Surnames

Nobile

Dashwood

Crowley

Teegarden or Teagarden

Strayer

Riverdale

Silverdale

Hollinger

Galatea

Meaning: (She who is Milk-White, White as Milk, Greek Mythology: Galatea was a statue loved by the sculptor Pygmalion. She was brought to life for him by Aphrodite. The myth, via G.B Shaws play “Pygmalion,” is the source of the musical “My Fair Lady.”)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology)

Pronunciation: (gal-ah-TEE-ah, Gaa-Laa-T-IYaa)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I forget where I saw this. I think this is a lovely but strong name. The look is unique and rare. It has an out of this world look but also a very scholarly look, like I could see a philosopher being named this. So it is a bit of everything, feminine but masculine, fantasy but old world earth, lol! I get so many different vibes from this name. I do love the meanings which are gorgeous and the mythology is very interesting.

Olinde

Meaning: (Protector, Scented)

Origin: (Latin, Spanish)

Pronunciation: (Oh-lind)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I forget where I saw this but I liked it instantly. It just reminds me of a romantic style name. Like I could see someone named this spouting poetry to their loved one or something, lol. The look is great and the meanings I like a lot. I would love to see this name more often and I am thinking seriously of using this name myself in one of my future novels. I just love, love this name.

Caprice

Meaning: (Fancifulness, Impulsive, Whim, Whimsical, Playful, Tantrum, a Lively Piece of Music. From Italian Capriccio which originally referred to a feeling of horror causing the hair to stand on end (in Italian Capriccio, meaning, Hedgehog Head) the word later became associated with Italian Capra, referring to the goat, and animal whose sudden changes in direction and jumps indicate Capriciousness. Also hence the musical term.)

Origin: (Italian, French, English)

Pronunciation: (Ka-PREESE, Kah-PREES, Kaa-PRI-Z)

Gender: Female

I have wanted to put this on for sometime but didn’t remember to put in on the list until I saw Pride & Prejudice (2005) the other day and they used the word and it reminded me to use the word as a name as it was often used. I like the sweet look to this and the meanings. It has a sweet lovely feminine vibe to it and I think would make a cool characters name. I think it would look cool on a noblewoman, ex. Lady Caprice, Princess Caprice.

Afton

Meaning: (Afternoon, Evening, From the River Afton, From Affa’s Settlement, Also the name of a river, which appears in a song, Place Name: a town in Southern Scotland. From a geographical term; Aftonian- coming from the ice relating to glaciers.

Poet Robert Burns wrote a love sonnet featuring a small river named Afton. First Verse:

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among the green braes!

Flow gently, I’ll sing thee a song in thy praise!

My Mary’s asleep by the murmuring stream—

Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream! )

Origin: (Old English, Swedish)

Pronunciation: (AF-tun, AHFTahN)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I can’t remember why I added this name to my list but I like the look and the meanings. It isn’t too memorable a name to me because I don’t see it enough but if I did it could grow even more on me. Unfortunately it will probably be a name I easily forget which I hate. I think it looks like it would make an awesome ships name or a fantasy characters last name.

Aelfwaru

Meaning: (Elf Guardian, derived from the Old English element aelf “elf” and waru (plural wara) “guard” (i.e., guardian of a particular place by profession),  Ælfwaru (died 27 February 1007) was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman, who bequeathed her lands to churches such as Ely, and Ramsey. Chroniclers, writing in the 12th century, transcribed such bequests, from the original cyrographs. Ælfwaru's cyrograph has not survived. Ælfwaru's father, Æthelstan Mannessune, had two sons: Eadnoth, and Godric; and two daughters: Ælfwaru, and Ælfwyn.

Her lineage is unknown. However, modern historians have constructed a plausible family tree. Ælfwaru is believed to be one of two daughters to Æthelstan Mannessune (d. 986), the other being Ælfwyn, abbess of Chatteris. If this is the case, Ælfwaru's brothers were St Eadnoth the martyr (d. 1016), first abbot of Ramsey, and Godric (d.1013).

It is recorded within one chronicle, Liber Eliensis, that Ælfwaru granted to Ely Abbey the lands of Bridgham, Hingham, Weeting, Rattlesden, Mundford, Thetford, and fisheries around those marshes. Ælfwaru also granted the lands of Over and Barley to Chatteris nunnery, where her sister was abbess. The fisheries mentioned here are interesting. They link the Ælfwaru mentioned in Liber Eliensis, with the Ælfwaru, daughter of Æthelstan Mannessune, whose cyrograph is documented in Liber Benefactorum Ecclesiae Ramesiensis. If this is indeed the same Ælfwaru, then her father bequeathed lands to his children, including a fishery, which he shared out between his unnamed wife, his sons, and his two daughters.

The name Ælfwaru is made out of two parts; old English (OE) Ælf- and -waru. Ælf- means Elf- or magical being and -waru (singular; -wara plural) means guardian of (a particular place) by profession. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86lfwaru )

Origin: (Anglo-Saxon)

Pronunciation: (elf-wahr-yoo, ehlf-wahr-ooh)

Gender: Female

I was looking up elf meaning names and came upon this one. Though it looks very odd it is because it is Old English. I do like the meaning and the interesting look of this name. It wouldn’t fit everywhere I would say but if used the right way it could name an amazing characters name and interesting story as to why it was used by an author. The only down fall is the pronunciation which is a tad difficult but that aside I like it a lot. The pronunciation is my take on it because I literarily couldn’t find it anywhere. Given the rarity of this name I am not surprised by my lack of finding a pronunciation. If anyone has it could you please just comment and let me know.

