erb816's Personal Name List

Acacia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: ə-KAY-shə
Rating: 52% based on 20 votes
From the name of a type of tree, ultimately derived from Greek ἀκή (ake) meaning "thorn, point".
Arrow
Gender: Masculine & Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: AR-o, ER-o
From the English word arrow, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂érkʷo- "bow, arrow".
Bertrand
Gender: Masculine
Usage: French, English, Germanic [1]
Pronounced: BEHR-TRAHN(French) BUR-trənd(English)
Derived from the Old German elements beraht meaning "bright" and rant meaning "rim (of a shield)". From an early date it has been confused with Bertram and the two names have merged to some degree. Saint Bertrand was an 11th-century bishop of Comminges in France. Another famous bearer was the English philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970).
Briella
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: bree-EHL-ə
Rating: 45% based on 35 votes
Short form of Gabriella.
Brienne
Gender: Feminine
Usage: American (Modern, Rare), Popular Culture, Literature
Rating: 60% based on 10 votes
Variant of Brianne. This is the name of a character in George R. R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series, as well as the TV show based on the books 'Game of Thrones'. Martin did not originate this form, though, for it was in use in the United States well before the first book in the series was published in 1996.
Cain
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Biblical, Biblical Latin
Other Scripts: קָיִן(Ancient Hebrew)
Pronounced: KAYN(English)
Rating: 46% based on 68 votes
Means "acquired" in Hebrew. In Genesis in the Old Testament Cain is the first son of Adam and Eve. He killed his brother Abel after God accepted Abel's offering of meat instead of his offering of plant-based foods. After this Cain was banished to be a wanderer.
Charlize
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Southern African, Afrikaans
Pronounced: shar-LEEZ
Rating: 43% based on 21 votes
Feminine form of Charles using the popular Afrikaans name suffix ize. This name was popularized by South African actress Charlize Theron (1975-), who was named after her father Charles.
Clarke
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Rating: 83% based on 3 votes
Variant of Clark.
Cleo
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KLEE-o
Rating: 25% based on 2 votes
Short form of Cleopatra, Cleon or Cleopas.
Corinthia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Other Scripts: Κορινθία(Ancient Greek)
Latinized form of Greek Κορινθία (Korinthia) meaning "woman from Corinth", an ancient Greek city-state. This is the real name of Corrie in William Faulkner's novel The Reivers (1962).
Cormac
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Irish Mythology, Irish
Rating: 52% based on 39 votes
From Old Irish Cormacc or Corbmac, of uncertain meaning, possibly from corb "chariot, wagon" or corbbad "defilement, corruption" combined with macc "son". This is the name of several characters from Irish legend, including the semi-legendary high king Cormac mac Airt who supposedly ruled in the 3rd century, during the adventures of the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. This name was also borne by a few early saints.
Cressida
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: KREHS-i-də(English)
Rating: 59% based on 33 votes
Form of Criseida used by Shakespeare in his play Troilus and Cressida (1602).
Enid
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh, English, Arthurian Romance
Pronounced: EH-nid(Welsh) EE-nid(English)
Probably derived from Welsh enaid meaning "soul, spirit, life". In Arthurian tales she first appears in the 12th-century French poem Erec and Enide by Chrétien de Troyes, where she is the wife of Erec. In later adaptations she is typically the wife of Geraint. The name became more commonly used after the publication of Alfred Tennyson's Arthurian poem Enid in 1859, and it was fairly popular in Britain in the first half of the 20th century.
Gladys
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Welsh, English, French, Spanish
Pronounced: GLAD-is(English) GLA-DEES(French)
Rating: 55% based on 21 votes
From the Old Welsh name Gwladus, probably derived from gwlad meaning "country". Alternatively, it may have been adopted as a Welsh form of Claudia. Saint Gwladus or Gwladys was the mother of Saint Cadoc. She was one of the daughters of Brychan Brycheiniog. This name became popular outside of Wales after it was used in Ouida's novel Puck (1870).
Hawthorn
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English, Romani (Archaic)
Rating: 42% based on 19 votes
Transferred use of the surname Hawthorn.
Katharyn
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: KATH-ə-rin, KATH-rin
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Katherine.
Lark
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: LAHRK
Rating: 93% based on 3 votes
From the English word for the type of songbird.
Lavender
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: LAV-ən-dər
Rating: 65% based on 15 votes
From the English word for the aromatic flower or the pale purple colour.
Leia
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Biblical Greek, Portuguese, Popular Culture
Other Scripts: Λεία(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: LAY-ə(English)
Rating: 59% based on 27 votes
Form of Leah used in the Greek Old Testament, as well as a Portuguese form. This is the name of a princess in the Star Wars movies by George Lucas, who probably based it on Leah.
