Phoebe

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: bright; light
(FEE-bee).

To many Americans, Phoebe brings to mind the wacky yet lovable character of Phoebe Buffay on the popular SitCom, Friends. To the British, she is of an upper crust trendy sort, to Christians, she is an admirable woman in the New Testament, and to the Greeks, she is a classic, featured in both the Greek Orthodox calendar of saints as well as in Greek myth.

The name is derived from the Greek, Phoibus, which means “bright, light.”

In Greek Mythology, Phoebe was a pre-Olympic goddess, a Titan. She was the goddess of the moon and the consort of her own brother Coeus, from him, she mothered Asteria and Leto and was believed to be the grandmother of Artemis and Apollo.

The Greeks later associated her with the goddess Artemis. Phoebe was often used as an epithet for Artemis, while the masculine form, Phoebus, was used for Apollo.

Phoebe was also associated with the Oracle of Delphi.

There are a few other Phoebes mentioned in ancient Greek religion, one was a Heliade nymph, another was the daughter of Leucippus and Philodice.

Phoebe, daughter of Leucippus, and her sister Hilaeira, were priestesses to Artemis and Athena. They were both betrothed to Idras and Lynceus. Castor and Pollux, the divine twins, were so impressed by their beauty, that they fell in love with the two maidens and carried them off for themselves. Idras and Lynceus, outraged, sought the two immortals but were both slain. Nevertheless, Phoebe married Pollux. It was also the name of a sister to Leda.

In the New Testament, the name is borne by a woman of Cenchrae, many scholars argue that she was a deaconess, the Catholic Church especially seems to support this stance. She is also believed to have brought Paul’s Epistle of the Romans to Rome. She is a canonized saint in both the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches, both rites hold her feast on September 3rd.

Fast forward to the 1500s and you will find the name Phebe, (an older English spelling), as the name of one of Shakespeare’s characters in his play, As You Like It. In the modern American Classic, she is the younger sister of Holden Caulfied in J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. Polish Science Fiction writer, Jacek Duraj, uses the name as an acronym for post-human beings in his novel Perfekcyjna niedoskonałość.

Phoebe is also the name of a genus of evergreen tree, a species of bird and a moon of the planet, Saturn.

As of 2010, Phoebe was the 29th most popular female name in England/Wales. Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 56 (Australia, NSW, 2010)
# 90 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 93 (Scotland, 2010)
# 309 (United States, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Febe (Asturian/Danish/German/Italian/Norwegian/Polish/Portuguese/Spanish/Swedish)
Foibe (Danish)
Phoebe (Dutch/English/German)
Phœbé/Phébé (French)
Phoibe (German)
Phoebi/Phoibi (Greek)
Feba (Serbo-Croatian)
Foibe (Swedish)

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 🙂

Joseph, Josephine

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Hebrew יוֹסֵף
Meaning: “He shall add; God shall add.”
Eng (JOH-sef)

The name is derived from the Biblical Hebrew male name, יוֹסֵף (Yosef).

In the Old Testament, the name is borne by the first son of Rachel and the eleventh son of Jacob. After being sold off as a slave by his brothers, Joseph ended up in Egypt, later becoming an important advisor to the pharoah.

In the New Testament, it is borne by the husband of the Virgin Mary. Known as St. Joseph among Catholics, he is a particularly revered saint among Italian Catholics, considered the patron saint of stepfathers and carpenters.

Another important character with this name in the New Testament, is Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Christ and also the man who provided a burial spot for Jesus after his death.

The name has always been very prevalent throughout Europe and the Middle East.

In the United States, its popularity can be due to several factors: it was common among both various Christian and Jewish immigrants. The name is even very common among Muslim families.

