Peter

Posted on May 15, 2010 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “rock.”
Eng (PEE-ter)

The name is derived from the Greek Πετρος (Petros) meaning, “rock.”

The name is found in the New Testament as a vernacular translation for the Aramaic Cephas (rock) a nickname designated to the Apostle Simon Bar-Jonah by Jesus. He is known as St. Peter, and Catholics traditionally attribute him as being the first Pope. Among other denominations, he is considered to be one of Christ’s most prominent apostles.

Due to the associations with the apostle, Peter became an extremely prevalent male name throughout the Christian world.

The name seems to have been in usage in England since early times, but became especially popular after the Norman invasion. During this period, the form of Piers was preferred, being gradually replaced in popularity by Peter over the centuries.

Currently, Peter is 191st most popular male name in the United States, (2009). He has been steadily declining in the United States for the past 10 years, in 2000 he ranked in at # 125. His rankings in other countries, however, has not faltered. His rankings including his vernacular forms are as follows:

# 7 Pedro (Brazil, 2009)
# 9 Petar (Bulgaria, 2008)
# 15 Petr (Czech Republic, 2009)
#38 Pierre (France, 2006)
# 3 (Greenland, 2003-2004)
# 8 (Hungary, 2008)
# 33 Petur (Iceland, 2008)
# 70 (Ireland, 2008)
# 25 Pietro (Italy, 2007)
# 8 Pēteris (Latvia, 2005)
# 9 Petar (Macedonia, 2006)
# 10 Piotr (Poland, 2008)
# 3 (Slovakia, 2004)
# 59 (Slovenia, 2005)
# 50 Pedro (Spain, 2008)

Other forms of the name include:

Petrus (Afrikaans/Dutch/German/Indonesian/Latin/Limburgish/Plattdeutsch/Swedish)
Pieter (Afrikaans)
Pjetër/Pjetri (Albanian)
Ṗeṭros ጴጥሮስ (Amharic/Ethiopian)
Pero (Aragonese)
Bedros/Pedros Պետրոս (Armenian)
Botros/Boutros/Butros بطرس (Arabic/Coptic)
Pedru (Asturian/Konkoni)
Pyotr (Azeri)
Betiri (Basque)
Kepa (Basque)
Peio (Basque)
Peru (Basque)
Petri (Basque)
Piatro Пятро (Belarusian)
Piotr Пётр (Belarusian/Polish)
Pêr (Breton)
Pierrick (Breton)
Penko Пенко (Bulgarian)
Petar Петар (Bulgarian/Croatian/Macedonian/Serbian)
Pere (Catalan)
Peder (Cornish/Danish/Lombard/Norwegian)
Petru (Corsican/Romanian/Sicilian)
Pyè (Creole)
Pero (Croatian/Serbian)
Petar Петар (Croatian/Macedonian/Serbian/Slovene)
Petr (Czech)
Pelle (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish: originally a diminutive, now occasionally used as an independent given name. PEL-le)
Peer (Danish/Dutch/German)
Per (Danish/Faroese/Norwegian/Swedish)
Peter (Danish/Dutch/English/German/Luxembourgish/Norwegian/Slovak/Swedish)
Peeter (Estonian)
Peiru (Extramadura)
Pætur/Petur (Faroese)
Patras پطرس (Farsi)
Pekka (Finnish)
Petteri (Finnish)
Petri (Finnish)
Pietari (Finnish)
Pierre (French)
Piter/Pier/Pit (Frisian)
P’et’re პეტრე (Georgian)
Petros Πέτρος (Greek)
Pathros (Hindi)
Péter (Hungarian)
Petres (Hungarian)
Peto (Hungarian)
Pétur (Icelandic)
Peadar (Irish-Gaelic)
Pietro (Italian/Albanian)
Petronius (Latin)
Pēteris (Latvian)
Petras (Lithuanian)
Pir (Luxembourgish)
Petre Петре (Macedonian/Romanian)
Pathrose (Malayalam)
Pietru (Maltese)
Peddyr (Manx)
Petera (Maori)
Petter (Norwegian/Swedish)
Pèir/Pèire/Pèr (Occitanian)
Pedro (Portuguese/Spanish)
Pêro (Portuguese: archaic)
Pidru (Quecha)
Peadar/Peader/Peder/Peidar/Peider (Romansch)
Pyotr Пётр (Russian)
Pedru/Perdu/Pretu (Sardinian)
Peadar/Peadair (Scottish-Gaelic)
Pyjter/Piter (Silesian)
Pětr (Sorbian)
Petero (Swahili)
Pär (Swedish)
Pethuru (Tamil)
Raayappar (Tamil)
Petro Петро (Ukrainian)
Piter (Uzbek)
Piero (Venetian)
Piitre (Vöro: an Eastern Estonian dialect)
Pedr (Welsh)

In French, Pierre is used in a number of compound names. Some of the most common include:

Pierre-Adrien
Pierre-Alain
Pierre-Alexandre
Pierre-André
Pierre-Antoine
Pierre-Auguste
Pierre-Augustin
Pierre-Claude
Pierre-Emmanuel
Pierre-François
Pierre-Henri
Pierre-Jean
Pierre-Louis
Pierre-Luc
Pierre-Olivier
Pierre-Philippe
Pierre-Paul
Pierre-Yves
Jean-Pierre

Some common Italian compound names include: Piergiuseppe, Pietropaolo, Pierpaolo, Pietrantonio, Pierantonio, Pierluigi , Piergiorgio , Pietrangelo, Pierangelo, Pierce, Pierfrancesco, Piermaria and Piersilvio

Its feminine form of Petra was once a very popular name in German-speaking countries, but is now considered rather dated. Throughout Central Europe, however, she is experiencing a strong trend. Her current rankings are as follows:

# 46 (Czech Republic, 2009)
# 9 (Hungary, 2008)
# 46(Slovenia, 2005)

Feminine forms include:

Peta (Afrikaans/English)
Penka Пенка (Bulgarian)
Petra(Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/Dutch/Finnish/German/Greek/Hungarian/Scandinavian/Serbian/Slovak/Slovene/Spanish)
Petrina (Croatian/German)
Pernille (Danish/Norwegian)
Petrea (Danish)
Petrine (Danish/German/Norwegian)
Petronella (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
Pietronella (Dutch)
Parnel/Pernel (English: archaic)
Peronel (English: archaic)
Petronel (English: archaic)
Petriina (Finnish)
Pernelle (French)
Pernette (French)
Péroline (French)
Péronelle (French)
Perrenotte (French)
Perrette (French)
Perrine (French)
Pétronelle (French)
Peyronne (French)
Pierrine/Pierrette (French)
Pétronille (French)
Peekje (Frisian)
Peterke (Frisian)
Petje (Frisian)
Petke (Frisian)
Pierke/Pierkje (Frisian)
Pieterke (Frisian)
Pietje/Piertje (Frisian)
Petrónia (Hungarian)
Petronia (Italian/Latin/Polish)
Petronilla (Italian/Latin)
Piera/Pierina (Italian)
Pieretta (Italian)
Pieruccia (Italian)
Pietra/Pietrina (Italian)
Pietruccia (Italian)
Petronela (Polish/Romanian)
Petrona (Spanish)
Pernilla (Swedish)

Italian female compound forms include: Pierangela and Pieranna.

Common German pet forms are: Pedi, Petzi and Pezi

The designated name-days are: April 29 (Hungary) and June 29 (Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden).

Sources

Elizabeth Gidley Withycombe, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names (1942)
http://www.behindthename.com/name/peter
http://www.askoxford.com/?view=uk

Matthias, Mathias

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “gift of yahweh.”
Eng (muh-THIGH-us); Germ/Scand (mah-TEE-ahs)

Matthias is a form of Matthew, but has been treated as a different name for centuries. He has been a staple in Central and Northern Europe, especially in Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.

In the New Testament, the name was borne by the replacement of Judas Iscariot. Matthias was considered an apostle and according to legend, he went on to convert the Georgians where he died a martyr by crucifixion.

He is currently one of the most popular male names in all of Europe, his rankings are as follows:

# 8 Mathis (Belgium, 2008)
# 13 Matyáš (Czech Republic, 2009)
# 10 Mathias (Denmark, 2009)
# 8 Mattias/Mathias (Estonia, 2008)
# 60 Mathias (France, 2006)
# 71 Matthis/Mathis/Mattis/Matis (Germany, 2009)
# 131 Matthias (Germany, 2009)
# 54 Mátyás (Hungary, 2008)
# 31 Matthías (Iceland, 2008)
# 7 Mattia (Italy, 2007)
# 5 Mathias (Liechtenstein, 2008)
# 1 Matas (Lithuania, 2009)
# 1 Matthias (Malta, 2008)
# 6 Thijs (the Netherlands, 2009)
# 52 Ties (the Netherlands, 2009)
# 92 Matthijs (the Netherlands, 2009)
# 5 Mathias/Matias (Norway, 2009)
# 11 Maciej (Poland, 2008)
# 35 Matija (Slovenia, 2005)
# 90 Matjaz (Slovenia, 20o5)
# 97 Mattias (Sweden)
# 33 Mathis (Switzerland, among French-speakers, 2008)
# 4 Mattia (Switzerland, among Italian-speakers, 2008)
# 4 Mattia (Switzerland, among Romansch-speakers, 2008)

Other forms of the name include:

