Aytalina

Aytalina Айталина is a beautiful, fascinating name I came across by chance a while ago and I’ve been trying like crazy to figure out its etymology. I know it’s a Russian and Kazakh(?) name and I’m almost positive that the first part of the name, ay ай comes from the Kazah word “moon”, which ultimately…

Yermolay

Yermolay is a Russian male name, the Russian form of Ancient Greek Hermolaos meaning “people of Hermes”, Hermes being the Greek god of commerce and trade, protector of thieves, and the messenger of the gods (ultimately the name derives from an uncertain origin) combined with laos “people”. Origin: uncertain; Proto-Indo-European Meaning: “people of Hermes” Usage:…

Rukia

Rukia will be familiar for many fans of the Bleach manga as the name of one of its main characters, Rukia Kuchiki. Although it’s written with the katakana ルキア, according to its author Tite Kubo he seems to have based it on Latin Lucia meaning “light” (*interesting fact for those who don’t know but in…

Kazeo

Kazeo is a Japanese male name with a variety of meanings depending on the kanji used: kaze 風 “wind” o 男 “male” 緒 “cord; thong; string” 尾 “tail; foot of a mountain” There are likely other meaning depending on the kanji used. Written in hiragana it’s かぜお. Origin: Japanese Meaning: various depending on the kanji…

Kanna

Kanna is a Japanese female name with a variety of meanings depending on the kanji used: kan 栞 “bookmark” 環 “ring, circle, wheel” 寛 “tolerant, lenient, generous” 神 “god, deity” 柑 “citrus fruit” 歓 “joy, delight, pleasure” 敢 “daring, brave, bold” na 菜 “greens, vegetables” 那 “what” 奈 “Nara; what” 凪 “calm, lull” (na(gi) 南…

Osamu

Osamu is a Japanese male name with a variety of meanings depending on the kanji used: 修 “discipline; study; conduct oneself well” 治 “reign; govern, administer” 理 “logic, reason” 収 “income; obtain; reap; pay” 統 “relationship; control; rule” There are other meanings depending on the kanji used. Written in hiragana it’s おさむ and オサム in…

Tanvi

Tanvi is an Indian female name meaning “slender, thin” or “delicate” which comes from Sanskrit tanu तनु (thin, slender) which ultimately derives from a PIE root word. Origin: Proto-Indo-European Meaning: “slender, thin” or “delicate” Usage: Indian, Hindi, Marathi Variants: Tanu (Indian, Hindi)

Vihaan

Vihaan is an Indian male name meaning “dawn, morning”. Origin: Sanskrit Meaning: “dawn, morning” Usage: Indian, Hindi Female forms: Vihana (Indian, Hindi)

Alaia

Alaia is a Basque female name meaning “joyful, happy” from Basque alai (joyous, happy) which either derives from Latin alacer (lively, brisk; glad, happy, cheerful) via an uncertain origin; or it cold have been borrowed from Spanish alhaja “jewel; gem” which ultimately derives from an Arabic origin. Spelled Alaïa it’s a French surname, the French…

Lyall

Lyall comes from a Scottish surname via an Old Norse name, Liulfr. The second element derives from Old Norse úlfr meaning “wolf” while the first element of the name remains uncertain. It’s also possible that Lyall originated as a pet-form of Lionel or Lyon, both meaning “lion”; it derives from Latin leō < Ancient Greek léōn which…

Marian

Marian is probably a name many will associate with Maid Marian, a heroine in English folklore and the love interest of Robin Hood. Marian is an English female name, a variant of Marion, itself a medieval French diminutive of Marie, which ultimately derives from Hebrew Miriam,  a name of uncertain origin though several meanings have…

Rafer

Rafer is a male given name originating as a pet-form of either Rafferty, an Irish surname meaning “flood tide” or “abundance, prosperity”; or Raphael/Rafael meaning “God has healed” or “God heals”. Origin: Proto-Indo-European; Hebrew Meaning: originally a pet-form of either Rafferty “flood tide” or “abundance, prosperity” or Raphael/Rafael “God has healed”, “God heals” Usage: English…

Lystra

Lystra is the name of a town in Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor) in what is now modern-day Turkey. It is mentioned several times in the New Testament where the Apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas passed through and where he met Timothy, a future saint who would also become Paul’s companion. The name…

Clarion

Clarion was the name of a medieval trumpet used in the Middle Ages that was loud and shrill. A clarion call is an idiom referring to a call to action. The word comes from Old French claron< Latin clario (trumpet)< Latin clārus meaning “clear, bright, shining; renowned, famous” derived from PIE *kelh₁- (to call, shout), which is the same…