Rebecca

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Feminine
Origin: debated
Meaning: debated
Eng (re-BEK-ka)

Rebecca is the English form of the Biblical Hebrew רִבְקָה (Rivqah), which possibly means “snare” or “noose” possibly referring to captivation or beauty, but may also be of an unknown Aramaic source.

The name is borne in the Bible by the Aramean wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. She is considered a Jewish matriarch.

In the English speaking world, the name was seldom used until the Protestant Reformation, where it became an exceedingly popular name. Pocahantas even took this as her Christian name upon her baptism.

Currently, Rebekka is the 3rd most popular female name in Faroe Islands, (2010). Her rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 20 (Rebecca, Italy, 2010)
# 24 (Rebeka, Hungary, 2010)
# 37 (Rebecca, Northern Ireland, 2010)
# 38 (Rebecca, Scotland, 2010)
# 48 (Rebecca, Ireland, 2010)
# 75 (Rebeka, Slovenia, 2010)
# 75 (Rebecca, Sweden, 2010)
# 82 (Rebecca, England/Wales, 2010)
# 137 (Rebecca, United States, 2010)
# 290 (Rebecca, Netherlands, 2010)
# 304 (Rebecca, France, 2009)
# 404 (Rebekah, United States, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Rafqa ﻪﻔﻴﻓﺍﺭ (Arabic/Syriac)
Rebeka Ребека (Bosnian/Bulgarian/Czech/Hungarian/Lithuanian/Polish/Slovak/Slovene)
Rebeca (Catalan/Ladino/Portuguese/Romanian/Spanish)
Rebekka (Dutch/Ethiopian/Finnish/German/Scandinavian)
Rebecca (English/Italian/Scandinavian)
Becca (English)
Reba (English)
Rebekah (English)
Rébecca (French)
Rebèque (French)
Rebekah (Greek: Biblical)
Revekka Ρεβέκκα (Greek: Modern)
Rifqa (Hebrew: Biblical)
Riva/Rivka רִבְקָה, רבקה אמנו (Hebrew: Modern)
Réba (Hungarian)
Ribka (Indonesian)
Ryfka (Polish-Yiddish)
Rebecke (Plattdeutsch)
Revekka Реве́кка (Russian)
Reveka (Serbian)
Rebecka (Swedish)
Rifka/Riwka (Yiddish)

The name was the subject of the 1938 British novel of the same name, written by Daphne du Maurier. It is also borne by a 19th-century Lebanese Christian saint. The designated name-day is March 23 (France).

Common English diminutive forms include: Becca, Beck, Becky, Bex, Reba and Rebi.

Sources

Leah

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Sebastiane

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other forms of the name include:

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

Common Czech diminutives include:

Leana
Leí
Leonka
Leoša
Leuška
Leúšik
Lienka
Liuška

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

Eva, Eve

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Sebastiane

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other forms of the name include:

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

Italian masculine form is Evo.

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

Malte

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German/Scandinavian
(MAHL-teh)

The name is derived from the Germanic name, Helmold, which is composed of the elements helm (helmut) and wald (ruler).

Malte‘s appearance was first recorded during the 1400s in Eastern Denmark and its popularity reached Sweden and Norway.

As of 2010, its Danish form of Malthe was the 15th most popular male name in Denmark, while Malte was the 56th most popular male name in Sweden, (2010).

Other forms of the name include:

Malte (German/Scandinavian)
Malti (Danish)
Molte (Danish)
Molti (Danish)

Frederick

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “peaceful ruler.”
Eng (FRED-eh-rick; FRED-rick)

The name is composed of the Germanic elements, frid (peace) and rich (ruler). The name has been popular in the Germanic world since the 10th century. It was borne by three dukes of Austria, including Frederick the Fair (1289-1330), the first king of Austria. It was extremely popular among minor German royalty and was eventually borne by Frederick II, King of Prussia, also known as Frederick the Great (1712-1786)

Among Danish Royalty, it has been tradition to alternate naming the eldest son either Christian or Frederick each generation. Frederick, so far, has been borne by nine Danish kings and is currently borne by the Danish Crown Prince (b.1968).

In the Middle Ages, it was borne by three Holy Roman Emperors, including the illustrious Crusader, Frederick I Barberossa (the Red Beard).

The name was introduced into England by the Normans, but became popular in the 18th-century when the German Hanovers inherited the British Throne, which has issued at least one Frederick thus far: Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707–1751), eldest son of King George II of England.

