Nicholas

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Sebastiane

Origin: Greek
Meaning: “victory of the people.”

Today is St. Nicholas Day! So, I thought, what a perfect opportunity to blog about the name Nicholas and all his myriad variations.

This is an update of a post I wrote three years ago in December. I thought I would rerun it with some updates.

The name is derived from the Greek, Νικόλαος, (Nikolaos), which is composed of the Greek words νικη (níkē), meaning, “victory” and λαὸς (laos), meaning, “people.” λαὸς (laos) could also derive from the Greek root word, λας (-las) as in “λα-τομεῑο“, which means, “stone” “rock”, as in Greek mythology it was believed that all humans were formed from the stones that Deucalion and Pyrrah threw over their shoulders as they were running.

In the post-Christian world, the name Nicholas was popularized through the cult of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra in Lycia, (the inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus). He was known for his acts of charity toward the poor, the most popular story being that he saved a local poor man’s daughters from lives of prostitution by dropping gold nuggets down the man’s chimney so that the man could pay for his debts instead of selling his daughters.

St. Nicholas is a very popular saint in both the Eastern and Western Churches.

The name was introduced into England in the form of Nicholas, though the sans H version has also its share of usage in the Anglophone world. Nicholas first came into usage in England around the 12th-century and remained common even through the period of the Reformation. Currently, Nicholas is the 42nd most popular male name for boys in the United States, (2011). His rankings in all his various forms in other countries are as follows:

# 1 (Nika/Nikoloz(i), Georgia, 2011)
# 3 (Nikola, Macedonia, 2006)
# 3 (Nikola, Serbia, 2011)
# 5 (Nikolay, Bulgaria, 2009)
# 5 (Nikolaos, Greece, 2010)
# 6 (Nicolás, Argentina, 2009)
# 9 (Nicolás, Columbia, 2011)
# 9 (Nicolás, Mexico, 2011)
# 15 (Nicholas/Nick/Nicholai/Nicoló, Malta, 2011)
# 16 (Mikołaj, Poland, 2009)
# 22 (Nicolò, Italy, 2010)
# 22 (Nicolas, Spain, 2010)
# 24 (Niklas, Austria, 2010)
# 27 (Nikola, Croatia, 2009)
# 29 (Nicolas, Belgium, 2008)
# 31 (Nikolaj, Denmark, 2011)
# 36 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 36 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 45 (Nikolai, Norway, 2011)
# 51 (Nicolas, Catalonia, 2010)
# 56 (Nicolas, Austria, 2010)
# 69 (Nicolas, France, 2010)
# 72 (Miklós, Hungary, 2011)
# 75 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 82 (Nikola, Slovenia, 2010)
# 93 (Niklas, Norway, 2011)
# 94 (Nikola, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010)
# 168 (Nicolas, United States, 2011)
# 181 (Scotland, 2010)
# 332 (Nicolaas, Netherlands, 2011)
# 451 (Nicolas, Netherlands, 2011)
# 473 (Nikolas, United States, 2011)
# 550 (Nickolas, United States, 2011)
# 639 (Nikolai, United States, 2011)

Other forms of the name include the following, (divided alphabetically by linguistic origin):

Latinate Forms
Variations used in Latin languages

Micolau (Catalan)
Nicolau (Catalan/Galician/Occitanian/Portuguese)
Niculaiu (Corsican)
Nicoty (Brusseler: a French dialect)
Colin (French: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name, not to be confused with the Celtic Colin/Collin which has a completely different etymology and pronunciation)
Nicolas/Nico (French: diminutive forms are Colas, Coliche, Colineau, Coya, Koni, Nic, Nico and Nikko)
Coletto/Colino (Italian: obscure)
Niccola/Nicola (Italian: Cola is a diminutive form)
Nicolai (Italian)
Nicolao (Italian)
Niccolò/Niccolo/Nicolò (Italian)
Nicoletto (Italian: obscure)
Niccolino/Nicolino (Italian: obscure)
Nico (Italian/Romanian/Spanish: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
Nicolás/Colás (Leonese)
Nicu (Leonese/Romanian: originally diminutive forms, used as independent given names)
Nicolaus (Late Latin)
Nicolinus (Late Latin)
Neculai/Nicolae/Niculae (Romanian: diminutive form is Nicoară)
Nicușor (Romanian: originally a diminutive form, used as an independent given name)
Clà/Clau (Romansch)
Niclà/Nicolà/Niculin (Romansch)
Nigola (Sardinian)
Nicolao/Nicolás (Spanish)

