Gender: Feminine
Origin: Basque
Meaning: “swallow”
(i-NAH-rah)
The name comes directly from the Basque word meaning “swallow.”
In 2006, the name appeared in Spain’s Top 100 female names coming in at # 38.
Ainara
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Tag Archives: Bird Names
Penelope
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Eng (pen-NEL-uh-PEE)
The name is of uncertain origins, many scholars believe that the name is pre-Hellenistic and is related to an ancient word, penelops (πηνελοψ), which means “duck,” others argue that the name is Greek compound name composed of the elements, pene (πηνη) meaning “threads.” Many scholars feel that the latter is the most appropriate since it was the name of Odysseus wife who kept her suitors at bay by pretending to weave.
The name appears in Greek mythology as the name of a wood nymph who was speculated to be the mother of the god Pan.
The name is occasionally used in German, Italian,
Other forms of the name include:
- Penèlope (Catalan)
- Penelopa (Croatian/Polish/Romanian/Serbian: Pela, Pelka and Pelcia are the Polish diminutives)
- Pénélope (French)
- Penelópē Πηνελόπεια/Πηνελόπη (Greek)
- Pénelopé (Hungarian)
- Penelopė (Lithuanian)
- Penelopeia (Norwegian/Danish/Swedish)
- Penélope (Spanish/Portuguese)
The name is currenly borne by Spanish actress Penelope Cruz.
Possible English nickname options, include, Penny, Poppy, Lola, and Nell.
Celandine
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “swallow”
(SEL-an-deen)
Like Dahlia, this is another underappreciated floral with a sensual and overtly girly feel. The name of the flower is derived from the Greek word chelidon meaning “swallow.”