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Posts Tagged ‘Lilou’

Looking Back at 2011 — Girls’ Names at the Nook

Posted in Alternative Names, Baby Names, Druid Names, Heathen Names, Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names, Magical Names, Name Rankings, New Age Names, Pagan Names, Pagan-friendly, Popularity, Fashion and Style, Surnames as First Names, Unusual Names, Wiccan Names, Witch Names, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 29, 2011 | 3 Comments »

As 2011 draws to a close, I thought I’d take a look back at my top pick of names here at the Nook and elsewhere in Baby Name Blogland.

Today it’s the turn of  girls’ names at the Nook:

  • Amanita – I featured Amanita back in late August, and I still love it; it’s feminine, quirky, and very witchy. While some might be put off the thought of naming a child after a mushroom, Amanita muscaria is one of the most beautiful and evocative, and perhaps associated with fairies more than any other…
  • Betony – Betony was another of my August loves; it’s such a lovely herb, and as a name has a great contemporary ring to it.
  • Circe – Ijust love Circe, the mythological witch-Goddess and the name.
  • Elvy – Elvy only got a brief mention as a little used surname-as-first name, but I think it’s got a lot going for it. With the variants Elvey and Elvie, it slips in comfortably alongside all those lovely resurrected Victorian -ie names, many of which are already in favor in the UK (such as Evie, Millie, Maisie, etc) and others like Elsie and Edie on the rise. Unlike many of these, however, though it has the ring of a pet-form about it, and certainly can be used as a nickname for names such as Elvina and Elvira, Elvy is a bona fide name in her own right.
  • Fuchsia – Fuchsia’s such a stunning name, it has that same bright, slightly rebellious edge as names like Ruby and Scarlett
  • Guinevere – Queen Guinevere, Arthur’s May Queen is such a magnificent character with a name to match; why oh why isn’t it seen more?
  • Hermione – ah, Hermione, Hermione, Hermione! Probably my number one of the year; I can’t champion Hermione enough. I suggested her as a possible sibling for Peregrine in early December, and tipped her as the number one girl’s name in America in 2035. Grab her now, while she’s still such a rarity!
  • Hesper – another of my Harry Potter picks, but much less known, Hesper’s a step away from the familiar Hester, and only a couple of steps away from uber-voguish Harper. A discerning but contemporary choice.
  • Ishtar – Ishtar is another of those names which has had a number of mentions, but hasn’t really been properly featured in her own right yet. Ishtar is probably the most famous of the Goddesses of Mesopotamia—equated with Aphrodite and Ashtoreth, and it may be her name which lies behind Esther. In Egyptian texts, she appears as ‘Astar-Ḫūru. The etymology is unknown for certain; many theories abound, ranging from (rather far-fetched) connections with Eostre (see Easter) to a shared root with Aster, but evidence is too flimsy to say anything with absolute conviction. What can be said is that it is a most beautiful and evocative name.
  • Leveret – I love this unusual word-name, the little heard name for a baby hare. It oozes Pagan, witchy, Wiccan charm, and is one the source of the surname Leverett, which makes a nice variant.
  • Lilou – one of my Provençal finds, I think it gives a fetching, zingy twist on the ubiquitous Lily.
  • Merewen – A very soft, attractive Old English name.
  • Tigerlily – I just adore Tigerlily; it is a name bursting with life and color, and has considerable versatility. Would be a travesty for her not to make this baker’s dozen of mine!

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C’est bizarre!

Posted in Baby Names, French Names, Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names, Unusual Names, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 12, 2011 | 9 Comments »

Mais oui, c’est definitely French week here at the Nook.

Researching the names I’d encountered while away in France inevitably got me browsing the most popular French names of the last few years over at the wonderful Behind The Name‘s Most Popular Names in France 2009.

I can’t resist looking at some of the more intriguing and noteworthy names currently dancing in the French charts.

Today it’s the girls:

Anaë. One of many elaborations of Anne currently far more popular than Anne itself (491st). Anae is 152nd. Also occurs as Anaé and Annaë.

Capucine. In 70th place in 2009, Capucine immediately brings to mind “cappuccino” — with justification, as the ultimate derivation is the same: the Latin caput “head”. It is, in fact, the French for “nasturtium” and Capucine was the stage-name of French actress Germaine Lefebvre (1928-90), as well as featurine in Québécois children’s show Pépino et Capucine.

