Vadim

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Slavic Вади́м
Meaning: debated
(vah-DEEM)

There are a few theories as to the origins and meaning of this name, the most popular being is that it is composed of two Slavic roots, vadit (to attract, to possess) and ima; imati, meaning, (possessing property). Another possibility is that it is derived from the Slavic, vaditi, meaning, “to accuse; to slander; to sow discord.” It has even been suggested to be related to the Persian Badian meaning, (anise).

The name was borne by a semi-legendary East Slavic ruler, Vadim the Bold (circ.9th-century), who led a revolt against Rurik. He is a popular character in 18th-century Russian literature and came to be viewed as a symbol of freedom for the Russian romantic movement.

The name is used in all Slavic-speaking countries, and is occasionally used in German-speaking countries and in Romania.

As of 2009, Vadim was the 423rd most popular male name in France.

Other forms of the name include:

  • Vuadim (Armenian)
  • Vadzim (Belarusian)
  • Vadim Вади́м (Bulgarian/Croatian/Czech/Romanian/Russian/Slovak/Slovene/Ukrainian)
  • Wadim (German)
  • Wadym (Polish)

A common Russian diminutive is Vadik.

Badis

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Berber
Meaning: unknown
(BAH-dees)

The name is a Berber name of ancient origins but of uncertain meaning. This was the original name of the Spanish island of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, which lies off the coast of Morocco.

The name was borne by a few Amazigh kings, the most notable being, Badis the Hammadit.

As of 2009, Badis was the 443rd most popular male name in France.

Elouan

Posted on by
Reply

 

Gender: Masculine
Origin: French/Breton
Meaning: “light.”

Rising in popularity in France, this trendy male name is actually of Breton origins, meaning “light”, it was the name of an Irish hermit who took up residence in 7th century Brittany. Canonized as a saint, a small chapel is dedicated to him in St-Guen where his tomb can be found. As of 2006, the name stood as 126 in the popularity charts, but has probably since risen. I can’t find statistical data from France since after 2006, but I have noticed its frequent appearance in French birth announcements. I have also noted the feminine form of Elouane. The designated name day is August 28th.

Update: Well, I guess I called that one wrong. As of 2009, Elouan dropped down to # 447.

Shahin

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Persian شاهين
Meaning: royal king
(shah-HEEN)

The name is composed of the Persian elements, shah (king) and in (royal). In Persian it is used to refer to a type of falcon, known in English as the Shaheen falcon also known as the peregrine falcon. An interesting and alternative bird-name, indeed!

As of 2009, its franconized form of Chahine was the 451st most popular male name. A Turkish form is Şahin.

Said

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Arabic سعيد
Meaning: “happy.”
(sah-EED)

The name comes directly from the Arabic meaning, “happy.”

As of 2009, Said was the 459th most popular male name in France.

Other forms of the name include:

  • Said سعيد Саид (Albanian/Arabic/Azeri/Bosnian/Bulgarian/Chechen/Circassian/Dagestani/Egyptian/Indonesian/Iranian/Javanese/Kazakh/Kyrgyz/Lebanese/Ossetian/Pashtun/Syrian/Tatar/Turkmen/Uzbek)
  • Saïd (Algerian/Moroccan/Tunisian)
  • Sead (Bosnian)
  • Sejad (Bosnian)
  • Sait (Kurdish/Turkish)
The feminine form is Saida.
 

Emmerich

Posted on by
3

Gender: Masculine
Origin: German
Meaning: “industrious ruler or universal ruler.”
(EH-meh-RIKH)

This ancient Germanic name is composed of the elements ermen or amal (its debated) and ric which means ruler and is a common component in many ancient Germanic names. If the first element is from ermen then it would mean “whole; universal” + ric. If it is derived from amal then it would mean “labour; work; industry” + ric. In Germany, its designated name-day is September 2nd. The names Amerigo and America are distant relatives and cognates include the Hungarian Imre, the Swedish/Norwegian Emerik and the French Émeric.

Update: As of 2009, Émeric was the 476th most popular male name in France. While its Hungarian form of Imre was the 70th most popular male name in Hungary.

Other forms of the name include:

  • Imrich (Czech/Slovak)
  • Emmerik (Dutch)
  • Emerico (Italian/Spanish)
  • Emeryk (Polish)
  • Américo (Portuguese)
  • Emeric (Romanian)
  • Emérico (Spanish)

America shares the same etymology.

Idris

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Arabic إدريس‎ or Welsh
Welsh Meaning: “ardent lord.”
Arabic Meaning: uncertain

Idris is of two different origins and is used in two separate cultures. In Welsh, it is composed of the elements, udd (lord; prince) and ris (ardent, enthusiastic.” In Welsh mythology it was borne by a giant who used the mountain peak of Cadair Idris (Seat of Idris) as an observatory. Legends claims that if you spend one night on the mountain peak you wake up either as a madmen or as a great poet. The name was also borne by a 7th-century Welsh prince, Idris ap Gwyddno.

In the Qu’ran, the name is borne by a prophet, traditionally ascribed to being the same as the Biblical prophet Enoch. Many modern Islamic scholars now believe that Idris was a separate person from Enoch. In this case, the name is believed to be of pre-Islamic and possibly of non-Arabic roots of undeterminate etymology, some, however have connected the name with the Arabic root d-r-s, meaning, “study.”

As of 2009, Idris was the 479th most popular male name in France. In France it is used both among the Bretons and among recent Muslim immigrants.

Other forms of the Arabic include:

  • Idris إدريس‎) Идрис (Albanian/Arabic/Baloch/Bosnian/Bulgarian/Circassian/Dagestani/Ethiopian/Indonesian/Javanese/Malaysian)
  • İdris (Azeri/Turkish)
  • Idriss (Chadian)
  • Driss (Berber/Maghrebi Arabic)
  • Ydyrys Ыдырыс (Chechen/Kazakh/Kyrgyz/Tajik/Tatar/Turkmen/Uzbek)
  • Idrîs (Kurdish)
  • Idriis (Somali)
  • Idrissa (West African)

Vianney

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Masculine
Origin: French
Fre (VEE-ahn-NAY); Sp (vee-AH-nee)

Like Chantal and Xavier, Vianney is taken from the surname of a renowned Catholic saint, Jean-Marie Vianney (1786-1859). In France, the name has been used as a masculine given name since his death in the 1800s. It is still used, mainly among practicing Catholics in France and has even come to be used in South America.

As of 2009, Vianney was the 480th most popular male name in France.