Tag Archives: Fire

Panu

Posted on by
Reply
view of a bonfire on the beach at sunset
Photo by Petri Jääskeläinen on Pexels.com
  • Origin: Finnish
  • Meaning: “fire; flame;” also a diminutive form of Urban
  • Gender: Male
  • Usage: Finnish
  • Pron: (PAH-noo)

The name began as a Finnish diminutive form of the Latin name Urban. The name took on new significance in the 19th century, when Finnish national romanticism reinterpreted Panu through its resemblance to the native word panu, meaning “fire” or “flame.”

In Finnish folklore and epic poetry, Panu appears as the spirit or personification of fire, particularly in the mythological corpus connected to the Kalevala.

The name’s modern popularity was reinforced by Juhani Aho’s 1897 historical novel Panu, which centers on the clash between Christianity and ancient Finnish paganism. In Aho’s novel, the protagonist Panu is the last pagan priest defending the old faith. The book was highly influential in the Finnish national revival movement and helped cement Panu as a culturally resonant personal name.

The designated name-day in Finland is November 11.

Sources

Narineh

Posted on by
4

Gender: Feminine
Origin: Armenian
Meaning: “pomegranate; fire.”
(nah-REE-neh).

The name is either an elaboration of the Armenian word nar which is a borrowing from the Persian meaning “pomegranate” or an elaboration of an Arabic name meaning “fire.”

Ignatius

Posted on by
2

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: unknown.
Eng (ig-NAY-shus).

This solid masculine name may sound too much like a hospital or church for some parents; the fact that it has some great associations, however, should not be overlooked.

The name is derived from an old Roman family name of uncertain origins and meaning. Originally spelled Egnatius, it was borne by an early Christian martyr of Antioch. The meaning of the name has often been associated with the Latin word, ignis, meaning, “fire.”

The name was later borne by another Saint, Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. Of Basque extraction, his real name Iñigo, a Basque name of obscure origins, however, in contemporary Spain, Iñigo is often hispanicized to Ignacio.

Another interesting side note is that Inigo was in usage in Renaissance England, it was borne by Inigo Jones, a famous architect and stage designer.

Ignatius itself never really caught on in the English speaking world, though among some devout Roman Catholic families, the name has been used, and even then, it is rarely ever heard other than as a confirmation name or as a religious name. He currently does not rank in the U.S. top 1000.

The name has enjoyed considerable usage in Latin America and in Spain as Ignacio, which is often shortened to Nacho.

Potential English nickname options could be:  Iggy, Nash, and Nacho. Nameday is July 31.

Other forms include

  • Injaci (Albanian)
  • Iñaki (Basque)
  • Iñigo (Basque)
  • Ignasi (Catalan)
  • Ignac (Croatian/Slovene)
  • Ignacije (Croatian)
  • Ignác (Czech/Hungarian)
  • Ignaas (Dutch)
  • Inigo (English: obscure)
  • Ignatios (Estonian/Finnish)
  • Ignace (French)
  • Ignatz (German)
  • Ignazio (Italian)
  • Ignas (Kiswahili)
  • Ignacy (Polish)
  • Inácio (Portuguese)
  • Ignatziu (Sardinian)
  • Ignacij (Slovene)
  • Ignacio (Spanish)

Feminine forms include the Polish Ignacja and the Spanish Ignacia.

Fionntán, Fintan

Posted on by
Reply

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Gaelic
Meaning: “white fire.”
Ir (fin-TAHN); Eng (FIN-tun).

The name is composed of the elements fionn meaning “white; fair” and tine meaning “fire.” It has been anglicized as Fintan. In Irish legend, Fionntan Mac Bochra was a great seer and druid advisor who supposedly arrived in Ireland, along with Noah’s granddaughter, Cessair. His wives and daughters died during God’s cursed flood but he survived by transforming himself into a salmon and taking refuge in an undersea cave. He later transformed himself into an eagle, then into a hawk and then back into his true form. Supposedly, he lived 5500 years, until the arrival of Christianity into Ireland, where he was baptized and died immediately after. It has been borne by several Irish saints, and its designated name day is July 13. The name might be especially appealing to parents who are considering Connor or Aidan, but find them too popular. Finn or Finty are possible nickname options.