Zara / Zahra

Meaning: (Seed, which appears to predate the Arabic and Russian meanings. In Arabic, Zara means Star or Flower, and is sometimes spelled Zahra. In Russian, Zara means Princess. Some people believe that Zara is a form of Sarah. Eastern Splendor, Blossoming Flower, Dawn, and Lady.

It was first introduced to English speakers via literature, used by William Congreve for the name of an African queen in his tragedy The Mourning Bride (1697). It appeared again shortly after, as the title of the play Zara (1735), Aaron Hill's translation of Volaire's tragedy Zaïre (1733). The first name was however rarely used till the mid-20th century. It was later chosen by Princess Anne and Mark Philips for their daughter Zara Philips (1981-); the departure from royalty naming convention generated much discussion then. Their choice of the name did not boost its popularity until Zara Philips became famous in her own right in recent times. The trendy Spanish clothing retailer Zara (1975-) could have also increased the adoption of the name.)

Origin: (Arabic, Russian, Hebrew, Literature)

Pronunciation: (ZAHRaa)

Gender: Female

I was listening to singer Zara Larsson song the other day and realized I’ve heard this name a lot in recent years but have been on the fence about adding it but I said whether I like it or not some other author might find it to be perfect so I’ll add it and so here I am. I think it looks like it's trying to be a new age version of the plainer Sara or something. However the name has been around a long time and could be used in many different eras but my thought still goes to my earlier thought of people using Zara to spice up Sara. The meanings are lovely and very feminine! I’m still on the fence if I like it or not but at least its short and recognizable and pronounced easily enough by most people so that is a plus for an author. It also gives off an attractive foreign vibe so that’s interesting!

Finnick

Meaning: (Recorded in a number of spellings including Fenwich, Fenwick, Fennick, Finnick, Vinnick, and the extraordinary dialectals Phoenix and Phonix, this very early surname is Anglo -Scottish from the region known as "The Border Country". This was for centuries an area of total anarchy, and where it has to be said, the "clan" Fenwick played a prominent part! The surname is locational and when English derives either from the villages of Fenwick in Northumberland, near Kylow and Stamfordham, or if Scottish from the village of Fenwick in the county of Ayrshire. There is also a village called Fenwick in the West Riding of Yorkshire, but it is unclear whether this produced any surname holders. What is certain is that with all the villages names and hence the surname, the translation is the same. The name derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century "wic" meaning a dwelling place, or a dairy farm, or sometimes a landing place. To this prefix is added "fen" meaning a marshland, or water meadow. The surname is first recorded on the Scottish side of the "Border Country", (see below), and almost all early surname recordings are from this region. These early recordings include Thomas de Fenwyk, a witness at the 1279 Assize Court of Northumberland, and Nicholas Fynwik, who was the provost of Ayr, Scotland, in 1313. Sir John Fenwick, born in 1579, was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1658, in the 'reign' of Oliver Cromwell. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de Ffenwic, which was dated c.1220. He was a charter witness, and is so recorded in the rolls of the Abbey of Kelso. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.)

Origin: (Anglo-Saxon, Old English, Scottish, Literature, Pop Culture)

Pronunciation: (FI-nik, FIN-ik)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

Finnick Odair, one of the wining tributes and rebels in The Hunger Games Series. Now people have been saying the author made it up from the word Finicky, now that author may have wanted it because of the word Finicky but from my research the author did not make this name up.

This is another Hermione *see on list of posts* incident, many years ago many young authors were asking on naming forums if they could use the name Hermione as they assumed J.K Rowling had made it up but myself and others told them that William Shakespeare beat J.K Rowling by a couple hundred years in using this name and it even predates Shakespeare era as well so its fine to use it as J.K Rowling didn’t create it.

So now people are assuming Finnick was made up by the Hunger Games author. From what I found it comes from Fenwick and has a long history of use. So I see no reason other authors can’t use it. As far as I’ve seen most of the names in the Hunger Games universe are real just really rare, of course I haven’t researched them all or anything.  

