Category Archives: Most Popular Names

Charles, Caroline

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “man; free man”

The name is derived from a Germanic root word describing someone who is of the farm or peasant class. It corresponds with the Anglo-Saxon term ceorl (churl) and the Old German word karl. Both words were used to describe a male member of society who came from the lowest ranks but was not considered a servant or thrall. It is believed that its Old High German counterpart, karal, was originally used to describe any man. Interestingly enough, in the Poetic Edda, the progenitor of the peasant class is named Karl.

Its usage as a given name seems to have begun with the Frankish King and Holy Roman Emperor, Charles the Great also known as Charlemagne. As a result, the name became extremely common among French royalty and was later introduced to the British Royal Line when Mary Queen of Scots named her son Charles, later known as Charles I Stuart. Since Mary of Scots grew up in France, it is believed that her naming choices may have been influenced by her early habitation among French royalty.

The name was also extremely common among Swedish, German and Spanish Royalty.

It has also been borne by several saints.

Charles remains a fairly prevalent name throughout the Western World. In the English-speaking world, Charles’ rankings are as follows (vernacular forms are italicized):

  • # 72 (Australia, 2008)
  • # 85 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
  • # 2 Karlo (Croatia, 2009)
  • # 56 (England/Wales, 2008)
  • # 21 Carlos (Spain, 2008)
  • #63 (United States, 2008)

Its diminutive form of Charlie is often used as an independent given name, sometimes ranking even higher on the charts than its formal counterpart. His rankings are as follows:

  • # 26 (Australia, 2008)
  • # 7 (England/Wales, 2008)
  • #29 (Ireland, 2008)
  • # 1 (Isle of Man, 2009)
  • # 8 (Northern Ireland, 2009)
  • # 22 (Scotland, 2009)
  • # 42 (Sweden, 2009)
  • # 307 (United States, 2008)

Other forms of the name include:

  • Karlo (Albanian/Croatian/Finnish/Serbian)
  • Kirollis كيرولوس(Arabic: used primarily among Arab Christians if used at all)
  • Carllos (Asturian)
  • Carlos (Asturian/Galician/Portuguese/Spanish)
  • Karla/Karlos (Basque)
  • Karol (Basque/Polish/Slovak)
  • Xarles (Basque)
  • Charlez (Breton)
  • Carl/Karl Карл (Bulgarian/Finnish/German/Russian/Scandinavian/Ukrainian)
  • Carles (Catalan)
  • Charlys (Cornish)
  • Carlu (Corsican/Sicilian)
  • Karel (Czech/Dutch/Limburgish/Slovene)
  • Karelius (Danish/Norwegian: archaic)
  • Carolus (Dutch/Latin)
  • Kaarel (Estonian)
  • Kaarle/Kaarlo (Finnish)
  • Charles (French/English)
  • Charlot (French: originally a diminutive form, now completely out of usage. SHAR-lo)
  • Keerl/Kerll (German: rare form)
  • Karolos Κάρολος (Greek: Modern)
  • Kale (Hawaiian)
  • Károly (Hungarian: Kah-roi)
  • Séarlas (Irish-Gaelic)
  • Carlino/Carolino (Italian)
  • Carlo (Italian/Welsh)
  • Kārlis (Latvian)
  • Charel (Lexumbourgish: KAH-rel)
  • Sjarel (Limburgish. SHAH-rel)
  • Karolis (Lithuanian. kah-roh-lis)
  • Karlu (Maltese)
  • Carol (Romanian)
  • Carli (Romansch)
  • Carule/Carlus (Sardinian)
  • Tèarlach (Scottish-Gaelic)
  • Korla (Sorbian)
  • Kalle (Swedish: a diminutive form commonly used as an independent name. KAHL-le)
  • Siarl (Welsh: SHARL)

Czech diminutives: Karlík, Karlíček.
English diminutives: Charlie, Chas, Chaz, Chip, Chuck, Chuckie
French diminutives: Charlie, Charlot
Hungarian diminutives: Karcsi
Italian diminutives: Carletto, Carluccio
Polish diminutives: Karolek, Lolek
Portuguese/Spanish diminutives: Carlito, Carlitos

