Saturday, March 30, 2013

Spring! 'Bout Time!

Well, it's finally here! In celebration of warmer weather, of Easter/Ostara, here are names that can be associated with the season.

Boys:
  • Anastasiy (ah-nah-STAHS-ee, Bulgarian, Russian)--from Greek, "resurrection"
  • Aviv (ah-VEEV, Hebrew)--"spring"
  • Beathan (BEH-an, Scottish)--"life"
  • Bion (bee-ohn, [ancient] Greek)--"life"
  • Can (JAHN, Turkish)--"life, soul"
  • Chayim (khah-YEEM, Hebrew)--"life". Also spelled Chayyim or Chaim.
  • Eguzki (eh-goos-kee, Basque)--"sun"
  • Elio (EL-yoh, Italian)--from Latin, "sun"
  • Haruki (hah-roo-kee, Japanese)--"spring" + "hope", "rare", "precious", "star", "life", or "shine" [other meanings possible depending on kanji]
  • Khurshid (khoor-SHEED, Persian)--"shining sun"
  • Kusuma (koo-SOO-mah, Indonesian)--"flower"
  • Oran (OH-rahn, Irish)--"little green one"
  • Pascal (pahs-KAHL, French, Dutch)--from Latin, "Easter". Over forms include Pasquale (Italian), Pascual (Spanish), Pasco (Cornish), & Paskal (Bulgarian, Macedonian) 
  • Rabi (RAH-bee, Arabic)--"spring"
  • Ravi (RAH-vee, Hindi)--"sun"
  • Renatus (reh-NAH-tus, Latin)--"reborn". Other forms include René & Renato.
  • Sorin (soh-REEN, Romanian)--"sun"
  • Tsvetan (tsveh-TAHN, Bulgarian)--"flower"
  • Vitale (vih-TAHL-eh, Italian)--from Latin, "of life". Other forms are Vitalis (Latin), Vitaliy (Russian) & Vidal (Spanish)
  • Vito (VEE-toh, Italian, Spanish)--from Latin, "life"
  • Walid (wah-LEED, Arabic)--"born"
  • Ziyad (zee-YAHD, Arabic)--"growth"
  • Zotikos (zoh-tee-KOS, Greek)--"full of life"