 

I do rather like the history of the noblewoman named this. Plus I have used a later version of her father's name Athelstan *see on list of posts* before in one of my novels. Aelfwaru is a strong name which I really like and I may someday add her siblings names to this blog as they are rather interesting and strong too.  

Tauriel

Meaning: (Daughter of Mirkwood)

Origin: (Elvish, Fictional)

Pronunciation:  (Tow-riel, TaH-REE-EL)

Gender: Female

I first saw this in the movie The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. In the movie she was a character created for the movie and not in the book. I really came to like this character. She is strong and determined to do what is right, she is an elf too. Now since it was made up from Tolkien’s language by the movie director this can’t be used by other writers but it can be used as a screen name, name change, a child’s name, pet’s name, the skies the limit. The meaning is lovely and it is a beautiful name. I intend to name a future character Toriel (but pronounced TOW-RYE-EL but often pronounced TORE-EE-EL) so that I can use a name similar but not quite Tauriel.

Kili

Meaning: (From the Narrow Land, Narrow, Slender, variant of the name Kyle. Comes from “KILI’ KAHA’E’LAH,” name of the great underwater volcano deep in the Pacific. Birth to him was two sons, KI’LAWAIA, and KILI…. Kili, the smaller brother but with equal powers as the big brother, yet in human form (as a mortal man) meaning; Lover, Warrior, Leader, Hunter of the Bullie Hearted. Is said he will search forever and a day for his virtuous Queen from the Islands where he will return to live among the mortals and raise a family with his Queen. This is sacred scrips, (ancient diolg).)

Origin: (Celtic, Polynesian Mythology, Fictional, Literature)

Pronunciation: (Key-lee, KEE-LEE, Keel-ee, Kill-ee)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I first saw this in the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. One of the Dwarves in Thorin Oakenshields Company is one of Thorin’s nephews Kili. I came to really love this name. Since it is a real name not one made up primarily by J.R.R Tolkien it can be used by other writers. I have decided to name a future character this. I think the name though short has a nice strong look to it. I like the meanings and the mythology is wonderful and very cool, I love myths like that. I think it looks like a handsome name not seen or heard often.

Dren

Meaning: (Deer, European Cornel, From Serbian дрен/dren meaning European Cornel (Cornus mas) (type of dogwood). The tree is a symbol of strength and health in Serbian culture, having an idiom "здрав к'о дрен/zdrav k'o dren" which equates to English "fit as a fiddle". Therefore, the name is meant to denote "a strong and healthy individual". The region of Drenica in Kosovo is named after it.

It is a unisex name in Albanian culture, particularly common for males in Kosovo. The origin of this name may be from the Albanian word dre for deer.)

Origin: (Albanian, Serbian, Croatian)

Pronunciation: (drin, D-REN)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was watching the movie Splice and the human-animal hybrid that is genetically cloned is named Dren by the doctors. I didn’t see the whole movie but what I saw was creepy. However the name Dren is pretty cool. It is short and seemingly pronounceable. The meanings are strong and interesting. It would work on either gender or if you want female I suppose you can go with Drena, as I saw that spelling recently.

Morrigan

Meaning: (Great Queen, Phantom Queen, Derived from Irish Mór Ríoghain, In Irish myth she was a goddess of war and death who often took the form of a crow. The Morrígan is a goddess of battle, strife, and sovereignty. She sometimes appears in the form of a crow, flying above the warriors, and in the Ulster cycle she also takes the forms of an eel, a wolf and a cow. She is generally considered a war deity comparable with the Germanic Valkyries, although her association with a cow may also suggest a role connected with wealth and the land.

There is some disagreement over the meaning of the Morrígan's name. Mor may derive from an Indo-European root connoting terror or monstrousness, cognate with the Old English maere (which survives in the modern English word "nightmare") and the Scandinavian mara and the Old Russian "mara" ("nightmare"); while rígan translates as 'queen'. This can be reconstructed in Proto-Celtic as *Moro-rīganī-s. Accordingly, Morrígan is often translated as "Phantom Queen". This is the derivation generally favoured in current scholarship.

In the Middle Irish period the name is often spelled Mórrígan with a lengthening diacritic over the 'o', seemingly intended to mean "Great Queen" (Old Irish mór, 'great'; this would derive from a hypothetical Proto-Celtic *Māra Rīganī-s). Whitley Stokes believed this latter spelling was due to a false etymology popular at the time. There have also been attempts by modern writers to link the Morrígan with the Welsh literary figure Morgan le Fay from Arthurian romance, in whose name 'mor' may derive from a Welsh word for 'sea', but the names are derived from different cultures and branches of the Celtic linguistic tree. For more information on the Irish Mythology and name see- ^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morr%C3%ADgan} )

Origin: (Irish, Irish Mythology, Celtic)

Pronunciation: (Mo-Rih-gAWn, moe-rEE-an, moe-rEE-gan, mo-ree-an, MOOR-ee-an, mor-ree-gun)

Gender: Female

I was watching syfy channels Heroes of Cosplay a few months ago. One of the cosplayers dressed up like a character named this from a video game. I really like the name, it looks like Morgan but a tad bit cooler. It looks like a name that could be in a science fiction or fantasy setting and really work or could be in a very historical setting and work there too. It is pretty and I like the meanings a lot but the mythology is a bit dark but may work for an antagonist characters name. All in all a very interesting name which I kind of love.