Fanta. Ranked 486th in 2009, this is not an adoption of the drink, which is little known in France (they prefer Orangina). The name seems to be a short form of Fantine, the name of one of the principal characters in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables (1862), thought to derive from French enfant “child.”

Garance.  Although it looks to an English eye like a diabolic coupling of Gary and Clarence, garance is actually the French for “madder” — the plant, and the colour it produces: a rich, pinkish red.  It was 134th (up 36 places) in 2009. It featured in the classic French film Les Enfants du Paradis (1945).

Jade. Yes, Jade. In 2nd place. Demonstrates the French love-affair with names which have enjoyed recent vogues abroad. Other very “English” names include Emma in 1st place, Sarah in 8th, Lola in 10th and Lisa in 25th, as well as French forms of others which have been popular such as Léa, Chloé and Zoé, which were all in the top 10.

Elsewhere in the top 50, you’ll also find Alicia, Anna, Laura, Lily and Melissa, and other ESW names working their way up or down the French charts include Alexandra, Alexia, Aleyna, Alyssa, Amelia, Amy, Anastasia, Angie, Annabelle, Ashley, Audrey, Ava, Candice, Carla, Cassandra, Cassie, Charlie, Charline, Eden, Ella, Emily, Emmie/Emmy, Enola, Erin, Fanny, Farah, Fiona, Flora, Gwendoline, Hannah, Helena, Jenna, Jessica, Kayla, Kelly, Kim, Kimberley, Lana, Lara, Linda, Lindsay, Lorena, Lucy, Madison, Maia/Maya, Marion, Marylou, Maureen, Melinda, Melody, Mia/Mya, Mina, Mona, Nell, Nelly, Nora/Norah, Olivia, Sabrina, Sacha/Sasha, Savannah, Serena, Sophia, Stacy, Stella, Tessa, Thea, Tiffany, Tina, Vanessa, Victoria and Wendy.

Kessy. A curious name which has made an appearance in recent years and was 459th in 2009. It may be an adoption of the surname, a French take on Kizzie (the usual English pet-form of Keziah), a variant of Cassie, or perhaps the French form of a name of African or Arabic origin. No-one in France seems to know either.

Lamia. Probaby the Arabic name, from lammā’ “shining,” as there are many Arabic and other Ethnic names in use in France by people of all heritages. It is also, however, the name of the Libyan queen turned child/man-eating monster of Greek mythology, responsible for giving Latin the word lamia meaning “vampire” and “witch.”

Louison. Not “son of Louis,” but a pet form of Louise, using the old diminutive ending -on which occurs in other French names such as Manon. In 233rd, place — 58 up on the year before. Also used for boys, as a diminutive of Louis.

Luna. In 43rd place — ranking considerably higher than any ESW country. What’s more, the variant Louna ranks even higher, in 21st place.  Meanwhile, the consonant cluster “-l-n-” is clearly in vogue generally. Others are: Lena (16th), Lina (19th), Lana (52nd), Leane (60th), Leana (78th), Leona (252nd) Line (line 269th), Leanne (303rd), Leyna (339th), Leina (385th). A great many others end in -line or -lina, etc.

The cluster “-l-l-” is also popular; as well as yesterday’s Lilou, English Lily (plus Lilly, Lili, Lilie) and Lola, there’s Laly (132nd), Lalie (183rd) — from Eulalie — Leila (143rd), Lila (105th), Lilia (120th), Lilya (314th) and Lilas (318st).

Maeva. At first glance, seems to be a French take on the Irish Maeve. In fact, it is the adoption of the Tahitian maeva “welcome,” and is found in 54th place — in 2008, it was 16 places higher.

Pauline. A traditional French name, to be sure, but one thoroughly in “vintage” class now in the ESW. Currently bobbing along nicely still in France in 35th place. Other classic French names which are now considered dated in the ESW but are still top 100 in France (and therefore deserve to be considered “au courant”) include Louise (13th), Juliette (22nd), Marie (28th), Julie (38th), Justine (46th), Gabrielle (63rd) and Adèle (92nd).

Prune. The French for “plum” ranked 444th in 2009.

Shana (130th), with its variants Shaina (226th), Shayna (294th) and Shanna 277th, would appear to be a French feminine on Shane, the phonetic spelling of Irish Sean, or an elaboration of Welsh Sîan (Jane).

Tea. Superficially yet another drink to the English eye, Tea (also Téa — which makes the pronunciation clear), is actually a variant of Thea. 468th in 2009.