As of 2010, its Danish form of Frederik was the 7th most popular male name in Denmark. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 11 (Federico, Italy, 2010)
# 16 (Federico, Argentina, 2009)
# 35 (Fredrik, Norway, 2010)
# 95 (England/Wales, 2010)
# 393 (Frederik, Netherlands, 2010)
# 496 (United States, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Ferry (Alsatian)
Frederig (Breton)
Frederic (Catalan)
Bedřich (Czech)
Frederick (English)
Fríðrikur (Faroese)
Fredrik (Finnish/Scandinavian)
Frédéric (French)
Freark (Frisian)
Fridric (Frisian)
Frerich (German)
Friedrich (German)
Frigyes (Hungarian)
Friðrik (Icelandic)
Feardorcha (Irish)
Federico (Italian/Spanish)
Federigo (Italian)
Fredo (Italian)
Fricis (Latvian)
Frīdrihs (Latvian)
Frydrichas (Lithuanian)
Friduric (Old High German)
Friðrikr (Old Norse)
Freerk (Plattdeustch)
Fryderyk (Polish)
Frédéri (Poitvin)
Frederico (Portuguese)
Frederi (Provançal)
Fadri (Romansch)
Frideric (Romansch)
Riet (Romansch)
Riget (Romansch)
Friderik (Slovene)

Common diminutives include:

Bedřišek (Czech)
Béďa (Czech)
Béďánek (Czech)
Bédísek (Czech)
Fedder (Danish)
Fred (English/Scandinavian)
Freddy (English/Scandinavian)
Frits (Faroese)
Fiete (Frisian)
Fiddy (German)
Freidi (German)
Freidl (German)
Fre(r)k (German)
Fritz (German)

Its feminine form of Federica is currently the 21st most popular female name in Italy, (2009), while Frederikke is currently the 38th most popular female name in Denmark, (2010) and Frédérique is the 150th most popular female name in the Netherlands, (2010).

Other feminine forms include:

Bedřiška (Czech)
Frederikke (Danish/Norwegian)
Frédérique (Dutch/French)
Frederica (English/Portuguese)
Friðrika (Faroese/Icelandic)
Fredrika (Finnish/Swedish)
Friederike (German)
Federica (Italian)
Fryderyka (Polish)
Fadrica (Romansch)
Fadrina (Romansch)

Mads

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Danish
(MAS)

The name is a short form of Mathias, now used exclusively as an independent given name.

As of 2010, Mads was the 16th most popular male name in Denmark. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 97 (Norway, 2010)
# 323 (Netherlands, 2010)

Silas

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek
Eng (SIE-las); Dan (SEE-lahs)

The name is a Greek form of the Latin male name, Silvanus.

It is borne in the New Testament by a companion of St. Paul, he is revered as a saint in both the Eastern and Roman Churches.

As of 2010, Silas was the 21st most popular male name in Denmark. His rankings in other countries are as follows:

# 221 (United States, 2010)
# 311 (Netherlands, 2010)

Other forms of the name include:

Sila Сіла (Belarusian/Bulgarian/Italian/Russian/Serbian/Ukrainian)
Silas (Catalan/Dutch/English/French/German/Portuguese/Scandinavian/Spanish)
Sylas (Polish)

Rasmus

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Scandinavian
(RAHS-moos)

The name is a Danish and Swedish form of the Greek male name, Erasmus Ερασμος, meaning, “beloved.”

It was borne by a 4th-century Greek saint and martyr, also known as St. Elmo. It was later borne by a renowned Dutch scholar and humanist for whom the Erasmus Program was named.

As of 2010, Rasmus was the 26th most popular male name in Denmark and the 42nd most popular male name in Sweden.

Other forms of the name include:

Erasme (Catalan)
Erazmo (Croatian)
Erasmus (Dutch/English/Finnish/German/Romansch/Scandinavian)
Rasmus (Danish/Faroese/Finnish/Icelandic/Norwegian/Swedish)
Elmo (English/German/Italian)
Asmo (Finnish)
Érasme (French)
Erazmus (Hungarian)
Erasmo (Italian/Portuguese/Spanish)
Ermo (Italian)
Rasin(us) (Norwegian)
Rasofiel (Norwegian)
Rasman(n) (Norwegian)
Erazm Эра́зм (Polish/Russian)
Erasm (Romanian)
Rásm(m)os (Sami)
Rástoš (Sami)
Erazem (Slovene)

An obscure Danish and Norwegian feminine form is Rasmine.

Villads

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Danish
Meaning: “desire to battle.”

The name is a Danish form of the Anglo-Saxon name, Willehad, which is composed of the elements, will (desire; will) and had (battle).

As of 2010, Villads was the 29th most popular male name in Denmark.

Another form is the Norwegian, Villas/Willas.

Waldemar

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Sebastiane

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “famous ruler.”
(VAHL-deh-mahr)

The name is supposedly a direct translation of the Slavic male name, Vladimir, the former being composed of the Germanic elements, wald (ruler) and meri (famous).

The name was introduced into the Germanic world by the 12-century Danish King Valdemar, who was named for a Ukrainian ancestor. The name was subsequently borne by several Danish kings and has been found among German and Swedish royalty.

As of 2010, Valdemar was the 33rd most popular male name in Denmark.

Other forms of the name include:

Waldemar (Dutch/Czech/German/Polish/Scandinavian)
Valdemar (Finnish/Scandinavian)
Valdemár (Hungarian)
Valdemaro (Italian)
Voldemārs (Latvian)
Valdis (Latvian)
Valdemaras (Lithuanian)
Voldemaras (Lithuanian)
Valdas (Lithuanian)
Waldomar (Old High German)
Valdimárr (Old Norse)

Polish diminutives are: Waldek and Walduś

Legitimate Baby Names

names that are not made up and have had a history

Rebecca

Leah

Eva, Eve

Malte

Frederick

Mads

Silas

Rasmus

Villads

Waldemar