Feminine forms ares

Nicolaua (Catalan)
Colette (French: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name)
Coline (French: originally a diminutive form, now used exclusively as an independent given name. The name also coincides with the French word for hill. Diminutive form is Colinette)
Nicole (French)
Nicolette (French: originally a diminutive form of Nicole, now exclusively used as an independent given name)
Nicoline (French)
Nicolasa (Galician/Spanish)
Nicoletta (Italian)
Nicolina (Italian)
Nicoleta (Romanian)
Nicolina/Niculina (Romanian)
Nicoleta/Nicolá (Spanish)

Germanic Forms
Variations used in Germanic based languages

Nikolaus (Afrikaans/Old Dutch)
Claus/Klaus/Niels (Danish: originally diminutive forms but used as independent given names for centuries)
Nicolai/Nikolaus/Nikolaj (Danish)
Nilaus/Nis (Danish)
Nicolaas/Nikolaas (Dutch)
Klaas/Nico/Niek/Niels (Dutch: Originally diminutive forms but have been used as independent given names for centuries)
Nicholas/Nicolas (English: diminutive forms include: Cole, Nat, Nick and Nicky)
Niklas/Niklái (Faroese)
Niklaas (Flemmish)
Klaas/Klaes (Frisian)
Nickel/Nickels (Frisian)
Claus/Claas/Klaas/Klaus/Klas (German: originally diminutive forms but have been used as independent given names for centuries)
Nickolaus/Nicolas/Nicolaus/ Niklaus/Nikolaus/Niklas (German)
Nico/Niko (German)
Neikaulaus (Gothic)
Néckel/Kleeschen/Klos (Lexumburgish)
Klaos (Limburgish)
Nikolaas/Nicolaas (Low Saxon)
Nicolai/Nikolai (Norwegian)
Niels (Norwegian)
Nickel (Plattdeutsch)
Michlaus (Swabian)
Niclas/Nicklas/Niklas (Swedish)
Nels/Nils (Swedish)
Klas/Claes (Swedish)
Chlaus/Glaus (Swiss-German)

Germanic feminine forms are:

Nikoline (Danish)
Klasina/Klazina (Dutch)
Nicole (Dutch/English/German: a borrowing from the French, very popular in the 1980s in German-speaking countries, English-speaking countries, as well as in the Netherlands and Scandinavia. In 1980, Nicole was the 7th most popular female name in the United States)
Nicolet (Dutch: a bastardization of the French, Nicolette)
Nicolien/Nicoline (Dutch)
Nicola/Nichola (English: a name that was particularly popular in Great Britain in the 70s and 80s, not to be confused with the masculine versions which are separate evolutions. This is pronounced NIK-uh-lah, and is most likely a feminization of the Scottish Nichol)
Nikolina (Faroese)
Nikólína (Icelandic)

Slavic Forms
Forms used in Slavonic languages

Mikalai Мікалай (Belarusian)
Nikola(y)/Niklen Никола/Николай/Никлен (Bulgarian: diminutive forms are: Kole, Kolyo, Kolyu and Nikùlitza).
Nikola/Niko (Croatian: Nikša and Nikica are diminutive forms)
Mikoláš/Mikuláš (Czech: short form is Mikula )
Nikola (Macedonian: diminutive forms are Kole and Nikolče nee-KOL-che)
Mikołaj (Polish: diminutive forms are Kola, Mikcio, Mik, Mikołajek, Miki, Miko, Mikoś, Mikuś, Misza, Nicz, Niki and Niko)
Nikolai Николай (Russian: Kolya and Nikita are diminutive forms)
Nikola Никола (Serbian)
Mikoláš/Mikuláš (Slovakian)
Nikolas (Slovakian)
Nikita (Slovakian: a borrowing from the Russian, sometimes used as an independent given name in Slovakia)
Miklavž/Niko/Nikolaj (Slovene)
Mikławš/Klaws (Sorbian)
Mykola Микола/Mykolai Миколай (Ukrainian)

Feminine forms are:

Nikoleta/Nikolina Николина/Николета (Bulgarian)
Nikolina/Nika/Nina (Croatian)
Nikoleta (Czech/Polish/Slovakian)
Nikola (Czech/Polish/Slovakian: currently very popular in all three countries)
Nikol (Czech/Polish: a corruption of the French, Nicole, and is a relatively recent form in the Czech Republic and Poland and is also rapidly increasing in popularity)
Nikolina (Czech/Polish)
Mikuláška (Slovakian: obscure)
Nika/Nikolaja (Slovene)