Matthias Ματθιας Матті́й (Afrikaans/English/French/German/Greek/Maltese/Scandinavian/Ukrainian)
Matthes (Afrikaans)
Mattheis (Afrikaans)
Matthies (Afrikaans)
Matta متى (Arabic)
Matai (Aramaic)
Matta/Mətta (Azeri)
Matia (Basque)
Maciej Maceй (Belarusian/Polish: MAHT-chay)
Matties (Catalan)
Matija Матија (Croatian/Serbian/Slovene)
Matyáš (Czech)
Matthijs (Dutch)
Thijs (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now a very popular independent given name. TIES)
Ties (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now a very popular independent given name. TEES)
Madis (Estonian)
Matias (Finnish/Portuguese)
Mat’at”a მატათა (Georgian)
Mathias (French/German/Scandinavian)
Mathis (French/German)
Matis (German)
Mattias (German/Swedish)
This (German)
Mathaios Ματθαιος (Greek: Biblical)
Makaio (Hawaiian)
Mattithyahu מַתִּתְיָהוּ (Hebrew)
Mátyás (Hungarian)
Maitiú (Irish-Gaelic)
Mattia (Italian)
Mathia (Kiswahili)
Matiass (Latvian)
Matas (Lithuanian)
Motiejus (Lithuanian)
Mathai (Malayalam)
Matius (Malay)
Matthia Матѳіа (Old Church Slavonic)
Täis (Plattdeutsch)
Matia (Romanian)
Mateias/Matteias (Romansch)
Teias (Romansch)
Tia (Romansch)
Tias (Romansch)
Maitias (Scottish-Gaelic)
Matia (Sardinian)
Maćij (Sorbian)
Matías (Spanish)

An obscure Feminine form is the Polish: Macieja

In France, the designated name-day is May 14.

The name has been borne by several Hungarian kings.

Sources

Robert, Robin

Posted on March 6, 2010 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “bright fame.”

The name is composed of the Germanic elements, hrod (fame) and beraht meaning (bright). In Pre-Norman England, the name existed in the form of Hreodbeorht and was replaced by the now more favored Robert after the Norman Conquest.

The name has been consistently popular in the English-speaking world since. It has been worn by hundreds of notable bearers, including two French kings, three Scottish kings, (Robert the Bruce being one) and several saints.

Currently, Robert ranks in as the 49th most popular male name in the United States, (2008). His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 80 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
# 89 (England/Wales, 2008)
# 44 (Hungary, 2008)
# 49 (Ireland, 2008)
# 56 (Scotland, 2009)

Robert has introduced several offshoots, the Medieval English diminutive form of Robin was the name of the protagonist of the legendary Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. It is also used in Scandinavia and in German-speaking countries.

Its low Germanic counterpart of Rupert was popularized in Austria via an early Christian saint and was later introduced into England by Prince Rupert of the Rhine, a military commander and nephew of King Charles I. The name has enjoyed some usage in England ever since.

Other forms of the name include:

Hreodbeorht (Anglo-Saxon)
Roupen (Armenian)
Roparzh/Roperzh (Breton)
Robert Роберт (Catalan/Danish/Dutch/Croatian/Czech/English/Estonian/Finnish/French/German/Polish/Romanian/Russian/Serbian/Slovene)
Robrecht (Dutch/Afrikaans: rare, archaic)
Rupert (Dutch/English/German/Polish)
Robin (English/Finnish/Scandinavian)
Roobert (Finnish)
Roopertti (Finnish)
Robèrto (Fruilian)
Roberte (Galician)
Robrecht (German: rare, archaic)
Rodebrecht/Rotebert (German: rare, archaic)
Rudbert/Ruotbert (German: archaic)
Ruprecht (German: rare, archaic)
Rovēros/Rovértos Ροβῆρος Ροβέρτος (Greek)
Röpke (Frisian/Plattdeutsch)
Róbert (Hungarian/Icelandic/Slovak)
Roibeard (Irish-Gaelic)
Robertino (Italian: rare, originally a diminutive form)
Roberto (Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
Robertus/Rupertus (Late Latin)
Roberts (Latvian)
Robertu (Leonese/Sardinian)
Robertas (Lithuanian)
Raibeart (Scottish Gaelic)
Robbetto (Sicilian)
Ruperto (Spanish)
Ropati (Tahitian)
Hopkin/Hopcyn (Welsh: originally a Medieval Welsh diminutive, occasionally used as an independent given name and now more associated with the surname).
Robat/Rhobert (Welsh)

Diminutives forms abound, which include: Bob, Bobbie, Rob and Robbie (English), Hob, Dob and Dobby (Medieval English diminutive forms no longer in usage), Rab/Rabbie (Scottish), Robbi (Icelandic), Röbi Swiss German, Robban (Swedish), Robercik/Robuś (Polish), and Roope/Pertti (Finnish).

A common feminine form is Roberta, which is used in English, German, Polish, Italian and Spanish. Common English short forms are Bobbie and Bertie.

A more obscure Italian/Spanish feminine form is Robertina.

Robina is a Renaissance Scots feminine form of Robin.

Name-days are: April 29 (Czech Republic/Germany/Poland), April 30 (France), June 7 (Estonia/Hungary/Poland/Slovakia/Sweden), July 18 (Poland).

Sources

Mary, Maria, Miriam

Posted on January 27, 2010 by Sebastiane

Mary and its various forms has to be one of the quintessential, classic female names of all time, she has been used in Protestant England in the form of Mary, in the Islamic world as Maryam, in Jewish communities in the form of Miriam and in the Catholic world as Maria, Marie or Mary.

In the United States, she has never quite detracted from the top 100, if Mary is not in fashion then it is usually one of her other forms that may take her place, such as Molly, Mariah, Maria or Mia, all depending on the flavor of the day.

Currently, Mary is the 97th most popular female name in the United States, (2008). Mary’s rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 7 (Armenia, 2008)
# 57 (Ireland, 2007)

Its French form of Marie is popular outside the Hexagon, she currently ranks in as the 546th most popular female name in the United States, but in other countries, she appears in the top 10. Her rankings are as follows:

# 9 (Armenian, 2008)
# 4 (Belgium, 2008)
# 17 (Czech Republic, 2008)
# 24 (Denmark, 2008)
# 20 (France, 2009)
# 9 (Germany, 2009)
# 270 (the Netherlands, 2008)

The continental form of Maria is extremely popular across Europe and Latin America, her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 4 (Argentina, 2009)
# 8 (Basque Country, Spain, 2008)
# 3 (Belarus, 2005)
# 3 (Bulgaria, 2008)
# 89 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
# 6 (Catalonia, Spain, 2008)
# 8 (Chile, 2008)
# 91 (England/Wales, 2008)
# 6 (Estonia, 2007)
# 4 (Faroe Islands, 2008)
# 59 (Germany, 2009)
# 1 (Greece, 2004)
# 90 (Hungary, 2008)
# 5 (Iceland, 2004-2007)
# 49 (Ireland, 2008)
# 1 (Israel, among Christian girls, 2004)
# 9 Marija (Latvia, 2005)
# 1 Marija (Macedonia, 2006)
# 1 (Malta, 2008)
# 39 (the Netherlands, 2008)
# 14 (Norway, 2008)
# 17 (Poland, 2009)
# 1 (Portugal, 2008)
# 2 (Romania, 2008)
# 2 (Russia, 2007)
# 99 (Scotland, 2008)
# 1 (Slovakia, 2004)
# 2 (Spain, 2008)
# 96 (Sweden, 2008)
# 7 (Ukraine, 2009)
# 64 (United States, 2008)

Her diminutive offshoot of Mia, has also been quite trendy the last 10 years, as of 2008, she was the 14th most popular female name in the United States. In other countries, her rankings are as follows:

# 1 (Australia, 2008)
# 25 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
# 44 (Chile, 2006)
# 11 (England/Wales, 2008)
# 1 (Germany, 2009)
# 23 (Ireland, 2008)
# 5 (Isle of Man, 2009)
# 350 (the Netherlands, 2008)
# 24 (New Zealand, 2009)
# 12 (Norway, 2008)
# 26 (Scotland, 2008)
# 46 (Slovenia, 2005)
# 3 (Switzerland, among Romansch-speakers, 2008)

Another common diminutive offshoot, is Molly, which is mostly used in the English speaking world, but has also shifted over to some of the Scandinavian countries. Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 57 (Australia, 2007)
# 84 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
# 32 (England/Wales, 2008)
# 25 (Ireland, 2008)
# 33 (New Zealand, 2009)
# 39 (Scotland, 2008)
# 11 (Sweden, 2008)
# 104 (United States, 2008)

Miriam is another common choice which is popular throughout Europe and the Middle East. Her rankings are as follows:

# 1 Mariam (Georgia, 2008)
# 6 Maryam (Iran, 2007)
# 4 Maryam (Israel, among Muslim girls, 2004)
# 6 Maryam (Pakistan)
# 48 Miriam (Spain, 2008)
# 1 Mariam (Tunisia, 2005)
# 309 Miriam (United States, 2008)

As for its meaning and derivation, though the its origins can be traced back to the Bible, its lingustic and etymological meaning has long been debated. Many hypothesis include that the name could be a derivative of the Hebrew meri, ‘rebel’ related to the Hebrew verb MRH, mara or Marah which means’ to be “rebellious.” Or that it is related to the Hebrew word מרא (MRA, mara) which means ‘well-fed’, something which would have been considered a comely attribute in Biblical times.

One of the most popular etymological theories is its association with the Hebrew מר (MR, mar), meaning. “bitter” or “bitterness, and another very well established hypothesis suggests that it is from an Egyptian source, mry “beloved” or mr meaning “love.”

Other possible theories include:

That is it a combination of the Hebrew words מר (MR, mar), meaning “bitter” or the Hebrew (mar) meaning, “drop”; or (mor) meaning, “myrrh” or ” (mari ) meaning “mistress’.