Girls:
  • Anastasia (an-ah-STAY-zhah, English, ah-nah-STAHS-yah, Russian)--feminine of Anastasiy
  • Anfisa (ahn-FEE-sah, Russian)--from Greek, "flower"
  • Anthea (an-THEE-ah, an-THEH-ah, English)--from Greek, "flower"
  • Arevik (ah-ray-VEEK, Albanian)--"sun"
  • Aviva (ah-vee-vah, Hebrew)--feminine of Aviv.
  • Ayaka (ah-yah-kah, Japanese)--"color" + "flower" or "petal" [other meanings possible depending on kanji]
  • Bahar (bah-HAHR, Persian)--"spring"
  • Beathag (BEH-ak, Scottish)--feminine of Beathan
  • Bláthnat (BLAH-nat, Irish)--"little flower"
  • Bluma (BLOO-mah, Yiddish)--"flower"
  • Bopha (boh-PAH, Khmer)--"flower"
  • Calanthe (kah-LAN-thee, English)--from Greek, "beautiful flower". Another form is Calanthia.
  • Ceres (KEH-rehs, Latin; SEH-rez, English)--from Latin, "to grow"
  • Chaya (khah-YAH, Hebrew)--feminine of Chayim
  • Chloe (KLOH-ee, English)--from Greek, "green shoot"
  • Chrysanta (krih-SAN-tah, English)--from Greek, "golden flower"
  • Cvetka (TSVET-kah, Slovene)--"blossom"
  • Diantha (dee-AHN-than, English; dee-AHN-tah, Dutch)--from Greek, "heavenly flower"
  • Eliana (eh-lee-AH-nah, Italian)--from Latin, "of the sun". French form is Éliane.
  • Enid (EE-nid, English; EH-need, Welsh)--from Welsh, "life, soul"
  • Evanthe (eh-VAHN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"good flower"
  • Fiorella (fee-oh-REL-lah, Italian)--"little flower"
  • Flora (FLOHR-ah, Latin)--"flower". Goddess of spring.
  • Gonca (gohn-JAH, Turkish)--from Persian, "flower bud"
  • Hana (hah-nah, Japanese)--"flower"
  • Haruka (hah-roo-kah, Japanese)--"spring" + "flower"
  • Honoka (hoh-noh-kah, Japanese--"harmony" + "flower"
  • Hua (hoo-ah, Chinese)--"flower"
  • Ianthe (ee-AHN-thee, eye-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"violet flower"
  • Leilani (lay-LAH-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly flower"
  • Liv (LEEV, Scandinavian)--"life" [also means "protection"]
  • Lore (loh-reh, Basque)--"flower"
  • Lule (LOO-leh, Albanian)--"flower"
  • Luljeta (lool-YEH-tah, Albanian)--"flower of life"
  • Malai (mah-LYE, Thai)--"garland of flowers"
  • Mali (mah-LEE, Thai)--"flower"
  • Mei (may, Japanese)--"bud" + "life" or "reliant"
  • Midori (mee-doh-ree, Japanese)--"green"
  • Moe (moh-eh, Japanese)--"sprout"
  • Orna (OR-nah, Irish)--feminine of Oran. Another form is Ornat.
  • Pascale (pahs-KAL, French)--feminine of Pascal.
  • Pranvera (prahn-VEHR-ah, Albanian)--"spring"
  • Rayen (rah-YEN, Spanish)--from Mapuche, "flower"
  • Renata (reh-NAH-tah, Latin)--feminine of Renatus. Others forms include Renée & Renita.
  • Saulė (SOW-lay, Lithuanian)--"sun". Goddess of the sun.
  • Sethunya (set-HOON-yah, Tswana)--"flower"
  • Sol (SOHL, Portuguese, Spanish)--"sun"
  • Soleil (soh-LAY, English)--from French, "sun"
  • Rabi'a (rah-BEE-ah, Arabic)--feminine of Rabi
  • Solveig (SOOL-vye, SOOL-vay, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "strength of the sun"
  • Sorina (soh-REE-nah, Romanian)--feminine of Sorin
  • Sunčana (SOON-chah-nah, Croatian)--"sunny"
  • Sunniva (SOO-nee-vah, Norwegian)--from Old English, "gift of the sun"
  • Tesni (TES-nee, Welsh)--"warm sunshine"
  • Verna (VER-nah, English)--from Latin, "spring"
  • Vesna (VES-nah, Slavic)--"spring" [poetic]
  • Vita (VEE-tah, Italian)--feminine of Vito
  • Vitalia (vee-TAHL-yah, Italian)--feminine of Vitale
  • Zahrah (ZAH-hrah, Arabic)--"bloom" 
  • Zoe (ZOH-ee, English; ZOH-eh, Italian)--from Greek, "life"

Unisex:
  • Chun (choon, Chinese)--"spring"
  • Haru (hah-roo, Japanese)--"spring"
  • Nitzan (neet-ZAHN, Hebrew)--"flower bud"
  • Xuân (swahn, Vietnamese)--"spring"

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Evie/Evvie

That's a double-V, not a W. ;)
Evie is one of the fasting-rising nicknames, from traditional picks like Evelyn, Eva, & Evangeline, modern choices like Everly, Evianna, & Ever, and even imports like Ivanna, Evelina, & Evelia. There's possibilities for every style.

  • Eavan (EE-van, Irish)--"beautiful radiance". Anglicized from Aoibheann.
  • Evadne (eh-VAHD-nee, [ancient] Greek)--"good and holy"
  • Evalda (EH-vahl-dah, Scandinavian)
  • Evalill (EH-vah-lil, Scandinavian)--combination of Hebrew Eve ("life") & Old Norse "little"
  • Evangeliya (eh-vahn-geh-LEE-yah, Bulgarian)--"good messenger" [angel]
  • Evanthe (eh-VAHN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"good flower". Latin form is Evanthia.
  • Evdokia (ev-doh-KEE-ah, Greek)--"good thought"
  • Eveliese (eh-veh-LEE-zeh, German)--combination of Eva & Elisabeth
  • Evena (EH-veh-nah, Scandinavian)--other forms are Evinda & Evina.
  • Everild (EV-er-ild, English)
  • Everina (eh-veh-REE-nah, Scandinavian)--feminine of Evert [Everett]. Another form is Everta.
  • Evgenia (ev-GEN-yah, Greek)--feminine of Evgenios [Eugene]
  • Évike (AY-vih-keh, Hungarian)--form of Eve
  • Evita (eh-VEE-tah, Spanish)--another form of Eve
  • Evren (ev-REHN, Turkish)--"the universe" [unisex]
  • Ewara (EH-vah-rah, German)--"law and protection"
  • Ifanwy (ee-VAN-wee, Welsh)
  • Ivančica (ee-vahn-CHEE-tsah, Croatian)--"daisy"

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Bi-cultural Names--Greek/English (boys)

Am I crazy? Yes, probably, since Greek is written in a completely different alphabet. Luckily, we have an established, surprisingly regular system for transliterating Greek names to English (modern speech is an entirely different prospect!).
As usual, we start with the boys.