E-Publishing Update!!!

So here is an update. It has taken some time but I am so very near to uploading to or attempting to upload one of my novels to be available on the Kindle. I will post a link to it once I do upload. I still have to do the copyright documents. As for cover art, Amazon has free covers but they are sort of dull and brown looking so I was advised to do my own so that is what I have done. Plus I had a wonderful idea for the cover that I have been successful at creating.

It has been hard going and a tad frustrating at times but when I figure something out it is a joyous moment. I have had to spend long nights searching the web for sites to help me. Apparently there are still sweet people out there who have gone through it and posted on their websites and blogs as to how best to do it. So I thought it is better if I try and direct some to their sites as they are way better at step-by-step showing prospective e-book self-publishers how to do it. I don’t remember all the sites but I know a few and I will leave links below to them. I hope they will help any authors out there. All I can say is to research as much as you can. There are so many wonderful sites out there that have helped me a ton. I feel horrible that I took the info I learned and forgot many of the websites so I can’t really redirect others to them.

Do not give up because it will be worth it! I am truly hoping by mid to late-September or early October that I have my first novel available for purchase. I hope that by early 2015 I have one more novel for purchase. I am going to try and do at least one, two, or even three novels a year. Well that’s the plan anyway!

So I will keep anyone who is interested up to date with my journey into the land of e-book self-publishing!

 

Happy Writing Lovelies! Happy Reading Lovelies!

How to Format a Word File for Kindle - by Katelyn Kelley, Demand Media- http://smallbusiness.chron.com/format-word-file-kindle-55438.html

How to format Kindle ebooks – Title Page- Camilla Chafer- http://www.camillachafer.com/2011/07/how-to-format-kindle-ebooks.html

How to format Kindle ebooks – Copyright Page- Camilla Chafer- http://www.camillachafer.com/2011/07/how-to-format-kindle-ebooks-copyright-page.html

eHow has some great articles on making table of contents which are worth looking at but it took me time to remember how I did it in class years ago and reading different articles to remember and get it right.

Editing Services & Cover Art Designers:

Camilla Chafer suggested these editing services and cover art designers that she has used. I have not personally used them but I checked out their sites and they do seem pretty good and professional but before going with any designer or editor do your REASEARCH.

I am not going to be using these particular services on the novel I am uploading but that does not mean I will not research them thoroughly and perhaps use them in the future.

Teri at Editing Fairy- http://www.editingfairy.com/

Robin Ludwig Designs- http://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/

I Saw My Character at Wal Mart! LOL!

No lie a few days ago I was in line at Wal Mart and this guy came up behind me in the express line and he looked no lie like one or two of my male characters. I was like this is crazy cool! I didn’t tell my mother who was checking out ahead of me what I thought until we were outside. She said I should have told him but I felt he would think I was weird or something.

I think it is so cool I saw someone who looked so much like one of my character and thought it would never happen again but then a few days after that I found a picture online of a gorgeous guy who also looks like one of my characters. This guy is super gorgeous and I will put a picture below.

Has this happened to any other writers out there? Have you too seen someone who resembled one of your characters? If you wish to share leave it under comments section, I would love to hear about your experience.

Surnames

Dumorea

 Durrell

Maroo

Callaway

Crane

Cantrell

Westmore

Winterbourne

Ashe

Meaning: (Ash Tree Town, Ashe name is a variant of Ash, tree name: the ash tree was common both in England and Scandinavia. Ashe is a Yoruba word meaning Power, Command, and Authority; it is the ability to make whatever one says happen. Often summarized as “so be it”, “so it is”, or “so mote it be”.

This surname, of Anglo-Saxon origin, is either a topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent ash tree, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "oesc" meaning "ash", or it may be a locational name from some minor place so named. Topographical surnames were among the earliest created, since both natural and man-made features in the landscape provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the small communities of the Middle Ages, and locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually in search of work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The name dates back to the early 13th Century (see below), and further recordings include: John de le Es in the 1273 Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk; Ralph de Asche in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex; and Joan atte-Eshe in the 1345 Subsidy Rolls of Norfolk. Variations in the idiom of the spelling include: Ash, Ashe, Aysh, Asch, Asche, Aish and Esh, Esch and Esche. Katherine Ash married John Ryce at St. Margaret's, Westminster, London, on October 4th 1601. Christopher Ash, an early emigrant to the New World was resident in Virginia in 1622, and John Ash (1723 - 1798) was the first physician of the General Hospital Birmingham and held various posts in the Colleges of Physicians. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard del Eshe, which was dated 1221, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Worcestershire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read More: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Ashe)

Origin:  (English, Irish, Scandinavian, Yoruba)

Pronunciation: (Ash-AY, AESH, ah-SHAY)

Gender: Uni-Sex

This name I think I saw on Heroes of Cosplay too but not sure. I really do love names with Ash in it so this just added an E at the end that I kind of really like. It at first can look like Ash trying too hard or just a waste of an E at the end but I think it gives it an exotic out of the rain forest, sexy vibe, lol. Though the name has a nice old world flair as well with a nice long history. So either way you look at this name it has a good ability to be a pretty cool characters name.