As for Finnick I really like this name and the character in the Hunger Games Series. This name gives off an Irish vibe to me and so I think it could fit that. I like the meanings and the over all look of this name.

Nickname Options: Finn, Nick, Finni, Nicki / Nicky, and Ick.

Kahlan

Meaning: (Beauty, Strong Leader)

Origin: (English, Irish, Literature, Pop Culture, Fictional)

Pronunciation: (kay-len, KAY-lən)

Gender: Female

I was looking up women’s warrior attire for one of my characters and I came across a pretty cool picture of this lady and I thought I had seen her before and well when looking it up she was the main character in a TV series some years back and her name was Kahlan. I don’t think I saw the series but I think I saw it advertised and that’s why I remembered the actress. Anyway the name is really cool but I hear the author of the novels that the TV series were based on was made up by him. So like other names like that I am not sure if it’s legal or not to use the name on anyone else’s character or not. I learned it was made up by him after I had already named a character Kahlan so I may have to go back and change it, looking back the name doesn’t really fit my character that well anyway.

Kahlan has pretty meanings and a pretty cool look but the pronunciation gets me. Kay-len is what I found as the pronunciation but many people felt the same as I do that it looks more like it would be pronounced like Colin just because most people see AH and say it like you would when you open your mouth for the doctor. But either way you say it looks pretty cool but I would probably suggest sticking to using it a as a screen name or pet name rather than for a character, personal name change or baby name.

Yeruslan

Meaning: (From Tatar Uruslan, which was possibly from Turkic Arslan meaning "Lion". Yeruslan Lazarevich is the name of a hero in Russian and Tatar folktales. These tales were based on (or at least influenced by) Persian tales of their hero Rostam.)

Origin: (Folklore, Literature, Russian, Turkish, Persian)

Pronunciation: (Yeru: yeh-roo, yar-roo Slan: SLAEN)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

My list is backed up for a while so I am finally getting to these names. Back during NaNoWriMo 2015 I had posted about it and a fellow blogger Apolla 13 commented about her experience with it and then told me a bit about the story she chose to write about. So for all of my posts for March I will be doing some of the names of her characters for the story she wrote for NaNoWriMo 2015 as I really like many of these names and have yet to add them so I am adding them now.

Reminds me of a name for a Yeti or Big Foot or something. The meaning is strong and it if from Russian and Tatar Folktales so that is interesting. The only problem for me is the pronunciation. I had to split it up and I found Slan to be pronounced SLAEN but I had to guess on Yeru as yeh-roo or yar-roo but I am not at all sure that is right in any way. So if anyone knows the pronunciation then please let me know, in the comment section of this post, as I would be very grateful.

I do like foreign names but this is one I am not too huge of a fan of. I do like somewhat the look as it seems a masculine hot guys name but I think it’s too foreign for any of my characters but another author might feel differently about it.

Nicknames Options: Slan, Ru (Pronounced: ROO), Rus, Rusl (Pronounced: ROO-sul or like the name RUSSELL)

Catriona

Meaning: (Pure, Clear, is the French form of the Latin 'Katharina', from the Greek 'Aikaterina'. Famous bearer: the heroine of 19th century author Robert Louis Stevenson's novel 'Catriona'. )

Origin: (Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scottish, Literature, Greek)

Pronunciation: (ka-TREE-na, ka-TREE-oh-na)

Gender: Female

I heard this name someplace but I don’t remember where but then a while later I saw this as the name of a woman that died, she committed suicide and I think she was the girlfriend of actor Jim Carrey. It was really sad.

The meanings are lovely and beautiful and the name overall is gorgeous. It is a great alternative to its variants Catherine *see on list of posts*, Katherine *see on list of posts*, Katrina, Katharina, Catha *see on list of posts* Katya *see on list of posts* and Aikaterina.