Its feminine offshoot of Caroline is a French borrowing. Pronounced (kare-uh-LINE) in English, it has always been a common name. She is currently the 94th most popular female name in the United States, (2008), her rankings in other countries are as follows: (vernacular forms are italicized)

  • #5  (Denmark 2009)
  • # 6 Carolin/Caroline (Estonia, 2007)
  • # 9 (Luxembourg, 2008)
  • # 74 (Norway, 2009)

Its more elaborate versions of Carolina/Karolina are also fairly prevalent in other countries. Carolina has had a history of usage among English-speakers as well, but among Americans, the name is usually associated with the States, both of which were named in honour of Charles I.

Currently, Carolina is the 355th most popular female name in the United States, (2008). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 33 (Chile, 2006)
  • # 4 Karolína (Czech Republic, 2009)
  • # 14 Karolina (Poland, 2009)
  • # 54 (Spain, 2008)

Charlotte (see Charlotte entry for more info)

  • Carlota/Carlotta (Liechtenstein, 2008)
  • Carlota # 41 (Spain, 2008)

Carla/Karla

  • Carla (Catalonia Spain, 2008)
  • # 39 (Chile, 2006)
  • Karla # 7 (Croatia, 2009)
  • # 42 (France, 2006)

Other feminine forms include:

  • Carolina (Catalan/English/Italian/Portuguese/Spanish/Swedish)
  • Karla (Croatian/Czech/Dutch/German/Scandinavian)
  • Karola (Croatian/Czech/German/Hungarian)
  • Karolina (Croatian/German/Hungarian/Latvian/Lithuanian/Polish/Scandinavian/Slovak/Slovene)
  • Karolína (Czech)
  • Karoline (Danish/German/Norwegian/Swedish)
  • Carla (Dutch/English/German/Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
  • Carola (Dutch/German/Italian/Scandinavian)
  • Carolien (Dutch: cah-ro-LEEN)
  • Caroline (Dutch/English/French/German/Scandinavian)
  • Charlotte (Dutch/English/French/German/Scandinavian)
  • Carly (English: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
  • Carolyn (English)
  • Charla (English: contraction of Charlene)
  • Karoliina (Finnish)
  • Carole (French)
  • Charlène (French/English: In French pronounced shahr-LEN, imported into the English speaking world where it is pronounced shar/char-LEEN)
  • Charline (French: shahr-LEEN)
  • Carolin (German: cah-ro-LEEN)
  • Karline (German)
  • Sarlott (Hungarian)
  • Séarlait (Irish-Gaelic)
  • Carletta (Italian)
  • Carlina (Italian)
  • Carlotta (Italian)
  • Carlottina (Italian)
  • Carluccia (Italian)
  • Tèarlag (Scottish-Gaelic)
  • Carlota (Spanish)
  • Charlotta (Swedish)

Their bearers are too numerous to list. Its designated name-days are: March 2 (France), November 4 (France).

For Caroline and her variations, May 9 (Poland), May 20 (Sweden), June 3 (Slovakia), July 5 (Lithuania/Poland), July 18 (Poland), August 6 (Lithuania) and February 2 (Hungary).

Rose

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: English/French

The name was originally a Norman form of the Germanic name Rohese/Roese, which was composed of the elements hrod meaning “fame” and heid meaning “kind, sort, type.”

The name was revived in the 19th-century by which time it was associated with the flower. In the floral case, the word is derived from the Latin rosa.

Consequently, it is also the word for pink in several European languages.

In the United States, Rose is probably one of the most common middle names given to baby girls, but as a first name, it is rather unusual. Currently, Rose only ranked as the #343rd most popular female name, (2008).

Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 92 (Australia, 2008)
  • # 91 (France, 2006)

In the Netherlands, Rosa was the 89th most popular female name (2008); and in Ireland, its vernacular form of Róisin ranked in as the 28th most popular female name, (2008).

