polish/Romanian)
Anatolij Анатолиј Анато́лий (Bulgarian/Croatian/Macedonian/Russian/Ukrainian)
Anatoli ანატოლი (Catalan/Georgian/Russian)
Anatole (French)
Anatolios (Greek)
Anatolio (Italian/Spanish)
Anatolijs (Latvian)
Anatolijus (Lithuanian)
Anatoliusz (Polish)
Anatólio (Portuguese)
Anatolie (Romanian)
Anatoliy (Russian: variant transcription)
Anatolije Анатолије (Serbian)
Anadolu (Turkish)

Common Russian diminutives are: Anatolka, Natoli, Natoha, Natosha, Tolia, Tolyunya; Tolyusya; Tolyan; Tolyaha; Tolyasha; Tosha; Tosya; Totya; Tusya

A feminine form is Anatolia, which was also borne by an early Christian martyr. It shares its name with a region in Turkey.

Other feminine forms include:

Anatolija Анатолия (Bulgarian/Russian/Serbian)
Anatolia (Italian/Latin/Polish/Spanish)
Anatola (Polish)

Hippolytus, Hippolyte

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek ‘Ιππολυτος
Meaning: “freer of horses.”
Eng (hip-PAHL-ih-tus); Eng Fem (HIP-poh-LY-tee; hi-PAHL-i-tah) Fre (EEP-poh-LEET)

The name is derived from the Greek, Hippolytos (‘Ιππολυτος), which is composed of the elements, hippos (‘ιππος), meaning, “horse” and lyo (λυω) meaning, “to loosen.”

The name was borne in Greek mythology by a son of Theseus, and depending on some sources either the Amazon, Hippolyte (hence the name) or Antiope. He rejected the advances of his step-mother, Phaedra, who, when spurned, complained to Theseus that his son had raped her. In anger, Theseus cursed his own son, using of the his three wishes granted by Poseidon, Hippolytus was dragged to death by his horses after being frightened by a sea-monster. The story was retold both by Euripides in his play Hippolytus and by Seneca the Younger in his play, Phaedra.

His possible birth mother of Hippolyte was an Amazonian queen who possessed a magical girdle which denoted her rank. She appears in the legend of Hercules who seeks her girdle for the princess, Admeta. Hippolyte is so impressed with the immortal’s prowess that she gives Hercules her girdle as a gift. William Shakespeare may have based his character of Hippolyta who appears in A Midsummer’s Night Dream off of Hippolyte the Amazon queen.

The male form of Hippolytus appears several more times throughout Greek mythology as the name of minor characters.

It was also borne by some early renowned Christian saints, including Hippolytus of Rome a 3rd-century Christian theologian, writer and martyr.

In English and early Greek, Hippolyte often appears as a feminine form, but in French, it is an epicène name, that is a unisex name, however, it is more often used on males than on females. As of 2009, Hippolyte was the 286th most popular male name in France.

Other forms of the name include:

Ipolit Иполит (Bulgarian/Serbian)
Hipòlit (Catalan)
Hipolit (Croatian/Polish/Romanian/Slovak)
Hippolyt (Czech/German)
Hippolytus (Dutch/English/Latin)
Hippolyte (French)
Ipolite იპოლიტე (Georgian)
Hippolütosz (Hungarian)
Ippolito (Italian)
Hipolitas (Lithuanian)
Hipólito (Portuguese/Spanish)
Ippolit Ипполит (Romansch/Russian/Ukrainian)
‘Ipołito (Venetian)

Feminine forms include:

Hipolita Хиполита (Albanian/Bulgarian/Serbian)
Ipalita Іпаліта (Belarusian)
Hipòlita (Catalan)
Hippolyta ‘Ιππολυτη (English/Greek/Latin/Romanian)
Hippolyte ‘Ιππολυτη (English/French/Greek)
Hippolüté (Hungarian)
Ippolita Ипполи́та (Italian/Russian/Ukrainian)
Hipolitė (Lithuanian)
Hippolita (Polish)
Hipólita (Portuguese/Spanish)

Vadim

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Slavic Вади́м
Meaning: debated
(vah-DEEM)

There are a few theories as to the origins and meaning of this name, the most popular being is that it is composed of two Slavic roots, vadit (to attract, to possess) and ima; imati, meaning, (possessing property). Another possibility is that it is derived from the Slavic, vaditi, meaning, “to accuse; to slander; to sow discord.” It has even been suggested to be related to the Persian Badian meaning, (anise).

The name was borne by a semi-legendary East Slavic ruler, Vadim the Bold (circ.9th-century), who led a revolt against Rurik. He is a popular character in 18th-century Russian literature and came to be viewed as a symbol of freedom for the Russian romantic movement.

The name is used in all Slavic-speaking countries, and is occasionally used in German-speaking countries and in Romania.