Currently, Joseph is the 20th most popular male name in the United States, (2010). In fact, Joseph has never ranked outside of the Top 20. Common English nicknames are Joe and Joey. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 1 (Yusif, Azerbaijan, 2012)
# 1 (Yusuf, Turkey, 2010)
# 2 (Yusuf, Tajikistan, 2009)
# 2 (Youssef, Tunisia)
# 3 (Yousef, Arab-World, 2011)
# 4 (José, Equitorial Guinea, 2011)
# 5 (Joosep, Estonia, 2011)
# 5 (Isle of Man, 2009)
# 5 (Yousouf, Israel, among Muslim and Christian boys, 2010)
# 5 (José, Philippines, 2011)
# 5 (Jose, Puerto Rico, 2010)
# 7 (Youssef, Morocco)
# 8 (Josip, Croatia, 2010)
# 8 (Yosef, Israel, among Druze boys, 2004)
# 9 (Yosef, Israel, among Jewish boys, 2010)
# 14 (Giuseppe, Italy, 2010)
# 15 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 16 (Joseph/Giuseppe, Malta, 2010)
# 29 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 36 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 37 (Ireland, 2010)
# 41 (Australia, NSW, 2010)
# 41 (József, Hungary, 2010)
# 43 (José, Spain, 2010)
# 44 (Scotland, 2010)
# 51 (José, United States, 2010)
# 62 (Josef, Sweden, 2010)
# 68 (Josip, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010)
# 68 (Josep, Catalonia, 2010)
# 71 (José, Catalonia, 2010)
# 74 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 149 (France, 2009)

Other forms of the name include:

Josef (Afrikaans)
Isuf (Albanian)
Jozef/Jozif (Albanian: Zef is a diminutive form)
Sepp (Alsatian)
Hovsep Հովսեփ (Armenian)
Yūsuf/Youssef/Yussef يوسف, (Arabic)
Yusif/Yusuf/Usub (Azeri)
Joseba/Josepe (Basque)
Joseph ДЖО́ЗЕФ (Belarusian/English/German/French)
Josip (Bosnian/Croatian: Joso, Jozo and Joško are diminutive forms)
Jusuf (Bosnian)
Yosif Йосиф (Bulgarian)
Josep (Catalan, Pep is a common diminutive form)
Ghjaseppu (Corsican)
Jozèf (Creole/Haitian)
Josef (Czech)
Joep (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Joop (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
Joost (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Jozef (Dutch)
Joseph (English/French/German)
Joséphin (French: obscure)
Joosep (Estonian)
Jósef (Faroese)
Jooseppi (Finnish)
Juuso (Finnish)
Bepùt/Bepi/Bepo (Fruilian)
Xosé (Galician)
Ioseb იოსებ (Georgian)
Ioses/Joses Ιωσης (Greek: Biblical)
Iōséph Ἰωσήφ/Iosepos, Iosipos Ιώσηπος (Greek: Modern)
Yosef יוסף (Hebrew)
Isuppu (Hindi)
József (Hungarian: Jóska is the diminutive form)
Yusuf/Yusup/Ucup (Indonesian)
Giuseppe (Italian: diminutive forms are Beppe, Peppe and Peppino)
Giuseppino (Italian)
Pino (Italian: diminutive form now used as an independent given name)
Seosamh (Irish-Gaelic)
Ujöp (Ladino)
Iosephus/Josephus (Latin)
Jāzeps (Latvian)
Gioxeppe (Ligurian)
Joep (Limburgish)
Juozapas (Lithuanian)
Juozas (Lithuanian)
Giüsèpp (Lombard: Pèpp and Bèpp are diminutive forms)
Ousep/Ousef/Yosef (Malayalam)
Ouseppachen/Kochaappu (Malayalam)
Ġużeppi (Maltese: Ġużi, Ġuż, Peppi, Pepp, Żeppi and Żepp are diminutives)
Hohepa (Maori)
Jupp (Moselfrench)
Josef (Norwegian)
Josèp (Occitanian)
Iosifu Іѡсифъ (Old Church Slavonic)
Yūsuf/Youssef/Yussef يوسف, (Persian)
Joosef (Plattdeutsch)
Józef (Polish)
Gèseppe (Puglian)
Jüppes/Jüppke (Ripoarisch)
Iosif (Romanian)
Gisep (Romansch)
Iosif/Osip Иосиф (Russian)
Jisepu (Sardinian)
Josif Јосиф (Serbian)
Seòsaidh (Scots-Gaelic)
Giuseppi (Sicilian)
U’Seppi (Sicilian)
Zefel/ Zeflik (Silesian)
Jozef (Slovakian)
Jožef/Jože (Slovene)
Sefer (Swabian)
José (Spanish/Portuguese: Pepe and Pepito are the diminutive forms)
Yusup/Usup/Ucup (Sudanese)
Yoseppu (Tamil)
Yusuf (Turkish)
Yosyp (Ukrainian)
Josep (Valencian)
Juxepe (Venetian: diminutives are Bepi and Bepin)
Joseff (Welsh)
Yissl/Jayzl/Yussel (Yiddish)

Bavarian diminutive forms are Pepi, Perperl, Sepp, Seppi, Seppl and Söpp.