The name is borne by several female characters in both the Old and New Testament.

Among Jews, the name was originally used in honour of the sister of Aaron, Miriam the Prophetess.

Among Muslims and Christians, (particularly Catholics and Eastern Orthodox), the name is usually used in honour of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.

However, in certain eras and cultures, Mary or Maria was considered too sacred of a name to use on a child, and in other cultures, the name Maria is so honorable to have, that it is even bestowed upon males, usually in conjunction with a male name or as a middle name. This is especially so in Spanish-speaking countries, French speaking countries and occasionally done in other predominate Catholic countries such as Ireland, Poland and in Bavaria, Germany.

The name has made is presence known in British royalty as well as in the continental ruling houses. Other forms are as follows:

Latinate Forms
Forms used in Latin-based languages

Marieta (Catalan: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name in Spanish-speaking countries)
Miryam (Catalan: archaic form from the 13th-century)
Maria (Corsican/Italian/Occitanian/Portuguese/Romanian/Romansch/Latin)
Manon (French: originally a diminutive form of Marie, the name has been used as an independent given name for centuries. In fact, it currently ranks in as the 7th most popular female name in Belgium (2006), the 4th most popular female name in France (2006), and the 184th most popular female name in the Netherlands (2008). Pronunciation can be heard here: http://www.forvo.com/search/Manon/)
Marie (French: she is one of the most popular middle names in the English speaking world. In French, this form is bestowed on males in conjunction with other male names or as a middle name. There are several common French female names used in conjunction with Marie, as well. Those of which, I will save for future postings).
Marielle (French: originally a diminutive form of Marie, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
Mariette (French: a diminutive form of Marie, occasionally used as an independent given name, now considered dated in French-speaking countries).
Mariolle(French: obscure, very old diminutive form of Marie, the inspiration of the Polish offshoot, Mariola).
Marion (French: a medieval French diminutive form of Marie, now exclusively used as an independent given name, the name was borne in legend by the love interest of Robin Hood, Maid Marion, and is borne by French actress, Marion Cotillard. In France, it is the 59th most popular female name (2006)
Myriam (French: form of the Biblical, Miriam, she ranks in as the 95th most popular female name in France (2006)
Mariella (Italian: originally a diminutive form of Maria, now exclusively used as an independent given name)
Marietta (Italian: a diminutive form of Maria, occasionally used as an independent given name).
Marigia (Italian: obscure)
Mariuzza/Maruzziella (Italian: obscure)
Mariana (Portuguese: Mariana is usually considered a name of a seperate etymology, but is used in Portuguese and Spanish as a form of Miriam. She is the 73rd most popular female name in Chile, 2006).
María (Spanish/Galician).
Marita (Spanish: a diminutive form of Maria, now often used as an independent given name)
Maritza (Spanish: a Latin American spin-off of Maria, originally a diminutive form, now a trendy given name, especially among Mexican-Americans, she is currently the 560th most popular female name in the United States).
Mareye (Walon)

An Italian diminutive form is Mimi. A Portuguese diminutive form is Mariazinha.

Masculine forms are:

Mari (Catalan)
Mariu (Corsican)
Mario (Italian/Galician)
Marius (Latin/French/Romanian)
Mário (Portuguese)

Germanic Forms
Forms used in Germanic-speaking countries

Maiken/Majken (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish: originally a diminutive form of Maria, now used exclusively as an independent given name).
Maria (Danish/Dutch/English/Faroese/Frisian/German/Norwegian/Swedish)
Marie (Danish/German/Norwegian/Swedish: a borrowing from the French)
Mari (Danish)
Maaike/Maike (Dutch/Frisian/German: originally a diminutive form, used exclusively as an independent given name. In 2008, it was the 98th most popular female name in the Netherlands)
Marieke(Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now exclusively used as an independent given name. In 2008, it was the 188th most popular female name in the Netherlands)
Marijke (Dutch: mah-RYE-keh)
Marike (Dutch: originally a diminutive form of Maria, now used exclusively as an independent given name, pronounced mah-REE-keh)
Marja (Dutch/Faroese/Gothic/Limburgish: MAHR-yah).
Meike (Dutch/German: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name, it was the 53rd most popular female name in the Netherlands of 2008.)
Mia (Dutch/German/English/Scandinavian: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Mieke (Dutch/Limburgish: originally a diminutive form, used exclusively as an independent given name MEE-keh)
Miep(Dutch: a diminutive form, but occasionally used as an independent given name MEEP).
Miet (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent given name MEET).
Mirjam (Dutch/German/Swedish: form of the Biblical Miriam).
Mariel (English: just an anglicized form of the French, Marielle).
Mariota (English: archaic, form used in the 13th-century)
Mary (English)
Molly/Mollie (English: originally a diminutive form, now used more often as an independent given name)
Polly (English: originally a diminutive form, now used more often as an independent given name)
Marý(Faroese)
Mareike (Frisian/German: originally a diminutive form of Maria, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
Maja (German/Scandinavian: originally a diminutive form of Maria, used exclusively as an independent given name. It is the 2nd most popular female name in Sweden, (2008)
Mariele(German: originally diminutive form of Maria, used exclusively as an independent given name, pronounced mah-REE-leh).
Miriam(German/English: Biblical form, often used in German and English speaking countries)
Mitzi (German/English: not really used as an independent given name in German speaking countries, but experienced a short usage of popularity as an independent given name in the United States).
Ria(German/Dutch: originally diminutive forms, occasionally used as independent given names)
Mæja (Icelandic: originally a diminutive form of Maria, used exclusively as an independent given name)
María(Icelandic)
Mies (Limburgish: diminutive form of Maria, used as an independent given name in the Netherlands. MEES)
Mathie (Normand: mah-TEE)
My(Swedish: originally a diminutive form of Maria, now used as an independent given name MEE. In 2007, it was the 79th most popular female name in Sweden).
Mirele מִירֶעל(Yiddish: a form of Miriam. MEER-eh-leh)

Common English diminutives include May, Mayme, Mare, Mia, Molle, Molly, Moll and Polly, German diminutive forms are Mariechen and Mitzi.

Masculine forms include:

Marius (Dutch/German/English/Norwegian/Swedish)
Marjus (Faroese)
Maríus (Icelandic)

Baltic Forms
Variations used in Baltic countries.

Maaja (Estonian)
Maare/Maari (Estonian)
Maarika (Estonian/Finnish)
Maaria/Maarja (Estonian)
Maie/Maiu (Estonian: initially diminutive forms, now used as independent given names, MY-eh, MY-oo)
Maila/Maili/Mailu (Estonian: Maili is pronounced somewhat like Miley)
Mari (Estonian/Finnish)
Marjam (Estonian)
Marje/Marjen (Estonian)
Marjette (Estonian)
Mary (Estonian)
Maija/Maiju (Finnish)
Maikki (Finnish: a Finnicized form of the Sweden and Danish Majken, pronounced somewhat like Mikey)
Maaria/Maria (Finnish)
Marika (Finnish)
Maritta (Finnish)
Marjatta (Finnish: can also mean “without a berry” in Finnish, and is the name of a character in the Kalevala, but is often used as a variation of Maria; also used in Estonia)
Marjo (Finnish)
Marjukka (Finnish)
Marjut (Finnish)
Miia (Finnish)
Mirja (Finnish: translation of Miriam)
Mirjam/Mirjami (Finnish)
Maija (Latvian)
Maila (Latvian: MY-lah)
Mairita/Mairīta/Mairīte (Latvian)
Mairuta (Latvian)
Mare (Latvian: final E is pronounced)
Mareka (Latvian)
Mareta/Māreta (Latvian)
Marī (Latvian)
Mārica (Latvian)
Mariela (Latvian)
Mārieta (Latvian)
Marija (Latvian/Lithuanian)
Mārika (Latvian)
Marite/Mārita/Mārīte/Marīte (Latvian)
Marjama (Latvian)
Maruta/Māruta/Marute (Latvian)
Mare (Lithuanian)
Maryte (Lithuanian)

Masculine forms are:

Maarius/Mairo/Mario (Estonian)
Marijus/Marius (Lithuanian)

Slavic Forms
Forms used in Slavic countries

Merjem (Bosnian)
Mirjana (Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian/Slovene: translation of Miriam)
Mariya (Bulgarian/Russian/Ukrainian)
Marija (Croatian/Macedonian/Serbian/Slovene)
Marie (Czech: MAHR-yeh)
Maria (Polish)
Marieta (Polish)
Mariola (Polish: mahr-YOLE-ah)
Marita (Polish)
Maryla (Polish: mah-RIH-lah)
Marzena (Polish: not really etymologically related, but has had a historical usage as a variation of Maria in Poland. The name is actually the name of an ancient Polish goddess and it may be linked with the either Polish word for “hope; dream” or with the Old Slavonic word for “death.” mahr-ZHEH-nah, diminutive form is Marzenka).
Mária (Slovakian)
Marika (Slovakian)
Marica (Slovene: initially a diminutive form, used as an independent given name in Slovenia, but is also used as a diminutive form in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Czech and Slovakian, mah-REET-sah).
Mojca (Slovene: initially a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name in Slovenia. MOY-tsah)
Marya Марья (Russian)

Czech and Slovak diminutive forms are: Mája, Máňa, Maruška and Maryška. Serbian and Slovene diminutives are Maša. Russian diminutives are Manya, Masha, Mashenka and Mashka. Polish diminutives are Masia, Marysia (mah-RISH-ah) and Maryska.