Direct transliteration ("spelled" the same), with (usually) slight pronunciation difference:
  • Aaron--English, EHR-on; Greek, ah-ROHN
  • Adam--English, AD-am; Greek, ah-DAHM
  • Alexis--English & Greek, ah-LEKS-is
  • Leon--English, LEE-on; Greek, LEH-ohn
  • Matthias--English, mah-THYE-as; Greek, maht-THEE-ahs
  • Silas--English, SYE-las; Greek, SEE-lahs
  • Thomas--English, TOM-as; Greek, thoh-MAHS

One/two-letter difference:
  • Adrian--English, AY-dree-an; Adrianos--Greek, ah-dree-ah-NOHS
  • Andrew--English, AN-droo; Andreas--Greek, ahn-DREH-ahs
  • Antony--English, AN-toh-nee; Antonis--Greek, ahn-TOH-nees
  • Benjamin--English, BEN-jah-min; Veniamin--Greek, ven-yah-MEEN
  • Daniel--English, DAN-yel; Daniil--Greek, dah-nee-EEL
  • Dimitri--English, dih-MEE-tree; Dimitris--Greek, dee-MEE-trees
  • Elias--English, ee-LYE-as, EL-ee-as; Ilias/Elias--Greek, ee-LEE-ahs
  • George--English, JORG; Georgios--Greek, yeh-OHR-gee-ohs
  • Gregory--English, GREG-oh-ree; Gregorios--Greek, greh-GOHR-yohs
  • Jason--English, JAY-son; Iason--Greek, YAH-sohn
  • Marcus--English, MAR-kus; Markos--Greek, MAHR-kohs
  • Michael--English, MYE-kel; Michail--Greek, mee-khah-EEL
  • Nicholas--English, NIK-oh-las; Nikolaos--Greek, nih-KOH-lous
  • Theodore--English, THEE-oh-dohr; Theodoros--Greek, theh-OH-doh-rohs

Larger difference, but still recognizable:
  • Abraham--English, AY-brah-ham; Avraam--Greek, ah-vrah-AHM
  • Alexander--English, al-eks-AN-der; Alexandros--Greek, ah-LEKS-ahn-drohs
  • Basil--English, BAZ-il; Vasilios--Greek, vah-SEEL-ee-ohs
  • Benedict--English, BEN-eh-dikt; Venediktos--Greek, veh-NEH-dik-tohs
  • Charles--English, CHARLZ; Karolos--Greek, KAH-roh-lohs
  • Christopher--English, KRIS-toh-fer; Khristoforos/Christoforos--Greek, khrees-TOF-or-ohs
  • Cyril--English, SEER-il; Kyrillos--Greek, KEE-ree-lohs
  • Eugene--English, YOO-jeen, yoo-JEEN; Evgenios--Greek, ev-YEN-yohs
  • Philip--English, FIL-ip; Filippos--Greek, FIL-ip-pohs
  • Gabriel--English, GAYB-ree-el; Gavriil--Greek, gah-vree-EEL
  • John--English, JON; Yannis/Yiannis--Greek, YAHN-nis
  • Joseph--English, JOH-sef; Iosif--Greek, YOH-seef
  • Laurence--English, LOH-sents; LAW-rents; Lavrentios--Greek, lahv-REN-tee-os
  • Lucas--English, LOO-kas; Loukas--Greek, loo-KAHS
  • Paul--English, PAWL; Pavlos--Greek, PAHV-lohs
  • Peter--English, PEE-ter; Petros--Greek, PEH-trohs
  • Stephen--English, STEE-fen; Stefanos--Greek, STEH-fahn-ohs
  • Zachary--English, ZAK-ah-ree; Zacharias/Zakharias--Greek, zah-khah-REE-ahs

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Same Name?!?--Agnes

Oh, poor Agnes. Once one of the most popular girls names in all the English-speaking world, she fell off the charts in the early 70s, and has hardly been seen since. If the "hundred-year rule" holds true, we may be seeing more of her soon, but thanks to a celebrated saint, you can already find a different version in nearly every language in the Western world.

