Friday, January 27, 2017

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Finn

I know, I know: how have I not done Finn yet? It's trending in several countries across Europe, as well as in the US, Australia, & New Zealand, so if you don't know any Finns yet, you probably will soon. :)
It's a full name on its own in two different origins (Old Irish, "fair, white"; & Old Norse, originally "wanderer", now "Sámi/Lapp", and metaphorically "magician"), but there are several longer names that can also lend themselves to a Finn nickname.

  • Alfinn (AHL-finn, Norwegian)--"elf Sámi"
  • Arnfinn (ARN-fin, Norwegian)--"eagle Sámi". Another form is Anfinn (AHN-fin). 
  • Audfinn (OWD-fin, [archaic] Norwegian)--"wealth Sámi"
  • Bergfinn (BEHRG-fin, Norwegian)--"fortress Sámi"
  • Eldfinn (ELD-fin, [archaic] Norwegian)--"fire Sámi"
  • Elffin (EL-fin, Welsh [mythology])--poss. from Latin or Pictish "white". Also spelled Elphin
  • Finbar (FIN-bar, Irish)--"fair head"
  • Finlay (FIN-lee, Irish, Scottish, English)--"fair warrior". Also spelled Finley. [unisex in the U.S., but exclusively masculine elsewhere]
  • Finlo (FIN-loh, Manx)--"fair Lugh" [Irish god]
  • Finnegan (FIN-eh-gan, Irish [surname])--"little fair one"
  • Finnegas (FIN-eh-gas, Irish [mythology])--poss. "Finn the Seer". Also written as Finegas or Finneces.
  • Finnian (FIN-ee-an, Irish)--"fair, white". Other forms include Finnán (FIN-awn) and Finnén (FIN-ayn).
  • Finnleif (FIN-life, Norwegian)--"Sámi-heir". An older form is Finnleiv (FIN-live). 
  • Finnvid (FIN-vid, [somewhat archaic] Swedish)--"Sámi-tree". Other forms include Finnevid (FIN-eh-vid, also somewhat archaic Swedish), Finnved (FIN-ved, archaic Norwegian), and Finwith (FIN-vit, old Danish, old Swedish)
  • Finnulf (FIN-ulf, [archaic] Norwegian)--"Sámi wolf". Also spelled Finulf
  • Finnur (FIN-nur, Icelandic)--form of Finn (the Old Norse one, not the Irish ;) )
  • Finnvald (FIN-vahld, [archaic] Norwegian)--"Sámi-ruler"
  • Fintan (FIN-tan, Irish)--poss. "white bull" or "white fire"
  • Fiorenzo (fee-oh-REN-tsoh, Italian)--form of Florence
  • Franklin (FRANK-lin, English)--from Old English, "free man"
  • Geirfinn (GIRE-fin, Norwegian)--"spear Sámi"
  • Griffin (GRIF-fin, English)--anglicized form of Welsh Gruffudd, poss. "strong prince"; or from the mythological creature
  • Kolfinn (KOHL-fin, [slightly archaic] Norwegian)--"dark Sámi"
  • Norfinn (NOR-fin, [slightly archaic] Norwegian)--"north Sámi"
  • Philemon (fye-LEE-mon, fil-EE-mon, English; fee-LAY-mohn, [Biblical] Greek)--from ancient Greek, "affectionate, kind"
  • Philion (FIL-ee-on, FYE-lee-on, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--prob. "beloved". Also spelled Phileon
  • Phineas (FIN-ee-as, English)--from Hellenized Hebrew, meaning uncertain. Also spelled Phinehas
  • Phinias (FIN-ee-as, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "vulture", or a form of Phineas
  • Phinus (FIN-us, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "vulture"
  • Phintias (FIN-tee-as, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "dearest". Other forms include Phintas, Phinteas, and Phinton
  • Seraphin (SEHR-ah-fin, English; SEHR-ah-feen, German)--masculine of Seraphina. Spanish form is Serafín (seh-rah-FEEN). 
  • Tophinus (TOH-fin-us, [Anglicized, ancient] Greek)--poss. "tuff" [a volcanic rock]
  • Torfinn (TOR-fin, Norwegian)--"Thor-Sámi". Also spelled Thorfinn

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Latinized Places

Cambria is gaining popularity, and Brittania/Britannia also has sporadic use. There's also Lydia (although I doubt people today associate it with Asia Minor), and I've seen Scotia & Caledonia tossed around on forums as well.
While I'm not personally a fan of place-names in general, I wonder: do the Latin versions work better?