Other forms of the name include:

  • Arrosa (Basque)
  • Ruža (Bosnian/Croatian/Slovene: common diminutive is Ružica)
  • Rozenn (Breton)
  • Roza Роза (Bulgarian/Croatian/Serbian/Slovene/Russian)
  • Ruzha Ружа (Bulgarian/Macedonian)
  • Rosa (Catalan/Dutch/English/Finnish/Galician/German/Italian/Portuguese/Romanian/Scandinavian/Spanish)
  • Rosen (Cornish)
  • Růže (Czech)
  • Roos (Dutch/Limburgish/Estonian: ROWS)
  • Roosje (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent given name. RO:-shə)
  • Rohesia (English/Latin: Latinized version of Rohese. ro-HEE-zee-uh; ro-HEE-zhuh)
  • Rose (English/French/Scandinavian)
  • Royse (English: a Medieval Cognate, the name was actually a feminine given name, but due to its associations with Royce, it is often mistaken for a male name)
  • Roosa/Ruusa/Ruusu (Finnish)
  • Roseline (French)
  • Roselle (French)
  • Rosette (French)
  • Rosine (French)
  • Róza (Hungarian)
  • Rozina (Hungarian)
  • Rozita (Hungarian)
  • Rózsa (Hungarian: RO;jaw: Rózsi is the diminutive)
  • Rós (Icelandic)
  • Róis/Róise (Irish-Gaelic)
  • Róisin (Irish-Gaelic: ro-SHEEN; ROSH-een; ROW-sheen)
  • Rosella/Rossella (Italian)
  • Rosellina/Rossellina (Italian)
  • Rosetta (Italian)
  • Rosina (Italian)
  • Rosinella (Italian)
  • Rožė (Lithuanian: ROO-zhey)
  • Róža (Polish: ROO-zhah)
  • Rosita (Spanish: originally a diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent given name)
  • Rhosyn (Welsh)
  • Raisa (Yiddish: RYE-zah)
  • Raisel (Yiddish)

Common Italian compound names include: Annarosa, Mariarosa, Rosangela, Rosanna and Rosamaria.

Common English/French compounds are: Rosanne, Rosemary and Rosemarie.

A common English pet form is Rosie.

Italian masculine forms include: Roso, Rosello, Rosino and Rosetto.

Vernacular forms

These are names found in other languages that literally mean “rose” but which are also not related to the Latin/Germanic form of Rose/Rosa.

  • Qızılgül (Azeri)
  • Gul (Farsi)
  • Vardo (Georgian)
  • Vered וֶרֶד (Hebrew)
  • Mawar (Indonesian)
  • Kolab (Khmer)
  • Kulap (Thai)
  • Gül (Turkish)
  • Hòng (Vietnamese)
  • Huòng (Vietnamese: can also mean pink)

An Armenian masculine form is Vartan.

The name is also borne by a few Catholic saints.

The designated name-days are: August 23 (France), July 2 (Sweden).

Sources

  1. http://www.behindthename.com/namedays/search.php?terms=rosa
  2. http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/rose?view=uk

Gemma

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Italian/Catalan
Meaning: “gem”
It (JEM-mah)

The name was originally used as a nickname in Medieval Italy, but gradually became an independent given name over the centuries.

Its earliest notable bearer was the wife of the 13th-century Italian poet, Dante Alighieri.

The name has been borne by at least four Catholic Saints, the most notable being St. Gemma Galgani, nee Maria Gemma Umberta Pia Galgani (1878-1903) . She was an Italian mystic who died in her 20s from Tuberculosis. Her cult became especially popular in Italy, Latin America and in Ireland after she had been canonized in 1940. In the 1950s, the name suddenly became mainstream in Ireland, no doubt due to the popularity of the recently canonized saint. Its usage in Ireland may have spread to the other British Isles. In the case of England, Scotland and Australia, the name probably became common due to its transparent meaning. The name was quite popular in Great Britain between the 70s, 80s and 90s, but has suddenly fallen out of favor.