Original Greek form: Hagne [Άγνη] (HAHG-nee)
Latin form: Agnes (AHG-nes)

Other forms:
  • Agnė (AHG-nay)--Lithuanian
  • Agnese (ahn-YEH-zeh)--Italian
  • Agnese (AHG-neh-seh)--Latvian
  • Agnessa (ahg-NYEH-sah)--Russian
  • Agneta (ang-NEH-tah)--Scandinavian. Also spelled Agnetha.
  • Agneza (ahg-NEH-zah)--Croatian
  • Agnieszka (ag-NYESH-kah)--Polish
  • Agnija (AHG-nee-ah)--Macedonian, Serbian
  • Annis (AN-nis)--English
  • Aune (OW-neh)--Finnish
  • Inès (ee-NEZ)--French
  • Inês (EE-nez)--Portuguese
  • Inés (ee-NES)--Spanish
  • Inez (ee-NEZ, EYE-nez)--English
  • Jagusia (yah-GOO-shah)--Polish
  • Nancy (NAN-see)--English
  • Nesta (NES-tah)--Welsh
  • Neža (NEH-zhah)--Slovene
  • Oanez (WAHN-ez)--Breton

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Y Not?

Perhaps a bit of a cheat, as tons of names contain the letter Y. However, almost none have it as an initial letter...in English, anyway.
I was surprised at how many Y-names actually do appear in the Top 1000. Most are Spanish, Native American, or Arabic (or a mixture thereof!)--Yahir, Yandel, Yusuf/Yosef/Yousef, Yadiel for boys, Yaretzi/Yaritza, Yareli, Yasmin/Yazmin, Yesenia, Yoselin, & Yamilet/Yamileth for girls, and Yael for both.
In the past, Yolanda, Yvette, Yvonne, & Yancy have charted, but no longer.

Boys:
  • Yachin (yah-KHEEN, Hebrew)
  • Yago (YAH-goh, Portuguese, Spanish)--form of Jacob/James
  • Yakim (yah-KEEM, Russian)--form of Joachim/Joaquin
  • Yalçin (yahl-CHIN, Turkish)
  • Yaniv (yah-NEEV, Hebrew)--"he will prosper"
  • Yannick (YAHN-neek, Breton, French)--form of John
  • Yannis (YAHN-nis, Greek)--another form of John
  • Yared (yah-RED, Hebrew)--original form of Jared
  • Yaron (yah-ROHN, Hebrew)--"he sings"
  • Yasen (YAH-sen, Bulgarian)--"ash tree" or "serene"
  • Yavor (YAH-vohr, Bulgarian)--"maple tree"
  • Yefim (yeh-FEEM, Russian)--from Greek, "speaks well"
  • Yefrem (yeh-FREM, Russian)--form of Ephraim
  • Yildirim (YIL-dih-rim, Turkish)--"lightning"
  • Yishai (yee-SHYE, Hebrew)--original form of Jesse
  • Ylur (IL-oor, Icelandic)--"warmth"
  • Yoram (yoh-RAHM, Hebrew)
  • Yorath (YOHR-ath, Welsh)--"worthy lord"
  • Yori (yoh-ree, Japanese)--"trust"
  • Yorick (YOHR-ik, English)--form of George
  • Yrian (EER-ee-ahn, Scandinavian)--another [archaic] form of George
  • Yulian (yoo-lee-AHN, Russian)--form of Julian
  • Yuri (yoo-ree, Russian)--yet another form of George
  • Yvo (EE-voh, Dutch, German)
  • Ywain (ee-WAYN, French)--form of Owen