  • Anglia (ANG-lee-ah)--England
  • Avenio (ah-VEN-ee-oh)--Avignon, France
  • Berytus (BEHR-ee-toos)--Beirut, Lebanon
  • Britannia/Brittania (brit-TAN-yah)--Great Britain
  • Caledonia (kal-eh-DOHN-yah)--Scotland
  • Cambria (KAM-bree-ah)--Wales
  • Dania (DAHN-ee-ah)--Denmark
  • Fennia (FEN-nee-ah) / Finnia (FIN-nee-ah)--Finland
  • Florentia (floh-REN-tee-ah, floh-REN-shah)--Florence, Italy
  • Francia (FRAHN-kee-ah, FRAN-shah)--France
  • Galatia (gah-LAH-tee-ah, gah-LAY-shah)--central Turkey
  • Genua (GEN-oo-ah)--Genoa, Italy
  • Helvetia (hel-VET-ee-ah, hel-VEE-shah)--Switzerland
  • Hibernia (hye-BURN-ee-ah) / Ivernia (eye-VER-nee-ah)--Ireland
  • Italia (ee-TAHL-ee-ah, it-AL-yah)--Italy
  • Lentia (LEN-tee-ah, LEN-shah)--Linz, Austria
  • Londinium (lun-DIN-ee-um)--London, Great Britain 
  • Lutetia (loo-TEH-tee-ah, loo-TEE-shah)--Paris, France
  • Lydia (LEE-dee-ah, LID-ee-ah)--western Turkey
  • Melita (MEL-ee-tah, meh-LEE-tah)--Malta
  • Noricum (NOH-rik-oom)--Austria
  • Numidia (noo-MID-ee-ah)--Algeria
  • Phoenicia (fee-NEE-kee-ah, fen-EE-shah)--Lebanon & Western Syria
  • Portugallia (por-too-GAHL-lee-ah)--Portugal
  • Raetia (RYE-tee-ah, REE-shah)--western Switzerland, northern Italy, & southern Germany [basically the area around the central Alps]
  • Scotia (SKOH-tee-ah, SKOH-shah)--originally Ireland, later Scotland
  • Sena (SEH-nah)--Siena, Italy [where the modern color-name Sienna comes from]
  • Suecia (soo-EH-kee-ah) / Svecia (SVES-ee-ah)--Sweden
  • Syene (see-EN-eh, sye-EE-nee)--Aswan, Egypt
  • Tyrus (TEER-oos, TYE-rus)--Tyre, Lebanon
  • Valentia (vah-LEN-tee-ah, vah-LEN-shah)--Valencia, Spain, and Valence, France
  • Venetia (ven-EH-tee-ah, ven-EE-shah)--Venice, Italy
  • Vindelicia (veen-deh-LEE-kee-ah, vin-del-EE-shah)--Switzerland & southern Germany [above Raetia]

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Flowers, Please

The holidays are over; winter can be over now too, thanks. ;)
I was thinking the other day about names with "flower" meanings, specifically Greek -antha/anthe names, but I wonder if other languages have a fun selection as well....
(unless otherwise noted, all names are feminine)
[Anglicized spellings/pronunciations given for the ancient Greek names]

