Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “joy; happiness.”
Χαρα
(KAH-rah)
The name is from the Greek, meaning, “joy; happiness.” The designated name-day in Greece is February 10. It is also the name of a genus of algae.
Chara
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Tag Archives: Greek Names
Lazarus
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Aramaic/Greek
Lazarus is Biblical name that has never really caught on in the English speaking world, he has a morbid and Gothic vibe, he has that feel that belongs in an Anne Rice or Stephanie Meyer novel.
The name is derived from the Greek, Lazaros (Λαζαρος), which is a form of the Aramaic, Lazar. Lazar is in turn an Aramaic form of the Hebrew, male name, Eleazar אלעזר, Elʿāzār, meaning “God’s assistance” or “God has helped.”
I shall go into Eleazar in a separate posting, for now, I shall just focus on Lazarus and his variants, since, he seems to have created a persona all of his own.
In the New Testamant, the name Lazarus is mentioned twice, the strongest association has to be with Lazarus of Bethany, who is mentioned in the Gospel of John as a man who was miraculously resurrected from the dead by Jesus. Another Lazarus is the subject of Jesus’ parable Lazarus and Dives, (recounted in the Gospel of Luke).
In Eastern Orthodox and Catholic traditions, Lazarus of Bethany is revered as a saint, and later apocryphal accounts of his life became popular. Among Eastern Christian traditions, it is believed that Lazarus sailed off to Cyprus to evangelize the inhabitants where he later became the first Bishop Kittim, (Larnaka), other traditions have Lazarus and his sisters relocating to Provence, France, where it is said that he became the first Bishop of Marseilles.
Other forms of the name include:
- Llàtzer (Catalan)
- Lazar Лазарь/Лазар (Croatian/Czech/Bulgarian/Serbian/Russian/Ukrainian)
- Lazarus (English/Danish/Dutch/German/Latin/Norwegian/Swedish)
- Lasarus (Finnish/Swedish/Norwegian)
- Lazare (French: lah-ZAHR)
- Lazaros Λαζαρος (Greek)
- Lázár (Hungarian)
- Lazzaro (Italian)
- Lozorius (Lithuanian)
- Łazarz/Lazarz (Polish: WAH-zahsh/LAH-zahsh)
- Lázaro (Portuguese/Spanish: LAH-sah-roh Latin American Spanish; LAH-thah-ro Iberian Spanish)
- Lazár (Slovak)
- Lasaros (Swedish)
Spanish feminine forms are Lázara and Lazarina.
The designated name-day is December 17.
Doron
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Hebrew/Greek
Meaning: “gift.
(doh-RONE)
דּוֹרוֹן
The name can either be from the Hebrew, meaning “gift” or “present,” or it can trace its roots back to the Greek. Doron and Dorio was a city mentioned by Pliny, which was said to have been located in Cilicia Tracheia.
Barbara
St. Barbara
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “foreigner; barbarian”
Eng (BAR-bruh).
The name is derived from the Greek barbaros (βαρβαρος) meaning “foreign; barbarian.”
The name is borne by a 4th-century Christian martyr. St. Barbara was said to be so beautiful that her wealthy father had her locked away in a tower to protect her from disease and unwanted suitors, however, a Christian tutor of hers, had converted her to Christianity. When Barbara’s father found out, he beheaded her, but afterwards was struck by lightning, hence Barbara was considered the patron saint against lightning. She is also the patron saint of artillery, architecture, prisoners and, in Poland, she is considered the patron saint of miners. Its usage in Poland was originally delegated to miners’ daughters, but now it is widespread and popular among all classes.
Barbara currently ranks in the top 100 in Chile, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. In the United States, however, she only ranks in at # 758, she did rank in at # 3rd back in 1933.