As for the pronunciation I prefer ka-TREE-oh-na but that is an English speaker’s flaw apparently. It is pronounced ka-TREE-na by most in Ireland and Scotland where this name is popular.

Good Nicknames: Cat, Riona (REE-oh-na or REE-na), Tri (TREE or Try), and Triona (TREE-oh-na or TREE-na).

Amphelisia

Meaning: (On Both Sides, Around, Noble, Nobility, Kind, Friendly, From the Blessed Isles, and Devoted to God. Amphelisia is found as a woman's name from the 12th to the 18th century, but the etymology is unknown. This form was used by Wolfram von Eschenbach for two characters in his Middle High German romance 'Parzival', one of which was the Queen of France during the time of Uther. Amphélise belonged to the mother of Pope Urban V.)

Origin: (Medieval English, Literature)

Pronunciation: (am-fuh-el-ee-see-uh, am-phuh-elye-see-uh, Elisia: EHLIYSiyAH)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I really think this is a unique name with a great old history. It kind of makes me think amphibian when I see it though. I could not find a pronunciation so I am going to put my guess above but if anyone knows it please let me know in the comment section of this post as I would be grateful. I think this looks a little bit like an Elfish name. I really like this name but the pronunciation or lack there of is throwing me off.


Edit December 29, 2015:

So I felt bad that I had not done enough research for this name or also that I really couldn't find very much. So I looked up each part of the name again. The latter part of the name which is Elisia means the following, Noble, Nobility, Kind, Friendly, From the Blessed Isles, and Devoted to God. So since I think those are great meanings for a part of the name I am going to add it above. I also found the pronunciation for Elisia so I added that above under Pronunciation.

So the first part Amph however was harder. I did read it was similar and came from Amphi like in Amphitheatre, if that is true then the first part means, On Both Sides, Around. I can't be for sure if that is right. Even if I am not 100% sure I am going to add those meanings above as I did for the latter part Elisia.

If the meanings are right then the meaning combinations could be, On Both Sides Noble, On Both Sides of Nobility, On Both Sides Friendly, On Both Sides From the Blessed Isles, ect.

So again I am not 100% sure these meanings are correctly applied to this name but from my research they are close and are meanings for each part of the name separated but not necessary correct when the parts are combined but they seem good to me. This is just one of those old tricky names whose meanings and History has all but disappeared with time and not being used.

Horatio

Meaning: (Time Keeper, Derived from the Roman Clan name Horatius. The close friend of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Tragedy.)

Origin: (Italian, English, Literature)

Pronunciation: (hə-RAY-shee-o, hə-RAY-sho)

Gender: Male

I love watching reruns of CSI: Miami and the leader of that crime scene investigation group is named Horatio Caine. So while watching a while ago I wondered why I had never added the name Horatio to my blog and so without delay I added it. It seems a very masculine name with a very foreign sort of sexiness to it and it also seems a powerful name as in used for Hurricane Horatio or another destructive weather phenomenon, artic storm, ect.

I love the meaning a lot but it’s probably because I write a lot of Time Travel novels so I can see this would be cool on a time traveler. It is also derived from a very old name so it could be used in some form or another in different time periods which is amazing.

Liliandil / Lilliandil

Meaning: (She is a star and Ramandu's daughter in C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Prince Caspian falls in love with her and they eventually marry, making her the queen of Narnia. In the book, she is not named. Lilliandil was the name given to her in the film adaptation released in 2010. It was coined by Lewis's step-son, Douglas Gresham, the producer of the film.)

Origin: (Literature, Pop Culture, Fictional)

Pronunciation: (lil-ee-AHN-deel (Literature), lil-ee-AHN-deel, Lyll- AN-dill (Popular Culture))

Gender: Female

This name was used in C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 2010 movie. I really fell in love with the name but at first I misheard it but when I looked it up I really loved it even more. Though a made up name I think if making up a screen name or baby name or something this will work. But if for a character it may be copyrighted.