Currently, Gemma is the 888th most popular female name in the United States, in fact, she just entered the top 1000 this past year (2008). She is the 75th most popular female name in Australia (2008).

The name has sometimes been anglicized to Jemma.

Other forms of the name include:

  • Gemmina (Italian)
  • Gema (Spanish: HEM-a; Portuguese ZHEM-a)

A few obscure masculine versions are Gemmino and Gemmo.

Gemma is also the name of a star.

Other notable bearers include: Gemma Atkinson, Gemma Craven, Gemma Hayes, Gemma Jones and Gemma Ward.

The designated name-day is April 11 (Italy).

Sources

  1. http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/gemma?view=uk
  2. http://www.behindthename.com/name/gemma

Zoltán

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Hungarian
Meaning: “sultan.”

The name is derived from a Turkic element meaning, “sultan.”

The name was borne by a 10th-century Hungarian king.

Currently, Zoltán is the 19th most popular male name in Hungary (2008).

Another form of the name, also borne in history by an illustrious king, is Zsolt (ZHOLT), which is currently the 33rd most popular male name in Hungary (2008).

An even rarer form is Solt (SHOLT)

An obscure feminine form is Zoltána.

The designated name-days in Hungary are: March 8 and June 23. In Slovakia, it is April 7.

Sources

  1. http://www.behindthename.com/php/find.php?name=zoltan

Patrick, Patricia

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Origin: Latin
Meaning: “patrician.”

Patrick is derived from the Latin designation, patricius, meaning “patrician” or “nobleman.” Its usage as a given name started after the fame and cult of St. Patrick of Ireland.

St. Patrick was believed to have been a Romanized Briton who was captured by Irish raiders and enslaved. After six years of slavery, he was able to return to his homeland, but felt a call to return to Ireland to bring Christianity. He was able to establish a bishopric in Armagh. He is considered a national folk hero for the Irish and is also considered the patron saint and apostle of Ireland. Many legendary miracles were attributed to him during his life.

It is also believed that Patrick (or Patricius) was a nickname or title given to him by the Druid chieftans and that his real name was Succat.

St. Patrick’s Day which falls on March 17 is a national holiday in Ireland and also a popular festival in the United States and other English-speaking countries with large Irish immigrant populations.

Patrick is still a very common name in Ireland. As of 2008, he ranked in as the 19th most popular male name. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 54 (Australia, 2008)
  • # 25 (Hungary, 2008)
  • # 397 (the Netherlands, 2009)
  • # 34 (Slovenia, 2005)
  • # 127 (the United States, 2009)

Other forms of the name include:

  • Patirki (Basque)
  • Padrig (Breton/Welsh)
  • Patrik Патрик (Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/Hungarian/Russian/Serbian/Slovak/Swedish/Ukrainian)
  • Pitrik Питрик (Bulgarian)
  • Patrici (Catalan)
  • Patrick (Danish/English/Estonian/Finnish/French/German/Norwegian)
  • Pátrikur (Faroese)
  • Patrice (French)
  • Patrikios Πατρίκιος (Greek: Modern)
  • Patrícius (Hungarian)
  • Patrekur (Icelandic)
  • Patrizio (Italian)
  • Pádraic/Pádraig (Irish-Gaelic: PAW-dric; PAW-drig)
  • Patricius (Latin)
  • Patriks (Latvian)
  • Patrikas (Lithuanian)
  • Patrizju (Maltese)
  • Paden (Manx)
  • Pherick (Manx)
  • Patariki (Maori)
  • Patryk (Polish: more common form)
  • Patrycjusz (Polish: rare)
  • Patrício (Portuguese)
  • Patrique (Portuguese)
  • Patriciu (Romanian)
  • Patritziu (Sardinian)
  • Pàdraig (Scots-Gaelic)
  • Patricio (Spanish)

Common male French diminutives include: Pat, Patoche, Patou and Patounet.

Common English diminutives are Pat, Paddy (Irish) and occasionally Rick.