Other forms of the name include: (listed alphabetically by linguistic origin)
- Rabab (Arabic)
- Barbare (Basque/Georgian)
- Bärbl (Bavarian)
- Barba (Breton/Estonian/Latvian)
- Bàrbara (Catalan)
- Barbara (Croatian, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Ripoarisch, Romanian, Slovene)
- Babeta (Czech/Slovak)
- Bára (Czech: originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name)
- Barbora (Czech, Lithuanian, Slovakian: 10th most popular female name in the Czech Republic for 2007)
- Barbel (Danish)
- Barbertje (Dutch: obscure, also a word for a kitchen rack in Dutch)
- Parba (Estonian)
- Varje/Varju/Varve (Estonian)
- Barbe (French: obscure, not very popular due to it also being the French word for beard)
- Barber/Berber (Frisian)
- Babette/Barbette (French diminutive forms, used as independent given names, considered very dated)
- Varvara Βαρβαρα (Greek Modern)
- Borbála (Hungarian: 84th most popular female name in Hungary for 2005)
- Báirbre (Irish)
- Barbarella/Barbarina/Barberina/Barbera (Italian: obscure forms)
- Berb (Limburgish)
- Barbė (Lithuanian)
- Bäerbel (Luxemburgish)
- Barbo (Norwegian)
- Bárbara (Portuguese/Spanish)
- Barbla/Barla (Romansch)
- Varvara Варвара (Russian/Bulgarian)
- Barabal (Scottish)
- Varjenka/Varja/Varvana (Slovene)
- Borbora (Sorbian)
- Barbro (Swedish/Danish/Norwegian)
- Bäbi (Swiss German)
Popular English diminutive forms are Babbie, Babs, Barb, Barbie and sometimes Bobbie.
Popular Polish diminutives are Basia (BAH-shah) and Baska (BASH-kah).
Czech diminutives are Bára, Barca, Barča, Barka, Barborka and Baruška. Croatian diminutives are Bara and Barica (bah-REET-sah).
Russian and Bulgarian diminutives forms are Varenka, Varinka, Varya and Varyusha.
German diminutive forms are: Baba, Babe, Babi, Bäbs, Babschi, Babsi, Babsili, Babsl, Baby, Bar, Barb, Barbi, Bärbi, Bari, Bobbel, Bobbie, Bobsi, Wara, Wawi, Wetl and Wetty. Slovenian diminutives are: Bara, Barba, Barbi, Barca, Barica, Barbika, Barbina and Barbka.
There are Italian masculine versions, which are: Barbaro, Barbarino and Barberino.
The designated name-day is December 4.
Other notable bearers are Barbara of Celje (1390-1451) a Hungarian queen crowned Holy Roman Empress, known for creating the Order of the Dragon.
Former first lady Barbara Pierce Bush (b.1927), American actresses, Barbara Stanwyck (1907-1990) and Barbara Hershey (b.1948). Renowned journalist, Barbara Walters (b.1929) and singer, Barbra Streisand (b.1942).
Gereon
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Greek/German
Meaning: “old man.”
(GER-eh-on).
The name comes from the Greek Υερων (geron) meaning “old man.” The name has been in usage in Germany and Denmark, particularly in the region of Cologne, due to a 4th-century Roman saint martyred there. Known as the Golden Saint, it is alleged that he was a soldier of the Theban legions who was martyred under the Emperor Maximian. He is the patron saint against migrains. There is a large basilica dedicated to him in Cologne where it is said his relics are kept. Its designated name-day is October 10. Another German form is Gerion (GEH-ree-on), Dutch form is Jeroen and the Romansch forms are Geronas, Gironas and Jaronas.
Callistus, Callista
Origin: Greek/Late Latin
Meaning: “most beautuful.”
Callistus and Callista is a Late Latin form of the Greek Καλλιστοσ (Kallistos) meaning “most beautiful” which is ultimately derived from the Greek feminine name Kalliste or Kalliste.
In Greek mythology, Callisto was the daughter of King Lycaon of Arcadia, she was a hunting companion or nymph of the goddess Artemis, and took an oath to remain a virgin. Zeus disguised himself as Artemis in order to get close to the virgin, upon embracing the false image of Zeus, Zeus took on his true form and raped Callisto. When Artemis discovered that one of her virgin maids was pregnant and defiled, she turned Callisto into a bear and Callisto gave birth to her son Arcas. Zeus placed Callisto and her son in the constellation Ursa Minor. Later, Kallisto became an epithet for the goddess Artemis Kalliste. A moon of Jupiter was also named in the nymph’s honour.
In later years, the masculine form of Callistus was borne by three popes, also known as Callixtus, one of which was canonized a saint. His designated name-day is October 14.
The feminine version is borne by actress Calista Flockhart (b.1964). It was also borne by a 19th-century American female Baptist missionary Calista Vinton (1807-1864).
Spelled Callista, it is the name of a genus of molusc, and an orchid genus. It was also the name of the title character in the 1855 novel by John Henry Newman (Callista). A fictionalized version of Christians in ancient Rome.
