Lodestar

Lodestar is an old word for a star that leads the way, such as the North Star; it can also be used to refer to something or someone that serves as a guide. It’s made up of Middle English lode (journey, course, way, path) combined with star (star). Origin: Proto-Indo-European Meaning: a word referring to…

Polaris

Polaris is another name for the North Star, the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor. The name comes from Latin Stella Polaris (pole star). Polaris mean “of or pertaining to the poles”, referring to both the northern and southern poles, via Latin polus (pole; sky, heavens) <Ancient Greek polos πόλος (axis of rotation) via…

Felicidad

Felicidad is a Spanish female name meaning “happiness, felicity” from Latin felicitas (happiness, felicity; fruitful, fertility; success, good fortune) which derives from a PIE root word *dʰeh₁(y)- (to suckle, nurse). Origin: Proto-Indo-European Meaning: “happiness, felicity” Usage: Spanish Variants: Male forms:

Plinio

Plinio is the Spanish and Italian form of Pliny, the anglicized form of Ancient Roman Plinius, an Ancient Roman praenomen of unknown origin and meaning. Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) was a 1st century Roman nobleman known for his encyclopedic Naturalis Historia (Natural History). Pliny the Younger (63-113 AD) was his nephew. Origin: unknown Meaning:…

Kamiyah

Kamiyah is an African-American female name, a modern name which seems to be a combination of the name Maya with the ka- prefix. Maya has several meanings and etymologies such as “illusion” from Sanskrit; “water” from Hebrew; as well as being the name of the Mayan civilization, which seems to have been derived from Mayapan,…

Egbert

Egbert comes from an Old English male name, Ecgberht, meaning “bright edge”. It’s made up of Old English ecg (edge “of a blade”) ultimately from PIE *h₂eḱ- (sharp), and beorht (bright, clear), also from a PIE root word. Origin: Proto-Indo-European Meaning: “bright edge (of a blade)” Usage: English, Dutch Variants:

Lysistrate

Lysistrate is an Ancient Greek female name, made up of Ancient Greek lúsis λῠ́σῐς (loosing, releasing) < luo λυω (to loosen, unbind) and stratós στρᾰτός (army), essentially meaning “army disbander” or “disbander of armies”. Lysistrata is the name of an Ancient Greek comedy by Aristophanes in 5th century BC, in which the eponymous character decides that in…

Ekhion

Ekhion is the name of several figures in Greek mythology, including the name of a Giant; a Greek warrior who fought in the Trojan War; the name of one of the Spartoi, warriors who sprang up from the dragon’s teeth sown into the earth by Cadmus and than, later, Jason; as well as the name…

Chantilly

Chantilly is the name of a town located in the north of France. The name comes from a Gallo-Roman name, Cantilius, which I’ve seen means “white” combined with a diminutive suffix. Chantilly lace is the name of a type of a delicate kind of bobbin lace that was named after the town, first introduced in…

Elwood

Elwood comes from Middle English Elwald via Anglo-Saxon Aelfweald, made up of Old English elements ælf (elf) and weald (rule) essentially meaning “elf rule” or “elf ruler”. I’ve also seen some sites list it as meaning “elder tree wood”. It’s possible that both meanings are correct, deriving from different sources. Origin: Proto-Indo-European Meaning: “elf rule, elf ruler” or “elder tree…

Osyth

Osyth is the anglicized spelling of Osgyth, anglicized form of Osgyð, made up of Old English os (god) and gūþ (battle, combat), so the name would mean “god war”. There was a 7th century martyr named Osyth who was beheaded. Origin: Proto-Indo-European Meaning: “god + war” Usage: Medieval English Variants:

Ceolwulf

Ceolwulf is an Old English male given name, a combination of ċēol (ship) and wulf (wolf) so the name would mean “ship wolf” or “wolf of the ship”. Origin: Proto-Indo-European Meaning: “ship wolf” or “wolf of the ship” Usage: Anglo-Saxon Variants:

Luscinia

Luscinia is the name of a genus of birds containing nightingales and other birds related to them. The name comes from Latin luscinia meaning “nightingale”, possibly a combination of luscus (“one-eyed” or “half blind”) from PIE root word *lewk- (light, bright; to shine; to see); and canō (to sing), derived from PIE root *keh₂n- (to…

Enoch

Enoch is the name of two figures in the Bible, one the name of the son of Cain, the other the name of the son of Jared and the father of Methuselah for whom the Book of Enoch is named after. The name comes from Hebrew Hanokh/Chanokh meaning “dedicated, consecrated”. Origin: Hebrew Meaning: “dedicated, consecrated”…