Category Archives: Nickname Names

Lina

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The name is of several different origins and meanings. It could be a German and Swedish short form of any name ending in –lina.

In Lithuanian, it is the feminine form of Linas, meaning, “flax.” It is also the Estonian and Finnish word for flax, and is used as a given name in both countries.

It could also be from the Arabic لينا meaning “palm tree” or “tender.”

In Sanskrit लीना it means “absorbed; united.”

The name is also used in Chinese, being a composition of the words 丽 (Li) meaning “pretty” and 娜 (Na), meaning “elegant.”

Currently, Lina is the 7th most popular female name in Germany, (2011). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 15 (German-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
  • # 19 (France, 2009)
  • # 20 (Slovenia, 2010)
  • # 25 (Belgium, 2009)
  • # 36 (Austria, 2010)
  • # 61 (Netherlands, 2010)
  • # 84 (Norway, 2010)
  • # 91 (Sweden, 2010)
  • # 848 (United States, 2010)

Mia

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The name could be of several different meanings and origins, but its most popular usage is from the Northern Germanic diminutive form of Maria.

In the English-speaking world, the name was introduced via actress, Mia Farrow (b.1945) whose full name is Maria de Lourdes. The name did not even appear in the U.S. top 1000 the year Mia Farrow was born, but started to rise in popularity in the late 1990s. Currently, Mia is the 10th most popular female name in the United States, (2010) and her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 1 (Germany, 2011)
  • # 2 (German-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
  • # 2 (Romansch-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
  • # 3 (Faroe Islands, 2010)
  • # 4 (Isle of Man, 2009)
  • # 4 (Liechtenstein, 2010)
  • # 5 (Luxembourg, 2010)
  • # 6 (Australia, 2010)
  • # 7 (Croatia, 2010)
  • # 13 (England/Wales, 2010)
  • # 15 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
  • # 15 (Norway, 2010)
  • # 16 (New Zealand, 2010)
  • # 17 (Austria, 2010)
  • # 18 (Scotland, 2010)
  • # 20 (Ireland, 2010)
  • # 25 (Slovenia, 2010)
  • # 27 (Canada, B.C., 2010)
  • # 37 (Chile, 2010)
  • # 38 (Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010)
  • # 49 (Denmark, 2010)
  • # 40 (French-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
  • # 40 (Italian-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
  • # 206 (France, 2009)
  • # 221 (Netherlands, 2010)

In the case of its usage in Southern Slavic countries, it is most likely derived from a diminutive form of any Slavic name containing the mio element, meaning “dear.”

In English-speaking countries, it was often used as a diminutive form of Amelia, Emilia and Hermione.

In Romansch, it was originally used as a diminutive form of Anna Maria.

Coincidentally, mia is also the feminine Italian and Spanish pronoun meaning “mine”, but the name was originally never used in reference to the pronoun.

 

Lasse

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: Scandinavian
(LAHS-seh)

The name is from a Swedish and Norwegian diminutive form of Lars, now commonly used as an independent given name throughout Scandinavia, Finland and Germany.

It is currently the 86th most popular male name in Germany, (2011).

Another form is the Finnish, Lassi.

Colin, Collin

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: English/Gaelic
Eng (KAHL-in); Fre (KOLE-lahn)

The name could be of two origins. The first is that it is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Cailean meaning “puppy” or it could be from an archaic French and English diminutive form of Nicolas. 

It was borne by a 9th-century Scots king and has been a common name in Scotland and Ireland since Medieval times.

The name’s popularity outside of Celtic and English-speaking countries may be due to several recent famous personages who have brought the name to the spotlight, including former Secretary of State of the United States and General, Colin Powell (b.1937), British actor Colin Firth (b.1960) and Irish actor, Colin Farrell (b.1976)

Currently, Col(l)in is the 56th most popular male name in Germany, (2011). His rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 111 (Colin, United States, 2010)
  • # 148 (Collin, United States, 2010)
  • # 167 (Colin, Netherlands, 2010)
  • # 170 (Collin, France, 2010)
  • # 346 (Colin, France, 2009)

Despite Colin Powell’s unusual pronunciation of the name (KOLE-in); the name is usually pronounced (KAHL-in) in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

A French feminine form is Coline.

Lia

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Italian/Galician/German
(LEE-ah)

The name could either be from the Italian and Galician form of Leah or it could be a German contraction of Rosalia or Julia or any name that ends in -lia.

Currently, it is the 34th most popular female name in Germany, (2011). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • #18 (German-speaking Switzerland, 2010)
  • #59 (Slovenia, 2010)
  • #299 (France, 2009)
  • # 356 (United States, 2010)

The name is borne by German Opera Soprano, Lia Hanus.

Fritz

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Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
(FRITZ)

The name was originally a diminutive form of Friederich but has exclusively been used as an independent given name since the 19th-century.

The name was so common at the beginning of the 20th-century that the term fritz was often used by American and British troups during the Second World War to designate a random German soldier.

Like many other vintage names, Fritz has recently started to gain momentum in popularity in Germany. Currently, it is the 157th most popular male name in Germany, (2011).

A common nickname is Fritzi.

Elli

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Gender: Feminine
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: “old age.”
(EL-lee)

I love this, while it is not a name I’d ever use myself, it is one of those names that you would never suspect had such a long and symbolic history.

The name is often listed as a Germanic diminutive form of Elisabeth, which may be in part, true, but its usage as a given name actually pre-dates Elisabeth’s introduction to the Germanic world.

In Old Norse, elli is the word for old age, and she is personified in the Prose Edda. Her story is recounted in the Book of Gylfaginning, in which she defeats Thor in a wrestling match.

In pre-Christian Norse culture, old age often symbolized wisdom.

Elli has been a popular name throughout Scandinavia and Germany. It experienced a vogue in the 19th-century and seems to be experiencing a revival. It is currently the 172nd most popular female name in Germany, (2011). Another German spelling is Elly.

Elli is also used in Estonia and Finland.

Dana

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The name is of a few different etymology depending on the source of the bearer. In Slavic-speaking countries, the name is a short form of any name containing the element dan meaning, “gift.” It could also be used as a diminutive form of Danijela or Daniela.

The name is also a modern form of the ancient Celtic theonym, Dânu, an early Irish mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Her name has been traced to early Indo-European roots and is believed to have some connection to water. This element appears in several river names across Europe, such as the Dnieper, Danube and Don. This form is borne by Irish singer, Dana Scallon (b.1951).

Its usage in the English-speaking world may actually derived from a Danish surname, usually pronounced (DAY-nah) in English, the former are both pronounced (DAH-nah).

Currently, Dana is the 146th most popular female name in Germany, (2011). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

  • # 248 (Netherlands, 2010)
  • # 463 (United States, 2010)