Kallista is the name of a suburb of Melbourne Australia, and Kalista is the name of a village in Bulgaria.
Other forms of the name include, male versions:
- Calistu (Corsican)
- Kalist (Croatian/Slovak)
- Calixus (Danish)
- Kallistus/Kalixtus (German)
- Kallistos (Greek)
- Callisto (Italian)
- Callixtus/Callistus (Late Latin)
- Kalikstas (Lithuanian)
- Kalikst (Polish)
- Calisto/Calixto (Spanish/Portuguese)
Female forms include
- Kalliste/Kallisto (Classic Greek)
- Calista (English spelling, has been in usage since at least the 18th-century. Also used in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries)
- Callista (Late Latin/Italian)
- Kallisti (Modern Greek)
- Kalista/Kaliksta (Bulgarian, Czech/Slovak, Croatian, Polish)
- Calixta (Spanish/Portuguese)
English nickname options include Calla and Callie.
Ariadne, Ariadni, Ariadna
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “most holy; most chaste.”
The name is composed of the Cretan elements ari meaning “most” and adnos meaning “holy.” Other sources argue that it is composed of the ancient Greek elements ari meaning “most” and hagne meaning “chaste.”
In Greek mythology the name is borne by the daughter of King Minos and his wife Pasiphaë of Crete. Ariadne is most known for helping the hero Theseus overcome the minotaur and find his way back through the labyrinth by giving him a ball of red yarn. Ariadne was in love with Theseus and ran off with him after he had killed the minotaur, but Theseus had abandoned her while she was sleeping, on the isle of Naxos. This part of the myth has been popularly rendered in paintings. It is said that Ariadne later married the god Dionysus. Many scholars suggest that Ariadne was originally a pre-Olympian Cretan goddess.
The name was also borne by an early Christian martyr, a Christian slave who refused to participate in the regulatory libations to the local gods, legend says that she was hunted down by the authorities until she ran into a chasm that miraculously swallowed her up. Her feast is held on September 17 and she is a popular saint in the Greek Orthodox Church. In modern Greece, where the it is rendered in the conventional form of Ariadni, the name is still relatively common. It is growing in popularity in Spain and Poland as Ariadna. The Latin and Italian rendition of the name is Arianna, also a common name in Greece.
The name is borne by Greek-American author and syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington (b. 1950).
In recent years, its Italian form of Arianna has become quite prevalent in the U.S. coming in at # 66 among the top 1000 female names of 2008. The French form is Ariane and the more obscure Arienne. Another more modern version is Ariana, which comes in as the 81st most popular female name in the United States ( 2008). There is also an ancient Etruscan form Areatha.
Other forms include:
- Arijadna (Croatian)
- Ariadné (Hungarian)
- Ariadnė (Lithuanian)
Thecla, Tekla
Gender: Feminine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: “glory to God.”
(TEK-lah)
She is a bit clunky and technical sounding. I had a great grandmother by this name and grew up near a parish that bore the name St. Thecla. Apparently it was a popular name in Poland at the turn of the century, spelled Tekla, my great-grandma anglicized her name to Tilly, after settling in the United States.
According to the Acts of St. Paul, Thecla also known as Taqla, was a young noblewoman who decided to live a life of chastity after hearing St. Paul’s discourse on virginity. Her mother and fiancé were very upset with her, and ordered her and Paul to be burnt at the stake, only to be miraculously rescued by a storm. Disowned by her family, Thecla had no other choice but to travel with Paul to Turkey. There she caught the eye of another nobleman, but when she refused his advances he tried to rape her, when Thecla managed to beat him off, she was accused by the local authorities of assaulting an innocent nobleman and was sentenced to be torn apart by wild beasts, also from which she was miraculously rescued. In the Eastern Churches, St. Thecla is considered equal to the Apostles and is regarded as a proto-martyr. She was used as an ascetic role model for women. Her feast is held on September 23 in the Roman Catholic Church and on September 24 in the Eastern Orthodox Church. St. Thecla is particularly venerated among Middle Eastern Christians, especially in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, where she is known as Taqla or Takla. In fact, there is an ancient nunnery dedicated to St. Thecla in Syria, known as Deir Ma Takla it is said to be built upon the cave where Thecla’s tomb is allegedly located. According to local legend, the cave was created when Thecla was escaping persecution, the mountain opened up miraculously to hide Thecla in the depths of the newly formed cave. In Tarragona Spain, she is considered the patron saint and each year a large festival is held in her honor. Her name also happens to coincide with the Spanish and Catalan word for “key” on the computer keyboard, so in recent years, she has been regarded as the patron saint of computers. As for the etymology of the name, it is supposedly derived from the Greek Theoclea or Theoklea which is composed of the elements theo meaning “god” and clea meaning “glory.” Other forms include the Slavic Tekla, the French Thècle, the Arabic Taqla and Takla, and the Spanish/Italian Tecla.