Other German diminutives include: Seb, Seffi and Beppal is a Swiss-German diminutive form.

A Rheinish diminutive is Jupp.

Czech diminutives are: Pepík, Pepek, Pepan and Pepin.

Dutch short forms are Jef, Zef and Jos.

A common Hebrew short form is Yosi.

Italian diminutives and its dialectical forms include: Scepp (Calabrian); Pepp’, Pè, Peppiniéllo, Peppì, Peppinié (Campanese); Gioxe, Bepi, Bepin (Ligurian); Gepe and Pinin (Piedmontese); Seppud, Bapèpp, Peppo, Peppin, G’sip, Giusè, Pinucc, Peppon, ‘Mbà Peppe and P’pen (Puglian); Peppe and Pippo (Sicilian); Bepi and Beppe (Tuscan) and Bepìn and Bepo (Venetian).

Standard Italian diminutives are: Bepi, Beppe, Beppino, Geppetto, Geppino, Peppe, Peppenuzzo, Peppi, Peppino, Peppinello, Peppiniello, Peppinetto, Peppo, Peppuccio, Pino Pinello, Pinuccio, Peppone, Pippo Puccio and Seppe.

Portuguese diminutives include: Zé, Zézinho, Zéca and Zécinha.

Slovakian diminutives are: Jožko, Jojo and Dodo.

Slovene short forms are: Pepe, Pepi and Pepc.

A common Spanish compound name is José Maria

Its more common feminine form of Josephine became prevalent throughout Europe at the end of the 18th-century and at the beginning of the 19th-century, due to the popularity of Josephine Bonaparte, (1763-1814), the wife of Napoleon.

Originally, Joséphine was a French diminutive form of Josèphe. Joséphine became the standard form around the same time Josephine Bonaparte became famous and has remained the more common French feminine form of Joseph, since.

Currently, in the United States, she is the 186th most popular female name, (2010). In the Netherlands, she was the 153rd most popular female name, (2010).

Other feminine forms include:

Jozefina (Albanian)
Josepa (Catalan: diminutive is Pepa)
Josipa (Croatian)
Josefa (Czech/Portuguese/Spanish)
Josefina (Czech)
Jozefien (Dutch)
Joetta (English)
Josephina/Josephine (English)
Josefiina (Finnish)
Josée (French)
Josèphe (French)
Joséphine (French)
Josette (French)
Josefine (German/Danish)
Josepha (German)
Iosiphina Ιωσηφίνα (Greek: Modern)
Jozefa (Hungarian/Slovene)
Jósefína (Icelandic)
Seosaimhín (Irish-Gaelic)
Giosetta (Italian)
Giuseppa/Giuseppina (Italian)
Iosephina (Latin)
Ġużeppa (Maltese: Ġuża is the diminutive form)
Józefa (Polish)
Józefina (Polish)
Jožefina/Jožefa/Joža (Slovene)
Jožica (Slovene: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Josefa/Josefina (Spanish)
Josefin/Josefine (Swedish)
Yosipa/Osipa/Yuzefa (Ukrainian)

Croatian diminutive form is Pepica.

Czech diminutives are: Pepa, Pepca, Pepicka, Pepina, Pepka, Jóža, Jožka and Jóžin.

Common English short forms for Josephine include: Fifi, Jo, Jody, Jojo, Josie and Posey.

Common French diminutive forms are Fifi and Fifette.

German diminutives are Pepa.

Italian diminutives are: Giusy, Pina, Pinuccia, Pinella and Pippa.

Slovene diminutive form is Pepca

Marie-Josée is a common French compound form.

Designated name-days are March 19 and May 1.

Alma

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Sebastiane

The name has several different origins and meanings. Its usage as a name in Britain skyrocketed around 1854, after the victorious Battle of Alma, which took place near the Alma River in the Crimea.

In this case, the name is derived from the Tatar word for, “apple.” It is interesting to note that Alma, till this day, is a traditional and common female name across Central Asia, especially among Russian-Tatars, Kazakhs and Uzbeks. In Uzbek, it appears in the form of Olma. Alma is also the word for apple in Hungarian, where it is also occasionally used as a female given name.

