From the Welsh vocabulary word, swyn (magic, spell, enchantment). In the 20th-century, it has been adopted by Welsh parents as a female given name, usually 5 girls per year have been given this name in Wales. since 2001.
The perfect name for a Halloween baby.
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Karif خَرِيف is a masculine Arabic name which comes directly from the word خَريف (karif), meaning, “autumn.” It ultimately comes from the Arabic root, خ ر ف (k-r-f) meaning, “to pluck; to harvest; to pick fruit.”
Its feminine form is Karifa خريفة.
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The name comes directly from the Gaelic word for blood, which was also used poetically to describe the colour of red.
The name was popular among early medieval Irish nobility and ecclesiastics. It was borne by Flann Sinna (d. 916) – High King of Ireland and Flann mac Lonáin (d. 918) – one of the most celebrated poets of the era.
The name is traditionally masculine, though it is occasionally found as a feminine name in medieval records.
Flannán
A diminutive form of Flann, though it was already used as an independent name by Medieval times. The best-known bearer is Saint Flannan of Killaloe, a 7th-century Irish bishop and missionary venerated in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. His feast day is celebrated on 18 December, and the Flannan Isles off the coast of Scotland are named for him.
These names are the progenitors of the Irish surnames, Flanaghan, Flanahan, Flynn and O’Flynn.
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The early 20th century brought Janet back from the dead, and the 1980s revived Tiffany and Allison—two names that had once flourished in medieval England before fading into obscurity. Many other forgotten names share a similar story. Countless early English forms were gradually displaced by their Latinized versions, leaving behind a treasure trove of names that feel surprisingly fresh today. With their short, crisp sounds and understated elegance, many of these medieval forms fit seamlessly into modern naming trends.
Both names are distinctly Lithuanian and follow the traditional pattern of combining meaningful native words. It is composed of vienas (one) and tauta (people; nation).
Masculine diminutive forms are: Tautas, Tautis, & Taučius
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All three names come from the native Latvian word gaita, which means “course, path, progress, pace, way of going.” During Latvia’s national awakening in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many indigenous words were adopted as given names to celebrate the Latvian language and identity.
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The name Hecate (Greek: Ἑκάτη) is usually explained as “the far-reaching one,” from the Greek root hekatos (“far off” or “working from afar”).
Some scholars, however, note a possible Ancient Egyptian link: the Egyptian word ḥkꜣ (heka) means “magic” or “divine power”—the very force personified by the goddess Heka. Because Hecate is the Greek goddess of magic and sorcery, a few classicists have suggested that Greek worshippers encountering Egyptian religion may have blended or reinterpreted the name under this resonance.
It has also been suggested to be from a forgotten Carian etymology since her cult was the strongest in Caria.
Hecate is a liminal goddess of magic, night, and crossroads. Ancient Greeks honored her:
Her cult spread from Asia Minor throughout the Greek world and later into Rome and the wider Mediterranean.
It has long been speculated that Hecate is the progenitor of the name, Catherine/Katherine but not proven.
Its pronunciation in the English-speaking world has fluctuated from the older HEK-it and HEH-cate to the more modern HEK-e-tee, appearing in English literature such as Macbeth by Shakespeare
As a given-name, it did not survive like the other pagan names of Greece and Rome, which mainly survived thanks to also being worn by converted Christian martyrs.
In the modern world, the name is often associated with the occult and to a certain extent, some followers of modern pagan religions. I have only been able to find records of Hecates from the 1990s onward.
This may make a more unexpected full name for a Cate, Kate or Katie.
International Translations*
*Only used in literature
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Tarquin is the English form of Tarquinius, the Latin family name of a powerful Etruscan dynasty that ruled early Rome. The name’s exact Etruscan root is uncertain, but it may derive from the ancient city of Tarquinii (modern Tarquinia) in central Italy, itself probably from an older Etruscan personal or place name.
Two Roman kings bore this name: Lucius Tarquinius Priscus, the fifth king of Rome, and Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the seventh and last king, whose overthrow in 509 BCE led to the founding of the Roman Republic.
While rare, Tarquin appears in English records from the Renaissance onward, often chosen for its aristocratic and classical resonance. Italian retains Tarquino as a given name. The name has also been used in literature and drama —Shakespeare famously tells the story of “The Rape of Lucrece” by Tarquin. It was recently used as the name of Tarquin Blackwood in Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles.
Modern bearers include British journalist Tarquin Hall (b. 1969), the middle name of American actor, Timothy Tarquin Hutton (b. 1960).
Today Tarquin feels distinctive and slightly theatrical, blending ancient Roman history with a sleek, modern sound. If you are looking for a fuller name for Quinn, this may be the perfect choice for you.
International variations include:
Female Forms
Its Italian feminine form of Tarquinia was borne by Italian Renaissance singer, Tarquinia Molza (1542-1617). This would also make a fabulous fuller version for the nickname Quinn. Another Italian female form is Tarquina.
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Derived from the Sanskrit noun stuti (स्तुति), meaning “praise, eulogy, hymn of adoration.” It comes from the verbal root stu- (स्तु), “to praise or extol.” In classical texts it refers to the act of offering praise to deities, revered persons, or noble qualities.
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The name ultimately comes from Greek Νεῖλος (Neílos), the ancient Greek name of the River Nile.
In Ancient Egyptian, the river was called jtr-w (Iteru, “Great River”). The Greek form Neílos may reflect a Semitic root n-h-r, meaning “river,” which is also the source of Hebrew nahar and related words.
In Greek mythology, Neilos was personified as the river-god of the Nile, one of the Potamoi (river deities).
The Latinized form Nilus became a well-known monastic name and is borne by several Christian saints, including St. Nilus the Syrian, a disciple of St. John Chrysostom, and St. Nilus of Sinai.
Nil is the Slavic form used for males. In Turkey, the same name arose independently as a female given name of the same etymology.
In Italian, it may also be used as a short form of Danilo.
An Italian feminine form is Nila.
Nile is an English name that was often used in reference to the surname. It may make an interesting modern adaptation for parents looking for a cool but modern saints name.
Other forms include:
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