Patricia is its Latin feminine equivalent and is used in Danish, English, French, German, Hungarian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. At one time, Patricia was one of the most popular female names in the United States, peaking at # 3 between 1937 and 1952. Currently, she ranks in at a measly # 498 (2008). In other countries, her rankings are as follows:

  • # 67 (Hungary, 2008)
  • # 15 (Poland, 2008)
  • #50 Patricija (Slovenia, 2005)
  • # 52 (Spain, 2008)

Other feminine forms include:

  • Patricija (Croatian/Slovene)
  • Patricie (Czech: pah-TREET-sye)
  • Patrizia (German/Italian: pah-TREET-see-ah)
  • Patrizie (German)
  • Patrícia (Hungarian/Portuguese/Slovak: pah-TREET-syah in Slovak)
  • Pádraigín (Irish-Gaelic: PAW-drig-EEN)
  • Patrizja (Maltese)
  • Patrycja (Polish: pah-TRITS-yah)

Common English diminutive are: Pat, Patsy, Patty, Tricia and Trish. In the English-speaking world, Tricia is occasionally used as an independent given name.

German short forms are Patti and Patze. A common Spanish short form is Patti.

The Polish diminutive is usually Tysia.

The designated name-day is March 17.

Sources

  1. Elizabeth Gidley Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names (1945)
  2. Kálmán Béla,  A nevek világa
  3. http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/patrick?view=uk
  4. http://www.behindthename.com/php/find.php?name=patrick

Roderick

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: English/Scottish/Welsh
Meaning: “famous power.”
Eng (RAHD-rik)

The name is derived from the Germanic elements hrod “fame” and ric “power.”

The name was first introduced into England via Scandinavian settlers and later by the Normans. However, the name seems to have died out by the late Middle Ages and wasn’t revived until the beginning of the 19th-century, thanks in part to Sir Walter Scott’s famous poem The Vision of Don Roderick (1811) where it is used as a vernacular form of the Spanish, Rodrigo.

Its Spanish cognate of Rodrigo, has always been fairly common in Spanish-speaking countries, it was borne by the last Visigothic king of Spain who died fighting Muslim invaders. Another notable Spanish bearer was the legendary El Cid whose real name was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. The same name forms the basis of the common Spanish surname, Rodriguez.

As of 2006, Rodrigo was the 32nd most popular male name in Chile. In Spain, he was the 38th most popular name for 2008.

Roderick is also used as an English equivalent for the unrelated Welsh male name, Rhydderch.

Other forms of the name include:

  • Hroderich (Ancient Germanic)
  • Hrēðrīc (Anglo-Saxon)
  • Ludhriq لذري (Arabic)
  • Roderic (Catalan)
  • Roderich (Czech/German)
  • Roderik (Czech/Danish/Dutch/Finnish/German/Hungarian/Norwegian/Slovene/Swedish)
  • Rodéric (French)
  • Rodrigue (French)
  • Rodrigo (Galician/Italian/Occitanian/Portuguese/Spanish)
  • Roric (German)
  • Rodrigó (Hungarian)
  • Roderico (Italian)
  • Rodericus (Late Latin)
  • Rørik (Old East Norse)
  • Hrœrekr (Old West Norse)
  • Rurik Рюрик (Russian/Ukrainian)
  • Roderyk (Polish)

A common Galician short form is Roi and a Spanish diminutive is Rui.

A Scots feminine form is Rodina.

Common English short forms are Rod and Roddy.

The designated name-day is March 13 (France).

Sources

  1. http://www.sofi.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=1642
  2. http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/roderick?view=uk
  3. http://www.behindthename.com/name/roderick
  4. http://www.ine.es/en/daco/daco42/nombyapel/nombyapel_en.htm

Jason

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Gender: Masculine

Origin: Greek

Meaning: “to heal”

Eng (JAY-sen)

The name is derived from the Greek ιασθαι (iasthai) meaning, “to heal.” In Greek mythology, the name was borne by one of the more important mythical heros. According to legend, Jason was the leader of the Argonauts and went on a long search for the Golden Fleece. He was later connected with the tragedy of Medea, (a sorceress and also his wife), when she tragically murdered their children in revenge of his unfaithfulness to her. He makes an appearance in both the epic poem, Argonautica and the play Medea. In Slovenian folklore, he is also attributed as the founder of Ljubljana.