Masculine forms are:

Marian (Polish)
Mariusz (Polish)
Marij/Mario (Slovene)

Celtic Forms
Forms used in Celtic Languages

Mari (Breton)
Mallaidh (Irish-Gaelic: translation of Molly)
Maira/Máire (Irish-Gaelic)
Mairenn/Máirín (Irish-Gaelic)
Muire (Irish-Gaelic)
Mariod/Mariot (Manx)
Moirrey/Voirrey (Manx)
Màiri (Scotch-Gaelic)
Mhari (Scotch-Gaelic)
Mhairi/Mhairie (Scotch-Gaelic)
Moire (Scotch-Gaelic)
Mair (Welsh)

Other Forms
Forms used in other languages not listed in the above

Maria (Albanian/Kiswahili)
Maryam مريم (Arabic)
Mariam (Armenian)
Məryəm (Azeri)
Maia (Basque)
Miren (Basque)
Mariam (Coptic/Egyptian)
Mariami (Georgian)
Maria Μαρία (Greek: Modern)
Maroula/Roula (Greek: Modern: initially diminutive forms)
Malia (Hawaiian/Zuni)
Mária (Hungarian)
Maria (Indonesian)
Meryem (Kurdish/Turkish)
Mariam/Mariamma/Mariamme (Malayalam)
Marija (Maltese)
Mere (Maori)
Miriama (Maori)

The name has several name-days.

William, Liam

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “desire; helmet protection.”
(WIL-yem)

The name is of Norman origins and is derived from the Old Germanic elements wil meaning “desire” and helm, meaning “helmet; protection.”

In the early Middle Ages, the name was especially popular among Norman nobility and royalty. It was borne by an 8th-century saint, William of Gellone, a monk and cousin of Charlemagne.

The name was introduced into England in the 11th-century by William the Conqueror, and remained an extremely common name in England from thereon.

In the United States, William stands as the 8th most popular male name (2008), the lowest he has ever ranked in U.S. history was in 1992 and then again in 1995 when it came in as the 20th most popular male name.

At the turn of the last century, for 30 years in a row, William remained the 2nd most popular male name in the United States, (1880-1909).

His rankings in other countries is as follows:

# 2 (Australia, 2008)
# 16 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
# 10 (England/Wales, 2008)
# 83 (France, 2006)
# 44 (Ireland, 2007)
# 402 (the Netherlands, 2008)
# 5 (New Zealand, 2009)
# 19 (Norway, 2007)
# 46 (Scotland, 2008)
# 4 (Sweden, 2008)

Another popular up-and-coming form is Liam, which is an Irish contracted form of William. Currently, he stands as the 75th most popular male name in the United States (2008). His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 17 (Australia, 2007)
# 48 (Belgium, 2006)
# 10 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
# 22 (England/Wales, 2008)
# 26 (Ireland, 2008)
# 82 (the Netherlands, 2008)
# 7 (New Zealand, 2009)
# 4 (Scotland, 2009)
# 13 (Sweden, 2007)

The name is borne by Irish actor, Liam Neeson.

Other cognates of William include:

Guildhelm (Afrikaans/Old Dutch)
Uilliam (Albanian)
Willelm (Anglo-Saxon)
Guillén (Aragonese)
Gwilherm (Breton)
Uiliam Уилиам (Bulgarian)
Guillem (Catalan)
Vilém (Czech)
Vilhelm (Danish)
Willem (Dutch)
Wim (Dutch)
William (English/Scandinavian)
Villem/Villu (Estonian)
Vilhelmi (Finnish)
Vilho (Finnish: contracted form)
Viljami (Finnish)
Ville (Finnish: contracted form)
Guillaume (French)
Jelle (Frisian: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
Pim (Frisian: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
Wilke/Wilko (Frisian)
Guillerme (Galician)
Wilhelm (German/Polish)
Gouliélmos Γουλιέλμος (Greek: Modern)
Vilmos (Hungarian)
Vilhjálmur (Icelandic)
Uilleag (Irish-Gaelic)
Uilliam (Irish-Gaelic)
Ulick (Irish: anglicization of Uilleag)
Guglielmo (Italian: most common offshoot)
Lemo (Italian: contracted form)
Velmo/Velmino (Italian: obscure)
Villelmo (Italian: obscure)
Villermo (Italian: obscure)
Vilio (Italian: obscure)
Guilielmus (Latin)
Viljams (Latvian)
Vilis (Latvian)
Wöllem/Wullem/Wum (Limburgish)
Vilhelmas (Lithuanian)
Vilius/Viliumas (Lithuanian)
Wellëm (Luxembourgish)
Illiam (Manx)
Wiremu (Maori)
Gllâome (Norman)
Guilhem (Occitanian)
Willahelm (Old German)
Vilhjálmr (Old Norse)
Willken/Wilm/Willm (Plattdeutsch)
Guilherme (Portuguese)
Zelmino/Zelmo (Romanesque)
Vilhelm (Romanian/Scandinavian)
Wellem (Ripoarisch)
Vilgelm Вильгельм (Russian/Ukrainian)
Vėljams (Samogaitian)
Uilleam (Scottish-Gaelic)
Gugghiermu (Sicilian)
Vilim Вилим (Serbian)
Viliam (Slovak)
Viljem (Slovene)
Guillermo (Spanish)
Gelmo/Gilmo (Venetian)
Gwil (Welsh)
Gwilim/Gwilym (Welsh)
Velvel װֶעלװֶעל (Yiddish: also the Yiddish word for wolf but commonly used as a diminutive form of Wilhelm)

Notable bearers include: Swiss national folk hero, William Tell (14th-century), Scottish national hero, William Wallace (13th-century).

It was also borne dramatist, William Shakespeare (1564-1616), poet William Blake (1757-1827), dramatist, William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), author William Faulkner (1897-1962), including the current Crown Prince of England, Prince William of Wales (b.1982), and it has also been borne by several U.S. presidents.

Common English diminutives England: Bill, Billy, Will, Willy and Wills/Wils.

Italian diminutives include: Gelmino, Ielmo, Memmo (Tuscan dialectical form), Memo and Lemmo.

Feminine offshoots include Willa, Wilhelmina, Wilma, Mina and Minnie.

Wilhelmina is a German/Dutch form that was briefly used in the United States in the early part of the 20th-century but is in rare use today, in fact, she does not appear in the U.S. top 1000. It is, however, currently the 297th most popular female name in the Netherlands (2008)

Wilhelmina was borne by several Danish princesses, and was extremely common in German and Dutch royalty.

Its contracted English form of Willa, seems like it should be an up-and-comer, but currently does not rank in the U.S. top 1000.

The name was borne by famous American author, Willa Cather (1873-1947) née Wilella, another feminine form of William which should be noted.

Minnie was quite fashionable as a stand alone name at the turn of the 20th-century. In 1880, she was the 5th most popular female name in the United States. She was out of the top 1000 by 1971.

The name is usually associated with the Disney Character and girlfriend of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, hence is probably why she fell out of usage.

Wilma is another form that has not been in the U.S. top 1000 for quite some time, introduced into the 19th-century by German and Scandinavian immigrants, Wilma is currently very trendy in both Norway and Sweden. More so in Sweden, it is currently the 9th most popular female name (2008).

An early English feminine form that might be appealing to the surname lovers was Wilmot, which appears as early as the 16th-century. It may have been an anglicization of an early French feminine name, Wilmette.

Other feminine forms are:

Wilma/Vilma (Czech/English/German/Portuguese/Scandinavian/Slovak/Spanish)
Elma (Dutch/German/Slovene: contracted form)
Willemina (Dutch)
Willemijn (Dutch)
Mina (English/German: contraction of Wilhelmina)
Minnie (English/German)
Velma (English/German)
Wilella (English)
Willa (English)
Willia (English)
Wilmot (English)
Wilhelmina (English/German/Dutch/Polish)
Helmi (Finnish: also means “pearl” see Helmi)
Miina (Finnish: contraction of Wilhelmina)
Minna (Finnish/German)
Vilhelmiina (Finnish)
Guillaumette/Guillaumine (French)
Guilette (French)
Minette (French)
Wilhelmine (French/German/Dutch)
Wilmette (French)
Jeltje/Jeltsje (Frisian: contractions of Wilhelmina)
Helma (German: contraction of Wilhelmina)
Helmine (German: contraction of Wilhelmina)
Vilhelma (Hungarian)
Vilhelmina (Hungarian/Scandinavian)
Azelma (Italian)
Gilma (Italian)
Guglielma/Guglielmina (Italian: diminutive forms are Mema and Memma)
Velma/Velmina (Italian)
Villelma/Vilelma/Villelmina/Villermina (Italian)
Vilia/Villa (Italian)
Zelma/Zelmina (Italian)
Mien (Limburgish: originally a short form of Wilhelmina, now used as an independent given name)
Guilhermina (Portuguese)
Wilja (Scandinavian)
Willamina (Scottish)
Guilla/Guillerma/Guillermina (Spanish)
Ilma (Spanish: contraction of Guillierma)
Gelma/Gelmina (Ventian)
Velvela (Yiddish)

A Finnish/Scandinavian diminutive is Mimmi.

A Czech and Polish diminutive is Minka and a popular English diminutive was Billie.

Designated name-days are: January 10 (France/Lithuania/Poland), April 6 (Finland/Hungary/Poland), May 26 (Finland/Lithuania/Poland/Sweden), May 28 (Germany/Latvia/Poland/Slovakia), June 8-24-25 (Hungary/Lithuania/Poland), July 5 (Poland), September 2 (Poland), September 19 (Hungary/Lithuania), October 25 (Poland).