Celtic Forms
Forms used in Celtic Countries

Nikolaz/Nikolazig (Breton)
Nikolas (Cornish)
Cóilín (Irish)
Nicolás/Nioclás (Irish)
Neacel/Nichol/Nicol (Scottish)
Niclas (Welsh)

Baltic Forms
Forms used in the Baltic

Klaus/Laas/Laus (Estonian)
Nigol/Nigulas/Nigul (Estonian)
Niilas/Niilo/Niilu (Estonian)
Niklas/Nikolai/Niko (Estonian)
Nikita (Estonian: a borrowing from the Russian, occasionally used as an independent given name)
Nil/Nillo/Nilo/Nils/Nilus (Estonian)
Launo/Niilo/Niklas/Niko (Finnish)
Nikolajs/Niks/Nils (Latvian)
Klavs/Niklavs (Latvian)
Mikalojus/Mikas/Nikalojus (Lithuanian)
Miklay Миклай (Mari)
Mikuk Микук (Mari)
Mikus Микуш (Mari)
Nibá (Saami)
Nigá/Nigo (Saami)
Nihkke/Nihkko (Saami)
Niillas/Nilá/Nillá/Nilsa (Saami)

Feminine forms are:

Nikolė (Lithuanian)
Nikoleta/Nikoletė (Lithuanian)

Other Forms
Forms used in other languages

Nikolla/Nikollë/Koll/Kol (Albanian)
Nikolas ኒኮላስ (Amharic/Ethiopian)
Nikoghayos Նիկողայոս/Nikoghos o Նիկողոս (Armenian)
Nikola (Basque)
Mikulay/Mikuҫ Микулай, Микуҫ (Chuvash)
Nikolaus/Niqwela/Niqewlawes نيقولاوس (Coptic/Lebanese/Syriac)
Niko (Fijian)
Nikoloz ნიკოლოზ (Georgian)
Nikolaos Νικόλαος/Nikolas Νικόλας/Nikos Νίκος /Nikolis Νικολής (Greek Modern)
Niilsi/Niisi (Greenlandic)
Nikku/Nikkulaat (Greenlandic)
Miklós/Nikola (Hungarian)
Nikku/ Nikkii/Nikorasu (Japanese)
Nikola (Maltese)

Feminine forms are as follows:

Níkē Νίκη/Nikoléta Νικολέτα/Νikolína Νικολίνα (Greek: modern)
Nikkuliina/Nikkuliit (Greenlandic)
Nikolett (Hungarian)

Nathan

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “give; given.”
Eng (NAY-than); Heb (NAH-TAHN); Fre (nah-TAWn)

The name is derived from the Hebrew נתן meaning, “given,” the implication is that “God has given” and as a result is sometimes considered a form of Natan’el.

In the Old Testament, the name was borne by a son of King David as well as a prophet. It is also the name of several other minor characters in the Old Testament.

The name was always popular among Jews, but did not catch on in the English-speaking world till the Protestant Reformation. In recent years, the name has become more prevalent in continental Europe.

Currently, Nathan is 28th most popular male name in the United States, (2011). His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 1 (France, 2010)
# 2 (Belgium, 2008)
# 10 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 27 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 27 (Scotland, 2010)
# 29 (Ireland, 2010)
# 38 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 48 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 57 (Brazil, 2010)
# 59 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 78 (Netherlands, 2011)
# 495 (Natan, France, 2010)

Other forms include:

Natan (Hebrew/Polish)
Nafan (Russian)
Nosson/Nussen (Yiddish)

In France, the designated name-day is March 7.

Lucas, Luke

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “from Lucania.”
Eng (LOOK); Fre IPA (LUYK)

Both names are derived from the Greek, Λουκας (Loucas), which means, “from Lucania”, the name of a region in Italy.

The name was popularized throughout the Christian world due to the fame and renown of St. Luke, a Christian convert, gentile and doctor. He is credited as being the author of the Acts and the third Gospel in the New Testament.

In the English speaking world, Luke has been in usage since the 12th-century, he is currently the 39th most popular male name in the United States, (2011). His latinate form of Lucas is the 29th most popular male name. Their rankings in other countries are as follows:

For Luke/Luc

# 1 (Luke, Malta, 2010)
# 5 (Luuk, Netherlands, 2011)
# 9 (Ireland, 2010)
# 17 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 24 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 33 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 38 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 50 (Lluc, Catalonia, 2010)
# 56 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 45 (Scotland, 2010)
# 99 (Luc, Netherlands, 2011)
# 249 (Netherlands, 2011)
# 253 (Luc, France, 2010)

For Luca(s)