As of 2009, Vadim was the 423rd most popular male name in France.

Other forms of the name include:

Vuadim (Armenian)
Vadzim (Belarusian)
Vadim Вади́м (Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/Romanian/Russian/Slovak/Slovene/Ukrainian)
Wadim (German)
Wadym (Polish)

A common Russian diminutive is Vadik.

Eleanor

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Occitanian
Meaning: “the other Aenor”
Eng (EL-e-NOR)

The name is derived from the Latin Alia Aenor, which literally means, the “other Aenor”, according to most historical sources, the most notable bearer, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was named for her mother Aenor and as a way to distinguish her from her mother, she was dubbed Alia Aenor.

The meaning of Aenor is uncertain, but may be connected to the Latin verb ienire, meaning “to heal.”

The name was borne by Eleanor of Aquitaine, known in Old French as Aliénor d’Aquitaine, (1122-1204), the daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine, she grew up to be one of the most powerful people in medieval Western Europe and became Queen Consort of both France and England.

Her popularity throughout France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and England. It was also borne by two other queens, Eleanor of Provence and Eleanor of Castile, the former was canonized a saint.

Eleanor has produced several other common offshoots, such as Lenore, the name of the departed love in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, The Raven (1845); Elnora and Nora.

In modern American history, it was borne by First Lady and humanitarian, Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).

It is currently the name of the crown princess Infanta of Spain, Leonor.

Currently, Eleanor is the 61st most popular female name in England/Wales, (2010). She is currently the 165th most popular female name in the United States, (2010). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 2 (Leonor, Portugal, 2010)
# 125 (Eléonore, France, 2009)

Common English diminutives include: Ella, Ellie, Nell, Nellie and Nora.

Other forms include:

Eleanora (Breton/Norwegian
Elionor (Catalan)
Eleonora Елеонор (Belarusian/Czech/Danish/Dutch/Faroese/Icelandic/Italian/Polish/Swedish)
Elenora (Danish)
Eleanor (English/Estonian/Romanian)
Elnora (English)
Lenora (English)
Leonora (English/German/Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
Lenore (English/German)
Nell (English: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Nellie (English: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Nora (English/Italian: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Eleonoora (Finnish)
Noora (Finnish)
Éléonore (French)
Eleonore (German)
Eleōnora Ελεωνόρα (Greek: Modern)
Eleonóra (Hungarian/Slovak)
Lenóra (Hungarian)
Elenóra (Icelandic)
Nóra (Irish-Gaelic)
Nóirín/Noreen (Irish-Gaelic)
Elianora/Elinora (Italian)
Noretta (Italian)
Norina (Italian)
Alienora (Late Latin)
Léionore (Norman)
Ellinor/Elinor (Norwegian/Swedish)
Alienòr (Occitanian)
Leonor (Portuguese/Spanish)
Aliénor (Provençal)
Alenora Альенора (Russian)
Eilidh (Scots-Gaelic: originally a diminutive form, now very popular as an independent given name)
Eilionoir (Scots-Gaelic)
Elna (Swedish: contracted form).

The designated name-day is February 22.

German diminutives are: Lola, Lorle, Lore, Nora and Nordel.

A Dutch diminutive is Noortje.

Hungarian diminutives include: Ella, Leonorka, Lóra, Lórácska, Lóri, Nelli, Nóra, Norcsi, Nóri and Nórici.

Sources

http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/eleanor?view=uk
http://www.behindthename.com/php/find.php?name=eleanor
Alison Weir, Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life, Ballantine Books, 2001
Kálmán Béla: A nevek világa
Marion Meade, Eleanor of Aquitaine: a biography, Hawthorn Books, 1977
Régine Pernoud, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Coward-McCann, 1968

George

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek Γεωργιος
Meaning: “farmer.”
Eng (JORJ)

The name is an English and Romanian form of the Greek, Georgios Γεωργιος, which is derived from the Greek γεωργος (georgos) meaning, “farmer; earth worker.”

The name was borne by a 4th-century Christian saint and martyr, a Roman soldier of Greek ancestry who refused to sacrifice to pagan gods as demanded by the Roman Emperor at the time. He was popularized in the Western Christian Church after the Crusades, when soldiers brought the story back to Western Europe. The saints’ story was embellished and his story appears in the Golden Legend.

The most famous legend was that during the saint’s life, he managed to rescue a maiden who was about to be sacrificed to a dragon by slaying it with his lance. This legend has been the subject of art for centuries.

Though revered as the patron saint of England, the name itself did not catch on in until the 18th-century, following the accession of George I of England. The name has been borne by several kings throughout Europe. It was also borne by the first president of the United States, George Washington.

In Medieval times, English troops would chant “by George“, as a invocation to the saint to protect them in battle.