The name also appears in the New Testament as the name of a man who sheltered Paul and Silas, (Acts 17:5–9; Romans 16:21).

The name has been popular in the English-speaking world since the Renaissance. Currently, he is the 60th most popular male name in the United States, (2008). Between 1974 and 1978, he ranked as high as # 2. His popularity in other countries is as follows:

  • # 80 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
  • #93 (the Netherlands, 2009)

Other forms of the name include:

  • Jasó (Catalan)
  • Jazon Јасон (Croatian/Polish/Serbian/Slovene)
  • Iásón (Czech)
  • Jason Ясо́н (Danish/Dutch/English/German/French/Icelandic/Norwegian/Russian/Swedish/Ukrainian)
  • Iason Ιασων (Finnish/German/Greek: Ancient/Biblical/Romanian)
  • Xasón (Galician: shah-SONE)
  • Iasoni იასონი (Georgian)
  • Iaszón (Hungarian)
  • Giasone (Italian)
  • Jasonas (Lithuanian)
  • Jasão (Portuguese)
  • Giasuni (Sicilian)
  • Jasón (Spanish)
  • İason (Turkish)

The designated name-day is July 12 (France).

A common English short form is Jay.

Sources

  1. http://www.behindthename.com/namedays/search.php?terms=jason\
  2. http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/jason?view=uk
  3. Bulfinch’s Mythology, Medea and Aeson.
  4. Publius Ovidius Naso. Metamorphoses

Annabel, Annabelle

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: English
Meaning: uncertain

The name first appeared in 12th-century Scotland and is believed to be a corruption of the Late Latin feminine name, Amabel, which is a feminine form of Amabilis meaning “lovable.”

It was fashionable in 19th-century America and was further popularized by the Edgar Allan Poe poem Annabel Lee.

Ever since the popularity of Isabella, Annabelle has been rising in popularity, she is currently the 188th most popular female name in the United States. Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 61 (Australia, 2008)
  • # 400 (the Netherlands, 2009)

Other forms of the name include:

  • Annabel/Annabelle (English/Dutch)
  • Annabelle (French: very rare)
  • Anabela (Hungarian/Portuguese/Slovak)
  • Annabella (Italian)
  • Anabel (Spanish)

In Slovakia, the designated name-day is August 20.

Sources

  1. http://www.behindthename.com/name/annabelle
  2. http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/annabel?view=uk

Lara

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Russian
Лара
(LAH-rah)

The name is a Russian diminutive form of Larisa and is now exclusively used as an independent given name outside of Russia.

It was first introduced into the English-speaking world via Boris Pasternak’s 1957 novel, Dr. Zhivago, which was later adapted into a movie, (1965) and its theme song “Lara’s Theme” became a popular romantic ballad. This no doubt set off the popularity of the name in the 20th-century.

The name is also used as an independent given name in German-Speaking countries, Spanish-speaking countries and in Slovenia.

Currently, Lara is the 27th most popular female name in Australia. Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 22 (Belgium, 2006)
  • # 12 (Germany, 2009)
  • # 45 (Hungary, 2008)
  • # 54 (the Netherlands, 2009)
  • # 4 (Slovenia, 2005)
  • # 71 (Spain, 2008)

Sources

  1. http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/lara?view=uk
  2. http://www.beliebte-vornamen.de/2009/top500-2009
  3. http://www.behindthename.com/php/find.php?name=lara

Esmé, Esmée

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Origin: French
Meaning: “esteemed.”
(EZ-may)

Both names are derived from the French, meaning “esteemed.” It was introduced to the British Isles via the Duke of Lennox in the 16th-century. Though Esmé is now often used on females in both England and Scotland, it is actually masculine, while Esmée is its feminine version.

Currently, Esmé is the 100th most popular female name in England/Wales, (2008) and Esmée is the 71st most popular female name in the Netherlands, (2009).

Sources