Linas
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Lithuanian
Meaning: “flax”
(LIN-ahs)
The name is fairly popular in Lithuania, the name comes directly from the Lithuanian word for flax, linum usitatissimum, and it could also be a form of the Greek name Linos meaning “comfort song.” In the Lithuanian case, it is most likely that the name has its origins in indigenous Baltic roots. Its feminine forms is Linė (LIN-ay) and Lina (LIN-ah). The name is borne by Lithuanian basketball player Linas Kleiza (b.1985). Its designated name-day is September 23. There is a Spanish form: Lino.
Matthew
Gender: Masculine
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: “Gift from Yahweh.”
A bit dull and overused, he sits in the U.S Top Ten. He is quite a hit in other English speaking countries as well. Just over the border in Canada, he comes in even higher at # 6. Down under in Australia, he comes in at # 16. While in Great Britain and Ireland he sits at # 24. Over in Bonnie Scotland # 9 and in the Republic of Northern Ireland he comes in at the highest at resting at # 2. Matthew may seem to be just the ordinary every day guy type of name, but the name itself has avery long and rich history. Matthew is the English form of the Latinization Mattheus a translation of the Greek Μαθαιος (Mathaios). Mathaios is a vulgar Greek transliteration of the Aramaic diminutive name Maty or Mattay מתי which is ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Matatyahu or Mattathias מתתיהו. Other Biblical forms of the name include Matanyahu מתניהו and Netanyahu נתניהו. Yehonatan, the original form of Jonathan, is an anagram Netanyahu. The name was introduced into the Western World through the veneration of St. Matthew the Evangelist. He was one of the 12 Apostles of Christ and is credited by most Christian denominations as the author of the Gospel of Matthew. In the Western Churches, St. Matthew’s feast is held on September 21, while in the Eastern Calender it is set for November 16th. We cannot forget the different variations the name has spun off over the centuries. Including the following:
- Mathyu (Arabic)
- Mateu (Catalan)
- Matiša (Croatian)
- Matouš (Czech)
- Mads (Danish): originally a diminutive form, now used as an independent name throughout Scandinavia
- Matthieu (French): 98th most popular name in Belgium and 48th most popular name in France (2006)
- Maitiú (Gaelic)
- Matthäus (German)
- Makaio (Hawaiian)
- Máté (Hungarian): Máté was the 2nd most popular male name in Hungary of 2005
- Matteo (Italian)
- Matiss (Latvian)
- Modris (Latvian)
- Matas (Lithuanian)
- Mats (Norwegian/Swedish): Orginally a diminutive form, now used as an independent given name
- Mateusz (Polish)
- Mateus (Portuguese)
- Matej (Czech-Slovak/Slovenian/Croatian): In Slovenia, Matej was the 22nd most popular male name of 2005. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, this name is used in reference to the Apostle Mathias who replaced Judas Iscariot and not in reference to the Apostle Matthew the Evangelist. In Croatia and Slovenia, Matej is used in reference to the latter.
- Mateja (Serbian): In Slovenia Mateja is considered the feminine form of Matej
- Matúš (Slovakian)-this form is used to refer to St. Matthew the Apostle
- Matevz (Slovenian): 38th most popular name in Slovenia (2005)
- Mateo (Spanish)-In the United States Mateo came in #251 in the popularity charts. In Spain he stands at #73 (2006). Chile at # 65 (2006) and France he comes in at # 67 (2006).
- Matteus (Swedish/Norwegian)
- Matfey (Russian)
You are probably wondering why I have not mentioned Mathias or Matthias. Though Mathias/Matthias are related etymologically to Matthew, I felt that they deserved a post all of their own. Therefore, stay tuned, and I will further discuss them in a future installment. An older English form of the name includes Mathew. Matt is the most popular diminutive form used in the English speaking world.