Girls:
  • Yadira (yah-DEER-ah, Spanish)--from Arabic, "worthy"
  • Yakira (yah-kee-rah, Hebrew)--"beloved, precious"
  • Yamila (yah-MEE-lah, Spanish)--from Arabic, "beautiful"
  • Yamuna (YAHM-uh-nah, Hindi)
  • Yarona (yah-roh-nah, Hebrew)--feminine of Yaron
  • Yara (YAH-rah, Portuguese, Spanish)--from Tupi, "water lady". Also spelled Iara.
  • Yelena (yel-YEH-nah, Russian)--form of Helen
  • Yemima (yeh-mee-mah, Hebrew)--"dove"
  • Yên (ee-en, Vietnamese)--"peaceful"
  • Yeşim (yeh-SHEEM, Turkish)--"jade"
  • Yeva (YEH-vah, Russian)--form of Eve
  • Yıldız (YIL-diz, Turkish)--"star"
  • Yiskah (yees-KAH, Hebrew)--original form of Jessica
  • Ylja (EEL-yah, Icelandic)--from Old Norse, "warm"
  • Ylva (EEL-vah, Scandinavian)--from Old Norse, "she-wolf"
  • Yngva (EENG-vah, Scandinavian)
  • Yoana (yoh-AHN-nah, Bulgarian)--form of Joan/Jane/Jean
  • Yonca (YOHN-jah, Turkish)--"clover"
  • Yonit (yoh-NEET, Hebrew)--feminine of Jonah
  • Yrja (EER-yah, Icelandic)--from Old Norse, "drizzling rain"
  • Yseult (ee-zoolt, French)--form of Isolde
  • Yuliana (yool-YAH-nah, Russian)--form of Juliana
  • Yuliya (YOO-lee-ah, Bulgarian, Russian)--form of Julia
  • Yumi (yoo-mee, Japanese)
  • Yusra (YOOS-rah, Arabic)--"wealth"
  • Yuzuki (yoo-zoo-kee, Japanese)

Unisex:
  • Yağmur (yah-MOOR ['ah' is very long], Turkish)--"rain"
  • Yarden (yar-DEN, Hebrew)--original form of Jordan
  • Yasu (yah-soo, Japanese)--"peace, peaceful"
  • Yuki (yoo-kee, Japanese)
  • Yun (YOON, Chinese, Korean)
  • Yuval (yoo-VAHL, Hebrew)--"stream"

Friday, March 8, 2013

A Few Gems

Woo! Time for another theoretical names post (I have a lot of fun with these).
Lots of gemstone- & other mineralogical-type names are/have been used in English. Ruby, Jasper, JadeOpal, Pearl, Amber, Emery, & Coral are all pretty recognizable, and several more have been in rarer use as well--Amethyst, Garnet, CelestineDiamondEmerald, SapphireTopaz, HyacinthBeryl.
And so, here are a few more gems & minerals that could be used as names, IMO.


Gemstones in other languages (asterisks indicate established names):
  • Ágata (AH-gah-tah, Spanish, Portuguese, Galician)--"agate". Italian is Agata (ah-GAH-tah) [also a form of Agatha].
  • Ametista (ah-meh-TEES-tah, Italian)--"amethyst". Spanish is Amatista.
  • Azurita (ah-soo-REE-tah, Spanish)--"azurite"
  • Berillo (beh-REEL-loh, Italian)--"beryl"
  • Biyu (bee-yoo, Mandarin [碧玉])--"jasper" [lit. "blue jade"]
  • Lazurit (lah-ZOO-reet, Russian [лазурит])--"lapis lazuli". Japanese is Ruri (roo-ree) [ 琉璃--lit. "sulfur(?) glass"]
  • Maragda (mah-RAHG-dah, Catalan)--"emerald". Spanish & Portuguese is Esmeralda* (fem).
  • Mercan* (mehr-JAHN, Turkish, feminine)--"coral"
  • Meripihka (MEHR-ih-pihh-kah, [the H is not silent] Finnish)--"amber"
  • Nilam* (NEE-lam, Hindi, unisex)--"sapphire". Portuguese is Safira.
  • Olivina (oh-lee-VEE-nah, Italian)--"olivine, peridot"
  • Rubin (roo-BEEN, Czech, Danish, Dutch, German....)--"ruby". Italian is Rubino* (masculine).
  • Yeşim* (yeh-SHEEM, Turkish, feminine)--"jade". Italian is Giada* (JAH-dah, feminine); Russian is Nefrit (NEH-freet) [нефрит].

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Grab Bag I (boys)

There are quite a few popular nicknames that are seriously lacking a variety of sources! Of course, I have to try anyway. This will definitely be the first of several of these 'grab bag' posts.
Thanks to Ashlie for several nickname suggestions. :)

"Dom" without Dominic:
  • Adomas (ah-DOM-as, Lithuanian)--form of Adam
  • Damasus (dah-MAH-soos, Latin)
  • Damir (DAHM-eer, Slavic)--"giving peace"
  • Dómald (DOH-mald, Icelandic)
  • Domar (doh-MAHR, Swedish)
  • Domen (DOM-en, Slovene)--form of Dominic
  • Domitian (dom-EE-tee-an, dom-ISH-an, English)
  • Edom (EE-dom, English)

