Gender: Feminine
Origin: Italian
Meaning: “little bear.”
(Or-so-LEE-nah)
The name is a diminutive form of the medieval female names Orsina and Orsola. It seems to have become a common independent female name as it appears several time in the 1620 Venice records.
Gender: Female
Origin: Greek
Meaning “to celebrate with song and dance.”
English (mel-PAH-meh-NEE); Greek (mel-po-MEH-nee)
Μελπομένη
The name is found in Greek mythology by the Muse of Tragedy. She was often invoked by poets and singers before they performed. She was the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne.
The name comes from the Greek Μελπομενη meaning “choir.”
Other obscure gems include:
Gender: FemaleThe name is very popular in Armenia. Nicknames include Ala and Allie.
Gender: Female
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “floral.”
The name is derived from the Latin word flos, meaning “flower.”
It was the name of the Roman goddess of flowers, she was the wife of Zephyr, the West Wind.
In modern terminology, the name has been used in reference to the entire plant kingdom.
The name was quite common in the middle of the 19th-century. With its two syllable sweetness, and its vintage charm, the name might appeal to those who find such names as Ava, Clara, Cora, Della, Ella, Greta, Mira, Nola, Perla appealing.
Other forms include:
Gender: Female
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “force; might; power.”
(BEE-ah)
This attractive, sweet two-syllable name, may be appealing to those who have been considering such trendy names as Gia, Leah, Mia, Nia, and Tea.
The name has an ancient and primordial past, in Greek mythology, Bia was the female personification of force, power, strength and compulsion.
She and her sister Nike, (victory), were the sisters of Cratos (Strength) and Zelos (Rivalry). They were the winged attendance of Zeus, and stood before his thrown on Mt. Olympus. They were known as spirits or daemon.
Some scholars believe that Bia may have started out as a pre-classical goddess, but was relegated to the duty of a type of protectress or angel to the Olympian gods during the Hellenistic period.
In Italy, Bia is used as a nickname for Bianca. In fact, it was born by the illegitimate daughter of the Italian nobleman Cosimo I de Medici, and a beautiful portrait done by Agnolo Bronzino, depicts the young beauty.
Gender: Female
Origin: Greek and Latin
Meaning: “lamb; pure, chaste, holy.”
(AG-nes)
The name is of debated origin and meaning. It may be derived from the Greek hagno meaning “pure; chaste; holy.”
Likewise, it may be derived from the Latin word for “lamb.” Since the lamb later became associated with purity and chastity, the two above origins and meanings have become interchangeable.
The name was borne in Greek mythology by an Oceanid nymph, who was said to have raised the god Zeus.
On Mt. Lyceaus in Arcadia, there was a well sacred to her. When the region was suffering from drought, she prayed and fasted for several days. Afterward, she touched the surface of the well with a branch of an oak tree, inducing a huge rain storm.
The name was borne in Christian legend by an early virgin martyr who refused to comply with the wishes of a local suitor who later denounced her as a Christian. The local prefect forced her to go through several public humiliations before beheading her.
It was also borne by a medieval Czech princess, who was later canonized by the Catholic church as a saint. Known as St. Agnes of Bohemia, she is a minor subject in the popular English Christmas carol, Good St. Wenceslaus, and is still revered as a local heroine in her native homeland. Another saintly namesake is Agnes of Assisi.
The name was quite popular throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, due to its strong Christian connotations, the word agnes in Latin was also used in reference to Christ’s sacrifice, as in agnes dei, lamb of God.
The name was prevalent in England before the Reformation, and fell somewhat out of favor, until it was revived in the late 19th-century.
In recent years, the name has experienced a surge in popularity in a few European countries.
In Sweden she was the 16th most popular female name of 2007.
In Hungary, she was the 75th most popular female name of 2005.
Other forms of the name include:
Nicknames include: Aggie, Nessa, Ness and Nessie
An obscure Italian male form is Agnesio.
Coincidentally, Agni is an Old Norse male name, also found as Ahni and Hogne. Snorre Sturlasson wrote about a legendary King of Sweden named Agni. He is known for defeating the Finnish chief Frosti and taking his daughter Skjalf hostage, who he later married and had children with. The name is believed to be derived from the Nordic agh meaning “spear point” or may possibly be derived from the word agi meaning “fear; dread.” It seems to have fallen out of usage. Maybe a you would be brave enough to use it on your own son ;).
Gender: Female
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “sewn-together.”
(kuh-STAHL-yah); (KAH-stuh-LEE-uh)
In Greek Mythology, Castalia was the sister of Callirrhoe. She was the nymph of the Castalian springs, which are found at the foot of Mt. Parnassus, just right under the temple of Delphi.
She was known to inspire the genius of poetry to those who drank her waters.
The water was also used to clean the Delphian temples.
Other forms of the name include:
Gender: FemaleCallirhoe, the sister of Castalia, was a naiad nymph who lived in a fountain in the town of Acarnarnia. She was the daughter of a minor river god, Achelaeus, and wife to the argive prophet, Alcmeon.
Callirhoe talked her husband into stealing the peplus and necklace of the goddess Harmonia. Alcmeon was struck down by the goddess’ guards after he was caught stealing.
To avenge his death, Callirhoe, pleaded with Zeus to induce her infant sons to be transformed into men so that they might avenge their father’s death, which Zeus granted.
The name is also the scientific designation for the Prairie Poppy Mallow.
Other forms of the name include:
Nicknames include: Cal, Callie, and Roe.
Gender: Female
Origin: Armenian
Meaning: “young deer”
(eye-DZEE-ahm)
Gender: Female
Origin: Latin
Meaning “wonderful.”
(MEER-uh-BEL)
The name was first coined in the Middle Ages, coming directly from the Latin mirabilis meaning “wonderful.”
It is also the name of a type of plum indigenous to France. Variations include Mirabella, and Mirabel.