Indra

Meaning: (Possessing Drops of Rain, Supreme God, Beauty, Splendor, and Indra is the name of the ancient Hindu warrior god of the sky and rain. He is the chief god in the Hindu text the Rigveda. )

Origin: (Sanskrit, Hindi, Indian)

Pronunciation: (IN-dra, IN-drə, AHNDRah)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I was watching Heroes of Cosplay on Syfy a few months back and one of the cosplayers is named Indra. I really came to see, hear and like the name when her name was said or it was on the screen. I like the main meaning of this name but I don’t really pay much mind to it being the name of a foreign deity. The meaning seems very nature oriented which I like a lot.

This name was also used for the name of a city in Kendal and Kylie Jenners’ book, rather they had a ghost writer write the book and they took credit for it but all they contributed was the idea (you can read more about this issue in one of my posts from a month or so ago.) So anyway Indra is a name gathering popularity a bit but it still rings foreign, pretty, strong, exotic, and fascinating all at once.

Finlay

Meaning: (Fair Warrior, White, Fair Haired Warrior, Anglicized form of Fionnlagh, The legendary hero Finn Mac Cumhaill was famous for his wisdom and fairness. He was a leader of the Fenians or Fiannna, a band of warriors about whom many stories are told.

This is an Old Scottish name, from the Gaelic personal name "Fionnlagh", which is composed of the elements "fionn", meaning "white, fair", with "laoch", warrior or hero. The name was early reinforced by the Old Norse personal name "Finnleikr", composed of the elements "Finn" as above, and "leikr", meaning "play, sport". As a personal name "Finlay" is first recorded in circa 1070 as "Fionnlaoich", and in the Book of Leinster, the name of MacBeth's father is spelled "Findlech" (1070); "Fynlai" was provost of Stirling in 1327. The modern surname has a number of forms, ranging from Finlay, Findlay, Finley and Findley, to Finlow and Findlow. In the Western Isle of Lewis, the fairies are called in Gaelic "Muinntir Fhionlaidh", Finlay's people. In Northumberland the name appears in 1609 as Phinley, one John Phinley marrying Isabell Simpson at St. Nicholas' Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, whilst on May 30th 1699, Joh: Finlay married Doro: Watson at St. John's Church, also in the City of Newcastle. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Andrew Fyndelai, Chaplain of Brechin, which was dated 1526, Register of the Church of Brechin, during the reign of King James V of Scotland, 1513 - 1542. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/finlay#ixzz3BYyxycL0)

Origin: (Irish, Gaelic, Scottish, English)

Pronunciation: (FIN-lee)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I forget where I first heard this but I believe it may have been the name of a character one of the cosplayers on the Syfy show Heroes of Cosplay may have cosplayed as. I think this is a very good Irish name and looks very Irish or Scottish. The meanings are great and the history of it is good as well. This seems a very hero kind of name. I am not a huge fan of Finn or Fin names but this I don’t mind as much because it adds to the shortened Finn. I can see a character on a great quest in a fantasy novel being named this. Or rather seeing fairies in a particular place are named this perhaps a fairy man could be named this, which may be kind of really cool.

Blakely / Blakeleigh / Blakelie / Blakelee / Blakelea

Meaning: (From the Light or Pale Meadow; From the Dark Meadow, Pale Blond One or Dark, Variation on the name Blake. This interesting surname is both English and Scottish, although the Scottish name holders almost certainly have the same origin. It is locational from the various villages called Blackley, Blakeley, and Blackley, in the counties of Lancashire and the former West Riding of Yorkshire. The place name and hence the later surname, derive from the pre 7th century Old English words "bloec", meaning black or dark, plus "leah", a wood or sometimes a clearing in a wood. The village name is first recorded as "Blakeley" in the charters for Lancashire known as the "Inquisitions post mortem" for the year 1282. The early surname recording in Scotland, suggests that a family emigrated there from Lancashire in the 13th century, probably to the Dumfries region, which was almost an English colony. Amongst the earliest of recordings are those of William de la Blekelegh, in the parliamentary writs for the county of Staffordshire in 1301, whilst the Neubotle Registers of Edinburgh, Scotland, record Radulphus Blackley as a juror on an inquest at Berwick in 1321. John Blaklay was listed in the Register of Freemen of the city of York in 1543, whilst Thomas Blackly aged 20, was one of the first settlers to Virginia, New England, in 1635. He embarked on the ship "Hopswell of London" in that year. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam de Blakeleye, which was dated 1273, in the Hundred Rolls of London. This was during the reign of King Edward 1, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Blakely#ixzz3BNNE4JOF)

Origin: (Old English, Scottish, Irish)

Pronunciation: (BLAYK-lee)

Gender: Female

I have decided to name a secondary characters daughter Blakeleigh. I know this may look like a weird spelling and throw some off but I love it and she is only mentioned a few times in epilogue so I think people can live with it, lol! I think this name in all its many variant spelling is absolutely fantastic. I love that it is a lengthening of Blake and has this very interesting look. The meanings are great and the over all vibe from this name is amazing. I would love, love to see this name more often.

