Minetta

Minetta is the name of Minetta Creek, an underground stream in New York City that was covered over between 1808 and 1828. The name apparently comes from the Lenape Unami language Manette or Manetta which may be related to Manitou, a general term among Alongquian Native Americans referring to a spiritual power or life force…

Imke

Imke is Frisian female name, originating as a diminutive of Ime which was originally used as a short form of names beginning with Old High German element irmin meaning “whole, great, universal” < Proto-Germanic *ermunaz (strong, whole), derived from an unknown etymology. Origin: Proto-Germanic, of unknown origin Meaning: “whole, great, universal” Usage: Frisian, Dutch, Low…

Amaka

Amaka is a shortened form of Chiamaka, an Igbo female name meaning “God is beautiful”. Amaka can also be used as a Japanese female name with a variety of meanings depending on the kanji used: Ama ka There are other meanings depending on the kanji used. Written in hiragana it’s あまか. Origin: Igbo; Japanese Meaning:…

Beau

Beau is a shortened form of Beauregard, which comes from a French surname meaning “beautiful outlook” or “handsome outlook”, made up of French beau (beautiful; handsome) and regard (look, glance, sight); or a shortened form of Beaumont meaning “beautiful mountain” via French mont (mountain). Beau is also a French word, the masculine singular form of…

Babette

Babette originated as a French nickname for Élisabeth or Barbara. Élisabeth the French form of Elizabeth, the English form of Ancient Greek Elisabet, a transliteration of Hebrew Elisheva. It’s composed of Hebrew el אֵל (god), which derives from Proto-Semitic *’il-(god, deity) and sh’ba שְׁבוּעָה (oath), essentially meaning “god is an oath” or “god is my oath”. Barbara originated from Ancient Greek barbaros…

Ward

Ward is a surname with four possible etymologies: Ward could also be used as a shortened form of names ending in ward such as Edward “rich/wealthy guardian”, Seward “victory + guardian” or “sea + guardian”, or Howard, etc, or a nickname for Wardell “watch hill” . Ward also refers to a division of a city…

Sabella

Sabella is an English female name, a diminutive of Isabella, the Latinate and Italian form of Isabel which is the medieval Occitan form of Elizabeth, the English form of Hebrew ‘Elisheva meaning “my God is an oath” Sabella is also an Italian surname of Sicilian origin. Origin: Proto-Semitic; Hebrew Meaning: “my god is an oath” Usage: English (as a given name)…

Othello

Othello is the name of the title character in Shakespeare’s Othello (1603), a tragedy in which Othello, a Moor, is manipulated by trusted friend Iago into killing his wife Desdemona. The play itself was based on a story written by the Italian author Cinthio (Giovanni Battista Giraldi), though the character is only known as the…

Rotimi

Rotimi is a Yoruba male name meaning “stay with me” or “stand by me”. It’s also a diminutive of names ending in rotimi such as Olarotimi (“wealth stays with me”), Oluwarotimi (“God stays with me”), Aderotimi (“crown stays with me”), Akinrotimi (“warrior/bravery stand by me”), etc. Origin: Yoruba Meaning: “stay with me” or “stand by…

Geo

Geo is a prefix word meaning “earth, land”, used in words such as geography. It could also be used as a diminutive for George or its feminine forms, Georgina or Georgette, meaning “farmer, earth-worker”, composed of Ancient Greek gê γῆ (land, earth), of uncertain etymology though likely from a pre Indo-European language; and ergon ἔργον…

Roula

Roula رولا is an Arabic female name which seems to derive from the name of an ancient Arab tribe. I couldn’t find a meaning behind the name. Roula is also a Greek female name, a shortened form of names ending in -roula such as Stavroula (the feminine form of Stavros meaning “cross”), Petroula (the feminine…

Riona

Riona (spelled Ríona in Irish) is an Irish female name, either as a variant spelling of Ríoghnach meaning “queen” via Old Irish rígain (queen) which ultimately derives from a PIE root word; or it’s a shortened form of Caitríona, the Irish form of Catherine via Greek Aikaterine, itself from an unknown origin though there have…

Gai

Gai גַּיְא is a Hebrew male name meaning “valley, ravine, gorge”. Gai could also be used as a shortened form of Gaius (of uncertain origin though it’s been linked through folk etymology to Latin gaudere “to rejoice”, though it likely derives from an Etruscan source). Gai is also a French and Italian surname, both of which seem…

Sheba

Sheba is the name of an ancient kingdom mentioned both in the Old Testament and the Qur’an (known as Saba in Arabic), the home of the Queen of Sheba known as Makeda in Ethiopian tradition and Bilqīs in Arabic tradition. I couldn’t find a particular meaning behind the name of the kingdom Sheba is also…