Anthony, Antonia

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Sebastiane

Origin: Latin
Meaning: unknown

The masculine English name, Anthony, is currently the 7th most popular male name in the United States.

The name is derived from a Roman family name, Antonius, which is of speculated origins, it is suspected to be of Etruscan heritage and it was borne by Marcus Antonius, (Marc Antony), who ruled the Roman Empire jointly with Caesar Augustus during the 1st-century B.C.E. His romance with Cleopatra is retold in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra (1606).

The name was popularized in the Christian world due to the cult of St. Anthony the Great, an Egyptian hermit from the 3rd-century C.E. He is mostly noted for his establishment of Christian monasticism, another famous saint is Anthony of Padua, a 13th-century saint, who is known as the patron saint of Portugal and of lost items.

Originally, Antony was the more common form used in the English speaking world, and still is, to a certain extent, in the United Kingdom. The original English pronunciation was AN-tuh-nee, but AN-thuh-nee can also be heard in certain areas of the United States, particularly in the Midwest.

The lowest that Anthony has ranked in United States naming history was in 1885 when he came in as the 105th most popular male name.

His ranking in other countries is as follows:

# 48 (Australia, 2007)
# 33 Antoine (Belgium, 2006)
# 55 (Canada, B.C., 2008)
# 16 Antoine (France, 2006)
# 70 (France, 2006)
# 74 Antonin (France, 2006)
# 71 (Ireland, 2007)
# 312 (the Netherlands, 2008)
# 22 (Spain, 2006)

Its continental form of Anton, has always been a popular choice throughout Northern and Central Europe, in the United States, he is currently the 832nd most popular male name-2008, the highest he ever ranked in U.S. naming history was in 1885 coming in as the 175th most popular male name.

In other countries, his rankings are as follows:

# 4 (Finland, among Swedish-speakers, 2007)
# 11 (Sweden, 2007)

The feminine form of Antonia, currently does not rank in the U.S. top 1000, she is currently the 5th most popular female name in Chile-2008.

In the Netherlands, its diminutive form of Teun is currently the 36th most popular male name (2008).

Other forms of Anthony include:

Antón (Aragonese)
Antoniu (Asturian/Romanian/Sicilian)
Andoni (Basque)
Antolin (Basque)
Antton (Basque)
Anteng (Bavarian)
Dane (Bavarian: not to be confused with the English name Dane, this is pronounced: DAH-neh)
Anton Антон ანტონ(Breton/Bulgarian/Dutch/Estonian/Georgian/German/Maltese/Romanian/Russian/Scandinavian/Slovene/Ukrainian)
Antoun (Breton)
Andon Андон (Bulgarian/Albanian)
Antonij Антоний (Bulgarian)
Antoni (Catalan/Polish/Romansch: in Catalan, Tonet is the diminutive form. In Polish, the pet form is Antek)
Antone (Corsican: Antó is the diminutive form)
Ante/Anto (Croatian)
Antun (Croatian)
Antonín (Czech)
Anthonie/Antonie (Dutch)
Antheunis/Anthonis (Dutch)
Antonius (Dutch/Latin)
Antoon (Dutch)
Teun (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name).
Teunis/Theunis (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
Ton (Dutch/Limburgish)
Anteneh (Est0nian)
Tõnis (Estonian: originally a diminutive form, also used as an independent given name)
Anttoni (Finnish)
Antoine (French)
Antonin (French/Romansch)
Tinus (Frisian)
Antain/Antaine/Antoin/Antóin (Gaelic-Irish)
Antônios Αντώνιος/Antónis Αντώνης (Greek: modern)
Akoni/Anakoni (Hawaiian)
Antal (Hungarian)
Antoníus (Icelandic)
Totono (Indonesian)
Antonello (Italian)
Antonetto/Antonietto (Italian: obscure archaic diminutive form that was used as an independent given name)
Antoniano (Italian)
Antonico (Italian)
Antonillo (Italian)
Antonino (Italian: Nino is the common diminutive form)
Antoniuccio/Antonuccio (Italian: archaic form)
Antoniusso (Italian: archaic form)
Antuono (Italian: archaic, possibly a corruption of the French Antoine)
Antoninus (Latin)
Antons (Latvian)
Tun/Tunnes (Lexumburgish)
Antanas (Lithuanian: more common form)
Antonijus (Lithuanian)
Tonìn (Neopolitan)
Tonik (Norwegian: obscure form)
Titoan/Titouan (Occitanian/Provençal)
Tönnies, Tüns (Plattdeutsch)
Antoniusz (Polish: obscure form)
António (Portuguese: European)
Antônio (Portuguese: Brazilian)
Tonnies/Tünnes (Ripoarisch)
Antieni (Romansch)
Antòni (Sardinian/Occitanian: diminutive form is Tottoi)
Antonije Антоније (Serbian)
‘Ntonio (Sicilian)
Antonio (Spanish/Italian: Toño and Tonito are the Spanish diminutive forms)
Done (Swabian)
Antümi (Turkish)
Antonij Антоній (Ukrainian)

Various feminine forms include:

Antònia (Catalan)
Antonieta (Catalan)
Antonija Антонија (Croatian/Serbian/Slovene)
Antonína (Czech/Slovak)
Antonie (Czech: ahn-TONE-yeh)
Antonia (Dutch/Italian/Polish/Romansch/Slovene/Spanish)
Tonneke (Dutch)
Antonie (French)
Antonine/Tonine (French: Tonine was originally a diminutive form and is now occasionally used as an independent given name)
Antoinette (French/Dutch)
Toinette (French: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Toinon (French: originally a diminutive form, occasionally used as a diminutive form)
Antía (Galician)
Antonella (Italian)
Antonetta/Antonietta (Italian)
Antonica (Italian)
Antonilla (Italian)
Antonina Антонина (Italian/Polish/Russian: Tosia is the Polish diminutive form and Nina is the Italian diminutive form)
Antonita (Italian/Spanish: originally a pet form, now used as an independent given name)
Titoana/Titouane (Occitanian/Gascon/Provençal)
Antónia (Portuguese/Bearnais/Hungarian/Slovak)
Tonia (Romansch)
Tonka (Slovene: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)

A common English diminutive form for both the masculine and the feminine is Tony, in French, common diminutive forms are Toine, Toinou and Togne, for males.

Italian feminine diminutive forms are: Tonia, Tonina, Tona, Nina, Ninetta and Ninuccia. Italian masculine diminutives are: Tonio, Tonello, Tonino, Tonuccio, Nino, Ninuccio, Totò, Toni and Tony.

Italian combined forms are Antonmaria, Antoniomaria and Antonangelo.

Emma

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: German
Meaning: “universal; whole.”
(EM-mah)

Currently one of the most popular female names in the English speaking world and on continental Europe, it is derived from an old Germanic element ermen/irmen meaning “whole; universal; encompassing.”

It was first introduced into England via Emma of Normandy who was the wife of King Ethelred II and then the wife of King Canute. Through Ethelred II she was the mother of Edward the Confessor.

The name was also borne by an 11th-century Austrian saint, also known as Hemma.

Emma was quite popular at the turn of the last century and then fell out of fashion, being revived in the mid 196os in England and then the late 1990s in the United States and Continental Europe.

She is currently the most popular female name in the United States (2008). The lowest she ranked in United States naming history was in 1976 at # 463. Emma was the 3rd most popular name in 1880.

In English, Em or Emmie or usually the preferred nicknames.

Her popularity elsewhere is as follows:

# 20 (Australia)
# 1 (Belgium, 2008)
# 2 (Canada, Alberta, 2008)
# 3 (Canada, B.C. 2008)
# 3 (Canada, Manitoba, 2008)
# 1 (Canada, Nova Scotia, 2008)
# 4 (Canada, Quebec, 2008)
# 2 (Canada, Saskatchewan, 2008)
# 1 (Denmark, 2008)
# 31 (England/Wales, 2008)
# 8 (Faroe Islands, 2008)
# 2 (Finland, among Finnish-speakers, 2007)
# 1 (Finland, among Swedish-speakers, 2007)
# 3 (Flemish Region, Belgium, 2008)
# 1 (France, 2008)
# 5 (Germany, 2009)
# 23 (Hungary, 2006)
# 4 (Ireland, 2008)
# 4 (Liechenstein, 2008)
# 4 (Malta, 2008)
# 4 (the Netherlands, 2009)
# 8 (New Zealand, 2009)
# 7 (Northern Ireland, 2008)
# 2 (Norway, 2008)
# 8 (Scotland, 2009)
# 54 (Spain, 2006)
# 3 (Sweden, 2008)
# 1 (Switzerland, among French-speakers, 2008)
# 3 (Switzerland, among Italian-speakers, 2008)
# 3 (Wallonia, Belgium, 2008)

Other forms of the name include:

Ema (Croatian/Czech/Portuguese/Slovak/Slovene/Spanish: Slovene diminutive form is Emi)
Emmy (Danish/Dutch/Norwegian/Swedish: originally a diminutive form, now almost exclusively used as an independent given name, especially in Sweden where it ranked in as the 62nd most popular female name of 2007. In the United States, she comes in at # 955-2008)
Ima (Dutch/English: EE-mah-Dutch; I-muh- English )
Emmie (English: used as an independent given name since the early 1800s)
Imma (Frisian)
Imke (Frisian: IM-ke: 118th most popular female name in the Netherlands-2008)
Emmi (Hungarian)
Hemma (Old German: medieval form)
Emma Эмма (Russian)
Emica/Emika (Slovene: originally diminutive forms, used as independent given names, eh-MEET-sah; eh-MEE-kah)
Hema (Slovene: diminutive form is Hemi)

The designated name-days are January 31st, April 19, June 27, September 9 and December 10.