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Mes Prénoms Preférés

Posted in Baby Names, French Names, Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names, Unusual Names, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 11, 2011 | 6 Comments »

During my recent month in France, I came across quite a few interesting names.

These are some of the zestiest:

FILLES:

Aglaé. French form of the Greek mythological name Aglaia “splendor” and “beauty.”

Alizée. Modern French name from alizé “trade wind.” Popularized by the French singer Alizée Jacotey (b.1984).

Bérengère. Feminine form of the Old German name Berenger “bear-spear.”

Cerise. Adoption of French cerise “cherry.”

Flavie. French form of Flavia, a Roman family name from Latin flavus “yellow.”

Ilona. A Hungarian name. Elona is a variant form. Probably deriving ultimately from Helen.

Lilou. A modern name, popularized in France by its appearance (in the form Leeloo) in the film The Fifth Element (1997), and ranked 12th in 2009. It probably began life as a pet-form of one of the many French names ending in -lie.  Other variants in regular use include Liloo, Leelou and Lylou.

Maëlys. A feminine form of the Breton name Maël “prince” (a popular boy’s namei n France too). Other forms include Maëlle, Mailys, Maelis and Maelyss.

Maïwenn. A modern Breton-style name, combining the Breton Mari (Mary) with the -wenn meaning “white” and “pure” — cognate of the Welsh (g)wen.

Océane. Another modern French name, meaning “ocean.”

Oriane. French form of Oriana, coined by Renaissance poets from the Latin orior “to rise.”

Sirine. Probably from sirène, the French for “siren” — not the noisy alarm kind, but the alarming mythological monster of mesmeric voice, who lured sailors to their deaths. It also means “mermaid.”  Syrine is a variant.

Solenn. Further modern French name of uncertain origin. It may well have arisen simply as a variant of Solange, which is usually derived from sollemnis “annual,” “established,” and “solemn.”

Taïs. French form of Thais, an Ancient Greek name meaning “bandage.”

GARÇONS:

Axel. Scandinavian form of biblical Hebrew Absalom “father of peace.” The dashing Swedish Count Axel von Fersen (1755-1810) was a prominent figure of the court of Louis XVI. He was a close friend of Marie Antoinette, and many think he was her lover.

Clovis. An early form of Louis,  used of the fifth-century King of Franks.

Elouan. One of many Breton names which has come into vogue in France in recent years. The name of a very obscure saint, “known” (insofar as the name is recorded!) in Cornwall as Elvan and Elven, and Welsh as Elwen. The etymology is very obscure. In France it tends to be derived from the Breton luh “light,” but this isn’t convincing. In Cornish, elven does mean “spark.”

Enzo.  Italian short form of names ending in -enzo, such as Lorenzo (Lawrence). Hugely popular in France at the moment, where it was 3rd in 2009.

Farès. French form of the Arabic name فارس (Faaris) meaning “horseman,” “knight.” Numerous names of Arabic origin are currently popular in France, and not just among the Islamic community.

Honoré. French form of Honoratus. A name I’ve always liked.

Ignace. French form of Ignatius.

Josse. A form of the Breton Jodoc “little lord,” which first spread out of Brittany in the Middle Ages, when it is also found in England. There, the usual form became Joyce, and as time passed became exclusively female.

Kylian. The Irish Cillian. For some reason a big favorite in France, with numerous spellings found in the top 500, including  Killian, Kyllian, Kilian, Celian, Kelyan, Kilyan and Kelian.

Lazare. French form of Lazarus, itself the Latin form of biblical Eleazar.

Loïc. Breton form of Louis (through the Latin form Ludovicus).

Loris. Another Italian diminutive of Lorenzo.

Loup. French name from Latin lupus “wolf.”

Matisse. Adoption of the French surname, made famous by the French artist Henri Matisse. Said to derive from Matthew.

Télesphore. French form of the Greek Telesphoros, the name in Greek mythology of a son of the healing God Asclepius. Telesphoros himself is the personification of getting better after sickness. Greek: telesphoros “bringing fulfilment,” “able to fulfill” and “bearing fruit in due season.” Little seen in France (or anywhere, for that matter) any more, but probably my favorite of the any wonderful French versions of classical names embraced at the time of the French Revolution.

Toussaint. Literal meaning in French: “all-saint.” Used since at least the eighteenth century.

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