Rahab

Meaning: (Wide, Spacious, 1. A prostitute of Jericho who became a worshiper of Jehovah. In the spring of 1473 B.C.E., two Israelite spies came into Jericho and took up lodging at Rahab’s home. (Jos 2:1) The duration of their stay there is not stated, but Jericho was not so big that it would take a long time to spy it out.

That Rahab really was a harlot, or prostitute, in the common sense of the word has been denied in some circles, especially among Jewish traditionalists, but this does not seem to have support in fact. The Hebrew word zoh·nah′ always has to do with an illicit relationship, either sexual or as a figure of spiritual unfaithfulness, and in each instance where it denotes a prostitute, it is so translated. It is not rendered “hostess,” “innkeeper,” or the like. Besides, among the Canaanites harlotry was not a business of ill repute.

Rahab’s two guests were recognized as Israelites by others, who reported the matter to the king. However, Rahab quickly hid the men among flax stalks that were drying on the roof so that when the authorities got there to pick the men up she was able to direct them elsewhere without arousing their suspicions. In all of this, Rahab demonstrated greater devotion to the God of Israel than to her own condemned community.—Jos 2:2-7.

At what point Rahab had become aware of the spies’ purpose there and Israel’s intentions concerning Jericho is uncertain. But she now confessed to them the great fear and dread existing in the city because of reports about Jehovah’s saving acts for Israel over the past 40 years or more. She asked the spies to swear to her for the preservation of herself and her whole family—father, mother, and all the rest. To this they agreed, provided she gather all the family into her house, hang a scarlet cord from the window, and remain silent concerning their visit, all of which she promised to do. Further protecting the spies, she enabled them to escape through a window (the house being on the city wall) and told them how they could avoid the search party that had headed for the Jordan at the fords.—Jos 2:8-22.

The spies reported back to Joshua all that had happened. (Jos 2:23, 24) Then when Jericho’s wall fell down, Rahab’s house, “on a side of the wall,” was not destroyed. (Jos 2:15; 6:22) On Joshua’s orders that Rahab’s household be spared, the same two spies brought her out to safety. After a period of separation from Israel’s camp, Rahab and her family were permitted to dwell among the Israelites. (Jos 6:17, 23, 25) This former prostitute then became the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz in the royal ancestry of the Davidic kings; she is one of the four women named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. (Ru 4:20-22; Mt 1:5, 6) She is also an outstanding example of one who, though not an Israelite, by works proved her complete faith in Jehovah. “By faith,” Paul tells us, “Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who acted disobediently, because she received the spies in a peaceable way.” “Was not also Rahab the harlot declared righteous by works, after she had received the messengers hospitably and sent them out by another way?” asks James.—Heb 11:30, 31; Jas 2:25.

2. [Heb., Ra′hav, from a root meaning “storm with importunities”]. A symbolic expression first used in Job (9:13; 26:12), where it is translated “stormer.” (NW) In the second of these passages, the context and parallel construction connect it with a great sea monster. Similarly, Isaiah 51:9 links Rahab with a sea monster: “Are you not the one that broke Rahab to pieces, that pierced the sea monster?”

Rahab, a “sea monster,” came to symbolize Egypt and her Pharaoh who opposed Moses and Israel. Isaiah 51:9, 10 alludes to Jehovah’s delivering Israel from Egypt: “Are you not the one that dried up the sea, the waters of the vast deep? The one that made the depths of the sea a way for the repurchased ones to go across?” At Isaiah 30:7 “Rahab” is again connected with Egypt. Psalm 87:4 mentions “Rahab” where Egypt appropriately fits, as the first in a list of Israel’s enemies, along with Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush. The Targums use “the Egyptians” in this verse, and at Psalm 89:10 they paraphrase “Rahab” in such a way as to link the term with Egypt’s arrogant Pharaoh whom Jehovah humiliated. *Taken from Insight book Volume 2. 1988 Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses*)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (ray-hab, ray-abb)

Gender: Female

This is one of my favorite biblical female names. A few years ago this family’s young son at the time told me I looked like Rahab, they had been looking over some material that had pictures and apparently I bore a striking resemblance to her. I found it really funny. His mom explained why he said it and about the picture. Some others with us that day laughed and said well to be in the business that she was in she must have been pretty so I guess it is a complement. I laughed about it but when I looked at picture I did look a bit like her, lol.

Anyway the name and the story of Rahab in the bible is a wonderful one. Her courage and strength and love and healthy fear of Jehovah led her to make a wise decision that saved her whole family and had her become the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz in the royal ancestry of the Davidic kings; she is one of the four women named in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. So I think this is a pretty cool name. Most might hear this name and think prostitute but I hear it and think of a woman who risked her life and was rewarded for it by Jehovah God.