Leopold
Gender: Masculine
Usage: German, Dutch, English, Czech, Slovak, Slovene, Polish
Pronounced: LEH-o-pawlt(German, Dutch) LEE-ə-pold(English) LEH-o-polt(Czech) LEH-aw-pawld(Slovak) leh-AW-pawlt(Polish)
Rating: 66% based on 31 votes
Derived from the Old German elements liut "people" and bald "bold, brave". The spelling was altered due to association with Latin leo "lion". This name was common among German royalty, first with the Babenbergs and then the Habsburgs. Saint Leopold was a 12th-century Babenberg margrave of Austria, who is now considered the patron of that country. It was also borne by two Habsburg Holy Roman emperors, as well as three kings of Belgium. Since the 19th century this name has been occasionally used in England, originally in honour of Queen Victoria's uncle, a king of Belgium, after whom she named one of her sons. It was later used by James Joyce for the main character, Leopold Bloom, in his novel Ulysses (1922).
Lewin
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English (Rare)
From an English surname that was derived from the given name Leofwine.
Lucan
Gender: Masculine
Usage: History
Rating: 40% based on 15 votes
From the Roman cognomen Lucanus, which was derived from the name of the city of Luca in Tuscany (modern Lucca). Marcus Annaeus Lucanus, commonly called Lucan, was a 1st-century Roman poet.
Lux
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Various
Pronounced: LUKS(English)
Rating: 70% based on 5 votes
Derived from Latin lux meaning "light".
Lynessa
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: li-NEHS-ə
Elaboration of Lynn, influenced by the popular name Vanessa
Mauve
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: MAWV
Rating: 85% based on 2 votes
From the English word, ultimately derived from Latin malva "mallow", which has a purple color. Its use as a name is probably inspired by the similar name Maeve.
Merriam
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: MEE-ree-əm, MEHR-ee-əm
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Miriam derived from a Welsh surname which is derived from either the personal name Meuric, which is the Welsh form of Maurice, or ultimately from the Latin personal name Mauritius, which means "dark".
Misty
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: MIS-tee
Rating: 39% based on 19 votes
From the English word misty, ultimately derived from Old English. The jazz song Misty (1954) by Erroll Garner may have helped popularize the name.
Oberon
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: O-bər-ahn(English)
Rating: 46% based on 8 votes
Variant of Auberon. Oberon and Titania are the king and queen of the fairies in Shakespeare's comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream (1595). A moon of Uranus bears this name in his honour.
Ondine
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French (Rare), French (Belgian, Rare)
French form of Undine.
Onyx
Gender: Feminine & Masculine
Usage: English
Pronounced: AHN-iks
Rating: 54% based on 8 votes
From the English word for the gemstone (a variety of chalcedony), which can be black, red or other colours. It is derived from Greek ὄνυξ (onyx) meaning "claw, nail".
Phyllida
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: FIL-i-də
From Φυλλίδος (Phyllidos), the genitive form of Phyllis. This form was used in 17th-century pastoral poetry.
River
Gender: Feminine & Masculine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: RIV-ər
Rating: 73% based on 7 votes
From the English word that denotes a flowing body of water. The word is ultimately derived (via Old French) from Latin ripa "riverbank".
Sapphire
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: SAF-ie-ər
Rating: 52% based on 30 votes
From the name of the gemstone, typically blue, which is the traditional birthstone of September. It is derived from Greek σάπφειρος (sappheiros), ultimately from the Hebrew word סַפִּיר (sappir).
Sylvestra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare, Archaic)
Pronounced: sil-VES-tra
Feminine form of Sylvester.
Sylvette
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: SEEL-VEHT
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Diminutive of Sylvie.
Tallis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare), Popular Culture
Pronounced: TAL-is(English)
Rating: 47% based on 6 votes
Transferred use of the surname Tallis, which comes from the Old French taillis, referring to a clearing of woodland.
Tigerlily
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: TIE-gər-lil-ee
Rating: 54% based on 5 votes
From tiger lily, a name that has been applied to several orange varieties of lily (such as the species Lilium lancifolium). Tiger Lily is also the name of the Native American princess in J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan (1904).
Vale
Gender: Feminine & Masculine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: VAYL
From the English word meaning "wide river valley".
Vernelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (American)
Pronounced: ver-NEL(American English)
Combination of the name Vern with the feminine suffix -elle.
Xanthe
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Other Scripts: Ξανθή(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: KSAN-TEH(Classical Greek)
Rating: 61% based on 55 votes
Derived from Greek ξανθός (xanthos) meaning "yellow, blond, fair-haired". This was the name of a few minor figures in Greek mythology.