The name also appears in Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen as the name of a minor character, the head of the House of Temperance in Book 2. In this case, the name is most likely taken from the Portuguese and Spanish word for “soul.”

Alma appears sparingly as a female given name in Renaissance Italy, in this case, it is most likely derived from the Latin, almus, meaning, “nourishing”; hence the term, alma mater (fostering mother). This usage of the name also appears as an epithet for a few Roman goddess, particularly Venus and Ceres.

It is the name of a book in The Book of Mormon, but in this case, it is masculine, being the name of two prophets, a father and son; Alma the Younger being the Chief Judge among the Nephites.

Other etymologies which have been suggested, include:

It is from the Greek, αλμη (salt water)
It is from an Arabic source, al-ma, meaning, (the water).
It is a contracted form of Amalia and Amalberga.

The name is used in virtually every European country, including Scandinavia, where it is currently very trendy.

As of 2010, Alma was the 8th most popular female in the Faroe Islands. Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 23 (Sweden, 2010)
# 24 (Denmark, 2010)
# 48 (Norway, 2010)
# 49 (Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010)
# 80 (Spain, 2010)
# 849 (United States, 2010)

Leah

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: debated
Eng (LEE-uh); Heb (LAY-ah)

The name is found in the Old Testament as the name of the sister of Rachel and the first wife of Jacob.

In Jewish tradition, Leah is considered a matriarch and among Christians, she is believed to be the direct ancestor of Jesus.

Its exact meaning and origins are debated. Many scholars believe that it is from the Hebrew לְאָה (le’ah), meaning, “weary.” Other sources have suggested that it is from an Akkadian source meaning, “lady; mistress.”

In the English speaking world and on the continent, it was not common outside the Jewish community until after the Protestant Reformation.

Currently, Leah ranks in as the 24th most popular female name, (2010) and this is the highest the name has ranked in U.S. naming history. She is quite popular in other countries, her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 1 (Lea, Faroe Islands, 2010)
# 1 (Léa, Monaco, 2009)
# 1 (Lea, Romansch-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 2 (Léa, French-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 2 (Lea, Liechtenstein, 2010)
# 3 (Léa, France, 2009)
# 3 (Lea, Luxembourg, 2009)
# 5 (Lea, Austria, 2010)
# 5 (Lea, German-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 5 (Léa, Belgium, 2010)
# 5 (Lea/Leah, Germany, 2011)
# 9 (Lea, Malta, 2010)
# 14 (Leah, Norway, 2010)
# 15 (Leah, Ireland, 2010)
# 17 (Lea, Croatia, 2009)
# 20 (Leah, Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 25 (Leah, Scotland, 2010)
# 39 (Lea, Slovenia, 2010)
# 46 (Lea, Denmark, 2010)
# 49 (Lea, Sweden, 2010)
# 50 (Leah, England/Wales, 2010)
# 55 (Leia, Sweden, 2010)
# 56 (Leah, Canada, BC, 2010)
# 59 (Lia, Slovenia, 2010)
# 63 (Leah, New Zealand, 2010)
# 89 (Lea, Norway, 2010)
# 95 (Lia, Hungary, 2010)
# 96 (Leah, Australia, NSW, 2010)
# 299 (Lia, France, 2009)
# 320 (Leia, France, 2009)
# 356 (Lia, Netherlands, 2010)
# 386 (Leah, Netherlands, 2010)
# 418 (Lea, Netherlands, 2010)
# 566 (Lea, United States, 2010)
# 830 (Leia, United States, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Lia (Catalan/Czech/Hungarian/Italian/Portuguese/Biblical Latin/Slovene)
Lea (Czech/Dutch/Estonian/Finnish/German/Hungarian/Icelandic/Norwegian/Polish/Romansch/Scandinavian/Slovak/Slovene/Spanish/Turkish)
Leah (English/Ethiopian/German/Scandinavian)
Leea (Finnish)
Leija (Finnish)
Leja (Finnish)
Lessu (Finnish)
Léa (French)
Leaette/Liette (French: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name, especially among French Huguenots).
Lía (Galician/Spanish)
Leia Λεια (Greek: Biblical)
Léá (Irish-Gaelic)
Lija/Liya Лия (Russian)
Lejá (Sami)

Common Czech diminutives include:

Leana
Leí
Leonka
Leoša
Leuška
Leúšik
Lienka
Liuška

The designated name-days are: January 5 (Estonia/Finland), March 22 (France), April 29 (Slovak), June 26 (Sweden).