Miraval

Meaning: (To Look, Survey, Admire, Valley)

Origin: (Argonese)

Pronunciation: (Mira-vahl, meer-ah-vahl)

Gender: Female

I was watching E News the other day when they were talking about Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Their home in France is named Miraval. I like the name a lot probably because I like Mira as it is the name of one of my favorite characters that I have written about. The meanings are good and lovely.

I was unfamiliar with Argonese so I googled it and saw there is a castle in Italy with the Argonese name and I think it is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. I say meet me there for I am determined to go.

Here are two links to pictures of the place: http://castles.niceworld.info/italy/slides/Aragonese-Castle-Isle-Of-Ischia-Italy.jpg & http://omgamazingpics.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Castello-Aragonese-Ischia-Italy-wallpapers-HD.jpg

Shera

Meaning: (Light, Brightness, Singer, Plain, Darling, Man, Free Man, Meadow Shire, Bright Meadow)

Origin: (Hebrew, French, Germanic, Old English, English, Aramaic)

Pronunciation: (SHIHERAH, sher-ah)

Gender: Female

Like the name Orly and Orah *see on list of posts* this has a light meaning. At the time I put this name on my list for this blog I was looking for short names that mean light because I wanted that meaning for my characters daughters’ name. Even though the reader doesn’t know the meaning I still like to have a desirable meaning name for my character. I should say I first saw this on my favorite show Heroes of Cosplay on Syfy channel. I love the cosplayers and the cool costumes they make. One of the cosplayers portrayed She-Ra princess of power, so I took out the dash and got Shera.

The meanings are beautiful, I know I use the word beautiful a lot but some names are just really pretty all around and this is one that strikes me as a very beautiful goddess or princess or even Japanese maiden like name. The meanings I really love especially Meadow Shire and Bright Meadow because it has a very maiden of the meadows look.

Arnon

Meaning: (Rejoicing, Sunlight, Rushing Brook, Rushing Stream, Torrent Valley, Place Name.)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (AA-RNaaN, ARE-non, ahr-nahn)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

I was reading in my bible and I read this name. The meanings are beyond perfect, they are beautiful, strong, and uplifting. It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite names Aenon *see on list of posts*. Arnon has a decent look and is seemingly easy to pronounce compared to some biblical names. A cute nickname could be Arnie, Arny, and Arnee.  

Alijah

Meaning: (Derived from Elijah (Jehovah is God), The Lord is My God, My God is Yahweh)

Origin: (Hebrew, American)

Pronunciation: (ə-LIY-zhə, aa-LIY-DZ-aa)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I first heard this name after Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett had her baby girl earlier this year. It was a sad business relating around the marriage of Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett and her husband but that aside as relating to the name of their daughter, I really like it. At first I was thrown off by it and like what is that name. Then I researched it. I don’t think it is a name I think would fit too many characters but I would like to see how an author might go with this name. I get a very fantasy vibe from this name.

The meanings are lovely. Alijah to me does seem a female version of Elijah but I heard of someone naming their son Alijah, so what ever spelling you use I think would be interesting and cool to see how it might work out. Elijah is a wonderful biblical name and I think Alijah just brings a different but still similar feel to the name.

Orly

Meaning: (My Light, Light is Mine, You are My Light)

Origin: (Hebrew)

Pronunciation: (OHR-lee, AORLiy)

Gender: Uni-Sex

This was the name I was intending to use for one of my main characters daughters but I went with Orah *see on list of posts* instead. The meanings are so very beautiful and lovely. The look is extremely unique yet has an old world look to it. It is seemingly easy to pronounce and is short. There are a few variants worth noting, Orlee, Orlea (though can be pronounced OHR-lee-uh), and Orlie.

Falla

Meaning: (Torch, Bonfire, Resembling a Crow, This name, with variant spelling Fala, is of Scottish territorial origin from the lands of Fala in Midlothian. The name is believed to derive from the Medieval English "Falwe", (ultimately from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Falh"), meaning "Fallow" i.e. a piece of ploughed ground left uncropped for a year or more. The surname from this source was first recorded in the latter part of the 12th Century (see below). One, Bartholomew de Faulaw was witness to a charter in favour of the House of Soltre between the years 1214 -1240. One, George de Falow was Provost of Edinburgh in 1421. The variant spellings Fallawe, Fawlo, Faulo and Falowe appear on record in Scotland during the period 1426 - 1453. James Fala was a tenant under the Abbey of Kelso in 1576. On June 24th, 1723 William Falla and Janet Veitch were married in Edinburgh, Midlothian. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Radulf Falache, charter witness, which was dated circa 1165 - "The Register of Paisley Monastery", during the reign of King William, "The Lion of Scotland", 1166 - 1214. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Falla)

Origin: (Spanish, Catalan, Scottish, Old English, Native American)

Pronunciation: (FAElah)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I read this name in the 2014 Year Book of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I think a man in the Philippines was named this. I think the name and meanings are nice. I don’t really see this name very often but I wouldn’t mind seeing it. I don’t think it is name that would work on too many character but given the right author it could be used well.