Xena
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Popular Culture
Pronounced: ZEE-nə(English)
Rating: 62% based on 5 votes
Probably a variant of Xenia. This was the name of the main character in the 1990s television series Xena: Warrior Princess.
Zaccai
Gender: Masculine
Usage: Biblical
Other Scripts: זַכָּי(Ancient Hebrew)
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
From the Hebrew name זַכָּי (Zakkai) meaning "pure". This is the name of a minor character in the Old Testament.
Zelma
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English
Pronounced: ZEHL-mə
Rating: 100% based on 1 vote
Variant of Selma 1.
Cedric
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English
Pronounced: SEHD-rik
Personal remark: nickname Ced
Rating: 68% based on 58 votes
Invented by Walter Scott for a character in his novel Ivanhoe (1819). Apparently he based it on the actual name Cerdic, the name of the semi-legendary founder of the kingdom of Wessex in the 6th century. The meaning of Cerdic is uncertain, but it does not appear to be Old English in origin. It could be connected to the Brythonic name Caratācos. The name was also used by Frances Hodgson Burnett for the main character in her novel Little Lord Fauntleroy (1886).
Demetria
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek, English
Other Scripts: Δημητρία(Ancient Greek)
Personal remark: nickname Demi
Rating: 57% based on 20 votes
Feminine form of Demetrius.
Elspeth
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Scottish
Pronounced: EHLS-peth
Personal remark: nickname Elle / Ellie
Rating: 52% based on 55 votes
Scottish form of Elizabeth.
Emmanuelle
Gender: Feminine
Usage: French
Pronounced: EH-MA-NWEHL
Personal remark: nickname Emmy
Rating: 77% based on 3 votes
French feminine form of Emmanuel.
Amaryllis
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: am-ə-RIL-is(English)
Personal remark: nickname Lissie
Rating: 59% based on 24 votes
Derived from Greek ἀμαρύσσω (amarysso) meaning "to sparkle". This was the name of a heroine in Virgil's epic poem Eclogues [1]. The amaryllis flower is named for her.
Scheherazade
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Literature
Pronounced: shə-HEHR-ə-zahd(English)
Personal remark: nickname Zadie
Rating: 48% based on 49 votes
Anglicized form of Shahrazad.
Azalea
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Modern)
Pronounced: ə-ZAY-lee-ə
Personal remark: nickname Zalie / Zaley
Rating: 59% based on 34 votes
From the name of the flower (shrubs of the genus Rhododendron), ultimately derived from Greek ἀζαλέος (azaleos) meaning "dry".
Aphra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Various
Personal remark: pronounced AHF-rə
Rating: 40% based on 66 votes
Meaning uncertain; possibly a variant of Afra 1, or possibly a variant of Aphrah, a biblical place name meaning "dust". This name was borne by the English writer Aphra Behn (1640-1689).
Aveline
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English (Rare)
Pronounced: AV-ə-lien, AV-ə-leen
Personal remark: pronounced AV-ə-leen
Rating: 63% based on 48 votes
From the Norman French form of the Germanic name Avelina, a diminutive of Avila. The Normans introduced this name to Britain. After the Middle Ages it became rare as an English name, though it persisted in America until the 19th century [1].
Isolde
Gender: Feminine
Usage: German, Arthurian Romance
Pronounced: ee-ZAWL-də(German) i-SOL-də(English) i-ZOL-də(English) i-SOLD(English) i-ZOLD(English) EE-ZAWLD(French)
Personal remark: pronounced ee-ZOLD, nickname Izzy
Rating: 38% based on 5 votes
German form of Iseult, appearing in the 13th-century German poem Tristan by Gottfried von Strassburg. In 1865 the German composer Richard Wagner debuted his popular opera Tristan und Isolde and also used the name for his first daughter.
Leandra
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Portuguese, Spanish, Italian
Pronounced: leh-AN-dra(Spanish)
Personal remark: pronounced lee-AN-drə
Feminine form of Leander.
Thaïs
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Ancient Greek, French
Other Scripts: Θαΐς(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced: TA-EES(French)
Personal remark: pronounced TAY-is
Rating: 49% based on 35 votes
Possibly means "bandage" in Greek. This was the name of a companion of Alexander the Great. It was also borne by a 4th-century saint from Alexandria, a wealthy socialite who became a Christian convert, though in her case the name may have had a distinct Coptic origin. She has been a popular subject of art and literature, including an 1891 novel by Anatole France and an 1894 opera by Jules Massenet.
behindthename.com   ·   Copyright © 1996-2024