# 1 (Luka, Croatia, 2009)
# 1 (Luca, Malta, 2010)
# 1 (Luka, Serbia, 2011)
# 1 (Luka, Slovenia, 2010)
# 2 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 2 (France, 2010)
# 2 (Luca, German-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 2 (Monaco, 2009)
# 2 (Sweden, 2011)
# 3 (Belgium, 2008)
# 3 (Denmark, 2011)
# 3 (Faroe Islands, 2010)
# 3 (Luca, French-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 3 (Luka, Georgia, 2011)
# 3 (Lucas/Lukas, Germany, 2011)
# 3 (Luca(s), Liechtenstein, 2010)
# 3 (Lukas, Lithuania, 2011)
# 4 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 4 (Lukáš, Czech Republic, 2010)
# 4 (Luca, Luxembourg, 2010)
# 5 (Lucas, Brazil, 2011)
# 5 (Lucas, French-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 5 (Lukáš, Slovakia, 2011)
# 6 (Netherlands, 2011)
# 9 (Luca, Italian-speaking, Switerland, 2010)
# 12 (Luca, Italy, 2009)
# 13 (Scotland, 2010)
# 17 (Norway, 2011)
# 19 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 21 (Spain, 2010)
# 22 (Luca, Austria, 2010)
# 22 (Luca, Belgium, 2008)
# 28 (Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 32 (Luca, Netherlands, 2011)
# 36 (Catalonia, 2010)
# 38 (Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2010)
# 38 (Łukasz, Poland, 2009)
# 70 (Luca, England/Wales, 2010)
# 79 (Luca, Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 79 (Ireland, 2010)
# 95 (Luka, Belgium, 2008)
# 96 (Luca, Scotland, 2010)
# 100 (Luca, France, 2010)
# 112 (Luka, France, 2010)
# 182 (Luka, Netherlands, 2011)
# 260 (Luca, United States, 2011)
# 743 (Luka, United States, 2011)

Other forms of the name include:

Luka Лука ლუკა (Albanian/Belarusian/Croatian/Georgian/Macedonian/Old Church Slavonic/Russian/Serbian/Slovene/Ukrainian)
GhukasՂուկաս (Armenian)
Lucas Лукас لوکا (Belarusian/Dutch/English/Farsi/French/German/Portuguese/Romansch/Scandinavian/Spanish)
Lukaz (Breton)
Lluc (Catalan)
Lukáš (Czech/Slovak)
Luuk (Dutch)
Luke (English/Dutch)
Luuka(s) (Finnish)
Luc (French/Galician)
Lukas (German/Latvian/Lithuanian/Scandinavian)
Loukas Λουκάς (Greek)
Lukács (Hungarian)
Lúkas (Icelandic)
Luca (Italian/Maltese/Romanian/Sardinian)
Lucano (Italian: obscure)
Luchino (Italian: obscure)
Luchetto (Italian: obscure)
Lucone (Italian: obscure)
Lúcás (Irish-Gaelic)
Luch (Piedmontese)
Łukasz (Polish)
Lücha (Romansch)
Łuca (Venetian)
Luk (Walon)

An Italian feminine form is Luchina.

In English, Lucky is occasionally used as a pet form.

Sources

Leo

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “lion.”
Eng (LEE-oh)

The name comes directly from the Latin, leo, meaning, “lion.”

Its usage as a given name became popular among Christians after the ascent of Pope Saint Leo the Great (circ. 4th-century CE). It was borne by 12 other popes thereafter.

Leo was also a popular name among the Byzantine Emperors being borne by six.

Leo is also the name of a constellation as well as the 5th sign in the zodiac.

The highest Leo ever ranked in U.S. naming history was in 1903, coming in as the 37th most popular male name. As of 2011, he was the 167th most popular male name in the United States. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 4 (Finland, 2011)
# 4 (Léo, France, 2010)
# 14 (Sweden, 2011)
# 36 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 37 (Croatia, 2009)
# 42 (Austria, 2010)
# 42 (New Zealand, 2010)
# 59 (Scotland, 2010)
# 61 (Norway, 2011)
# 64 (Catalonia, 2010)
# 65 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 79 (Slovenia, 2010)
# 80 (Spain, 2010)
# 96 (Ireland, 2010)

Leo is used in about every European country. Other forms of the name include:

L”v Лъв (Bulgarian)
Leo Лео (Catalan/Croatian/Dutch/English/Estonian/Finnish/German/Italian/Latvian/Portuguese/Romansch/Russian/Scandinavian/Slovene/Spanish)
Leoš (Czech)
Lev Лев (Czech/Russian)
Léo (French)
Leó (Hungarian)
Lew (Polish)

Melanie

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek μελαινα
Meaning: “black, dark.”
Brit/Amer Eng (MEL-ah-NEE); Aus Eng (meh-LAH-nee); Fre (may-lah-NEE); Germ (MEL-ah-nee)

The name is derived from the Latin, Melania, which is derived from the Greek, μελαινα (melaina), meaning, “dark; black.”