Between 1880 and 1937, George remained in the U.S. top 10. As of 2010, he only ranked in as the 164th most popular male name. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 1 (Georgi, Bulgaria, 2007)
# 1 (Georgios, Greece, 2010)
# 2 (Giorgi, Georgia, 2011)
# 5 (Yegor, Belarus, 2011)
# 9 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 12 (Yegor, Russia, 2011)
# 16 (Jorge, Spain, 2010)
# 19 (Jiří, Czech Republic, 2010)
# 20 (Romania, 2009)
# 22 (Jordi, Catalonia, 2010)
# 27 (Jure, Slovenia, 2010)
# 42 (Jorge, Chile, 2010)
# 53 (Juraj, Croatia, 2010)
# 69 (Jure, Croatia, 2010)
# 73 (Australia, NSW, 2010)
# 75 (Jurij, Slovenia, 2010)
# 76 (Jørgen, Norway, 2010)
# 78 (Jorge, Mexico, 2010)
# 80 (Joris, Netherlands, 2010)
# 82 (Jordi, Spain, 2010)
# 84 (Jurica, Croatia, 2010)
# 100 (Scotland, 2010)
# 168 (Jorge, United States, 2010)
# 233 (Joris, France, 2009)
# 420 (Jordi, Netherlands, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Gjergj (Albanian)
Jorgo (Albanian)
Giorgis ጊዮርጊስ (Amharic)
Jurj(us) جرج جرجس (Arabic)
George جورج (Arabic/English/Romanian)
Khodor خضر (Arabic)
Chorche (Aragonese)
Gev(or) Գեվ Գեվոր (Armenian)
Gevorg Գեվորգ (Armenian)
Kevork Գեւորգ (Armenian)
Xurde (Asturian)
Gorka (Basque)
Jury Юры (Belarusian)
Yegor Егор (Belarusian/Russian)
Jord (Breton)
Jorj (Breton)
Georgi Георги (Bulgarian)
Jordi (Catalan)
Juraj (Croatian/Slovak/Slovene)
Jurica (Croatian)
Jure (Croatian/Slovene)
Jiří (Czech)
Jørgen (Danish/Norwegian)
Joris (Dutch/Frisian)
Sjors (Dutch)
Georg (Faroese/Estonian/German/Icelandic/Romansch/Scandinavian)
Jurjen (Frisian)
Jüri (Estonian/Volapuk)
Jørundur (Faroese)
Jokora (Finnish)
Jori (Finnish)
Jyr(k)i (Finnish)
Yrjänä (Finnish)
Yrjö (Finnish)
Georges (French)
Xurxo (Galician)
Giorgi გიორგი (Georgian/Monegasque)
Jörgen (German/Swedish)
Jörg (German/Swedish)
Jürgen (German)
Jürg (German)
Georgios Γεώργιος (Greek)
Joorut (Greenlandic)
Juulut (Greenlandic)
Keoki (Hawaiian)
György (Hungarian)
Seoirse (Irish-Gaelic)
Giorgio (Italian/Venetian)
Georgius (Latin)
Jur(g)is (Latvian)
Jurgis (Lithuanian)
Gjoko Ѓок (Macedonian)
Gjorgje Ѓорѓе (Macedonian)
Gjorgji Ѓорѓи (Macedonian)
Gheevargees ഗീവര്‍ഗീസ് ( (Malayalam)
Gheevarugees ഗീവറുഗീസ് ( (Malayalam)
Varghees വര്‍ഗീസ്‌ (Malayalam)
Verghese വെര്‍ഗീസ് (Malayalam)
Varughese വറുഗീസ് (Malayalam)
Ġorġ (Maltese)
Jore (Norman)
Jørn (Norwegian)
Ørjan (Norwegian)
Jordi (Occitanian/Provençal)
Jerzy (Polish)
Jorge (Portuguese/Spanish)
Gheorghe (Romanian)
Georgy Георгий (Russian/Ukrainian)
Yuri Юрий (Russian)
Deòrsa (Scottish)
Seòrsa (Scottish)
Đorđe Ђорђе (Serbian)
Đorđo Ђорђо (Serbian)
Đurađ Ђурађ(Serbian)
Jurij (Slovene)
Göran (Swedish)
Örjan (Swedish)
Gewarges ܓܝܘܪܓܣ(Syriac)
Gorges ܓܪܓܣ (Syriac)
Yorgo (Turkish)
Heorhiy Георгій (Ukrainian)
Yur Юр (Ukrainian)
Sior (Welsh)

In ancient Greece, Georgos may have also been used as an epithet for Zeus.

As for its feminine forms, I shall save that for a separate post 🙂

Legitimate Baby Names

names that are not made up and have had a history

Category Archives: Belarusian Names

Nicholas

Lucas, Luke

Gabriel, Gabriella

Berenice, Bernice

Aurelian

Anatole

Hippolytus, Hippolyte

Vadim

Eleanor

George