Trixie

Meaning: (Bringer of Joy, Brings Joy, Happy, Voyager through Life, She Who Blesses, Short form of Beatrix, from Beatrice (Latin) "voyager (through life); blessed".)

Origin: (Latin, English)

Pronunciation: (TRIK-see, TRIKS-ee)

Gender: Female

I am intending to name a character this in a future novel. The character real name is going to be Beatrix which is a form of Beatrice *see on list of posts*. I think this was Speed Racers girlfriends name and where I think I first kind of came to like it. I don’t think this name would be for everyone and every character but I think it is cute. I think too it works better as a nickname rather than a real name.

Este

Meaning: (From the East, Star, Diminutive form of the name Estelle or Esther.)

Origin: (French, Old Swedish)

Pronunciation: (es-tay)

Gender: Female

There is a band I listened to a few months ago on TV and one of the names of the three sisters in the band is named Este. I think it is unique and quite cool looking. It is a diminutive of Esther *see on list of posts*. It has decent meanings and it is a short name that most people will know how to pronounce because of Estee Lauder cosmetics.

Mavis

Meaning: (Songbud, Song Thrush, The name was first used in English by Geoffrey Chaucer (14th century), author of "The Canterbury Tales".)

Origin: (Celtic, English, Old French)

Pronunciation: (MAY-viss, MAY-vis)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I have used this name, spelled Maviis, as the name of a Galaxy filled with beautiful humanoid creatures in my current novel I am writing. It is a beautiful name with very beautiful meanings and a beautiful look. The history of use is quite extensive so this could be used in many different eras. It has an over all good look and I would love to see this more often.

Melina

Meaning: (Honey, Quince Yellow, Yellow as a Canary,"Mel" can be derived from names such as Melanie meaning "black, dark" or Melissa meaning "honey-bee". Feminine form of the Greek Melinos (quince-yellow), which is from Melon (quince, apple), Mostly 18th century use.)

Origin: (Greek)

Pronunciation: (meh-LEE-nə, ma-LEEN-ah.)

Gender: Female

I was watching I think a show on TV and there was a person named this. It has a pretty unique look. The meanings are lovely and it is a nice alternative to the more popular Melissa. It has a pretty long history of use and it is very rare but I think that carries charm. I did hear it is popular in Italy, Greece and Iran so maybe it is just rare sounding to English speakers. I really like this a lot. It has a luxurious and exotic flair to it.

Caliana

Meaning: (Castle, a Moorish princess for whom a splendid palace was built in Spain. Combination of Callie and Ana. Calianna is a province in Italy.)

Origin: (Arabic, American)

Pronunciation: (cal-E-ah-na, K AH-L-EH-AW N-AH, K-AH-LEE-AW-N-EH)

Gender: Female

I forget where I first saw this but I have used Callie before as a character name. This would be a great lengthened version as would Calandra *see on list of posts*. I have used Calandra nicknamed Callie but Caliana is really pretty and would work really well with Callie nickname. The meanings are lovely and it is just a very beautiful feminine name that I would love to read more about.

Dayana / Daeana / Daeyana

Meaning: (A Bird of Prey, Light, Deity, The Judge, Heavenly, Devine, Valley, Church Leader, and is a variant of Deanna (Old English): place name and occupational name. Derived from the Latin Diviana, which is from Divus (Devine). The name is borne in Roman Mythology by the virgin Goddess of the Moon and of Hunting.)

Origin: (Old English, Latin, Hebrew, Roman Mythology, Indo-European)

Pronunciation: (diy-A-nə, D-ahYaa-Naa)

Gender: Female

I think I saw this as a name for an orchid. I love it so much I added it to my Favorite Female Names list on this blog. The meanings are beautiful. I should mention I added the spelling Daeana and Daeyana, the former looks like Diana and the latter looks like my character names Daey. I thought these spellings made it even more unique. They also look like a name you might hear in Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings or something.

Aston

Meaning: ("East Town; Ash Tree Settlement", Noble Stone, Place name. Also possibly related to a Middle English personal name Astanus. From the name Athelstan. Famous for an English sports car, the Aston Martin.

Recorded as de Aston, Aston, and the dilalectal Haston, this is an English medieval surname. It has three possible origins. The first is locational from the various places called Aston so called from the pre 7th Century words "East", and "tun", or the settlement to the east of a main village, or in some cases the settlement by the ash trees. Locational names were originally given as a means of identification to those who left their village or place of origin to settle elsewhere.

Secondly, the surname may be from some Anglo-Saxon personal name, such as "Aethelstan", composed of "aethel", meaning noble, and "stan", a stone. Asthone de Sancto Luca is noted in the Documents relating to the Danelaw in Lincolnshire in 1140, and Thomas filius Adestan is listed in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1187.