In Greek Mythology, Melaina was the name of a nymph.

In the early Christian Church, the name was popularized by two 5th-century Roman saints, a grandmother and her granddaughter. Melanie the Younger is known for giving all her wealth to charity.

The name was introduced into England by the conquering Normans, but was never really common. The name became rather common in both the United States and in Britain starting in the early 20th-century, whether it was a French import, or if the character of Melanie Wilkes in Margaret Mitchell’s novel, Gone with the Wind (1936), are attributable to its popularity is up to conjecture.

Currently, Melanie is 89th most popular female name in the United States, (2011). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 54 (Austria, 2010)
# 60 (Argentina, 2009)
# 237 (France, 2010)
# 376 (Netherlands, 2011)

Other forms of the name include:

Melanya (Armenian)
Melanija Меланија Мелания (Croatian/Macedonian/Russian/Serbian/Slovene)
Melánie (Czech: meh-LAHN-ye)
Melanie (Dutch/English/German)
Mélanie (French)
Melaina Μελαινα (Greek)
Melánia (Hungarian/Slovak)
Melani (Hungarian)
Melania (Italian/Late Latin/Polish/Spanish)

A common German short form is Mellie.

Italian masculine forms are: Melanio and Melaneo.

Polish diminutives are: Melanka, Melcia and Melusia.

The name is also borne by:

British pop singer, Melanie Brown, (former Spice Girl) b.1975. Melanie Chrisholm, aka Sporty Spice, b. 1974. American actress, Melanie Griffith (b.1957) and French actress and star of Inglorious Bastards, Mélanie Laurent (b. 1983).

The designated name-days are: January 10 (Hungary), January 13 (Poland), June 30 (Slovakia) and December 31 (France/Germany/Poland).

Sources

Gabriel, Gabriella

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Sebastiane

Origin: Hebrew גַבְרִיאֵל Γαβριηλ
Meaning: “strong man of God.”
Eng (GABE-ree-el); (gah-bree-EL-ah); Fre (gah-bree-EL); Germ (GAHP-ree-el); Pol (GAHP-ryel)

The name is derived from the Biblical Hebrew, גַבְרִיאֵל (Gavri-el) meaning, “strong man of God.”

In Judeo-Christian religions, it is the name of a powerful archangel, who is often viewed as a messenger of God. He appears several times in the Old and New Testaments.

Among Christians, one of his most important messages was relayed to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. Islamic tradition also believes the same, and in Islam, it was the angel Gabriel who revealed the Qu’ran, (through God), to Mohammed.

In Mormon theology, Gabriel is believed to be the embodiment of Noah in the afterlife.

Gabriel is a fairly common name among Christians, Jews and Muslims, making him an extremely cross-cultural portable name.

Currently, in the United States, his popularity has been rising. He is the 24th most popular male name, (2011). In other countries, his rankings in all his various forms are as follows:

# 2 (Gabriel(e), Liechtenstein, 2010)
# 3 (Brazil, 2011)
# 4 (Romania, 2009)
# 6 (Gabriele, Italy, 2009)
# 7 (France, 2010)
# 9 (Quebec, Canada, 2011)
# 19 (Croatia, 2009)
# 26 (Belgium, 2008)
# 28 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 28 (Mexico, 2010)
# 29 (Austria, 2010)
# 35 (Spain, 2010)
# 40 (Poland, 2009)
# 47 (Sweden, 2011)
# 48 (Norway, 2011)
# 52 (Catalonia, 2010)
# 78 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 95 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 124 (Scotland, 2010)
# 189 (Djibril, France, 2010)
# 313 (Jibril, France, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Jibrail/Jibrīl جبرائيل ጂብሪል (Arabic/Ethiopian)
Gabriel გაბრიელი ገብርኤል
(Armenian/Catalan/Coptic/Czech/Danish/English/Ethiopian/Finnish/French/Georgian/German/Norwegian/Polish/Portuguese/Romanian/Romansch/Spanish/Swedish)
Gavrik (Armenian)
Cəbrayıl/Cibril (Azeri)
Gawryil Гаўрыіл (Belarusian)
Džibril/Džebrail (Bosnian)
Gavrail Гавраил (Bulgarian)
Zheberejil Жәбірейіл (Central Asian)
Gabrijel (Croatian/Maltese/Serbian)
Gabriël (Dutch)
Gaabriel (Estonian)
Gabrel (Ethiopian)
Kaapo/Kaapro (Finnish)
Gabriél Γαβριήλ (Greek)
Gavril Γαβριηλ (Greek)
Gavriel גַּבְרִיאֵל (Hebrew)
Gábriel (Hungarian)
Gábor (Hungarian)
Gabríel (Icelandic)
Jibril (Indonesian)
Gaibriéil (Irish-Gaelic)
Gabo/Gabbo (Italian)
Gabriele (Italian: more common form)
Gabriellino (Italian)
Gabriello (Italian)
Gabrio (Italian)
Cibrayîl (Kurdish)
Gabrielus (Latin)
Gabriels (Latvian)
Gabrielius (Lithuanian)
Jibrail (Malaysian)
Gavriilu Гаврїилъ (Old Church Slavonic)
Khabbriele (Puglian)
Gabin (Provençal)
Gavril Гавриил (Romanian/Russian)
Crabiele/Gabilele/Gabriello (Sardinian)
Cabbrieli (Sicilian)
Gabri’el ܠܒܪܝܐܝܠ (Syrian)
Gebrael (Syrian)
Cebrâîl (Turkish)
Gavrel גַאבְֿרֶעל (Yiddish)

English short form is Gabe.

Its feminine form of Gabriella/Gabriela is also rising in popularity. Currently, Gabriella is the 34th most popular female name in the United States, (2011). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 3 (Gabriela, Bulgaria, 2009)
# 5 (Gabrielė, Lithuania, 2011)
# 5 (Gabrielle, Philippines, 2011)
# 7 (Gabriela, Columbia, 2011)
# 8 (Gabriela, Romania, 2009)
# 9 (Gabriela, Puerto Rico, 2011)
# 10 (Gabriela, Brazil, 2010)
# 13 (Gabriela, Poland, Warsaw, 2010)
# 19 (Gabriela, Poland, 2009)
# 28 (Gabrijela, Croatia, 2009)
# 30 (Gabriela, Mexico, 2010)
# 30 (Gabrielly, Brazil, 2010)
# 36 (Gabriela, Croatia, 2009)
# 38 (Gabriela, Chile, 2010)
# 64 (Australia, NSW, 2011)
# 64 (Gabriela, Spain, 2010)
# 67 (Gabrielle, France, 2010)
# 72 (Canada, BC, 2010)
# 94 (Gabrielle, Canada, BC, 2010)
# 119 (Gabrielle, United States, 2011)
# 466 (France, 2010)

Other feminine forms include:

Gebre’elwa ገብርኤሏ (Amharic/Ethiopian)
Gabriela (Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/German/Polish/Portuguese/Romanian/Scandinavian/Slovak/Spanish)
Brielle (Cajun: abbreviated form of Gabrielle)
Gabrijela (Croatian/Serbian)
Gabriëlle (Dutch)
Briella/Briela (English)
Gabrielle (French/English)
Gabria (Italian)
Gabrielina (Italian)
Gabriella (Italian/English/Hungarian/Scandinavian: more common form in Italy)
Gabrielė (Lithuanian)
Gavriila Гавриила (Russian)

Czech diminutives are: Gába, Gabika, Gábina, Gabrina and Gabby.

A Polish diminutive is Gabrysia (gah-BRIH-shah).

English short forms are: Gabby and Ella.

Designated name-days are: February 10/27 (Poland), February 19 (Sweden), March 24 (Czech/Finland/Poland/Slovakia/Sweden), September 29 (France/Germany), December 12 (Hungary)

Raphael

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Hebrew רָפָאֵל Ραφαηλ
Meaning: “God is healer.”
Fre (ra-fa-EL); Eng (RAF-ee-el; RAY-fee-əl)

The name is found in Judeo-Christian and Islamic legend as the name of a major archangel. In the Bible, he is mentioned in the Book of Tobit, which is considered canonical in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican tradition. Due to Raphael’s deliverance of Sarah from the demon Asmodeus (who killed every husband she married before consumation), Raphael has been invoked as a matchmaker by Catholics.

Raphael also appears in the non-canonical Book of Enoch in which he is responsible for binding the fallen angel Azazel

In Islamic tradition, he is known as Israfel/Israfil and it is believed that he will blow the trumpet on Judgement Day.

It is interesting to note that the modern Hebrew word for a medical doctor is דוֹקטוֹר (rophe), compare to the first element of Raphael.