"Huck/Hux" without Huxley (had to go really surname-y for this one!):
  • Habakkuk (huh-BAK-uk, HAB-ah-kuk, English)--from Hebrew, "embrace"
  • Huckett (HUK-ett, English)--surname form of Hugh
  • Huckin/Hukin, Huckins/Hukins (HUK-in, HUK-ins)--another surname form of Hugh
  • Hucknall  (HUK-nal, English)--surname, "Hucca [tribe] valley"
  • Huxham (HUKS-am, English)--surname, "Hoc's home"

"Sam" without Samuel:
  • Bassam (bah-SAM, Arabic)--"smiling"
  • Samad (sam-AHD, Arabic)--"eternal"
  • Samang (sahm-ANG, Khmer)--"lucky"
  • Samay (sam-EYE, Khmer)--"daydream"
  • Samir (sam-EER, Arabic)
  • Sampo (SAHM-poh, Finnish)
  • Samson (SAM-son, English)--from Hebrew, "sun"
  • Samuli (SAH-moo-lee, Finnish)--form of Samuel

Friday, March 1, 2013

Elementary

I've done quite a few nature-name posts, but I realized I'd left out a lot of names! Captain Planet would be ashamed.

Earth:
  • Avani (ah-vah-NEE)--Hindi, feminine
  • Bhumi (bhoo-mee)--Hindi, feminine
  • Daichi (dah-ee-chee)--Japanese, masculine; "great earth/land" [other meanings possible dep. on characters]
  • Demeter (deh-MEE-ter, deh-MEH-tehr)--Ancient Greek, feminine; "earth mother" 
  • Gaia (GAH-yah)--Greek, feminine
  • Ila (EE-lah)--Hindi, feminine
  • Kun (KOON)--Chinese, usually masculine
  • Terra (TEHR-rah)--English [from Latin], feminine

Wind:
  • Anemone (ah-NEM-ah-nee)--English [from Greek], feminine
  • Anil (an-NEEL), masculine; Anila (ah-NEE-lah), feminine--Hindi
  • Era (EH-rah)--Albanian, feminine
  • Ghobad (ghoh-BAHD)--Persian, masculine
  • Haizea (eye-seh-ah)--Basque, feminine
  • Ilma (EEL-mah)--Finnish, feminine; "air"
  • Meltem (mel-TEM)--Turkish, feminine; "breeze"
  • Nasim (nah-SEEM)--Arabic, feminine; "breeze"
  • Tuula (TOO-lah)--Finnish, feminine. Other forms include Tuuli, Tuulia, & Tuulikki (TOO-lik-kee).
  • Vayu (VAH-yoo)--Hindi, masculine
  • Zephyr (ZEF-er)--Greek, masculine; "west wind". French feminine form is Zéphyrine.

Fire:
  • Agni (AHG-nee)--Hindi, masculine
  • Aodhán (AY-ahn, AY-dahn), masculine; Aodnait (AY-nat), feminine--Irish, "little fire". Anglicized as Aidan & Enat, respectively.
  • Azar (ah-ZAR)--Persian, feminine
  • Cináed (KIN-ee, KIN-ay, KIN-ahd)--Scottish, masculine; "born of fire". Anglicized as Kenneth.
  • Fiammetta (fee-ah-MEH-tah)--Italian, feminine; "little fire"
  • Jehoash (jeh-HOH-ash)--English [from Hebrew], masculine; "fire of God". Another form is Joash (JOH-ash).
  • Nina (NEE-nah)--Quechua, feminine
  • Plamen (PLAH-men)--Slavic, masculine
  • Shula (SHOO-lah)--Arabic, feminine
  • Şule (shoo-LEH)--Turkish, feminine
  • Ugnė (OOG-nee)--Lithuanian, feminine

Water:
  • Aysu (eye-SOO)--Turkish, feminine; "moon & water"
  • Damla (dahm-LAH)--Turkish, feminine; "water droplet"
  • Douglas (DUG-las)--Scottish, masculine; "dark water"
  • Kelda (KEL-dah)--English [from Old Norse], feminine, "spring, fountain"
  • Maayan (mah-ah-yahn)--Hebrew, feminine; "spring, fountain"
  • Mayim (mah-yeem)--Hebrew, feminine. Another form is Maya.
  • Mortimer (MOR-tim-er)--English [from Old French], masculine; "still water"
  • Neith (NEETH, NAYTH)--English [from ancient Egyptian], feminine
  • Nerio (NEHR-yoh)--Italian [from Greek], masculine
  • Shui (shoo-ee)--Chinese, usually masculine
  • Su (SOO)--Turkish, feminine
  • Tirto (TEER-toh)--Javanese, masculine; "holy water"