Thirdly the surname may be topographical for someone who lived by a conspicuous stone, from stan", fused with f the preposition "at". As an example William Astone appears in the calendar of the White and Black Books of the Cinque Ports in the year 1500. Other recordings include Richard Aston christened at St. John's Hackney, on November 8th 1568, and Daniel Haston christened at St James Clerkenwell, on June 5th 1720. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Aston. This was dated 1206 in the Curia Regis Rolls of Gloucestershire, during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling. http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Aston)

Origin: (Old English)

Pronunciation: (AS-tən, as-ton, au-ston)

Gender: Uni-Sex

A friend of mine’s husband’s nephew actually has this name. I always thought of it solely as the name of the Aston Martin car. I like the meanings and the history of this name. It has a nice long history more as a surname than a given name but either way it has a good long history so it could be used in different eras. It has a preppy look but also a handsome look. It could fit in a person or characters whole life, from childhood to adulthood, so it seems a name that could age well. I like it and would like to see it more but I don’t get the main character vibe when I see this name. I would prefer it as the name of a secondary character.

Marusya

Meaning: (Bitter, Sea of Bitterness, Rebelliousness, Wished for Child, To Swell, Tart, Beloved of Amun, Pregnant)

Origin: (Russian, Hebrew, Egyptian, French)

Pronunciation: (Maa-R-UW-SYaa)

Gender: Female

I was reading either the 2013 or 2014 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses and I saw this name. The meanings are diverse and interesting. I rather love the look of this name. It has a unique look but looks like Mary which has many of the same meanings. It is a really pretty name. I would love to see this name more often.

Ophir

Meaning: (Gold, A descendant of Shem through Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, and Joktan; the 11th of Joktan’s 13 sons. (Ge 10:22-29; 1Ch 1:17-23) Ophir was probably born about 200 years before Abraham, who was a descendant of his paternal uncle Peleg. (Ge 10:25; 11:18-26) As in the case of his brothers, it appears that Ophir also headed one of the Semite tribes that were numbered among the descendants of Noah “according to their families, according to their tongues, in their lands, according to their nations.” (Ge 10:31, 32) See No. 2 for possible locations of the land of Ophir in which this tribe eventually settled.

2. A place renowned as a source of much gold of the finest quality. Thus already in Job’s time (c. 1600 B.C.E.) “precious ore in the dust” and “pure gold” were spoken of in parallel with the “gold of Ophir.” (Job 22:24; 28:15, 16) Psalm 45:9 describes the queenly consort arrayed in precious gold of Ophir, and at Isaiah 13:11, 12, in the pronouncement against Babylon, the relative rarity of Ophir gold is used to symbolize the scarcity of tyrannical men in Babylon after its fall.

David donated 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir for construction of the temple, gold valued at $1,156,050,000. (1Ch 29:1, 2, 4) Later, the trading fleet of David’s son Solomon regularly brought back from Ophir 420 talents of gold. (1Ki 9:26-28) The parallel account at 2 Chronicles 8:18 reads 450 talents. Some scholars have suggested that this difference came about when letters of the alphabet served as figures—that an ancient copyist could have mistaken the Hebrew numeral letter nun (נ), representing 50, for the letter kaph (כ), standing for 20, or vice versa. However, the evidence is that all numbers in the Hebrew Scriptures were spelled out, rather than represented by letters. A more probable explanation, therefore, is that both figures are correct and that the gross amount brought was 450 talents, of which 420 were clear gain.

In 1946, as confirmation of these Biblical accounts about imports of gold from Ophir, a potsherd was unearthed NE of Tel Aviv-Yafo. Thereon was an inscription saying “Ophir gold to bet horon, thirty shekels.”—Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 1951, Vol. X, pp. 265, 266.

In addition to being a source of a vast quantity of gold, the land of Ophir was also a source of the “algum” trees and precious stones imported by Solomon. (1Ki 10:11; 2Ch 9:10) However, when King Jehoshaphat, a hundred years later, attempted an expedition to that land, it ended in disaster, his “Tarshish ships” being wrecked at Ezion-geber at the head of the Gulf of ʽAqaba.—1Ki 22:48; see TARSHISH No. 4. *From Insight book Vol.2 1988, Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses*)

Origin: (Hebrew, Biblical)

Pronunciation: (O-feer, OH-fear)

Gender: Uni-Sex

 

I was reading my bible and I read this word and name. I think it looks very foreign which it is but that’s apart of the appeal to me. The meanings and history of the name and place are interesting. I really like this name.

Surnames

Perkins

 Patton

 Grimm

 Spicer

 Glass

 Cromwell

 Novak

Surnames

Du Barbarac 

Greylek

Cavanaugh 

Pond

Swan

Harker

Floren

Meaning: (Blossoming, Charming, Flowering, Flourishing, Prosperous, From Florence.)

Origin: (Latin)

Pronunciation: (FLAORahN, floor-in)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I saw this name in the 2014 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. There was a brother in the Philippines that had this name. The meanings seem feminine but the person in the year book was a man. I think the meanings are lovely and beautiful. It has a good foreign pretty name but I think it would look decent on a man.

Idina

Meaning: (Wealth, Blessed, Variant of Edina, From Edinburgh, Scotland. Variant of Adena (Noble).)

Origin: (Old English, Scottish)

Pronunciation: (uh-DEE-nuh, eye-DEE-nuh)

Gender: Female

I have heard that song, “Let it Go” from frozen a lot. It is performed by Idina Menzel. The name has grown on me. It has lovely meanings and has a unique look. It is super pretty. I really like the whole over all look of this name.