Though I will say I even tweaked the name and used the first part Lilian / Lillian and added a different ending, which made a pretty awesome beautiful name. I won’t add my made up name here as I made it up and intend to make it a future characters name and so I will debut this particular made up name some time in the future. So I will make you wait with baited breath, well its not epic enough for that, lol!  

So I am just saying you can take elements of this name and create your own name that is similar if you really love this name but find it copyrighted or fear others will know you got it from The Chronicles of Narnia.

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.

Sophronia

Meaning: (Wise, Sensible, Prudent, feminine form of Sophronius. Torquato Tasso used it in his epic poem ’Jerusalem Delivered’ (1580), in which it is borne by the lover of Olinde.)

Origin: (Ancient Greek, Literature)

Pronunciation: (so-FRON-ee-a, so-FRON-ya, soph-ro-NEE-ah, sof-Roan-ia, so-FRON-yah)

Gender: Female

This was an older name I found on a list and I found it interesting. It has a different look to it and the meanings are very lovely. It also has a long history of use and it is very beautiful really. I could see Sophie being a nickname, just in my mind as this is a tad bit of a long name. I would be very intrigued though to see where an author might take a character named this. The vastly different ways to pronounce this name could be confusing though.

Galadriel

Meaning: (Maiden Crowned by a Radiant Garland, Lady of the Light, Galadriel was a Noldorin elf Princess renowned for her Beauty and Wisdom in J. R.R Tolkien’s novels. The elements are Galad “Radiant” and Riel “Garlanded Maiden”. Alatariel is the Quenya form of her name. Galadriel was one of the Eldar still remaining in Middle Earth at the time of the War of the Ring.)

Origin: (Literature, Sindarin, Elvish, English)

Pronunciation: (gə -LAD-ree- əl (English), Gah-LaaDRIY-ehL, Geh-LAE-dree-ehl, Guh-LAD-REE-ell, geh-LAI-dree-ehl, guhl-AED-REE-ehl)

Gender: Female

I was looking up a few names and stumbled upon this name on a suggestions list. I think it is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately as it is a name from a novel that the author J. R. R Tolkien no doubt created this name so it can’t be used by another but an element of it could be used or used for inspiration in creating your own fantasy names. Or this would make an amazingly unique beautiful baby name *for the pretty little Princess or Noble Lady in your life*, so it can be used in the real world by parents to be. I absolutely love the meanings and the over all look is just so beautiful and lovely.

Please inform me if the information above about Galadriel is incorrect as I have not read any of J.R.R Tolkien’s novels, I know surprising. So I do not know if the information I gathered on the name Galadriel is correct or not.

EDIT: Ok so I was watching The Hobbit the other day and when I looked up Cate Blanchetts character from that one movie and The Lord of the Ring movies I realized that is the character Galadriel. I always thought of her as just Lady of Lorien, lol.

So Galadriel is the pretty blonde elf lady with flowing white gowns and is the grandmother of Arwen (Liv Tyler actress in movie) who marries Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen actor in the movie). Galadriel is the one who can speak in ones head and who denies herself the one ring after Frodo offers it in Lord of the Rings.

So yeah didn't read the books but did see the movies so now I realize who is who, sort of, lol!

Amaryllis

Meaning: (Fresh, Sparkling, Sparkling Eyes, Derived from the word amaryssein meaning 'to sparkle'. The name was popular in literature; it was used by Virgil, Ovid, and English pastoral poets from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as Spenser and Milton. This was the name of a heroine in Virgil's epic poem 'Eclogues'. The name was often used poetically to refer to a simple shepherdess or country girl. Amaryllis is also associated with the flower or plant, itself named after the 19th-century Arcadian heroine. Amaryllis is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, Amaryllis belladonna, is a native of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest region near the Cape. For many years there was confusion amongst botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name "amaryllis" is mainly used for cultivars of the genus Hippeastrum, widely sold in the winter months for their ability to bloom indoors. Plants of the genus Amaryllis belladonna are known as belladonna lily, Jersey lily, naked lady, amarillo or, in South Africa, March lily. This is one of numerous genera with the common name "lily" due to their flower shape and growth habit. However, they are only distantly related to the true lily, Lilium. A. belladonna has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. )