Eva, Eve

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “life.”
Eng (EEV); (EE-vuh); Germ/Sp/Pol (EV-ah)

The name is borne in the Bible and in the Quran by the first woman created by God. She and her husband were expelled from the Garden of Eden after eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

The name is believed to be derived from the Hebrew roots חַוָּה, Ḥavvāh, from the Hebrew root ḥāyâ meaning “life” and the Semitic element, ḥyw “to live.” Both the Hebrew word chavah meaning “to live” and chayah meaning “to breath” share the same root.

Despite Eve’s fall from Grace in the Bible, the name was always in usage among Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities. In England, its usage can be traced back to the 12th-century. Its Latinate form of Eva, has always been a classic in continental Europe, especially in Germany, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

As of 2010, Eva was the most popular female name in the Faroe Islanda and in Slovenia. Eve, Eva and all her various forms’ rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 3 (Iceland, 2010)
# 4 (French-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 5 (Netherlands, 2010)
# 7 (Ieva, Lithuania, 2010)
# 10 (Armenia, 2010)
# 10 (Evie, England/Wales, 2010)
# 14 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 15 (France, 2009)
# 17 (Scotland, 2010)
# 20 (Belgium, 2009)
# 24 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 26 (Australia, NSW, 2010)
# 29 (Croatia, 2010)
# 31 (Evie, Scotland, 2010)
# 33 (Evie, Australia, NSW, 2010)
# 37 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 44 (Eevi, Finland among Finnish-speakers, 2010)
# 44 (Ireland, 2010)
# 46 (Austria, 2010)
# 47 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 48 (Spain, 2010)
# 55 (Catalonia, 2010)
# 55 (Éabha, Ireland, 2010)
# 56 (Eve, Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 59 (Eve, Ireland, 2010)
# 86 (Norway, 2010)
# 91 (United States, 2010)
# 92 (Eve, England/Wales, 2010)
# 99 (Eve, Australia, NSW, 2010)
# 201 (Eve, France, 2009)
# 589 (Eve, United States, 2010)
# 705 (Evie, United States, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Eva Ева ევა
(Afrikaans/Albanian/Armenian/Basque/Belarusian/Bosnian/Catalan/Croatian/Czech/Dutch/Faroese/French/Frisian/Galician/Georgian/German/Icelandic/Italian/Portuguese/Romansch/Spanish/Scandinavian)
Evis (Albanian)
Mahalet/Mahlet (Amharic)
Hawa حواء Хауа (Arabic)
Yeva (Armenian)
Həvva (Azeri)
Yeva Ева Эва (Belarusian/Russian/Ukrainian)
Yevga Евга (Belarusian)
Hava (Bosnian)
Evy (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish: initially a diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent given name)
Eveke (Dutch: initially a diminutive form, used as an independent given name, EV-eh-ke)
Eve (English/Estonian/Walon)
Evie (English)
Hawat/Hewa (Egyptian/Coptic)
Eeva (Estonian/Finnish)
Eevi (Estonian/Finnish)
Evi (Estonian)
Ivi/Iivi (Estonian)
Iivika (Estonian)
Ève (French)
Eefje, Eefke (Frisian)
Hawwa ሕይዋን (Ge-ez)
Eua Ευα (Greek)
Chava חַוָה (Hebrew: Modern: KHAH-vah, gutteral CH sound)
Éva (Hungarian: AY-vaw, diminutive form is Évike)
Hawa (Indonesian/Malayalam)
Éabha (Irish-Gaelic)
Ieva (Latvian/Lithuanian: YEH-vah)
Evuzus (Malaysian)
Aaue (Manx)
Èva (Occitanian)
Ewa (Polish: EH-vah, diminutive forms are Ewka, Ewunia and Ewusia)
Evá (Sami)
Evelia (Spanish)
Evita (Spanish)
Eba (Tagalog)
Havva (Turkish)
Efa (Welsh)

Italian masculine form is Evo.

Traditionally, in most European countries, the name-day for Adam and Eve is December 24.

Armin

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “whole; universal.”
(AHR-meen)

The name is derived from the latinized Germanic name, Arminius, which is believed to be derived from the Germanic element, ermen, (whole; universal). It is suggested that Arminius was a latinized form of Herman.

The name was borne by a 1st-century Cherusci leader who lead a rebellion against the Romans and defeated the Romans in the famous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.