Raphael is currently a trend across Europe, in France, Raphaël is the 11th most popular male name, (2010). His rankings in his various forms are as follows:

# 3 (Liechtenstein, 2010)
# 11 (Rafael, Brazil, 2010)
# 17 (Austria, 2010)
# 40 (Rafał, Warsaw, Poland, 2010)
# 48 (Rafał, Poland, 2009)
# 50 (German-speaking, Switzerland, 2010)
# 54 (Raphaël, Belgium, 2008)
# 55 (Rafael, Spain, 2010)
# 56 (Rafael, Croatia, 2009)
# 63 (Rafael, France, 2010)
# 189 (Rafaël, Netherlands, 2011)
# 274 (Rafael, United States, 2011)
# 668 (United States, 2011)

Its feminine form of Rafaela is currently the 8th most popular female name in Brazil, (2010), while the French form of Raphaëlle ranked in as the 273rd most popular female name in France, (2010).

Other forms of the masculine include:

Rafael (Albanian/Armenian/Catalan/Croatian/Czech/Finnish/Hungarian/Portuguese/Romanian/Romansch/Scandinavian/Slovene/Spanish)
Raphel ሩፋኤል (Amharic/Ethiopian)
Rupha(e)l ራፋኤል (Amharic/Ethiopian)
Israfil اسرافيل, Исрафил (Arabic/Central Asian: used among Muslims)
Rapael რაფაელ (Armenian/Georgian)
Rafail Рафаил Ραφαήλ (Bulgarian/Greek/Macedonian/RomanianRussian/Serbian)
Rafel (Catalan)
Raphael (Coptic/English/German)
Rafaël (Dutch)
Raafael (Estonian)
Raphaël (French)
Raiféal (Gaelic)
Raffaele (Italian)
Raffaello (Italian)
Raffaelino (Italian)
Îsrafîl (Kurdish)
Rafla (Lebanese/Syrian: used among Christians)
Rafaelis (Lithuanian)
Rapolas (Lithuanian)
Rafel (Maltese)
Rafał (Polish)
Arrafieli (Sardinian)
Rafiele (Sardinian)
İsrafil (Turkish)
Rafayil Рафаї́л (Ukrainian)

Common diminiutives are: Raf (Dutch); Rafe (English); Ralph (English); Rafinha (Brazilian-Portuguese); Rafa (Spanish).

Feminine forms include:

Rafaela (Croatian/Macedonian/Portuguese/Romansch/Slovene/Spanish)
Raphaëlle (French)
Raphaela (German)
Raphaele (German)
Raffaella (Italian)
Raffaellina (Italian)

The name was also notably borne by Raphael, or Raffaello Sanzio (1483–1520), an Italian master painter.

Timaeus

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek Τιμαιος
Meaning: “honour.”
Eng (tie-MEE-əs); Fre (teey-MEY-oh)

Timaeus is a latinized form of the Greek, Timaios (Τιμαιος), meaning, “honour.”

The name was very popular in ancient Greece, being the name of one of Plato’s dialogues, a Pythogorean philosopher who was the inspiration of the platonic dialogue and a Roman sophist.

The name briefly occurs in the New Testament, in Mark 10:46 as the name of the father of Bartimaeus.

As of 2010, its French form of Timéo was the 16th most popular male name in France.

Other forms of the name include:

Timej Тимей (Bulgarian/Russian/Ukrainian)
Timeu (Catalan/Portuguese/Sicilian)
Timaj (Croatian/Serbian)
Timée (French)
Timéo (French)
Timaios Τιμαιος (Greek)
Timaiosz (Hungarian)
Timeo (Italian/Spanish)
Timeus (Late Latin)
Timaeus (Latin)
Timajos (Polish)

Berenice, Bernice

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek Βερενικη
Meaning: “bringer of victory.”
Eng (ber-ə-NIE-see; ber-NEES); Fre (beh-hreh-NEES); It (bey-rey-NEE-cheh)

The name is an ancient Macedonian form of the Attic Greek, Pherenikë (Φερενίκη), which is composed of the Greek elements, phero (φέρω), “to bear” and nike (νίκη), “victory.” The earliest attestation of the name is a 3rd-century priestess of Demeter.

The name has often been associated with Veronica, but there is still debate as to whether these two names are actually related.

Berenice was a common one among the Ptolomy dynasty of Egypt, being borne by at least 9 Ptolomaic women. It also seems to have been common among the late Judaean Kingdom royalty, being born by 3 Jewish princesses, one of whom appears briefly in the New Testament as the name King Herod’s sister.

