Hilary / Hillary

Meaning: (Hillary is a given and family name, derived from the Latin Hilarius meaning "Cheerful", from Hilaris, "Cheerful, Merry" which comes from the Greek ἱλαρός (Hilaros), "Cheerful, Merry", which in turn comes from ἵλαος (Hilaos), "Propitious, Gracious". Medieval English form of Hilarious or Hilaria. During the Middle Ages it was primarily a masculine name. It was revived in Britain at the beginning of the 20^th Century as a predominantly feminine name. In America, this name and the variant Hillary seemed to drop in popularity after Hillary Clinton (1947- ) became the first lady.)

Origin: (English, Medieval English)

Pronunciation: (HIL-ə-ree)

Gender: Uni-Sex

This is a name that is on everyone’s mind and lips right now what with Hillary Clinton running for president and all. This name has really pleasant meanings and is easily pronounced and recognizable. It has a decent look but it’s not a name I really love or anything but it is a decent name. It to me has a prep school look which isn't all bad; it's just a very prestigious looking name and that can put a specific aura to a character which might be sorta of type casting which a lot of people type cast a name or character anyway.

I’ve always wanted two brothers to be named Ashley “Ash” *see on list of posts* and Hilary or Hillary “Hill” in the modern era as that would be fun to have them be mortified by their now common female names and they being boys, lol! But more than that Ashley and Hillary have long histories of use and interesting people have been named this in past years.

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.

Splendora

Meaning: (Medieval English name (found in a Curia Regis Roll item dated 1213), derived from Latin splendor meaning "Brilliance, Brightness, Lustre, Distinction". (It was listed in 'A Dictionary of English Surnames' by Dr. Reaney, who noted: "In the Middle Ages there was a fashion for fanciful feminine names, few of which have survived, or given rise to surnames.") This is also the name a small town in the U.S. state of Texas.)

Origin: (Medieval English, Italian)

Pronunciation: (splen-DAWR-ə (Medieval English))

Gender: Female

I was watching a movie once and I saw and heard this name. I thought it was interesting if a little hippie and odd by today’s standards. The meanings are beautiful and absolutely lovely and the name has an interesting to look it. I wouldn’t mind hearing this name in a novel if used the right way. I would hate for this name to be made fun of or used in a bad way but I don’t control how it is used so if I see it in that manner I will just have to deal with it, lol.

Warlow

Meaning: (This is an English surname of medieval origins. There are three possible origins for this unusual surname which is recorded in spellings as varied as Whorlow, Warrilow, Warlow, Warlowe, Werrilow, Warlaw and Warlawe. The first is locational from either a now 'lost' ancient British (Welsh) site which translates as "The look out hill" from the pre 7th century word weard, meaning to watch, and hlaw, a hill, or from the village of Wardlow in Derbyshire which has the same translation. The second possible origin is occupational, and a corruption of the French phrase "Ward-de-Robe", and as such describing a keeper of a high nobles chamber, and an office of considerable rank in ancient times. In this respect the modern surname could also be locational for one who lived at "The Wardrobe", once an area of the city of London near to the Tower of London. Early examples of the surname recoring taken from surviving church registers of the the city of London include William Warlaw baptized at St. Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on November 12th 1651, and Martha Warrillow christened at St. Botolphs without Aldgate, London on February 1st. Another early recording is that of Joane Warlowe. This was dated January 15th 1576, when she married Robert Gryffine at St. Giles Cripplegate, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st of England, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.)

Origin: (Medieval English)

Pronunciation: (WAR-low, wahr-LOW)

Gender: Male, Possibly Uni-Sex

Now again I can’t remember where I at first saw this but it took me a while to like it enough to add it here. It has decent meanings and from the list above an impressively long history and variant spellings galore. I could see this on a very strong character as maybe a nickname. Maybe it’s a surname that the character goes by…ex. Jefferson Warlow. But his friend’s say, “How’s it going Warlow?” instead of, “How’s it going Jefferson?” or “How’s it going Jeff?”

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.

Amice

Meaning: (Friend, Loved Friend, Beloved, Dearly Loved, Variant of Amica and Amy. Derived from the word amicitia with the meaning 'friendship'. An original form of the name is Amicia (Latin). The name Amice was popular among medieval English speakers. The forms Amity and Amita are recent coinages. This was a popular name in the Middle Ages, though it has since become uncommon.)

Origin: (Latin, Old French, Medieval English)

Pronunciation: (AEMahS, AM-is, Amiss)

Gender: Female

I saw this name as the name of one of the daughters of this Countess in the 1100's that I was researching about. I loved the meaning when I saw it even though it took a bit to find and listen to the pronunciation. I think it a very rare name now a days but that leads to it's unique qualities. I love this name a lot.