Origin: (Greek, Old Greek, English, Literature)

Pronunciation: (aeM-aa-RIHL-ahS, am-ə-RIL-is (English), am-ah-RILL-iss, Uh-mar-ih-lis, A-mar-i-llis)

Gender: Female

I answered a question on Yahoo Answers a few weeks ago and this person was asking about naming a Princess Amaryliss which is a different spelling of Amaryllis. After I saw that question I fell in love with the name and then I saw the meanings of Amaryllis and I love them too. It seemed very sci-fi futuristic to me but I could also see this in pretty much any genre.

Titania

Meaning: (Of the Titan’s, Giant, Perhaps based on Latin Titanus meaning “Of the Titan’s”. This name was (First?) used by Shakespeare in his comedy ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (1595) Where it is the name of the Queen of the Fairies. This is also a moon of Uranus, named after the Shakespearean Character. Mythology: The Titan’s were a race of Giants.)

Origin: (Greek, Literature)

Pronunciation: (tie-TAYN-yə (English), tə-TAYN-yə (English), tə-THAN-yə (English)

Gender: Female

I love going to this Medieval / Fantasy Wedding Gowns site I found years ago. I am not married or even planning to right now but I went there to get ideas for some of my characters who lived in the Medieval like era. The designer is in the UK and her gowns are briliant. They are beautiful and so well done. Anyway Titania is the name of one of her gowns. I really liked the name and a few others I will add later. The Titania gown on the site is my favorite. The name too might be used by me in a novel as I love the menaings.

I am going to add the website below just so you can check it out if you like.

Rivendell Bridal Designs by Emily Jane

http://www.rivendellbridal.com/

Cressida

Meaning: (Golden, Medieval English name originating from the Greek name Chryseis. In Greek Mythology, Chryseis was the daughter of Chryses (meaning Golden), and she was named in honor of her father. Cressida therefore means Golden. Various medieval tales describe her as a woman of Troy, daughter of Calchus, who leaves her Trojan lover Troilus for the Greek hero Diomedes. Shakespeare's play 'Troilus and Cressida' (1602) was based on these tales. Cressida's meaning is daughter of Chryses; golden. The name is well known among English speakers from the Trojan princess Cressida in the legend of Troilus and Cressida, as told by Chaucer and Shakespeare among others. Chaucer used the name in the form Criseyde (Old English), from Boccaccio's Criseida (Old English), which was apparently from Chryseis (Old Greek) under the influence of Briseida. Briseida means 'daughter of Brisis', while Chryseis means 'daughter of Chryses' and is ultimately from the Greek element 'chrysos' (golden). Both names are mentioned in Homer's Iliad. The modern form Cressida was created when Shakespeare Latinized Chaucer's name. It was first adopted by English speakers in the 20th century, in spite of the negative history in literature; Shakespeare's Cressida is lascivious, Boccaccio's is faithless, and Chaucer's is naive and easily misled.)

Origin: (Greek, Greek Mythology, English, Medieval English, Literature, German)

Pronunciation: (KRES-ə-də (English), KREHSahDah, CRESS-id-a, CREH-sih-duh, Go to this site and run your cursor over the name Cressida to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=cressida&submit=Submit)

Gender: Female

I forget what I was looking at the other day but I came across this name. I love the meaning and the Mythological History behind it. It almost looks a bit like my name. It has four of the letters in the same order as in my name Cassidy. Cressida is a unique name and can fit very many genres and eras. Nickname possibilities could be Cress or Essie which are cute.