It was later borne by an early Christian Greek martyr, making the name remain common after the debut of Christianity.

In the English-speaking world, she has appeared interchangeably as Berenice and Bernice. In the United States, Bernice seems to have been the more common form, the highest she ever ranked was in 1921, coming in as the 39th most popular female name.

As of 2011, neither Berenice or Bernice appear in the U.S. top 1000, but Bérénice was the 279th most popular female name in France, (2010).

Other forms of the name include:

Bjeranika Бераніка (Belarusian)
Berenice (Catalan/Dutch/English/Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
Berenika Береника (Czech/Polish/Russian/Slovak)
Bernice (English)
Bérénice (French)
Berenike (German)
Bereníkē Βερενίκη (Greek: modern)
Bereniké (Hungarian)

Alexis, Alexa, Alexia, Alessia

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “defender; helper.”
(uh-LEK-sis)

The name is derived from the Greek male name, Αλεξις (Alexis), which is derived from the Greek element, αλεξω (alexo), meaning, “defender; helper.”

The name was borne by a 3rd-century Greek comic and poet, and by several male saints and five Byzantine emperors.

In its Russian incarnation of Aleksei, it was fairly common among Russian royalty. It was borne by two Russian tsars and by the last Russian crown-prince, Aleksei Romanov.

Currently, in the United States, Alexis ranks in as the 242nd most popular male name, despite this, the name is far more common for females, (even though Alexis is not a legitimate feminine name and should not be considered as such), in fact, it is currently the 26th most popular female name, (2011). In the United States, its usage as a female given name can be traced all the way to the 1940s, when it first entered the U.S. top 1000. Its usage among females is most likely attributed to Canadian actress, Alexis Smith (1921-1993) who was born as Gladys. Its popularity on females, however, might mostly be influenced by the 1980 drama series, Dynasty, in which one of the female leads, played by Joan Collins, was named Alexis.

In other countries, Alexis as a male name is ranked as follows:

# 28 (France, 2010)
# 38 (Alejo, Argentina, 2009)
# 83 (Belgium, 2008)
# 90 (Aleix, Spain, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Ales (Basque)
Aleksei/Alexei Алексей (Bulgarian/Russian)
Aleix (Catalan)
Alesiu (Corsican)
Aleksej/Alexej (Czech/Slovak)
Alexis (Danish/English/German/French/Norwegian/Spanish/Swedish)
Aleksi (Finnish)
Aleksis (Finnish)
Aleixo (Galician/Portuguese)
Alexei (German)
Alexios Αλεξιος (Greek)
Elek (Hungarian)
Alessi (Italian: obscure)
Alessio (Italian)
Alexius (Latin/German)
Aleksas (Lithuanian)
Aleksy (Polish)
Alexie (Romanian)
Alexi (Romansch)
Aliesch (Romansch)
Alessiu (Sicilian)
Lezziu (Sicilian)
Alejo (Spanish)
Aleksej (Slovene)
Aleš (Slovene)
Oleksiy Олексій (Ukrainian)

Alyosha and Lyosha are common Russian diminutive forms.

Its feminine forms of Alexa and Alexia are also rising in popularity, Alexia is currently the 275th most popular feminine name in the United States, (2011), while Alexa comes in as the 55th most popular female name. I shall go into more details in another post. In the meantime, here are other feminine forms

Alexa (English/Hungarian)
Alexia (English/German/Greek/French)
Alessa (Italian)
Alessia (Italian)
Alessina (Italian)
Aleksja (Polish)
Aléxia (Portuguese)
Alexina/Alexine (Scottish)

Common short forms are Alex, Lex and Lexie.

Designated name-days are: February 17 (France), March 17 (Greece), July 17 (Germany) and December 12 (Sweden).

Sources

http://www.behindthename.com/name/alexis
http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/alexis?view=uk
http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/alexa?view=uk
http://www.askoxford.com/firstnames/alexia?view=uk
Bengt af Klintberg: Namnen i almanackan, 2001
Yáñez Solana, Manuel (1995). El gran libro de los Nombres. M. E. Editores, Madrid
Montes Vicente, José María (2001). El libro de los Santos. Alianza, Madrid
Kustaa Vilkuna: Etunimet, 3. painos 2001, s. 30,

Legitimate Baby Names

names that are not made up and have had a history

Category Archives: Russian Names

Nicholas

Nathan

Lucas, Luke

Leo

Melanie

Gabriel, Gabriella

Raphael

Timaeus

Berenice, Bernice

Alexis, Alexa, Alexia, Alessia