The name is used in virtually every European country and language.

An Italian masculine form is Emmo, and the English male name Emmett is related, (different entry for Emmett will come in the future).

The name is borne by actresses Emma Thompson and Emma Watson. It is the name of the main character of the Jane Austen novel of the same name. It was used on the SitCom Friends as the name of the daughter of Ross and Rachel.

Barbara

Posted on December 5, 2009 by Sebastiane

St. Barbara

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “foreigner; barbarian”
Eng (BAR-bruh).

The name is derived from the Greek barbaros (βαρβαρος) meaning “foreign; barbarian.”

The name is borne by a 4th-century Christian martyr. St. Barbara was said to be so beautiful that her wealthy father had her locked away in a tower to protect her from disease and unwanted suitors, however, a Christian tutor of hers, had converted her to Christianity. When Barbara’s father found out, he beheaded her, but afterwards was struck by lightning, hence Barbara was considered the patron saint against lightning. She is also the patron saint of artillery, architecture, prisoners and, in Poland, she is considered the patron saint of miners. Its usage in Poland was originally delegated to miners’ daughters, but now it is widespread and popular among all classes.

Barbara currently ranks in the top 100 in Chile, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. In the United States, however, she only ranks in at # 758, she did rank in at # 3rd back in 1933.

Other forms of the name include: (listed alphabetically by linguistic origin)

Rabab (Arabic)
Barbare (Basque/Georgian)
Bärbl (Bavarian)
Barba (Breton/Estonian/Latvian)
Bàrbara (Catalan)
Barbara (Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Ripoarisch, Romanian, Slovene)
Babeta (Czech/Slovak)
Bára (Czech: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
Barbora (Czech, Lithuanian, Slovakian: 10th most popular female name in the Czech Republic for 2007)
Barbel (Danish)
Barbertje (Dutch: obscure, also a word for a kitchen rack in Dutch)
Parba (Estonian)
Varje/Varju/Varve (Estonian)
Barbe (French: obscure, not very popular due to it also being the French word for beard)
Barber/Berber (Frisian)
Babette/Barbette (French diminutive forms, used as independent given names, considered very dated)
Varvara Βαρβαρα (Greek Modern)
Borbála (Hungarian: 84th most popular female name in Hungary for 2005)
Báirbre (Irish)
Barbarella/Barbarina/Barberina/Barbera (Italian: obscure forms)
Berb (Limburgish)
Barbė (Lithuanian)
Bäerbel (Luxemburgish)
Barbo (Norwegian)
Bárbara (Portuguese/Spanish)
Barbla/Barla (Romansch)
Varvara Варвара (Russian/Bulgarian)
Barabal (Scottish)
Varjenka/Varja/Varvana (Slovene)
Borbora (Sorbian)
Barbro (Swedish/Danish/Norwegian)
Bäbi (Swiss German)

Popular English diminutive forms are Babbie, Babs, Barb, Barbie and sometimes Bobbie.

Popular Polish diminutives are Basia (BAH-shah) and Baska (BASH-kah).

Czech diminutives are Bára, Barca, Barča, Barka, Barborka and Baruška. Croatian diminutives are Bara and Barica (bah-REET-sah).

Russian and Bulgarian diminutives forms are Varenka, Varinka, Varya and Varyusha.

German diminutive forms are: Baba, Babe, Babi, Bäbs, Babschi, Babsi, Babsili, Babsl, Baby, Bar, Barb, Barbi, Bärbi, Bari, Bobbel, Bobbie, Bobsi, Wara, Wawi, Wetl and Wetty. Slovenian diminutives are: Bara, Barba, Barbi, Barca, Barica, Barbika, Barbina and Barbka.

There are Italian masculine versions, which are: Barbaro, Barbarino and Barberino.

The designated name-day is December 4.

Other notable bearers are Barbara of Celje (1390-1451) a Hungarian queen crowned Holy Roman Empress, known for creating the Order of the Dragon.

Former first lady Barbara Pierce Bush (b.1927), American actresses, Barbara Stanwyck (1907-1990) and Barbara Hershey (b.1948). Renowned journalist, Barbara Walters (b.1929) and singer, Barbra Streisand (b.1942).

Elisabeth, Elizabeth

Posted on November 28, 2009 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “God is my oath; God is abundance.”

The name is a transliterated form of the Biblical Greek Ελισβετ (Elisabet), which is a Hellenized version of the Biblical Hebrew feminine name, אֱלִישֶׁבַע‎ (Elisheva).

Elizabeth appears twice in the Bible, once in the Old Testament as the name of Aaron’s wife and once in the New Testament as the wife of Zachariah and the mother of John the Baptist.

Elizabeth has remained fairly consistent in the U.S top 100 for over a hundred years. She currently ranks in at # 9 and the lowest she has ever come in the U.S. charts was in 1945 at # 26.

In Australia she is the 37th most popular female name (2007), in Canada, she ranks in at # 20 (2008), in England/Wales she came in at # 40 (2008), in Ireland at # 63 (2007) and in Scotland at # 68 (2008).

The name was borne by several saints and European royalty. Among the most notable bearers were, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a 12th-century Hungarian princess who was known for her acts of kindness and charity toward the poor and Queen Elizabeth I of England, including the current reigning Queen, Elizabeth II.

The name Isabel/Isabella are relatives, but have becomes so far apart from its original source, that they often occur concurrently in many European countries with Elizabeth, hence is why I shall devote a different post to Isabel/Isabella, but I shall cite her several times in this article as a variation whenever needed.

I believe one of the reasons why Elizabeth has been a long time favorite, is because of her versatility. She can be shortened to a variety of different nicknames, especially in English. The most popular are: (I have cited the ones that have commonly been used as independent given name with a black club)

Bess, Bessie, Beth♣, Bets, Betsy, Bet, Bettie/Betty, Bezzy, Bit, Bitsy, Biz, Buffy, Elisa♣, Elise♣, Elle♣, Eliza♣, Ella♣, Ellie, Elsa♣, Elsie♣, Ibbie, Lib, Libby, Lilly, Lisa♣, Liz, Lizzie, Liza♣, Tetty, Tibby and Tizzy.

Other forms of the name include:

Latinate Forms
Forms found in Latinate/Romance languages

Sabela (Asturian)
Elisabèt, Lisabèt (Bearnais)
Elisabet (Catalan)
Babette (French: originally a diminutive form, used as independent given name, now considered extremely dated)
Élisabeth (French)
Élise (French)
Lise (French)
Lisette (French: originally a diminutive form but exclusively used as an independent given name)
Bettina (Italian)
Elisa (Italian/French/Portuguese: appears in Boccaccio’s Decameron as the name of one of the female story tellers).
Elisabella (Italian: obscure)
Elisabetta (Italian/Romansch)
Elisa (Italian/Sardinian/Spanish)
Elisanna/Elisena (Italian: obscure)
Elisetta (Italian)
Lelisa (Italian: obscure)
Lisa (Italian/Spanish)
Lisella (Italian: obscure)
Lisena (Italian: obscure)
Lisetta (Italian)
Lisina/Lisinda (Italian: obscure)
Lisanna (Italian)
Elisabetha (Late Latin)
Elizabetta (Liguru: a minor language spoken in Italy)
Elisabeta/Elisèu/Eliso (Occitanian)
Elisabete/Elisete/Elsa (Portuguese)
Babèu/Eisabèu/ Lisabèu (Provencal: Babeu is a diminutive)
Elisabeta (Romanian/Spanish)
Lisabetta (Romansch/Corsican)
Lisabbetta (Sicilian)
Isabel/Ysabel (Spanish/Aragonese/Catalan/Galician/Portuguese)

Germanic Forms
Forms used in Germanic languages

Elsabe (Afrikaans)
Liesel (Alsatian)
Elisabet (Danish/Faroese/Swedish/Norwegian)
Elsebeth (Danish)
Else (Danish)
Lise (Danish/German)
Lis (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
Lisbet (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
Lisbeth (Danish/German)
Els (Dutch: a diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent give name)
Elsa (Dutch/German/Swedish)
Liesbeth/Lijsbeth (Dutch)
Liesje (Dutch)
Eliza (English: originally a diminutive, exclusively used as an independent given name)
Elsba/Elsbet/Elsuba/Elusbet (Faroese)
Elspa (Faroese)
Lisabet/Lisbet (Faroese)
Elsebe/Elsche/Eske/Telsa (Frisian)
Bettina/Bettine (German: a borrowing from the Italian)
Elisa (German: a borrowing from Romance languages)
Elisabeth (German/Dutch)
Elise (German/Danish/Dutch/English/Norwegian: a borrowing from the French)
Elli (German: diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent given name)
Elsbeth (German/Swiss-German dialectical form)
Ilsa/Ilse (German/Dutch: initially a diminutive form, popularly bestowed as an independent given name, now considered dated. il-SEH)
Lies/Liesa/Liese (German/Dutch)
Liesel/Liesl (German: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name, now considered dated)
Lilli (German: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name due to its association with the flower)
Lisa/Lise (German/Dutch/English/Swedish/Danish/Norwegian)
Sabeth (German: obscure)
Aileisabaiþ (Gothic)
Elísabet (Icelandic)
Ellisif/Ellisiv (Norwegian)
Lieken, Lüke, Lücken (Plattdeutsch)
Bettan (Swedish: originally a diminutive form, occasionally used as an independent given name, but now considered dated)
Lisen (Swedish: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)

German diminutive forms are Betti, Elis, Elli, Elschen, and Lieschen.