  • Acalanthis (ak-ah-LAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "thorn-flower"
  • Aika (ah-ee-kah, Japanese)--"indigo flower" or "love flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Amaranthis (am-ah-RAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "ditch flower" [specifically, usually catchfly or basil]. Masculine form was Amaranthus
  • Anthemion (an-THEM-ee-on, [ancient] Greek)--"little flower" [unisex; spelled/pronounced the same for both genders in English, but not in Greek]
  • Arianthes (ar-ee-AN-theez, ehr-ee-AN-theez, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "best flower" [masculine]. Another form was Arianthus [also masculine]. 
  • Ayaka (ah-yah-kah, Japanese)--"color flower"
  • Bellaflor (BEL-lah-flohr, [medieval] Italian)--from Latin, "beautiful flower". Other forms included Fiorabella and Belleflos
  • Blanchefleur (blawn-sheh-fleur, [medieval] French)--"white flower"
  • Bláthnat (BLAH-nat, Irish)--"little flower". Variants include Bláithín (BLAH-een) and Bláithnaid (BLAH-nad). 
  • Blodwen (BLAHD-wen, Welsh)--"white flower"
  • Bryanthis (brye-AN-this, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "full flower". Masculine form was Bryanthus
  • Calanthe (kah-LAN-thee, English)--from Greek, "beautiful flower" [an orchid genus]
  • Calfuray (kal-foo-RYE, Spanish, Mapuche)--from Mapudungan, "violet flower"
  • Callistanthe (kal-lis-TAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"most beautiful flower"
  • Charianthe (kar-ee-AN-thee, kehr-ee-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "graceful flower". Masculine form was Charianthus
  • Chrysanthe (kris-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"golden flower". Other forms included Chrysanthis and Chrysanthus [masculine]. 
  • Cleanthes (klee-AN-theez, [ancient] Greek)--"glory flower" [masculine]. Other forms include Cleanthus [ancient, masculine], Cleanthis [klee-AN-this, ancient, feminine], Kleanthis [kleh-AHN-theez, modern, masculine], and Kleanthi [kleh-AHN-thee, modern, unisex]
  • Cyminanthe (kim-in-AN-thee, sim-in-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "cumin flower"
  • Diantha (dee-AHN-thah, Dutch; dee-AN-thah, dye-AN-thah, English)--from Greek "divine flower" [from another flower genus, Dianthus]
  • Edanthe (eh-DAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "delightful flower"
  • Evanthe (ev-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"good flower". Other forms include Evantha [ancient], Evanthus [ancient, masculine], Evanthis [ev-AN-this, ancient, feminine], and Evanthis [ev-AHN-theez, modern, masculine]. 
  • Finscoth (FEEN-skuh, Irish [mythology])--prob. "vine flower" or "white flower"
  • Fioralba (fee-or-AHL-bah, Italian, Albanian)--"dawn flower"
  • Fiorella (fee-oh-REL-lah, Italian)--"little flower". Another form is Fioretta
  • Florimel (FLOH-rim-el, [literary] English)--from Latin "honey flower"
  • Fumika (foo-mee-kah, Japanese)--"history flower" or "wealth flower"
  • Fuyuka (foo-yoo-kah, Japanese)--"winter flower"
  • Golnar (gohl-NAHR, Persian)--"pomegranate flower"
  • Golnaz (gohl-NAHZ, Persian)--"pride flower"
  • Glycanthis (glye-KAN-this, [ancient] Greek)--"sweet flower"
  • Haruka (hah-roo-kah, Japanese)--"spring flower" [other translations possible, some unisex/masculine, depending on characters]
  • Helianthe (hee-lee-AN-thee, English; heh-lee-AHN-theh, Dutch)--"sun flower" [from another flower genus, Helianthus]
  • Hiroka (hee-roh-kah, Japanese)--"wise flower" or "wealth flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Honoka (hoh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"harmony flower"
  • Ianthe (eye-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"violet flower"
  • Iolanthe (eye-oh-LAN-thee, [literary] English)--prob. from Greek "violet flower"
  • Melantho (mel-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--"dark flower". Other forms include Melanthe [ancient], Melanthus [ancient, masculine], Melanthis [mel-AN-this, ancient, feminine], and Melanthis [mel-AHN-theez, modern, masculine]
  • Melianthus (mel-ee-AN-thus, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "honey flower" [masculine]
  • Mika (mee-kah, Japanese)--"beautiful flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Millaray (mee-yah-RYE, Spanish; meel-lah-RYE, Mapuche)--from Mapudungan, "golden flower"
  • Neantho (nee-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--prob. "new flower". Other forms included Neanthis and Neanthes [masculine]. 
  • Nicanthe (nik-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"victory flower"
  • Nonoka (noh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"field flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Oenanthe (ee-NAN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--"vine-flower" or "wine flower" [specifically usually grape, sometimes dropwort]. Other forms included Oenanthis and Oenanthes [masculine].
  • Philantho (fil-AN-thoh, [ancient] Greek)--"beloved flower". Masculine form was Philanthus
  • Polyanthis (pahl-ee-AN-this, [ancient] Greek)--"many flowers". Masculine form was Polyanthus
  • Prianthe (pree-AN-thee, [ancient] Greek)--poss. "oak flower" or "ridge flower". Another form was Prianthis.
  • Pualani (poo-ah-lah-nee, Hawaiian)--"heavenly flower"
  • Puanani (poo-ah-nah-nee, Hawaiian)--"beautiful flower"
  • Reika (ray-kah, Japanese)--"beautiful flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Rika (ree-kah, Japanese)--"pear flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Rodanthi (roh-DAHN-thee, Greek)--"rose flower". Another [ancient] form was Rhodanthis
  • Ruka (roo-kah, Japanese)--"lapis flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Setsuka (set-soo-kah, Japanese)--"snow flower"
  • Sonoka (soh-noh-kah, Japanese)--"garden flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Timantha (tim-AN-thah, [ancient] Greek)--"prized flower". Other forms included Timanthis and Timanthes [masculine]. 
  • Tomoka (toh-moh-kah, Japanese)--"wise flower" or "companion flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]
  • Yuka (yoo-kah, Japanese)--"fond flower" or "reason flower" [other translations possible, depending on characters]