As of 2010, Armin was the 15th most popular male name in Bosnia & Herzegovina. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 65 (Hungary, 2010)
# 380 (Netherlands, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Armini (Azeri/Catalan)
Armin (Bosnian/Croatian/Dutch/German/Hungarian/Serbian/Slovene)
Arminije (Croatian)
Arminij Арминий (Bulgarian/Macedonian/Russian/Ukrainian)
Arminio (Galician/Italian/Spanish)
Arminiusi არმინიუსი (Georgian)
Arminijus (Lithuanian)
Armínio (Portuguese)
Arminiu (Sicilian)

Aïda

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Arabic عائدة
Meaning: “the return; the visitor.”
It (ah-EE-dah); Al/Bos (I-dah)

The name has a two different possible etymologies. One is that it is from the Arabic, meaning, “returning; visitor.”

In the case of Verdi’s Opera, Auguste Mariette was inspired by a possible Greco-Egyptian male name which was recorded on the Rosetta Stone, Aitus. The name was initially feminized to Aita, but was later changed to Aïda. Mariette attests to the origin of the name himself in a letter he wrote: “Don’t be alarmed by the title. Aida is an Egyptian name. Normally it would be Aita. But that name would be too harsh, and the singers would irresistibly soften it to Aida.”

The opera is about an Ethiopian princess who is captured and enslaved in Egypt. An Egyptian military commander by the name of Radamnes must chose between his love for Aida or his loyalty to the pharoah.

As of 2010, Aida was the 52nd most popular female name in Bosnia & Herzegovina, (2010).

Its Arabic form is sometimes transliterated as Ayda.

The name is used throughout the Islamic world in addition to Anglophone countries, Spanish speaking countries, Italy and in Hungary and Latvia.

Its designated name-days are: February 2 (Hungary) and February 3 (Latvia).

Sources

Dizionario dei Nomi (Selene, Armenia, 2002)
http://www.behindthename.com/name/aida
Simon, Henry W. (1946). A Treasury of Grand Opera. Simon and Schuster, New York, New York.
http://archive.operainfo.org/broadcast/operaBackground.cgi?id=33&language=1

Louis, Lewis

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: “famous warrior.”
Eng (LOO-ee; LOO-is); Fre (LOU-ee)

The name is a franconized form of the German name, Ludwig, which is composed of the ancient Germanic elements, hlud (fame) and wig (warrior). The name is a cognate of the Frankish male name Chlodovech or Clovis.

It was a very popular name among the French monarchs, being borne by 18 kings of France, one of whom was canonized as a saint.

The name was introduced into England after the Norman Conquest and was usually rendered as Lewis. The name fell out of usage after the Protestant Reformation and was revived in 19th-century America, the more popular form being its French counterpart of Louis.

In France, the name fell out of usage after the French Revolution but immediately gained popularity by the 19th-century remaining a French classic.

As of 2009, Louis was the 4th most popular male name in France and the 5th most popular in Belgium. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 2 (Lewis, Scotland, 2010)
# 27 (Lewis, England/Wales, 2010)
# 30 (Lewis, Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 51 (Luis, Spain, 2010)
# 55 (Luis, Austria, 2010)
# 69 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 78 (Luis, United States, 2010)
# 91 (Luis, Catalonia, 2010)
# 334 (Luis, France, 2009)
# 343 (United States, 2010)
# 434 (Netherlands, 2010)
# 717 (Lewis, United States, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Ludovik (Albanian)
Luigj (Albanian)
Hloþwig (Anglo-Saxon)
Lluís (Asturian/Catalan)
Aloxi (Basque)
Koldo (Basque)
Koldobika (Basque)
Luki (Basque)
Loeiz (Breton)
Alojzije (Croatian)
Ljudevit (Croatian/Slovene)
Ludovik (Croatian)
Luj Луј (Croatian/Serbian/Slovene)
Ludvík (Czech)
Lodewijk (Dutch)
Lode (Dutch)
Lowie (Dutch)
Aloysius (English/Latin)
Louis (English/French)
Lewis (English)
Ludovic (English)
Lois (Galician)
Luís (Galician/Portuguese/Spanish)
Khlodvigi ხლოდვიგი (Georgian)
Alois (German)
Ludwig (German)
Luis (German/Romansch)
Loudovikos Λουδοβίκος (Greek)
Lui (Hawaiian)
Lajos (Hungarian)
Loðvík (Icelandic)
Alaois (Irish)
Alabhaois (Irish)
Lughaidh (Irish)
Luigi (Italian)
Lodovico/Ludovico (Italian)
Lujs (Latvian)
Liudvikas (Lithuanian)
Loís (Occitanian)
Ludwik (Polish)
Aloísio (Portuguese)
Aluísio (Portuguese)
Liset (Poitvin)
Ludovico (Portuguese)
Luiz (Portuguese: archaic)
Aloys (Provençal)
Ludovic (Romanian)
Duitg (Romansch)
Ludivic (Romansch)
Lyudovik Людовик (Russian)
Ludvig (Scandinavian)
Ľudovít (Slovak)
Alojz (Slovene)
Lojze (Slovene)
Love (Swedish)
Lüìs (Tuscan)