Slavic Forms
Forms used in Slavic speaking countries

Elisaveta Елисавета (Bulgarian)
Elizabeta (Croatian)
Alžběta (Czech: alzh-BYEH-tah)
Eliška (Czech: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given. eh-LEESH-kah)
Elisabeti Елїсабеть (Old Church Slavonic)
Eliza (Polish: eh-LEE-zah)
Elżbieta (Polish: elsh-BYEH-tah)
Halszka (Polish: archaic. HAHLSH-kah)
Halżbieta (Polish: archaic. halsh-BYEH-tah)
Elizaveta/Yelizaveta Елизавета (Russian)
Jelisaveta (Serbian)
Alžbeta (Slovak)
Ažbeta (Slovene)
Betina (Slovene)
Elica (Slovene: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name. eh-LEET-sah)
Elisa/Elis (Slovene)
Elizabeta/Elizabet (Slovene)
Elza (Slovene)
Jelisava (Slovene)
Lizabeta (Slovene)
Špela (Slovene: originally a diminutive form, exclusively used as an independent given name. SHPEH-lah)
Hilža (Sorbian)
Lisaveta/Yelysaveta (Ukrainian)

Czech diminutive forms are Běta, Bětka, Bětuška, Betynka, Bětuše, Betyna, and Líza. Slovakian diminutives include: Beta, Betka, Betuška, Betinka, Betuša and Betina. Polish diminutive forms are Bieta, Ela (the most prevalent), Elka, Elunia and Elżunia. Slovene diminutives are: Beta, Beti, Betika, Ela, Eli, Elzi, Špelca, Špelica, Špelka, Jelica, Lili, and Lizika.

Baltic Forms
Forms used in the Baltic States

Eliisabet (Estonian)
Elts (Estonian)
Etti (Estonian)
Ilze (Estonian)
Liisa/Liisi/Liis (Estonian/Finnish)
Liisu (Estonian)
Eliisa (Finnish)
Elizabete (Latvian)
Līze/Lizina (Latvian)
Elžbieta (Lithuanian)
Eliissá/Liisá/Liissá (Saami)

Celtic Forms
Forms used in Celtic based languages

Elesbed (Breton)
Eilís (Irish: IE-leesh)
Ealisaid (Manx: ALE-is-sed)
Ealee (Manx)
Ealish (Manx)
Ealasaid (Scottish)
Elspeth (Scottish)
Bethan/Betsan (Welsh)

Other forms

Elizabeta (Albanian)
Ilizabith إليزابيث (Arabic)
Il-Shvai ܐܠܝܫܒܥ \ܐܠܝܫܒܚ (Aramaic)
Elsapet (Armenian)
Yeghisapet (Armenian)
Zabel (Armenian)
Elixabete/Elixabet/Elizabete (Basque: former are pronounced eh-LEE-sheh-BEH-tah and eh-LEE-shah-Bet)
Elixi (Basque: eh-LEE-shee)
Elisheba (Biblical Hebrew)
Eliso ელისო (Georgian)
Lizi (Georgian)
Elisavet Ελισαβετ(Greek: Modern)
Zeta (Greek: Modern)
Ilsipat (Greenlandic)
Elikapeka (Hawaiian)
Elisheva (Hebrew: see Hebrew script above)
Lizzamma (Hindi/Indian)
Erzsébet/Orzebet (Hungarian: ER-zhey-bet)
Aley/Aleyamma/Aleykutty (Malayalam)
Eli/Eliamma (Malayalam)
Elizabetta (Maltese)
Erihapeti (Maori)
Elizabet (Turkish)

Hungarian nicknames includes Bözsi, Erzsi (ER-zhee), and Zsóka (ZHO-kaw).

Medieval Forms
Forms no longer in usage from Medieval Europe

Ysabel/Ysabet (Catalan, Valencia, 16th-century)
Elisaued (Cornwall, England, 10th-century)
Elizabez (England, 13th-century)
Lylie/Lilion (England, 13th-century, possibly nicknames)
Elisota (England, 14th-century)
Elseby (Finland)
Isabelot (France, Paris, 13th-century)
Yzabé (France, Bordeaux, 15th-century)
Besina (14th-century Italy, Venice, possibly a diminutive form)
Isabetta (Italy, Florence 15th-century)
Bechte (Germany, 15th-century, most likely a diminutive form)
Beth (Germany, 15th-century, diminutive form)
Bettlin (Germany, 15th-century, probably a diminutive form)
Bytzel (Germany, 15th-century, diminutive form)
Els (Germany, 15th-century, diminutive form)
Elsslein (Germany, late 15th-century)
Elsslin (Germany, 15th-century, probably a diminutive form)
Eltzabet (Germany, late 15th-century)
Lyse (Germany, 15th-century, diminutive form)
Elsebeth (Germany, 15th-century)
Elzebeth (German, in Silesia, 14th-century)
Nele/Neleke (German, in Silesia, 14th-century, most likely than not, diminutive forms)
Elysant (Normandy, 1190)
Helisent (Normandy, 1221)
Isabellis (Normandy, 12th-century)
Ysabels/Yzabels/Yzabela (Occitan, Saint Flour, 14th-century)
Elitze (Sweden, 15th-century)
Elsika/Elsiko/Elzeke (Sweden, 15th-century)
Elsby/Elzeby (Sweden, 16th-century)
Aleseta (Switzerland, Sion, 14th-century)

Name-days are: November 17 and November 19.

Catherine/Katherine

Posted on November 28, 2009 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Debated
Meaning: Debated

Katherine and Catherine have to be one of the quintessential female classics of the Western World, according to the United States Social Security Administration’s popularity charts, Katherine has not fallen out of the top 100 for over a 100 years. She has remained a staple, bouncing the lowest to 105th position in 1938 and bouncing the highest to the 25th place in 1991. She currently ranks in as the 45th most popular female name in the United States (2008). Her elder English and French counterpart, Catherine, comes in slightly lower, but has remained fairly high in the American charts since 1880. Her highest position being at # 18 in 1914 and then again in 1917 and came in the lowest just this past year, ranking in at # 149.

In other countries, the rankings of Katherine are as follows:

# 78 (Canada-BC, 2008)
# 63 (Chile, 2006)

Her popularity in other incarnations are as follows: (divided alphabetically by cited country)

Katharina (# 8, Austria, 2008)
Catalina (# 3, Chile, 2006)
Kateřina (# 7, Czech Republic, 2008)
Katrin (# 6, Faroe Islands, 2008)
Aikaterini (# 3, Greece, 2004)
Katrín (# 4, Iceland, 2004-2007)
Katie (# 2, Ireland, 2008)
Kate (# 10, Ireland, 2008)
Karin (9th most popular female name among Palestinian Christians in Israel, 2004)
Katharina (# 5, Liechtenstein, 2008)
Katerina (# 10, Macedonia, 2006)
Katie (# 1, Northern Ireland, 2008)
Yekaterina (# 1, Russia-St. Petersburg, 2003)
Yekaterina (# 6, Russia-Moscow, 2007)
Katie (# 8, Scotland, 2008)
Katarina (# 7, Serbia, 2005)
Katarína (# 4, Slovakia, 2004)
Kaitlyn (# 10, United States-Combined Spellings, 2007)

As for the etymology of the name, it has always been popularly believed to mean “pure” but its history and origins are far more complicated and muddled. There are several theories as to its derivations and linguistic origins, the most popular are that it is either derived from the Greek word, ΚαΘαροσ, (katharos), meaning, “pure”, or the Greek Εεκατερινε, (Hekaterine), a feminine form of the Greek, Hekáteros, meaning “each of the two; singly.” It has also been suggested that it is a form of the Greek goddess name, Hecate, which means “from a far”, or it is possibly from the Greek word, αικια (aikia) meaning, “torture; injurious treatment.” According to Behindthename, another theory suggests that it could be from a Coptic name meaning “my consecration of your name.”

The name was introduced into Western Europe after European Crusaders encountered the Christians of the Middle East, among them, the devotion of a popular 4th-century, Christian saint was discovered, St. Katherine of Alexandria. According to legend, the saint was spiked and tortured on a wheel after refusing to deny her Christian convictions and converting several members of the Alexandrian royal family to Christianity. Her cult was very popular among Christians in Syria, many centuries before her story even reached Europe. After its introduction, European Latin scholars assumed that the name was associated with the Greek Katharos meaning “pure.”

The name was first recorded in England in 1196. It was thereafter an extremely popular name in Christian Europe.

Catherine has several name-days, but the most popular, and the most widely celebrated during the Middle Ages, took place on November 25th. There is an old French celebration that took place on November 25th. It was a day for unmarried women, twenty-five years and older, (labelled Catherinette’s in French). They would make caps, attend balls and crown the local St. Catherine of Alexandria statue with a custom hat. This was to ensure that the saint would provide the single ladies a partner by the end of the year. The term “capping st. Catherine” was used in reference to a single woman 25 years and up. This tradition died out somewhat, but remains a popular festivity among hat-makers and dress-makers even till today, particularly in the 2nd arrondisment of Paris. Any women who is single, working in the fashion industry, 25 years old and older, can attend a ball in a specially made hat, and go to the City Hall to present their creations for judging.

Though the term is a bit old fashioned, catherinette is a French word used to refer to a single women who is 25 years and older.

Other notable bearers, place and things include:

Catherine of Aragon

Catherina is the name of a crater on the moon, named for St. Catherine of Alexandria.