Saturday, January 7, 2017

"Modern Classics"

Some names are pretty easy to categorize. Elizabeth is a classic. Harper is modern. Most names are somewhere in between, though--"vintage comeback", "mom/dad name", "trending traditional", etc. For this post, I decided to try and find what I define as "modern classic"--names that didn't really exist in the American naming pool pre-1960ish, but which don't instantly date you to a specific decade (either because they shot up suddenly but remained stable, or because they enjoyed a steady increase over decades).
Modern, but not trendy.

Boys:
  • Beau (BOH)--from French "beautiful" [not used as a name in French]
  • Brice / Bryce (BRICE)
  • Carter (KAR-ter)
  • Chase (CHAYS)
  • Connor / Conor (KAHN-er)
  • Corbin (KOR-bin)--from French "raven"
  • Damian (DAY-mee-an)--from Ancient Greek "tame"
  • Dorian (DOR-ee-an)
  • Drake (DRAYK)--from Old English "male duck" or "dragon"
  • Dylan (DIL-an)
  • Ezekiel (ee-ZEEK-ee-el)--from Biblical Hebrew "God strengthens"
  • Holden (HOHL-den)
  • Ian (EE-an)--Scottish form of John
  • Jonah (JOH-nah)--from Biblical Hebrew "dove"
  • Kendrick (KEN-drik)
  • Lucas (LOO-kas)
  • Maximilian / Maximillian (maks-eh-MIL-yan)
  • Maxwell (MAKS-wel)
  • Micah (MYE-kah)
  • Pierce (PEERS)--surname form of Peter
  • Quinn (KWIN)--from the Irish surname "son of the chief" [yes, more common for girls in the US, but undoubtedly trendy as a girls' name!]
  • Tristan (TRIS-tan)--prob. from Pictish "little riot"
  • Xavier (ZAYV-yer, ex-AYV-yer)

Girls:
  • Alana (ah-LAH-nah, ah-LAN-ah)--feminine of Alan
  • Alexa (ah-LEKS-ah)--short form of Alexandra or feminine of Alexis
  • Alexia (ah-LEKS-ee-ah)--feminine of Alexis, "defender"
  • Anastasia (an-ah-STAYZH-yah)--from Greek "resurrection"
  • Ariana / Arianna (ahr-ee-AH-nah, ehr-ee-AN-nah, ah-ree-AN-nah)--from the Italian form of Greek Ariadne, "most holy"
  • Brynn (BRIN)--from Welsh "hill" [masculine in Welsh, and more commonly spelled Bryn]
  • Delaney (deh-LAY-nee)
  • Fiona (fee-OH-nah)
  • Jade (JAYD)
  • Janessa (jan-ES-sah)--form of Janice/Jane
  • Kira (KEER-ah)--from Irish Ciara, "dark", or the Russian feminine of Cyrus, "lord"
  • Kyla (KYE-lah)
  • Liana (lee-AH-nah)
  • Liliana (lil-ee-AH-nah)
  • Maya / Maia (MYE-ah, MAH-yah)
  • Melina (mel-EE-nah)--prob. from Greek "honey"
  • Noelle (no-EL)
  • Savannah (sah-VAN-nah)
  • Summer (SUM-er)
  • Tessa (TES-ah)

Unisex:
  • Cameron (KAM-er-on) [leans more "classic" for boys and "modern" for girls]
  • Eden (EE-den)
  • Justice (JUS-tis)
  • Kendall (KEN-dal) [also leans more "classic" for boys and "modern" for girls]