Diminutive forms include:

Luděk (Czech)
Lou (English)
Ludek (Polish)
Lucho (Spanish)
Luisito (Spanish)
Wicho (Spanish)

Feminine forms include:

Loeiza (Breton)
Lluïsa (Catalan)
Luisa (German/Portuguese/Spanish)
Louise (English/French/Scandinavian)
Louisette (French)
Louison (French)
Ludovica (Italian/Portuguese/Romanian)
Luigia (Italian)
Lise (Poitvin)
Lisète (Poitvin)
Ludwika (Polish)
Luiza (Polish)
Ludivica (Romansch)
Luisia (Romansch)
Lovisa/Lovise (Scandinavian)
Lova (Swedish)

(For a moral thorough list of its feminine forms and trends please go to Louise).

Arthur

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Debated
Meaning: Debated
Eng (ARE-ther)

The name is of debated origin and meaning. Several theories have been attributed to the name’s origins, one is that it is derived from an obscure Roman cognomen, Artorius, which is believed to be of Etruscan origins of unknown meaning. Another theory is that it is derived from an ancient Brittonic name, *Arto-rīg-ios , meaning “bear-king.” An even less likely alternative is that it is connected with Welsh Artgwr (bear-man). A newer and yet unlikely suggestion is that it is related to the Greek Arcturus, that is, the name of the brightest star in the Constellation Boötes, meaning “bear guardian.”

The name was borne by a mythical British king who is the topic of several medieval romances. His existence has never been proven, yet his legacy has left an indelible mark in Western Europe, especially in England and France. The name’s usage among the general populous can be traced all the way Medieval England. It surged in popularity in the 19th-century when English Romanticism had become popular.

As of 2008, Arthur was the 6th most popular male name in Belgium. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 4 (Brazil, 2010)
# 10 (Arturs, Latvia, 2010)
# 15 (France, 2009)
# 23 (Arttu, Finland, 2010)
# 82 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 99 (Arturo, Spain, 2010)
# 288 (Netherlands, 2010)
# 389 (United States, 2010)
# 420 (Arturo, United States, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Artur Артур Արթուր (Albanian/Armenian/Basque/Belarusian/Bosnian/Bulgarian/Catalan/Croatian/Czech/Estonian/Galician/German/Kazakh/Picard/Polish/Portuguese/Romanian/Romansch/Russian/Serbian/Slovak/Slovene/Ukrainian)
Dury (Alsatian)
Arturu (Asturian/Maltese)
Artús (Asturian/Catalan)
Artza (Basque)
Arzhur (Breton)
Artuš (Czech/Slovak)
Arthur (Dutch/English/Flemish/French/German/Scandinavian/Welsh)
Arto (Finnish)
Arttu (Finnish)
Artturi (Finnish)
Atte (Frisian)
Arturo (Galician/Italian/Spanish)
Arthoúros Αρθούρος (Greek)
Artúr (Hungarian/Icelandic/Irish)
Artù (Italian)
Arturi ართური (Georgian)
Arturs (Latvian)
Artūras (Lithuanian)
Turu (Maltese)
Èrthu (Norman)
Artús (Occitanian)
Artair (Scottish)

Diminutives include:

Arturek (Czech/Polish)
Tuur (Dutch)
Art (English)
Artie (English)

Feminine forms include the Italian: Artura and Arturina

Legitimate Baby Names

names that are not made up and have had a history

Category Archives: Galician Names

Phoebe

George

Joseph, Josephine

Alma

Leah

Eva, Eve

Armin

Aïda

Louis, Lewis

Arthur