The Monastery of St. Catherine’s in Sinai Egypt, which is said to be the oldest Christian monastery and boasts one of the largest collections codices and manuscripts in the world.

St. Katherine Municipality lies in the North Sinai Governorate of Egypt, its city is St. Katherine’s.

Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380), a renowned Catholic saint, theologian, Doctor of the Church and tertiary of the Dominican order. She was known for her mystical experiences and her papal counseling.

St. Catherine of Bologna (1413-1463) another Italian saint, she is considered the patron saint of Bologna, artists and against temptations.

Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) the first wife of Henry VII of England. Actually, Henry went on to marry two other Catherines, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) was a Catholic Algonquin woman affectionately termed Lily of the Mohawks, she was also the daughter of a chief. At a young age she was ravished by the scars of small-pox and lived a life of devotion till she died at the age of 24.

Now to delve into her sundry variations.

Latinate Forms

Variations from various Romance based languages

Catèlena (Artapan)
Catin/Catineta/Catinon (Bearnais)
Caterina (Catalan/Italian/Spanish)
Catalina (Corsican/Gascon/Occitanian/Spanish)
Catherine (French)
Katia (Italian: a borrowing from the Russian but very popular in Italy)
Rina (Italian diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
Catharina (Late Latin)
Catarina (Portuguese/Occitanian/Galician/Romansch)
Cátia (Portuguese: originally a diminutive form or either a Portugeusized form of the Slavic Katya, particularly common in Brazil, where it was most likely introduced by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants)
Catarino (Provencal)
Ninoun (Provencal: originally a diminutive, now becoming more common as an independent given name)
Cătălina/Ecaterina (Romanian)
Catinca (Romanian: a romanianized form of the Russian diminutive, Katinka, used as an independent given name)
Catina (Romanian/Sicilian)
Catrina (Romanian)
Catrina/Chatrina (Romansch)
Caderina/Catellina (Sardinian)

Obscure French diminiutives are Catherinette, Trinette and Rinette.

Germanic Forms
Variation from various Germanic based languages

Caja (Danish)
Catharina/Cathrine/Katarina/Katherina (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
Karen (Danish)
Karin (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
Katharine (Danish)
Katrina/Katrine/Kathrina/Kathrin (Danish)
Trine (Danish)
Catharina (Dutch/Swedish)
Cato (Dutch)
Kaatje (Dutch)
Katelijne/Katelijn (Dutch)
Katrien (Dutch)
Katrijn (Dutch)
Nienke (Dutch)
Tineke (Dutch: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
Toos/Truus (Dutch: initially diminutive forms, used as independent given names)
Trijn/Trijntje (Dutch)
Kate/Katie (English: originally diminutive forms, now often used as independent given names in most English speaking countries)
Katherine/Karen (English)
Katarina/Katrin (Faroese/Danish)
Katrina (Faroese)
Kaja (Frisian)
Käthe/Caatje (Frisian)
Katryntje (Frisian)
Keetje (Frisian)
Nine/Nynke (Frisian)
Cathrin/Catrin/Kathrin (German)
Carin/Karin/Karina/Karine (German/Swedish/Norwegian/Danish)
Katarina/Katerine/Katharina (German)
Kathrein (German)
Katinka (German/Dutch: Germanized form of the Russian diminutive, Katenka)
Katja (German)
Trina (German)
Kaðlín (Icelandic: kahth-LEEN)
Karín (Icelandic)
Kata/Katarína/Katrín (Icelandic)
Kett (Lëtzebuergesch)
Kaia (Norwegian)
Kari (Norwegian)
Trina (Plauttdeutsch)
Cajsa/Kajsa (Swedish)
Katarina (Swedish)
Reina (Yiddish)

Obscure German diminutive forms are Käthchen and Trinchen. A Swiss German dialectical diminutive is Käti. English diminutive forms are Cat, Cathy, Kate, Kathy, Katie, Kay, Kiki, (also used in Sweden and Norway), Kit and Kitty.

Celtic Forms
Variations from various Celtic based languages

Katarin (Breton)
Katell/Kattelig (Breton: latter is pronounced kah-tel-LEEK)
Katik (Breton: kah-TEEK)
Katou (Breton: kah-TOO)
Cáit/Cáitín (Irish)
Catraoine/Caiterína (Irish)
Caitlín (Irish)
Caitria/Caitrín (Irish)
Caitríona (Irish)
Cathleen/Kathleen (Irish: anglicized form of Caitlin)
Catreena/Catreeney (Manx)
Catrìona (Scottish)
Cadi (Welsh)
Catrin (Welsh)

Slavic Forms
Variation used in Slavonic based languages

Kacjaryna (Belorusian: kahts-yah-REE-nah)
Ekaterina (Bulgarian/Macedonian/Russian)
Kateřina (Czech: kah-teh-ZHEE-nah)
Katarzyna (Polish: kah-tah-ZHIH-nah)
Jekaterina/Yekaterina (Russian)
Katarina (Serbo-Croatian/Slovenian)
Katarína (Slovakian)
Katica (Slovenian: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name. kah-TEET-sah)
Katja (Slovenian: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name. KAHT-yah)
Katherine/Kateryna (Ukrainian)

Russian Diminutives include: Katenka, Katiusha and Katya, Czech pet forms are,Káťa, Kačka, Káča, Kačí, Kačenka, Kača, Kačaba, Kačík, Kačuda, Kaťulka, Katerinka, Katica, Katja, Katka, Katla, Katuška and Rina. The most popular diminutive form in Poland is Kasia (KAH-shuh), but there is also Kachna, Kaśka, Kasienka and Kasiunia. Serbo-Croatian diminiutive forms are Kata, Kate (final E is pronounced), Katica, Katja, Katarincica and Rina. A Bulgarian diminutives is Katriška.Ukrainian diminutives are: Katrusya, Katya and Katerynka. Belorusian diminutive forms are Kasja and Katra.

Baltic Forms
Various forms used in the Baltic States

Kaarin (Estonian)
Kadi/Kadri/Kadrin (Estonian)
Kairi/Kari (Estonian)
Kaisa/Kaisu (Estonian/Finnish)
Katre/Katri/Katrin (Estonian)
Triina/Triin/Triinu (Estonian)
Kaija (Finnish)
Kata (Finnish)
Katariina (Finnish/Estonian)
Kati (Finnish)
Katja (Finnish)
Katri/Katriina (Finnish)
Riina (Finnish)
Jekaterina (Latvian)
Kate (Latvian: final E is pronounced)
Katrīna (Latvian)
Trine (Latvian: final E is pronounced)
Katerina/Katrina (Lithuanian)
Katrė (Lithuanian)
Katryna (Lithuanian)
Kotryna (Lithuanian)

Other Languages

Katarina/Katjusha/Katerina/Katha (Albanian)
Gadara/Gadarine/Kadara/Kadarine (Armenian)
Karine (Armenian)
Katalina (Basque)
Katalin (Basque/Hungarian)
Katarin (Basque)
Ekaterina (Georgian)
Kattak (Greenlandic)
Aikaterine/Aikaterini (Greek Modern)
Katerina (Greek Modern)
Katina (Greek Modern)
Kakalina/Kalena/Kalina (Hawaiian)
Kathani (Hindi/Arabic)
Katarina (Hungarian/Turkish)
Kasari (Japanese)
Katarina (Maltese)
Kataraina (Maori)
Kateri (Mohawk)
Gáddjá (Saami)
Gáhte (Saami)
Gáhteriinná/Káhtariinná (Saami)
Gáre/Káre (Saami)
Gáren (Saami)
Kasrin ܟܐܣܪܝܢ (Syriac/Assyrian)
Akaterina (Turkish)

Hungarian diminutive forms include Kata, Kati, Katica, Katinka, Kató, Katóka, Kitti and Koto.

Medieval Forms

Variations used in the Middle Ages and are most likely out of usage

Catelinòta (Bearnais)
Cathelinen (Dutch, 14th-century)
Verkateline (Dutch, 13th-14th centuries)
Catelina/Catelin/Catlin (English 12th-century)
Cattel/Cattle/Catin (English 12th-century)
Katelina/Kateline/Katelin/Katlin (English 12th-century)
Caterina/Katerina/Katerine (English 14th-century)
Kateryna/Kateryn (English 15th-century)
Catant (French, obscure medieval diminutive form)
Cateline/Catelot/Caterine (French in Paris, 13th-century, the final T on Catelot is silent).
Cathereau (French; obscure medieval form; KAH-teh-RO)
Kateline/Katerine (French, in Paris, 13th-century)
Ka(e)therlin/Ketlin/Keterlin/Ketterlin (German 15th-century)
Keth/Ketherlein (German 15th-century)
Katusch/Kethe/Keterlyn (German in Silesia, 13th-century)
Kaþareina (Gothic, extinct Germanic language)
Quataryna/Quatalina (Provencal, 16th-century)
Kaithren (Scottish, 15th-century)
Katrein (Scottish, 16th-17th-centuries)
Kadrin (Swedish 12th-century)
Karinae (Swedish 12th-15th centuries)
Katena (Swedish 14th-century)
Kättilö (Swedish 14th-century, though may also be a corruption of the Old Norse Katla)

There are a few masculine forms, the Italian Caterino, Catterino, Cattalino, Catinu (Sicilian dialectical form), and the Romanian Cătălin.

Legitimate Baby Names

names that are not made up and have had a history

Category Archives: Plattdeutsch Names

Peter

Matthias, Mathias

Robert, Robin

Mary, Maria, Miriam

William, Liam

Anthony, Antonia

Emma

Barbara

Elisabeth, Elizabeth

Catherine/Katherine